UA-UA Transfer Experience at ORD

[jjpb3]

To our ORD travellers:

I'm transiting at ORD, coming in from LHR and connecting to a domestic destination (thank goodness not on TED).

1. Anything I should be mindful of? How are the immigration lines at around 1530? Is a two-hour window comfortable if I don't have checked luggage?

2. Is there a lot of walking involved (that might determine whether I take a heavier but wheeled luggage vs. a non-rolling shoulder bag)?

3. I think there is more than one RCC. If that's right, is one favored over the other?

4. How are the F&B options at ORD? I'll probably need coffee at that hour more than anything.

Thanks in advance.

[9V-JKL]

I'll answer 2,3,4

Depending where you land and where you depart. From one-end of Concourse B to the other end of C could be a bit of walking. Possibly up to 15mins.
http://www.ual.com.sg/core/english/S...s/chicago.html
There's 4 RCCs in total. 1 in T2 and 3 in T1. They're mostly the same IMHO. Other than the one near gate B7, all others have tarmac views

Coffee? Quite a few places Starbucks being the main vendor

[cawhite]

I'll leave #1 up to CGK to answer as I've only cleared with a US passport. But I think you should be fine with your window.

2 -- You'll take the ATS from T5 to T1 so not a lot of walking between terminals. Within terminals is going to vary - but no more than 10 minutes walking time within each terminal (athough most likely less, having walked with you before ), not including time you'll be standing in the queues for immigration at T5 and security at T1. I do it with both the rollaboard and the shoulder bag.

3 -- Which RCC is best for your itinerary depends on which gate your flight is leaving from. Looking at the past couple days & tomorrow, I would suggest either the one in the walkway to the B20-22 gates, or the one between C16-18. You'll have a txt waiting for you when you land to let you know which one is best for your departing flight (call me if the txt doesn't go through).

4 -- There's coffee in the RCC. If for some reason you aren't going to have time to get to the RCC, there are plenty of *$ (Starbucks) in T1, including one right after you've cleared the main security queue.

I predict you might have an escort from T5 to your gate in T1.

[CGK]

The length of immigration and customs depend on the so-called-luck (i.e. whether you would get secondary inspection or not, which I am pretty sure you won't. And yes, stress that you are going to connect to Canada).
But there is something you can do being young and fit!
Once the airplane door opens, just rush out, and walk fast. Last time when I did arrive from LHR with cawhite, we walked pretty far. So, by having ahead from the fellow pax of your flight, you might be able to go ahead farther passing other pax coming out from other gates.

Anyway, in short, try to rush to the immigration hall. And you will see whether the line is long or not.

If you have a check-in bag, you have to retrieve it here. And drop it off after the customs. The UA as fas as I remember, using the door to your right.
When I was there with cawhite, we picked up our bags, and we saw a very long line on the right hand side door (i.e. UA pax to get out from that door near the UA belts.) But we did not need to connect that time. So, cawhite took me to the left gate, and yippeeee.... very short line going through customs. This door mostly were AA pax.

I know LHR is strict with one carry on policy. If you have a small check-in bag, just pick it up at ORD. And no need to re-check the bag at ORD. In North America, as you are aware, you can carry one rollabag and one computer bag. So, by dragging them to your UA flight, you reduce the chance of missing ck-in bag (as all connecting bag has to go through TSA), and also, a speedier service at YVR, which sometimes the check-in bags ariving at the carousel not too quick!

I am sure you are in a good hand regarding RCC. For coffee, well RCC coffee for me is not strong enough (oooh gosh.. Cher's song! ). Thus better grab something stronger at the so many vendors around there gate. And yeah, you can carry one on board as well if you want to!

I think, before the tunnel to go to C terminal, after security towards your right, you will see a coffee shop, also a bit to the right is a duty free shop. I believe there is a dateline when u can buy since the goods will be delivered at the gate before the jetway.

Enjoy your trip!

[SQflyergirl]

or the one between C16-18.

Ah the good old days when i could light up Twas of course, my favourite one in ORD.

[Savage25]

Ah the good old days when i could light up Twas of course, my favourite one in ORD.

Ditto!

[cawhite]

Ah the good old days when i could light up Twas of course, my favourite one in ORD.

AT least you used the past tense - the smoking room at the ORD RCC has been gone for a little over a year.

[SQFAN]

Anyone heard from jjpb3 yet?

Last I heard was that he arrived at ORD and just about to clear immigration....then no more text message.

[CGK]

Just dropped him of at Gate 102 SFO. He will be flying back to the UK very soon!

[flyboy777]

Done UA949. The flight has a United flight from Frankfurt & the BA 747 from Heathrow arriving at a similar time. Don't worry about bags, as you can drop them at the bag drop after immigration & border control etc. if they've already been tagged. Get the little train thing & go straight to security in T1. 2 hours should be enough. Airside again, there's a lot of cheap food.