2. Navigation: Midway is a smaller airport, which enables the airport to provide a simple navigation experience. Midway only has three gates: A, B, and C. O'Hare is a bigger airport with a larger area to navigate.
When do I need to arrive at the airport for my Southwest Airlines (WN) flight? Suggested arrival time: 2 hours before scheduled departure time for US domestic flights. 3 hours before scheduled departure time for international flights to/from the US.
If you purchase EarlyBird Check-In, we'll automatically check you in and reserve your boarding position 36 hours before you flight's departure. This is before our general 24-hour check-in begins.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is Chicago's largest airport, however Midway is another great option because of its proximity to the city, frequent flight times, and low ticket prices with Southwest Airlines—Southwest controls 34 of the 43 gates at Midway.
The busiest times of day at Midway are between 5 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., on weekdays, as evidenced by the length lines at security gates.
Current Average TSA Wait Time at MDWThis average wait time is based on the current time (Pacific Standard Time). Please expect to wait up to at least (16 mins) on average to go through security checkpoints at MDW.
Compared to O'Hare, Midway is a much smaller international airport, and it only carries a few airlines. Midway generally operates Southwest Airlines flights and it is much smaller and less busy than O'Hare. The advantage of traveling through Midway is that it is much closer to the city.
Midway, a compact one mile square, was built in 1923 during the propeller era and has shorter runways than most major airports, with no room to extend them because it is hemmed in by houses and businesses.
Customers who purchase an Anytime fare will automatically be checked in to their flight 36 hours prior to scheduled departure—that's 12 hours before our traditional 24-hour check-in. You will receive an earlier boarding position, improved seat selection, and earlier access to overhead bins.
When a Customer requests to preboard, our Employees will ask 1) do you need assistance boarding the aircraft? and/or 2) do you have a specific seating need to accommodate your disability?