Chicago Travel Forum

I am returning from Europe to Ohare (where I have never been) and then have to make a connecting flight about 3 hours later. I have to book my own ticket on United to get to my final destination. My question is--Is the airport similar to Atlanta where we go through Customs, get our bags and then put them on a belt to our final destination/ Is it simple or difficult--Would appreciate your comments-Thank you

Yes. Upon your first landing in the USA you will have to clear immigration, pick up your bags, pass customs and then continue as you mention.

If there are no complictions, you should have enough time, but maybe not much to spare. O'Hare is about as busy, large and confusing as the Atlanta airport.

Thank you for the answwer-- I appreciate it-

Thank you-Time will not be a factor as I have over 3 hours for connnection time but i was wondering about the clearance and re-checking of bags etc. I got my answer-thank you

Glad you got your answer, but I was going offer my two cents worth. Hopefully it is the same as you already know.

You must clear customs/immigration at your first port of entry. Chicago's immigration lines can be backed up if you are the last ones off the plane, but you should not have to wait more than 15 minutes. That does not hurt you anyway since it takes about that long for your bags to come off the belt.

If you have nothing to declare, customs will be extremely fast. Basically taking only as much time as it is required for all the baggage carts to go through the small doors.

After you exit customs, maybe only 20 yards down the hall, there will be a connecting flight baggage re-check. If your bags have already been tagged for Atlanta, just drop them there and go.

You will need to exit the security, get on the tram and go to the main terminal. (International flights land in terminal 5, and domestic flights leave from 1/2/3).

3 hours is more than enough time.

YOu definitely have enough time.
As mentioned above, you will:
(a) land at Terminal 5
(b) go through customs; out the "arrival doors" - i.e. the doors past customs and take the tram (it's in the upper floor once you get out of the "arrival doors")
(c) get off at Terminal 1 (United's terminal)

I normally don't check-in bags so I'm not very sure with the procedure. BUt if you booked your OWN ticket with United, I'm not sure that you can put your bags on the belt to the final destination (i.e. since it's a separate ticket then you might have to lug your bags to Terminal 1 and then check your bags all over again). BUt either way, you have sufficient time.

Provided you have identification and a valid ticket, the assitants at the re-check after immigration will be able to take your bags for you right there.

I've had to do this myself a few times, either because foreign ticket counter could not tag them all the way, or there was a transfer in air carrier that did not allow them to tag all the way through.