Is an hour and a half layover enough time for Chicago airport?

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?



An hour and a half (90 minutes) is generally sufficient for a domestic-to-domestic connection at Chicago O'Hare (ORD) or Midway (MDW), but it leaves little room for error. At O'Hare, which is one of the world's busiest hubs, you may need to change terminals using the Airport Transit System (ATS) or walk long distances between concourses, especially if you are switching between United and American. If your first flight is delayed by 20-30 minutes, a 90-minute window can quickly become a "sprint" to the gate. However, if you are connecting from an international flight to a domestic one, 90 minutes is not enough time, as you must clear Customs and Border Protection, re-check your bags, and go through TSA security again. For 2026 travelers, a "pro" rule of thumb for Chicago is to aim for at least 2 hours to account for the frequent weather delays and the sheer scale of the terminals. If you do have a tight 90-minute window, try to sit at the front of your first plane and have your "Gate Map" ready on your airline's mobile app.

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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.

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What is the recommended layover time for international flights? For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection. If your connecting flight leaves from a notoriously busy airport, it may be necessary to arrange a layover that's at least three hours long.

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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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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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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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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.

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Passengers with a connecting flight, and who have been checked through all the way to their destination, should claim their luggage, then drop it off with an airline attendant at the recheck counters located directly outside of the CBP processing area.

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24 hour layover in Chicago On a long layover, you can really get to grips with the city. An overnight layover means a hotel stay, but it also means you can experience the city's nightlife and dining scene.

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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.

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You'll need to clear customs and immigration. Next, you'll recheck your luggage for the domestic flight. Finally, you'll need to go through Transportation Security Administration screening.

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Yes, there might be exceptions, but most often than not the airline won't wait. What you can do is to try to avoid missing your connection. But if you do miss your connection, don't worry, the airline will book you on a new flight for free (if it's an airline-protected connecting flight).

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Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

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Everyone on your flight needs to claim their luggage at O'hare as Chicago is the first point of entry into the United States. After you exit immigration/customs, you will re-check your luggage for the 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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Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

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If your flight is canceled or a delay causes you to miss your connection, we'll rebook you on the next flight with available seats. We will reroute your bags automatically when you check in for your new flights. There are 3 ways to view your new trip or to choose a different flight: Open the American app.

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