90 minute connection Chicago OHare

I don't think Aer Lingus flies to Phoenix. When I checked their website, the PHX-ORD flight seems to be on United which is their partner. If so, this flight will arrive in Terminal 1 (could be concourse B, C, F) if memory serves me well. You will need to exit and then take the train to T5 unless the Aer Lingus departure is from Terminal 1. This is common for the partner international airlines. For example, the Lufthansa flights arrive at the intl terminal T5 but depart from the United concourse B at T1. Do a check.

Daniel - You are probably flying United to ORD, they come into terminal 1. You'll take the tram to Terminal 5. The tram takes about five minutes. I can't remember the time between trams. You should be ok. *** edit *** Dan, Our family took this same flight in May. Our bags were checked all the way to Dublin.

Thanks all! I checked our booking, and you are right....it is a United flight thru Aer Lingus. Will plan on transfering between Terminal 1 and 5. Hope the United flight from Phoenix isn't late! Dan

I would ask United if they will be able to book you clear through to Dublin from the Phoenix airport. If they can, you should be fine. But if United just issues you the ticket for the Phoenix to Chicago leg and you have to also get your boarding pass for the next leg in Chicago, it could be a problem. We had a similar situation a few years back when flying Denver to Chicago on United, then Chicago to Frankfort on Luftansa. We were late getting out of Denver and were told by the flight crew that United was only responsible to get us to Chicago and we'd have to deal with Luftansa when we got to Chicago (United wouldn't book us through to Frankfort even though it was a "partner" arrangement). Luckily for us the arrival gates and departure gates were next to each other and we made it (with carry-on only). The Luftansa attendants weren't happy with United either. Because of that experience, I try, whenever possible to use the same airline for the entire trip--we've had international flights held for us on British Airlines and Alitalia and were booked clear through--airlines don't like putting you up overnight in a foreign country if they can avoid it!

We booked through onetravel.com and will need to check with them to see if we can be booked all the way thru to Dublin. We are hoping to print out the boarding passes the night before for both legs. The first 3 legs of the booking came up on the computer as "Aer Lingus" when we booked, and the final leg (JFK-PHX) was listed as US Airways. However I see in the fine print that the first leg is AerLingus-operated by United. I will respond when I get it sorted. Dan

One follow up question: We will be doing carry-on luggage only. When we transfer between terminal 1 & 5, will we need to go thru security again? Dan

90 minutes ought to be plenty of time. Chicago ain't pretty but they move you around very well. Don't forget that the computer gods know where you are and from whence you are coming. There will be no climate-related problems in October getting out of Phoenix. (BTW, you better check your tkts 'cause Aer Lingus does not fly from Phoenix.) You may even have time for a quick chicago hotdog, which tastes good but looks a little weird with the day-glo relish. And finally, once you are checked in for international flights, you will not leave the secure areas unless you do so intentionally.

I go through ORD quite a bit. 90 minutes should be plenty of time at O'Hare. Sharon is right - it isn't the prettiest of airports, but they do a decent job of moving you around. There is an automated train that will take you between terminals, and with carry-on only, you will be pretty quick. Once you've cleared security in T5, you're all set. October weather, even in Chicago, shouldn't be an issue.

Please do not stop for a hot dog or anything else. 90 minutes is not a lot of time. Consider: - you have to deplane - if you come into the midfield concourse (C), then you have to go underground, and walk till you can come out at B - now exit concourse B, and take escalators up & down to get to the train station - take train to T5 - Proceed through security
- Walk to the gate (this could be a very long walk - note - I have only done this coming into Chicago, I'm assuming the departure is similar). I do not believe there is any other transfer mechanism that will move you from the domestic terminals to the Intl terminal that will still keep you within the secure area of the airport (for example - as San Francisco, there is a shuttle one can take to transfer directly to the Intl terminal)

"When we transfer between terminal 1 & 5, will we need to go thru security again?" Yes. Because there is no way to get from T1 to T5 without leaving the security area. Also, the walk from T5 security to the departure gates is not long at all. The long walk Arnold remembers occurs for T5 arrivals only. The automated shuttle train between terminals runs every few minutes. There is fast food available in T5 just before the security lines, and snack bars and vending machines after you've passed through - so grabbing something to eat or drink won't be a problem.

Is Tom's post correct? I mean about having to leave the secure area to transfer between terminals. Here in San Diego that would only be true if you were going to the commuter terminal. At LAX You can or could get on a bus to other terminals from the tarmac so you're still within the security zone. Would like to know this answer as it's all so fluid and as an old (and I mean old) girl scout I like to be "prepared" Oh while I'm at it how does it work anymore at LAX if you're coming in to the Tom B. International Terminal?

Marie: yes, Tom is correct - about O'Hare. Each airport is different, and it can also depend on the particular connection. I don't know about LAX (or San Diego, for that matter). At EWR and JFK, most, if not all, transfers between terminals also require going through security again. At Denver, they don't. It all depends on the design of the airport, and whether there is an "airside" transfer possible, or only "landside" transfers (the former means it's done after security, so you stay in the security zone; the former means you are not yet through security, so you have to go through after the transfer). Airport websites are pretty good these days about having detailed transfer information; you have to know your airlines and/or arrival and departure terminals, and what kind of transfer it is (e.g., domestic to international, or domestic to domestic), and then the website can give details. EDIT: my second paragraph is not coherent - see correction below.

I've come late to the discussion but O'Hare is my home airport so would like to put my two cents in. If you only have carryon luggage and are able to print your boarding passes before leaving home you will have no problem with a 90 minute time frame unless your plane is late. You do go thru security again when you arrive at terminal 5 which is the international terminal. Aer Lingus usually leaves from there and not United's terminal one but check your boarding passes to be sure. There is a way to go between terminals at O'Hare without leaving the secure area but not when the international terminal is involved. By the way, United's terminal one is not ugly. The rest of the airport, maybe.

CORRECTION to my post above: Landside means before security, so with a landside transfer, you have to go through security again. Airside means after security, so with an airside transfer, you do not have to go through security again.