O'Hare Terminal Five

Chicago O’Hare International Airport has multiple terminals to serve its many fliers. Terminal Five is one of the busiest because it handles international flights throughout the world. This guide to Chicago O’Hare Terminal Five will make it easier for you to get around this airport quickly and easily.

Chicago O’Hare Customs and Security Information

ORD Terminal 5 has two security and customs terminals that will process you for your flight. The first is CP10, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CP11 is open from 12:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and can help process you through Chicago O’Hare customs fairly quickly.

Other security options in Terminal 5 include Global Entry, with the main enrollment center being open in Terminal 5. It’s available from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Chicago O’Hare International Terminal 5 also provides easy access to CLEAR, a program for expedited security.

Open from 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., this service uses eye and fingerprint scanning rather than an ID at specific security checkpoints. These are available for Pre-Check eligible travelers and require you to sign up before your flight. Once your information is saved, it’s usable later.

What to Expect When Arriving at ORD Terminal 5

All arriving flights from outside the United States arrive at Terminal 5. Customs and Border Control facilities are located only in this terminal. You’ll also need a valid Visa if you’re coming to the United States from another country or a passport if you plan on leaving. This information makes it easier for you to get through Chicago O’Hare customs quickly and can streamline your trip as well.

When arriving at ORD Terminal 5, it’s important to have your proper documents available. It’s a long walk once you de-plane so be prepared for about 500 meters of walking. Eventually, you arrive at passport control. You can use one of the automated kiosks for an initial screening while in line. Past the passport check, you will pick up your bags from the carousel and then approach the customs line.

A taxi stand is located just outside the doors on the ground floor. Do not accept rides from touts inside the terminal; these are not legal. Taxi fare from O’Hare to downtown will run  approximately $40 and you are welcome to tip your driver.

Chicago’s famous elevated train departs from Terminal 2. A $5 fare card can be purchased from a CTA kiosk at the station. To get there you will need to find the ATS – it’s a train between terminals; there is no safe way to walk to Terminals, 1,2, and 3.

Find the ATS upstairs near the check in desks on the departures floor and look for the red train sign. The CTA station is in Terminal 2.

What to Expect Departing From Chicago O’Hare International Terminal

After you reserve a parking spot from The Parking Spot at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, it’s much easier to work your way through security.

You’ll need a current form of identification, such as a driver’s license, a passport, or other applicable type of government-issued ID. Also consider document and ID requirements for the country you are traveling to.

Expect a very busy and energetic airport, so arrive 2-3 hours early to help smoothly check in and get processed. Visit ORD’s official website to find a guide to Chicago O’Hare Terminal Five that can make your trip easier, including maps and flight trackers.

Once you come in through the main doors, you’ll face multiple ticket centers before the terminal veers off to the left and the right. The gates start with M1 all the way at the very end and center around the building to M21. The recently completed expansion includes gates to M40. Towards the center are restaurants and other amenities.

The Dunkin is always busy and crowded, especially for early morning flights. Savvy travelers know to get their coffee down the concourse. If you can manage non-Dunkin, kiosks to the west and the east have shorter lines.

Note that the distances between various gates and the check-in counters are often quite large, meaning you’ll need to walk a lot before you fly. Accessibility options are available from O’Hare as well, including wheelchairs and other items that make walking a little easier.

International Services in ORD Terminal 5

There are shuttles and other services available, though when you reserve a parking spot with The Parking Spot, you get access to coupons, deals, luggage support, and other benefits. Once inside, you’ll find many things to do in Terminal 5, including restaurants, shopping, and lounges.

Chicago O’Hare International Terminal 5 provides easy access to currency exchange services that can help travelers get a specific type of currency before departing. These centers also help international travelers from outside the country easily convert their money to American cash.

Though there are locations in Terminals 1, 2, and 3, Terminal 5 provides options in both the upper and lower levels. These two options ensure that people traveling through Chicago OHare Customs and beyond don’t have to wait too long to get their money converted.

Other useful international services include ATMs that allow travelers to take money from any bank in the world. So, if you don’t arrive with a lot of cash (or don’t have much on you when you show up before your flight), you can get some to exchange before you leave.

ORD also provides some luggage support, such as handling services, that can make your trip easier. Packing more efficiently can also decrease the sheer number of bags you bring on your trip, reducing your load and making it easier to travel lightly around the world.

Supported Airlines at ORD International Terminal 5

ORD supports many airlines that offer international travel:

• Aer Lingus
• AeroMexico
• Air France
• Air India
• Air New Zealand
• Air Serbia
• All Nippon
• American Airlines
• Austrian Airlines
• Avianca
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific Airways
• Copa Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• EVA Ai
• Emirates
• Ethiopian Airlines
• Etihad Airways
• Finnair
• Frontier Airlines
• Iberia Airlines
• Icelandair
• Japan Airlines
• KLM Royal Dutch
• Korean Air
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Jordanian
• Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)
• Southwest Airlines
• Sun Country
• SWISS
• TAP Air Portugal
• Turkish Airlines
• United
• VivaAerobus
• Volaris
• Westjet Airlines

Service & Help Desks in Chicago O’Hare International Terminal 5

There are multiple service and help desks scattered throughout Chicago O’Hare International Terminal 5, including the ticket desks at the entrance. However, there are also volunteers who work throughout the terminal that can help you. If you’re distressed, Travelers Aid can help with issues, such as challenges when traveling with children.

Travelers Aid Chicago is a social service located inside the airport that provides crisis intervention, emergency provisions, and support for all travelers during flights. Their Terminal 5 location is just inside security at Gate M15 and outside security in the upper-level and lower-level lobbies.

Lost and Found in ORD International Terminal 5

While looking for things to do in Terminal 5 after getting through Chicago O’Hare Customs, you might notice you misplaced your phone or something equally important. Don’t panic; ORD pairs with US customs services to provide lost-and-found support.

So if you lost something, call +1 (773) 686-3157 and speak with a customs agent. You can also call your airline using one of the numbers listed here to track lost luggage. Furthermore, you should check out that site if you lost items on ORD’s many shuttle services or in the baggage claim area.

These tips are particularly important when planning a family vacation because there’s a good chance your children might not pay close attention to everything during your trip. If you lose anything in a shuttle from The Parking Spot after you reserve a parking spot with us, contact us, and we’ll do our best to find what you lost.

A Guide to Chicago OHare Terminal Five Accessibility/ADA Services

ORD International Terminal 5 provides multiple services for people with special needs. Terminal 5 provides accessible restrooms outside security near the Checkpoint and in the food court area. There are elevators scattered throughout the airport as well, which makes travel easier.

For physical accessibility support (such as help with restrooms, signs, telephones, drinking fountains, and changing facilities), you must visit your airline’s specific ticketing counter. Here, they can set you up with wheelchair services and other important support items.

Our team at The Parking Spot also provides accessibility support for all customers who reserve a parking spot with us. Furthermore, we also provide accessible website and app options that help make it easier to reserve a parking spot with our team of experts.

How Much Time You Have When Visiting Chicago O’Hare International Terminal 5

As mentioned previously, you should get to ORD 3-4 hours before your flight. Wait times can vary heavily, with some people having no more than 15-minute delays. Others might have over an hour to wait, though O’Hare is pretty efficient and rarely has massive delays.

Thankfully, there are many things to do in Terminal 5 while you’re here, including visiting restaurants like Big Bowl, Farmer’s Fridge, Garrett Popcorn Shops, Goddess on the Go, Metropolis Kiosk Coffee, and more. Some provide healthier food options for your travel needs.

That said, you can also head out and check out Chicago if you have more time to kill. For instance, the Chicago Blackhawks NHL arena isn’t far away from the airport and is a great place to check out if the Blackhawks are at home and you want to see a game. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to get back before your departure.

Traveling Through ORD Terminal 5 With Children

After you pass through Chicago O’Hare Customs in Terminal 5 with your kids, you’ll probably want to find things to do in Terminal 5 that they’ll enjoy. Thankfully, ORD is one of the most kid-friendly airports in the nation and has plenty of amazing activities to keep them occupied.

For example, there’s a large play area with a fully restored World War II F4F Wildcat that they can check out. Though not available in Terminal 5, this spot is worth checking out if you have some time to kill. There are also shops where you can buy fun toys, books, and other items for fussy kids.

Service Animal Relief Centers in Chicago O’Hare International Terminal 5

When traveling through Chicago O’Hare, there are many pet relief areas available for service animals. In this guide to Chicago O’Hare Terminal Five, our team at The Parking Spot discovered that there’s one relief area for your pets in this terminal.

To get to it, take the elevator between Door 5B and 5C down to Baggage Claim on the lower level. Once here, exit through Door 5B. The relief center is on the left. Make sure you follow proper etiquette rules here, including keeping your pet on a leash around other animals.

Airport Shuttle Systems Serving ORD Terminal 5

Once you reserve with one of our partners, The Parking Spot, you get shuttle transportation to O’Hare to streamline your trip. When traveling from a hotel or other areas in Chicago, you can also use one of many shuttle, bus, and taxi options.

These include Terminal Transfer Bus (TTB) service between Terminals 1 and 5, as well as a route from Terminals 3 to 5. You can also use the O’Hare Airport Transit System (ATS), a three-mile automated people mover system that only takes 10 minutes to move you through the airport.

Long Layover Activities For Chicago O’Hare International Terminal 5

Even though ORD is one of the most efficient airports in the nation, it’s huge, and delays can happen. Furthermore, extensive trips across the nation or the world can require hours of layover that can make your trip very frustrating. Thankfully, Chicago is an amazing and exciting city with lots to do.

If you have time to leave the airport, there are hundreds of things you could do nearby. For example, you could hop in an Uber and visit Shedd Aquarium. As one of the largest aquariums in the nation, it’s an amazing place to take children to see penguins, sharks, and anacondas.

Even if you don’t leave the airport, there’s plenty to do! Beyond shopping and eating, you can check out art throughout the airport. Though not one of the top international airport art destinations, Terminal 5 and other areas have paintings, sculptures, and other art pieces to visit.

Final Thoughts on Chicago O’Hare Terminal 5

With high-quality shuttle services, plenty of amenities, and unique sights and sounds, Terminal 5 doesn't have to be a chore to visit. With a little bit of careful planning and foresight, you can ensure you get the experience you want, a less stressful travel experience.