Chicago O'Hare Airport: from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3

I'm arriving at Chicago O'Hare Airport on April 23rd at Terminal 5 and need to catch another flight at Terminal 3—is it complicated? Could someone guide me? Thanks

Hi Mimi,

Here’s a map of the airport. From what I remember, there’s a train that connects the terminals, but I might be mixing it up with another U.S. airport. Hopefully, someone who’s traveled to Chicago recently can give you more precise info 🙂

Safe travels.

And another tip...

http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago-ohare-airport-map.htm

I know this airport like the back of my hand!!!! There’s a train between the terminals, and you’ll see the transit is super easy

I know this airport like the back of my hand!!!! There's a train between the terminals, and you'll see the transit is super easy

In these cases, I grab some Kellogg's All-Bran 😎😎 OK, I'm out!

Hi Jean-Luc, You should clarify your answer for those who aren’t as fluent as you are in the language of the Saxon countries! ;) "Transit" is a barbarism—the Molière-approved French translation is "correspondance" 😛

Yeah, I used an American word without realizing it... my bad, but living in the States, you can forgive me for that!!!!!

Oh, but I’d already done that! I’m quick with the "sorry"!! Especially since my old job had me using jargon that’s pretty indigestible for non-initiates! And anyway, as you saw, I was replying to Vazyvite…😛

I was more focused on the "intestinal" transit, you know 😎

Here we go again....

hi, once you get off the plane you go through customs, pick up your luggage, and re-check it right away on your left as you exit. You go through the door straight ahead, then on the left there’s a staircase or an escalator—I can’t remember which. You go up to the first floor, not the second. Then you’re in a hallway, take the train on the left side, and you’ll arrive at the right terminal. Safe travels!

Hi there, I just read this post about transferring between terminals at Chicago Airport. I have one or two extra questions. Do I absolutely have to collect my luggage and check it in again? I need to go from Terminal 5 to Terminal 1. Is there the same train to get from one to the other, and is it free? I'm traveling from Paris to Quebec via Chicago. Should I bring some US dollars? Thanks in advance.

Hi there, YES, you’ll need to go through immigration + customs and re-check your bags for the second flight. YES, the train (rubber-tired metro like the one in Paris) serves ALL terminals at Chicago O'Hare, and it’s FREE, of course! If you want to buy something during your layover, then YES, you’ll need US dollars—they only take that here!!

Chicago O'Hare Airport: from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 Quote | Reply I arrive on April 23rd at Chicago O'Hare Airport, Terminal 5, and I need to catch another flight at Terminal 3. Is it complicated? Could someone guide me? Thanks. - --

From what I recall, she arrived (and left) from Quebec......😎😎😎

There's a shuttle that goes through all the terminals—it only takes about 10 minutes.

There's a shuttle that goes between all the terminals—it only takes about 10 minutes.

Uh... this doesn't concern me at all... I just reposted the original message from... FEBRUARY!!!! The traveler has long since arrived and left.... 😉😉😉

Hi, You probably skimmed my reply a bit too quickly—it was addressed to "AYOU," whose question was from 10/21/08..... That’s why I also mentioned arrival formalities 😛😛😛😎😎😎

Hi there, I’m not sure if you’ll be able to reply since it’s been a while since your message was posted. I just wanted you to explain the process for going from Terminal 5 to Terminal 1 clearly again. Here’s what I understand based on reading several posts with some differences.

After I get off the plane, what do I do? I go through customs, and once that’s done, I pick up my luggage. What’s next? Do I check in for my second flight at Terminal 5, and the bags stay there to be transferred to Terminal 1, or do I check in for my second flight and then take my luggage with me to Terminal 1 by taking the train from Terminal 5 to Terminal 1?

I hope you understand what I’m trying to ask, and I’d really appreciate a clear answer—even though I’m not sure you’ll have the time to reply since it’s been so long.

Have a great evening!

boual

Hi there,

Memories from last year:

YES, immigration is mandatory. NO, you don’t re-check bags that are connecting; just drop your suitcases on the belt to the left of the "booths" and head straight ahead... then follow the signs. YES, there’s a free shuttle between terminals; the shuttle frequency is posted on the platform. YES, the terminal corridors are long.

Safe travels!

Alain

Hello,

Thanks for the info, but I must have a bit of a blonde moment—I’d like to understand better because I’ve never traveled with a layover in an airport and then left for another destination. I’m heading to China and feeling a little insecure since the journey is long and unusual for me. I feel a bit awkward asking for more details, but why not, right?

By the way, I really appreciate you taking the time to respond.

So after immigration, we pick up our luggage and where do we go with it? And if I understand correctly, we drop them off on the belt to the left of the booths—where do the bags go then? Do I take the shuttle without my luggage? Taking the shuttle seems very easy. It’s my bags that worry me. The suitcases automatically go to Terminal 1, and I don’t have to deal with them anymore. Basically, I don’t go through customs with my luggage. I hope I’m not bothering you too much with my questions.

Have a great day.

Boual

Watch out!! Boual lives in Canada, so things work differently for us!

Boual: All procedures for the United States happen at the Montreal airport before boarding. So when you arrive in Chicago:

- No customs (you won’t see any) - No immigration (you won’t see any)

Your luggage will go straight to China, but ask the airline staff when you check in your bags, just to be sure. Once in Chicago, head directly to your departure gate for your next flight. You don’t need to deal with your suitcases. Go straight to Terminal 3.

Hi,

Thanks for the info—if what you're saying turns out to be true, it’ll be super easy, and it really makes sense since I’m just passing through the States and leaving for China two hours later. To give me tips like that, I guess you’ve been in pretty much the same situation.

Have a great rest of your day.

Boual

Well, it's simply the truth, nothing more, nothing less. Pre-boarding security checks for flights to the United States are in all major Canadian airports, so everything is done BEFORE you board the plane. By the way, everything is explained on the ADM (Aéroports de Montréal) website:

http://www.admtl.com/passager/formalites/PassagersDepartEtatsUnis.aspx

U.S. Pre-Clearance Passengers departing for the United States must go through U.S. customs before taking their flight. This way, they won’t have any other formalities to complete upon arrival in the United States.

The only thing you’ll have to do once you’re in Chicago is head to your terminal to catch your flight to China. You won’t have to deal with anything else.

Hello, Sorry for the delay... but Nikky gave you all the relevant details! I think, incidentally, that your "lack of flying experience" is making you confuse immigration (usual translation: "border police"!) with customs. When arriving in the US, everyone (except Canadians!) first meets an immigration officer. If you're lucky enough to be admitted to go spend your big $$$, you then collect your luggage and, before you're done, you meet a customs officer (even in the US, they're getting less picky!). They might have the nerve to search your luggage for meat... salami... why on earth would we bring any?😕 It's an unchangeable process, even if you're just changing planes in the same airport. And just to be consistent, Canadian authorities apply the same procedure to everyone (except US citizens, I assume!).

By the way, thanks to Nikky for teaching me that you "privileged" Canadians don’t go through customs when entering the US

No worries Panisse, you're right—once you've picked up your luggage on the upper level, a train connects all the terminals.

Hey there,

Just passing along thanks to Nikky for letting me know you lucky Canadians don’t go through customs when entering the US So, if they refuse us entry, we’re back home faster! 😛

You lucky ones don’t pay that $6 entry fee either—at least not yet! No ESTA required either. Small perks for those who benefit from a strong currency.

But since June 1st, we’ve had to comply with their passport requirements, even for land crossings. Everyone knows those mischievous troublemakers have always snuck into the U.S. from Canada!

Looking forward to it!

P.S. I might be in Toronto by car in August! You know what I’m thinking, right? 😛😛😎

By the way, thanks to Nikky for letting me know that you lucky Canadians don’t go through customs when entering the US

You’re welcome!!

I have to say, it’s a procedure that makes travel easier (except you have to arrive a bit earlier at Dorval for US departures). Once the plane lands, your only worry is picking up your luggage or catching your connecting flight. It makes the trip so much smoother 😉

Hi everyone, I’m flying to San Francisco tomorrow and I’ll be checking my bags straight through to San Francisco. I have two layovers—one in Madrid and the other in Chicago, where I’ll land at Terminal 5 and need to catch my next flight at Terminal 3. So, how do I do this? Do I just go through transit, or do I have to go through customs? And I don’t have much time, so please give me a clear answer!

You’ll go through customs and immigration at the first U.S. city, which is Chicago.

Hi there,

Your message is from 2016. It’s now 2025, and I’m leaving in 4 days with a 1h35 layover at Chicago O’Hare. Will that be enough time to clear customs and go from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3? I only have a carry-on that isn’t checked;

Thanks