How much time do I need for a connecting flight in Chicago?

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.



The amount of time you need for a connecting flight in Chicago depends heavily on which airport you’re using and whether your flights are on a single ticket or separate tickets.

Chicago has two major airports: O’Hare International (ORD): A massive, busy hub for United and American. Midway International (MDW): A smaller, primarily Southwest Airlines hub.

You cannot transfer between O’Hare and Midway for a connection. They are 20+ miles apart with heavy traffic. The advice below assumes you are connecting at the same airport.

General Minimum Recommended Connection Times

At O’Hare (ORD)

  • Domestic to Domestic (same airline): 60 minutes (absolute minimum, 75-90 is less stressful).
  • Domestic to International / International to Domestic: 90-120 minutes (you must clear immigration and customs on arrival, then re-check bags).
  • International to International: 90 minutes (you usually don’t clear US customs, but terminals are far apart).
  • Different airlines / separate tickets: Add a minimum of 60 extra minutes (you may need to change terminals, re-check bags, and go through security again).

At Midway (MDW)

  • All connections (mostly domestic): 45-60 minutes is often sufficient due to its smaller, single-terminal layout. For peace of mind, aim for 60+ minutes.

Critical Factors to Consider

  1. Single vs. Separate Tickets:
    • Single Ticket: The airline believes their minimum time is feasible. If you

People Also Ask

Yes if it is in the same terminal or an adjacent terminal and your flight is on time. There are five terminals though the only one really far away is the international terminal five. Yes, usually that's enough. They won't book you a ticket with a connection if they don't believe they can make the luggage transfer.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Realistically, the answer is NO. Also, flights board 30 minutes or so (depending on size of the airplane) so they would be in the final stages of boarding AT BEST when you get to the gate. O'Hare arrivals at heavy traffic times are rarely exactly on-time.

MORE DETAILS

If you're connecting on the same airline, in the same terminal, then yes, it should be enough time. Check first the airline's and flight's on-time record. If you need to change airlines, and terminals, it could be tight.

MORE DETAILS

What happens if a flight is delayed and you miss your connection? If you miss your connection due to a delay, usually the airline is responsible for providing you with a replacement flight to your destination. They will have to book you on the earliest possible flight available.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.

MORE DETAILS

Realistically, the answer is NO. Also, flights board 30 minutes or so (depending on size of the airplane) so they would be in the final stages of boarding AT BEST when you get to the gate.

MORE DETAILS

terminal 3 has a number of concourses. 35 mins is not a lot of time to make it from the end of one to the end of the furthest one in the worst case scenario. then u have to add in the time taken to get off your arriving plane even if it is on time and when they will close the doors of your departing one.

MORE DETAILS

There are many factors that impact how long it may take travelers to complete the immigration and CBP process, but it is rare for it to take more than two hours. Passengers connecting to another location must recheck their luggage.

MORE DETAILS

Overall, passengers usually have to re-clear security for connecting flights, though there may be some exceptions depending on the airport and flight itinerary. To make this process easier, checking with the airline or airport ahead of time is recommended.

MORE DETAILS

????Airport Transit System ?If connecting between domestic Terminals 1, 2 & 3, you DON'T have to leave the secured side and take the ATS, you can simply follow the overhead signage to guide you between all domestic terminals. ? To get between Terminal 5 and Terminals 1, 2 & 3, take the Airport Transit System? (ATS).

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

O'Hare became famous during the jet age, holding the distinction as the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic from 1963 to 1998; today, it is the world's fourth-busiest airport for passenger counts, serving 54 million passengers in 2021.

MORE DETAILS

Generally speaking, most airlines will make some kind of efforts to wait for delayed passengers on a connecting flight, though this is not necessarily guaranteed. In some cases, airlines may be able to hold a connecting flight for a period of time, but it is not something that is typically guaranteed by any airline.

MORE DETAILS

Is 1 hour 35 minutes layover enough? 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!

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

While skiplagging isn't illegal, American Airlines filed a civil lawsuit earlier this month against Skiplagged.com, accusing the company of unauthorized and deceptive ticketing practices and tricking customers into believing they've gained access to a secret loophole.

MORE DETAILS

Layovers are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but leaving the airport between flights is a risk you take, and if you miss your flight, it's on you. The airline could give you a break, but they are not required to do so.

MORE DETAILS

The General Guideline for How Early You Should Get to the Airport. Generally speaking, most airlines advise that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to a domestic flight, and at least 3 hours prior to an international flight.

MORE DETAILS

The recommended layover time for domestic flights is normally one hour. However, as previously stated, you may require longer if your flights are booked with two different airlines, if you are traveling to a very busy airport or if you require special assistance.

MORE DETAILS