Located on Chicago's Northwest Side about 17 miles northwest of downtown, O'Hare International Airport is operated by the Chicago Department of Aviation across 7,627 acres. Boasting eight runways—the most of any airport worldwide—it serves as a massive global hub connecting passengers to hundreds of nonstop destinations across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond.
O'Hare functions as a major domestic and international hub for American Airlines and United Airlines, as well as an operating base for Frontier Airlines. The airport is organized into multiple distinct terminals connected to specific carrier operations, featuring concourses designed with direct highway access and efficient gate layouts to streamline passenger navigation.
Under the active O'Hare 21 expansion program, the facility is actively transitioning toward an innovative alliance-hub terminal model. Ongoing capital updates are expanding terminal gate capacities, modernizing existing concourses, and replacing Terminal 2 with the O'Hare Global Terminal to allow seamless domestic and international flight transfers for both Star Alliance and Oneworld carrier partners.
01 Terminals & concourses
Designed by Helmut Jahn, Terminal 1 features 50 gates across Concourses B and C. An illuminated underground tunnel displaying the neon artwork Sky's the Limit connects the concourses.
Terminal 2 historically hosted Concourse L and is scheduled for replacement by the upcoming O'Hare Global Terminal. Its facilities are receiving gate and lounge updates during airport redevelopment.
Expanded and renovated by American Airlines, Terminal 3 features a prominent flag-lined entrance hall leading passengers to Concourses H and K.
Opened in 1993, Terminal 5 handles customs processing and international flights at O'Hare. Recent expansions added ten new gates and two gates configured for Airbus A380 aircraft.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Which terminal does my airline use?
Airlines are grouped by alliance and region. Always confirm the concourse printed on your boarding pass — assignments can change seasonally.
Show all airlines by terminal ›
Grouped by terminal — check the concourse on your boarding pass before you fly; assignments can change seasonally.
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at ORD
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
03 Getting to & from ORD
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Chicago "L" | Rail transit offering direct access to the airport. |
| Kennedy Expressway | Direct expressway road access leading into the airport terminal core. |
| Bus | Bus service connections to the airport. |
| Airport shuttle | Shuttle services available for road transport. |
| Taxis | Taxi transfers servicing airport arrivals and departures. |
| People mover | Automated transport connecting the terminal core with Terminal 5, parking, and rental facilities. |
04 Lounges & amenities
Ongoing terminal expansion plans include updated lounge facilities across Terminal 2 and Terminal 5.
