connecting flights from chicago O’Hare?
Flights
Nadine C asked:
I am going to orlando international airport 2 April from Manchester international UK to Chicago o’Hare then from their to Orlando. Please could you help I have never been on connecting flights before, Is it easy.
The first flight is with BMI and the second with united airlines. I have read some bad reviews about United airlines how bad are they?
My main concerns are 1.the flight will be fully booked ( I have heard of this happening even when you have booked in advance. 2. I will not know where to go to check in for my flight.
I am going to orlando international airport 2 April from Manchester international UK to Chicago o’Hare then from their to Orlando. Please could you help I have never been on connecting flights before, Is it easy.
The first flight is with BMI and the second with united airlines. I have read some bad reviews about United airlines how bad are they?
My main concerns are 1.the flight will be fully booked ( I have heard of this happening even when you have booked in advance. 2. I will not know where to go to check in for my flight.
I am flying with my two children 12 and 4 and I do not want to mess this up for them.
Jimmy
March 24th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
United Airlines is not that bad so don’t worry about that. The weather should be better by then (no snowstorms) so that shouldn’t be a factor.
All you need to do is read the signs. Or ask people (or airline personnel) how to find your next gate. I promise you won’t have any problem.
Here is a link for the Map of Chicago O’hare Airport. The good news is BMI and United are in the same terminal which is Terminal 5. That should help a lot. Have fun on your trip and don’t worry.
March 27th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Hi sir,
First off I wish you nothing but the best when flying with 2 little ones.
My main question is how long do you have inbetween flights? I don’t want to scare you but O’hare is a big airport. When you check in at the airport in England ask the BMI agent if your luggage will be checked all the way through to Orlando or if you will have to recheck it once you get to Chicago. That alone can be half the battle.
When you exit the plane in Chicago have a copy of your itinerary with you. Ask a gate agent where you need to go to get your next connecting flight and they should be able to help you.
And also with the overbooking, yes it can be a problem but it is the responsiblity of the airline who gave you ticket numbers to honor those tickets and if something happens and they cannot get you on the plane you were supposed to be on they will put you on the next available flight.
If you have anymore questions I would be more then happy to help in any way I can. Please feel free to email me at:
Good luck with everything and have a great time in Orlando.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Your biggest problem is that you will likely come into the International Terminal, and then will have to make your way over to the Domestic side, which, especially with kids, can be a hassle. However, it will be well marked with signs, and there are plenty of people around to ask if you need help.
Overbooking is very unlikely, and if they do involuntarily bump you, then you are entitled to a good bit of cash compensation. They go for volunteers long before they would involuntarily bump anyone,a nd usually people will jump at $300 or $400 off their next ticket.
United is an OK airline.
The worst thing about O’Hare is how congested it gets! Ive flown out of it many, many times (probably 100 or so), and its not rare to have your plane get into a line of planes that is 20-30 long to take off. Not fun! But not difficult, either.
March 30th, 2009 at 5:31 am
At O’Hare the biggest hurdle is going from the international terminal over to the domestic.
I know BMI and United are both part of the Star Alliance. Sometimes United will let other Star Alliance partners use their gates in the domestic terminal. O’Hare is my home airport and travel United frequently for work — I’ve seen Luftansa planes using United gates in the domestic terminal, but never BMI.
If they take you to the international terminal, there should be a shuttle that will take you to domestic. The United terminal is large, but easy to navigate around — they have boards and agents all over the place. They have the A, B and C terminal, C being the farthest one to get to.
United isn’t a bad airline, O’Hare is just a messy airport all around.
Here’s a map of the United terminal. It’s a little messy, but you just need to worry about the international terminal, and concourse B and C.
March 31st, 2009 at 1:11 pm
You will be just fine! There are plenty of people around to help point you in the right direction! I would like to clarify a few things from the previous posters. 1. Your bags will NOT be checked all the way through to Orlando. Since you are coming in from an International location, you are required to claim your bags in the International terminal. You will first go through customs, which will bring you right into the area to claim your bags. 2. United Airlines flights do not depart from Terminal 5! Even United’s International departures leave from Terminal 1, which is where your Chicago to Orlando flight will leave from. Once you pass through customs and claim your bags from Terminal 5, you will follow the signs upstairs to the little train that will take you to Terminal 1. This will be the last (3rd) stop. Once you are in Terminal 1, you can check in for your Orlando flight and check your bags to Orlando. Then you will have to proceed through security again, and then to your gate! You will be just fine. Like I said, there are plenty of people around to help point you in the right direction if you feel lost. As far as overbooking, I wouldn’t worry about it to much. Typically what they do in these cases is look for people that are willing to be bumped, in exchange for a free roundtrip ticket to anywhere in the US, and a lot people usually jump for that opporunity. The flight from Chicago to Orlando will be a TED flight, which is a part of United. It’s their low cost, vacation destination flights…and is operated by United. (Just thought I’d give you heads up on that, because when you look at the departure screens, or your tickets…it will probably say TED on it). I hope you have a wonderful time in Orlando…I’m sure your kids will just LOVE it!!!!
April 1st, 2009 at 8:00 am
It’s very self explainatory .Check what door and letter you shd. go and follow the arrow.If not there’s a lot of employee that could assist you.Make sure that you have enough time for your coonecting flight cause Ohare is huge so don’t waste any min.
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:22 am
Connecting flights are really a breeze
O’Hare is well laid out, and has plenty of signboards to direct you, so you should be okay. And of course, if you need any help at all, ask someone 
United is okay- I avoid them when I can, and don’t recommend them to others, but you should be fine. The flight will probably not be overbooked- and if it is, the airline asks people to volunteer to get off the plane… they won’t kick anyone off, and least of all, you, since you will be traveling with children. If, for any reason, you are asked to get off the flight (which is very unlikely), United is legally responsible for flying you to Orlando as soon as possible. At a major airport like Chicago O’Hare, you won’t be waiting too long, I’m sure. Don’t worry- you’ll be fine