How long of a layover do I need in Chicago for international flights?

For domestic flights on different airlines where you have to switch terminals, plan for a minimum one hour connection. For international flights where O'Hare is your first port of entry to the US, two hours is safe. How long do I need to leave the airport on a layover at ORD?



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What is the recommended layover time for international flights? International flights require longer connections as you will often have to go through immigration and customs upon arrival. For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection.

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In general, that should be fine. My understanding is that the minimum connecting time at O'Hare is 40 minutes, which generally means that the airlines expect to need 40 minutes to allow you enough time to get between flights as well as get your baggage to your next flight.

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It's really hard to put an exact number on how long you need for your layover. At a minimum, I'd say you should plan for one hour for domestic layovers and two hours for international layovers. But this is not a hard, fast rule! If you have to go through security again on a domestic layover, you might need more time.

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The recommended layover time for international flights is generally longer, as you will have to go through customs and immigration before boarding your next flight. In most cases, a 30-minute layover for domestic flights and an hour for international flights is considered a minimum, or short, layover.

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If you arrive on an international flight (excluding those who have arrived from a preclearance airport), you must clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) checkpoints and claim all checked luggage before being allowed to enter the United States, including travelers with connecting flights.

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Officially the minimum domestic connection time at O'hare is 40 minutes. So the airline should not have sold you an itinerary with a 34 minute connection, if they did it was a mistake but it's their problem.

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Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

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If a delay in your first flight is the reason you're missing your connection, don't worry too much. Usually, most airlines will rebook you on the next flight, and that too for free. Although, you might have to fly on standby depending on seat availability.

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Yes, a security check is mandatory when you take a connecting flight. This is because there is a time lag between getting off one aeroplane and getting on-board another to reach your destination.

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Try to schedule domestic connecting flights with at least 1.5 hours cushion time. For international flights, leave at least 2.5 hours. Planes almost never arrive as scheduled. Instead, your first flight may land later, while your connecting flight catches up in the air and arrives almost 1 hour earlier.

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Domestic Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are connected to each other and you can easily walk between them or take moving sidewalks and escalators. The walk from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 takes about 10 minutes, and from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 can take up to 20 minutes if you're walking from farthest gate to farthest gate.

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The recommended layover time for international flights is generally longer, as you will have to go through customs and immigration before boarding your next flight. In most cases, a 30-minute layover for domestic flights and an hour for international flights is considered a minimum, or short, layover.

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While Terminals 1, 2 and 3 have pedestrian connections on the secure side of the airport, Terminal 5 does not. The secure airside bus service dramatically improves convenience for passengers arriving on a flight into Terminals 1, 2, and 3 and connecting to a flight that departs from Terminal 5, or vice versa.

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Generally, the first three terminals are considered domestic terminals and are easily traversed. All three of these terminals are connected by pedestrian walkways, making them so much easier to cross than having to wait for transportation to take you to them.

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Terminal 5 (international) Terminal 5 contains Concourse M (21 gates) and operates almost all O'Hare's international departures and arrivals (except flights from Air Canada, American and United from airports with U.S. border preclearance).

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International layovers typically involve going through customs and border protection, whereas domestic ones don't. For domestic layovers, it's a good idea to give yourself at least an hour to ensure you can catch your next flight.

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When layover flights are booked with the same airline, your baggage will be automatically transferred through to your final destination. However, if the two flights are with different airlines, you may have to claim and re-check your baggage during your layover.

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There is no one-size-fits-all answer here, it can vary greatly from one airport to another. Some international airports have a minimum connecting time as low as 30 minutes. But usually, when traveling internationally, the MCT is at least an hour. It can go up to 2 hours in large airports requiring a change of terminal.

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