Chicago O'Hare (ORD) is one of the busiest airports in the world by aircraft movements and a central hub for both United and American Airlines. Its position in the middle of North America makes it a natural connection point between coastal cities and a major gateway to Europe and Asia.
What ORD does well
Domestic depth. ORD has more direct flights to more US cities than nearly any other airport, which makes it a workhorse for cross-country itineraries. Long-haul international is also strong, with regular service to Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia.
Terminals
- Terminal 1 — United's main domestic terminal.
- Terminal 2 — Mixed domestic operations, including United, Air Canada, and others.
- Terminal 3 — American Airlines' main terminal, plus several international partners.
- Terminal 5 — International arrivals and most foreign-flag departures.
Honest reality
Weather. ORD is one of the most weather-affected airports in North America — winter storms and summer thunderstorms regularly cause cascading delays. If your itinerary depends on a tight connection at ORD, build in buffer time. The airport's massive scale means inter-terminal walks can be long; allow 90 minutes for terminal-change connections, more if T5 is involved.