Chicago O'Hare Airport

✅ Trip Verified | This is one crowded airport. The United concourses are brightly lit with clear signage. Connecting to an international flight requires taking the inter terminal train to Terminal 5. Despite it being a very warm day (90 degree temperatures), the AC was not effective. Train carriages were rather warm. Terminal 5 needs a major renovation. Upon disembarking from the train, there was one long narrow line to go through TSA once again. Passengers who arrive on connecting domestic flights shouldn't have to go through TSA twice. The concourses are very crowded and the lighting could be better. There are signs posted re terminal renovation/expansion which is desperately needed.

Not Verified | We just returned from a long delayed trip to Scandinavia and Great Britain. I wonderful trip - including attending a family wedding. Unfortunately, we returned via O’Hare with a connecting flight to our hometown in Wisconsin. Our SAS flight from Copenhagen was great - we arrived on time. Once we were arrived at the International terminal - a whole different story. Long lines for passport check - which was fine - we had a 3 hour layover for our flight home. You were geared through the line - yelled at by what seemed like over worked employees to move here, move there, etc. Got through with a passport stamp and a stamp on our customs declaration card and thought ok - not too bad. Next - loud announcements ordering us to get our checked luggage (which had been checked through to our final destination) before going through customs. We found the baggage carousel with people packed around - and had an anxious two hour wait for our bags to arrive. All the while - customs agents walked around with dogs sniffing hand luggage for illegal contraband like an orange or an apple. I like dogs - so this was okay. During that two hour wait - many of our fellow passengers were in despair that they had missed their flights. Once we got our bags - we went through another line with our bags past a single agent who took our stamped customs card. That was the customs check. We then had to find the American desk (no signs) and recheck our bags. They agent there said just leave your bags there and run / you have an hour to your flight. We ran to the train to get to our terminal. We then had to go back through security - where there was a line. When waiting in line - someone told us to go to number 7 instead. We ran in the direction he was pointing - as no idea what no. 7 meant. Got to another security line - made it through. Got to our gate just in time. Flight delayed a little so finally able to use rest room. Got on the plane - sat on the tarmac for two hours due to backed up traffic. Then storms hit - flight cancelled. The American Airlines crew was apologetic. Off the plane - in long line that did not move to get rescheduled. Gave up - no flights for at least 24 hours. No help from American couldn’t even get close to the front of the line after waiting an hour. No help therefore with food (managed to buy two donuts before they closed) - no help with hotel. Nothing available nearby online. Missed the last bus home. Spent about 2 hours finding our luggage- went to three different luggage carousels. At that point we were operating on rumors from other passengers on where luggage might be. At about 1:30 in the morning after being up for about 24 hours - we booked seats on a bus for 7 in the morning and spent the night in a noisy, freezing cold, uncomfortable airport. No food available obviously. I had some chocolate in my bag that the dogs didn’t care about in customs. That and the two donuts we managed to buy. It was definitely survival of the fittest - were old (60’s and 70’s) but in good shape. We made it home after being up for about 35 hours. We were amazed by our welcome to the US.

Not Verified | We are from Michigan and have traveled all over the world, so we fly through O’Hare often. It hands down has the rudest employees we have ever met. You can always count on getting yelled at at some point. We left Charles De Gaulle airport, where the people couldn’t have been more lovely and helpful, and landed at O’Hare only to get yelled at. Our reaction was, “Well, I guess we’re home.” So much for “Midwest Nice.”

✅ Trip Verified | My wife and I were headed from Florence Italy to Indianapolis. Every airport we went through was efficient and kind. When we got to O'Hare we had to go through customs. I understand. Then we had to go through another inspection. I don't understand but I will do it. On this second inspection we were told to go here and to go there and to go back and to etc. Finally we got through the inspections. The people were rude and unhelpful. My wife and I could not use the restroom or get a drink of water or get anything to eat. There wasn't enough time. When we got done with the inspections we ran to the terminal to get our plane. We were late just from our arrival and the inspections we needed and their inefficiency. We were the last persons getting on the plane. There was nothing to eat or drink on the plane. Fortunately, they did have a restroom.

Not Verified | The transit train between terminals works well. The staff were friendly and efficient. My main issue are directions and signage. Thankfully there were plenty of people to ask. Picking up signs for T5 was tricky. We had to go through security again which was a pain and it wasn’t clear until the end of the line that we could have gone through a pre checked line. Having said that, although we had to queue, it was efficient. There is no working WiFi at T5 and we had to hunt around for charging points for our phones which actually worked. It would have been nice to get a hot drink at our food outlet.

Not Verified | This was my first visit to the United States and the airport experience is quite horrible I must say. I used Terminal 3 for my flight and found the airport extremely uninspiring for a long wait. There are hardly any seating areas which are comfortable or allow you to rest without being in the middle of crowds all the time. The charging points are very few and uncomfortable to use. The options for food are limited and crowded. Not really sure why such a developed country has airports which are a trial to be in.

✅ Trip Verified | The C United terminal screams “America’s best days have long departed”. Limited food options, dirty tables, stale packaged food from the kiosks. Overflowing trash bins, tired decor and ripped and torn seats. If I was a lived in Chicago I’d be ashamed to have guests arriving at this terminal. My wife an I travel to many developing nations and most have airports that are newer, cleaner and better.

Not Verified | My flight from Europe was late arriving and I was provided a special boarding pass to fast track through the airport and get me to my final destination in Appleton. The first stop was customs. They didn’t care that I was in a hurry to get through to catch my flight. The workers were yelling at people and gave me a look of contempt when I showed them my boarding pass with a red outline which was to guarantee quick access as well as holding my flight through the airport. By the time I got to the counter to check my bag the clerk smiled and said you are 6 minutes too late to catch my flight which wasn’t leaving for 35 minutes. She said I can reschedule you for a flight leaving tomorrow at 3.30 and provide you a discount for a hotel. I lost it after being up for over 24 hours and encountering so many rude workers at that airport. A manger heard me even though I didn’t raise my voice and offered to help. He was able to reschedule me on a flight to Green Bay which was to leave at 7.30. That flight was delayed until 10.30, no reason provided. We didn’t arrive in Green Bay until 11.30, and didn’t arrive home until 12.30. This horrible experience has ended any future travels. As much as I love to travel I will not go through another experience like this in the future. The sad part about my experience is this is the norm not the exception at this airport.

Not Verified | What an embarrassment for the USA. Filthy airport, rude staff, poorly organized, no help at all with directions, border agents very rude, took two hours to clear customs and immigration, staff barking at people, long queues and To repeat, so very rude and unhelpful staff.

✅ Trip Verified | An awful awful airport to transit through. Immigration treats you like animals, ventilation is close to nothing, the airport seems to never be on track with time, packed with people and the cleaning is horrendous, the inside looks like a forcefully decorated prison facility. It would be generous to call this an airport. To top it off: a bottle of water bought from inside the domestic airport can’t be taken to your international flight.