O'Hare People Mover Shutting Down

Thanks for the heads up. I will be using Chicago for two upcoming trips to Europe in 2019. My March trip has a fairly tight connection from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 on AA. (connecting on the last flight into St. Louis). I'm glad you posted. I would not have wanted this surprise upon my arrival in Chicago.

Margaret

This is an absolute nightmare, this has already been going on for several months. I encountered this when I flew through O'Hare from Paris in November and needed to catch my flight to Tulsa. I was so happy with how quickly I got through immigration and got my bags back — then went out to find my way from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 (i think — the last one in that row) whatever it was — there must have been 600 or 700 people in line for these damn buses, which were not really equipped to move people quickly nor efficiently.

Then of course I got to terminal 3 after an hour or more in line for the bus and had to wait in line for security. There were so many people in the same boat. I ran for my flight but they had already closed it. Then by some miracle, the gate agent let me on.

I never dreamed I needed to google each various airport's status of intra-airport mobility when considering connecting cities!!! Learned my lesson as I stood there in that line and googled Chicago airport transit difficulties (or whatever) and saw it had been going on for months.

Ughhhhhhh it was a nightmare.

I had this happen already back in May connecting through Chicago on the way home from London. I don’t know if it was ongoing at that time or just a one day thing, but it was a nightmare! Long lines for the buses, and then we were jammed on the bus shoulder to shoulder and it was hot! I’ll be trying to avoid connecting in O’Hare at least until that is fixed.

Eric, great heads up!

Kim and Karen, this happened to me also in July! BARELY made our flight leaving for Vienna because we had to take the bus - and no signs that the people mover was closed. Later I researched and found out it would be open on the weekend for our return and we all barely made it by using mobile passport (had a group of 14 people) with most of us doing carryon only. In my defense, I had just been in and out of O’Hare in March and everything was completely smooth. :) I can’t imagine how this will work when it’s entirely closed unless they bring on a LOT more busses. I also learned to take that extra step of research.

Anyone have any recent experience originating at O'Hare rather than connecting? Has or will this affect getting into the terminals after parking, either short- or long-term?

Our last two international trips originated in Chicago. We parked in the long-term lot and first took a shuttle bus and then the people-mover to reach Terminal 5. We'll be flying out of O'Hare in April, again parking long-term, but leaving from Terminal 1.

Also, next Tuesday (Jan. 8), we're driving our son to O'Hare to catch his flight to Edinburgh (via Frankfort) from Terminal 1 and will be parking short-term. I know the official shut-down isn't supposed to start until early the next day, but it sounds like from these posts that effects are already being felt.

This information should be published by RS on their website. I flew out of O'Hare on business and pleasure for over 30 years. This will be a nightmare for all travelers, foreign and domestic. This train also connected remote parking. WOW....what a mess this will be.
IMO....I would pay extra for a flight not to connect through Chicago.

I went through this last June when I had to change from United to Aer Lingus at the Int. terminal. That change was long, but I had built in time as I don't like O'Hare. On the way back we had a slow down at the Canada border because of storms over airport which ate up most of my built in time and I almost didn't make my United flight back home. (I got on the Utd flight 5 minutes before they closed the door.) I can't wait until this is complete. In the meantime, I have put O'Hare back on my personal do not fly list.

Stoutfella: I live in Chicago and O'Hare is my primary departure/arrival airport for international flights. From my experience over the past several months since the people mover has been shut down on weekdays: Long-term parking is still a viable option—I've done it 2 or 3 times—but instead of the people mover, they are running buses to/from the terminals. The buses from the long term parking lots take slightly longer than the people mover did, but I haven't found them to be nearly as crowded as what others have described in going from Terminal 5 to connecting terminals. I've generally found a seat, or been one of very few standing. It's been my observation that there are sometimes separate buses running to the parking lots than the ones traveling solely between terminals. The short term parking garage is central and you can walk to/from your car to the terminals. Hope this is helpful!

Oh my - this all sounds awful! I was already worried about a 1 hr 50 mins connection for the last flight to St. Louis. ( I really know better than to book this tight connection but its was about $400 cheaper). Looks Like I need to prepare with a PLAN B. I may be staying overnight in Chicago and catching a morning flight out. At least my connection is on the same ticket.

Margaret

Rachel: Thanks for your guidance. Very helpful. I figured short-term lots wouldn’t be too much of a problem next week, but perhaps we’ll build in a little extra time for our trip next April.

To clarify, the people mover has already been shut down periodically? The article linked to in the original post said the work didn’t start until Jan. 9.

Yes, stoutfella, in July it was shut down during the week and working on the weekend. We flew in from DFW with a short 1hr 46 min connection over to Terminal 5, not knowing about having to leave the secure area, ride the bus, then go through security again. The bus lines weren’t long - just distances and security again. More time and prior knowledge helps - sometimes you just put off stopping at the bathroom. Lol. For our return connection, adding in immigration, we would probably not have made our flight without the people mover.

I’m arriving from Auckland (15 hour flight!) to ORD with 1:55 layover. Would someone explain the parking bus trick please? I suppose there is always LYFT to terminal 1. I can’t image standing outside in -20 windchill for an hour. I have mobile pass.

Note: No one should be leaving security at ORD going domestic to international. There are airside buses provided for this (but pretty sure they can’t be used going the other way?)

Tom_MN. To my knowledge there is no way to leave Terminal 5 (International) and go to terminal 1, 2 and 3 domestic without going back through security. I may be wrong because I only originated International flights from there, but I don't believe there is any exit into Terminal 3 from International Terminal 5. Maybe people who connect through International to domestic in Chicago can confirm.

ORD light-rail people mover or not, one must pass through TSA security at their domestic terminal after arriving the international terminal (#5) and clearing passport control and customs.

Tom — don't worry as most of the line waiting is inside the terminal!! Only probably 20-25 minutes in a line in tented area outside!!😜

What Threadwater has said is correct. Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are contiguous/ next to each other, while Terminal 5 seemed to me to be at least a couple of miles away. Indeed, we asked if we could simply walk to Terminals 1/2/3 , and the airport rep told us it simply wasn't possible on foot.

Well, here's something to add to our pre-trip checklist. Read the TA, etc forums for info on any airports we'll be in.