Chicago O'Hare Airport

The arrival and the customs at Chicago was fine, we had some queues, but not significant, we had enough transfer time. Our bags were not lost, unlike the previous time so that went well too. The airport is crowded, but is manageable. The only thing that is terrible is the Wifi, which is practically non-existent if you are a foreigner and do not want to register to several places and download apps.

Chicago O'Hare Intl. Airport is, in contrast from other reviews I've seen, a great place to be. I went from ORD-LHR on American Airlines (Terminal 3), and the lines were no hassle at security. They had a lot open and we got through within 10 minutes. The food service is excellent for people who are travelling in the H and K Concourses because there is a giant oasis-like area where many restaurants are. There was McDonald's, Starbucks, Frontera Grill, and many more. When I got to the Admirals Club, it was divine. You got free drink coupons and an amazing view out the window. Sadly, whenever I fly out of here, my gate number is extremely far away from the lounge. Overall, this is a great airport to fly out of.

We were in Terminal 5 on Sunday, January 3 at 6pm. A very busy time of year for travel. You would think airports would be prepared for this. Terminal 5 is international and has 5 lines waiting for passport control, but only 3 passport officers. It took 1.5 hours to clear passport and security. I found the passengers to be extremely patient with a stressful situation. We know travel takes time and security is paramount, however, airports should have a duty to make it possible for us to work with them on this. One particular TSA officer was rude and condescending. Passengers want to help with security, but every airport has different rules about what and how things are placed on the X-ray belt and a TSA officer shouting at people for doing it incorrectly does not help. We were also in a line where there were no plastic trays in which to place our belongings. O'hare International needs to do better.

Flying first class from Chicago O'Hare to Anchorage. My boarding pass was checked going into security and I was directed to the premier access line. As soon as I walked back and forth through the maze to the end, I was told to follow another Isle to the far back of the standard access line. When I asked what the point of the premier access line and why would a consumer pay additionally for the amenities of first class if all of them are not going to be honored. The response from TSA agent "your going to be in my line, so unless you want it to take even longer I suggest you get to the back of the line". He carried through with his promise and called 14 people in a row from the Isle to the left of me before allowing me to stand next to him for a minimum of 6-8 minutes before allowing me to enter the line for the remainder of security. The entirety of the airport is outdated, dirty, the employees all have an attitude as though they are owed something, and your treated like a criminal until you have proven that your not.

Went through the immigration and customs in a few minutes. Polite staff direct us to the good queue and to the good place to drop our luggages. Security staff were professional. Transportation time between Terminal 5 and 1 was short. It's easy to go around this airport. On the negative side, you have to pay your WIFI access after few minutes of connection.

My son and I flew all night from Anchorage to Chicago, arriving at about 0800hrs. We had about a 3.5 hour layover before departing for Louisville. Being the weekend prior to Thanksgiving, O'Hare was a complete zoo! The Chicago area had a rather large snow storm the day before which caused a number of flights to cancel. The poor passengers had a ton of baggage which was off loaded and needless to say, this caused the baggage area to be a mess. After retrieving our luggage, we spent the next hour slowly winding through the TSA Security. Most folks appeared to take it in stride, what else could you do? The food at our restaurant was rather good - I enjoyed a Breakfast Pizza which I had never had before. All in all, O'Hare was a crowded mess but we survived. I found the airport employees trying to do their best with the huge numbers of passengers thrown at them. The staff from American Airline who helped us was professional and upbeat. My son and I fly out from Chicago this Saturday and it will be a rerun I am sure.

Why O'Hare is the worst airport: 1) O'Hare has decided to adjust its strategy for security lines, where there is now a ridiculous wait. This includes TSA lines which took over 30 minutes. The employees are also impolite and couldn't care less about the passengers. 2) I waited 1 hour in the taxi line to get home. This means it actually took me less time to fly from Minneapolis to Chicago than it did to cab home. Not sure why they can't adjust their "holding pen" strategy for cabs and loosen uber restrictions. 3) Valet parking now costs almost $60 a day and the city will still troll the parking lot to boot cars with three unpaid parking tickets. 4) Longest airplane taxi to the gates, with gates nearly always taken when trying to deplane. LaGuardia airport needs to be recognized as doing everything right. Zero problems with flights, zero waits in security lines, never a long wait for a taxi. City of Chicago - please take note and improve your operation.

It is not the best place to start a long flight, at least with Lufthansa. My gate was placed at the end of terminal and it was only one international flight in that area, which suggests that something was wrong. Only LH flights were located there. My passport was checked just once and wasn't even stamped. Some documents in my passport were not removed and they clearly say that lack of their removal while leaving US may result with problems while crossing Us border next time. That dissatisfies me a lot. Moreover, there was just one, small duty-free shop in my part and prices there were far from good deal. WiFi was working just for a short time, later it stopped, so did public internet access tablets. Getting access to public wifi lats very long and you are forced to see many advertisments, which is extremely annoying. That's an ok airport for a local flight, I guess, but definitely not a good choice for international (at least if you fly with LH).

I departed with Delta from terminal 2 to go to Detroit to then fly to Italy via Amsterdam. Terminal two lacks in outlets and other similar amenities but I only stayed there for a short while so no need. On the return I flew United from Pisa to Chicago via Munich. The international terminal five is horrible. We arrived at peak hour and it was hopeless. There were dozens of flights from Europe and Asia that all seemed to arrive at the same time. This caused lines that stretched almost down the entire hallway just to go through passport control. After that the baggage hall was chaotic. With mountains of luggage being taken off early from the conveyor belt just to make room for more flights. The entire terminal unnavigable with the amount of craziness that was going on. There was a line that stretched through the baggage hall and all around it just to get land side. The line took an hour an if someone had any connections they wouldn't be able to catch them. If Chicago O'hare wants to be able to handle A380s and more planes they are going to need lots of renovations.

I understand O'Hare is remarkably busy and has the weather to contend with so I do extend some grace for the reality induced by the moderately rainy day of my travel. However, the services, staff, lines, even the terminals themselves seem worn out and tired - exhausted from the constant fight-or-flight existence the airport lives under. I'll spare the details of my experience, only noting I was delayed, cancelled, and delayed again while just trying to pass through on a connector home. As I had extra time on my hands I decided to people-watch and experience the airport. People running from one place to another with frantic gazelle-like dodging and suitcases in tow. Others growing roots on burdened chairs while they wait with a hopeful stare at the stand-by list. Missed flights, pilots timing out, gate changes, and a maelstrom of reluctant airline refuges just looking for escape. Personnel were usually trying to be helpful, to their credit, but honestly inside I think they knew they were just plugging holes in the Titanic - praying to make it to the end of their shift. Problems if you need to get to the buses and shuttles. Down there, around the bend, back up an elevator? The midnight group of us were on a quest to find the final sign depicting 'Door 2.' The next day at 6.45am I returned with the hope times had improved but sure enough there were already the runners, the sitters, and the delayed flights all displaying the new day's same experiences for would-be travelers through O'hare. Does it need to be this way? O'Hare - it's time for a big disruptive change in flexible workflow and smart throughput, a desperate need for profound innovation.