Terminal 2 – Mixed Airlines (United Express, Air Canada, etc.)

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Terminal 2 is smaller and houses United Express flights (Concourse F) and a few other airlines like Air Canada and Alaska (Concourse E).

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Lounge options here are:

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• United Club (Concourse F, near Gate F9): The sole United Club in Terminal 2. It’s convenient for United Express regional flight passengers who don’t want to trek back to Terminal 1. It offers the same amenities as other United Clubs (snacks, bar, workspaces).

• USO Lounge (Concourse G between T2/T3 rotunda): There is a USO for active-duty military personnel and their families, located on the mezzanine level of the T2/T3 connector. Access: free for active military (ID required). Amenities include refreshments, relaxation area, etc. This is not a public lounge, but a great resource for the military community.

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No other airline lounges in T2. Delta used to be in T2 but moved to T5. Air Canada does not have a Maple Leaf Lounge at ORD (Air Canada elite and business class passengers can use United Club). Alaska Airlines also doesn’t have its own lounge here.

Terminal 3 – American Airlines & Oneworld

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Terminal 3 is dominated by American Airlines (with some Oneworld partners and other carriers like JetBlue, Spirit in adjacent concourses).

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It has the most lounges of any terminal at ORD:

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• American Admirals Club (Concourse H, near Gate H6 / K6): This is AA’s flagship Admirals Club at O’Hare, very large and recently renovated. It’s situated between concourses H and K. It features a full bar, lots of seating, and even shower facilities. Open ~5am to 10pm.

• American Admirals Club (Concourse G, near Gate G8): A smaller Admirals Club lounge in the G concourse (used for some American Eagle/regional flights). Open ~6:15am – 8pm.

• American Admirals Club (Concourse L, near Gate L2A): Another Admirals Club location in Concourse L (the satellite used by American Eagle flights). Open ~6:15am – 8pm. This is useful if you’re in the L gates remote pier.

• American Flagship Lounge (Concourse H/K near Admirals Club): The Flagship Lounge is adjacent to or within the main Admirals Club by H/K, reserved for premium passengers. It offers upgraded food and drink (buffet with hot items, premium liquor, champagne, etc.) and a quieter, posh atmosphere.

• USO Lounge: Terminal 3 also has a USO lounge (as mentioned above, between T2 and T3 connector). Again, for military personnel only.

• Other Airline Lounges: Historically, some Oneworld airlines (e.g. Japan Airlines or Iberia) might have used AA’s lounges. There is no separate British Airways lounge at ORD; BA premium passengers use AA’s Flagship Lounge since they’re partners and BA departs from T5 currently.

Terminal 5 – International & Others (Delta, Star Alliance, etc.)

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Terminal 5 is the international terminal at O’Hare (all international arrivals come through here, and many international departures as well). It’s also now home to Delta Air Lines (which moved from T2).

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T5 has a mix of airline and independent lounges:

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• Delta Sky Club (Concourse M, near Gate M11): Opened in 2022, this is a large, modern lounge for Delta flyers. Amenities include a spacious seating area, buffet with hot food, premium bar, showers, and even an outdoor Sky Deck (in some Sky Clubs – not sure if ORD has one, but it has great windows).

• Swissport Lounge (Concourse M, near Gate M7): This is an independent lounge open to multiple airlines and programs. Priority Pass members can access this lounge for free. It’s a relatively small lounge, offering light snacks, drinks, and a quiet space. Airlines like Air France/KLM often send their premium passengers here (if they don’t have their own lounge).

• SAS Lounge (Concourse M, near Gate M13): Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) operates a lounge when their flights are operating. It’s also a contract lounge for Star Alliance/Swiss/etc in T5. It has a Scandinavian design, with a self-serve bar and some cold food options.

• LOT Polish Airlines Business Lounge (Concourse M, near Gate M7/M9): LOT opened a small lounge for its premium passengers in T5. It’s mainly for LOT business class and Star Alliance Gold on LOT. Not accessible to others unless you’re on a LOT or Star flight that offers it. Not part of Priority Pass.

• Airline-specific VIP lounges: Some international carriers have their own lounges or share with others. For example, Emirates has a dedicated lounge for its first/business passengers (though this might have limited hours around their flight). British Airways used to have an alliance with AA’s Flagship, but since BA now operates out of T5, BA likely uses the Swissport or SAS lounge for their biz/first.

Tips for Lounge Hopping and Transfers at ORD

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• Terminals 1-3 are connected airside: You can walk between T1, T2, T3 without leaving security. This means if you have a lounge access in one (e.g., an Admirals Club in T3) but you’re flying out of T1, you can go to that lounge and then walk back to T1 for your flight. It might be a 10-15 minute walk, so plan accordingly. Many savvy travelers do this to use the best available lounge.

• Leaving security for a lounge: If you really want to use a lounge not in your terminal (say, you’re in T3 but want to use the Priority Pass lounge in T5), you’ll have to budget 30-45 minutes to go out and come back through security. Generally, this isn’t recommended unless you have a very long layover, because TSA lines at ORD can be long. But if you have PreCheck and plenty of time, it’s doable to ride the train to T5 and back. Always keep an eye on time.

• Lounge operating hours: Most lounges at ORD open early (5–7 a.m.) and close after the last evening bank of flights (8–11 p.m.). Check exact times if you have an odd-hour layover.

• Guest policies: If you’re traveling with family or friends, note each lounge’s guest policy. United Club membership allows 2 guests or spouse + kids. Admirals Club allows immediate family or 2 guests with a member. Priority Pass typically allows at least one guest free (depending on your card issuer).

Kudos Tip

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While enjoying the lounge life, don’t forget to earn maximum rewards on your travel purchases. Using the right credit card for buying airline tickets, lounge memberships, or even duty-free shopping can yield extra points. Kudos can help by automatically recommending the best card to use when you’re shopping online for travel.

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It’s like having a personal rewards advisor. For example, if one of your cards gives 3x points on travel, Kudos will prompt you to use it for an airline purchase. It’s free to use, and new members can snag $20 back after their first eligible purchase by signing up with code “GET20” – a nice little travel bonus!

FAQs: Chicago O’Hare Lounges

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How many lounges are at O’Hare Airport?

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There are 16 lounges at ORD spanning all terminals. This includes airline-operated lounges (United Clubs, Admirals Clubs, Delta Sky Club, Polaris, Flagship) and a few independent ones (Swissport, SAS). Terminal 1 has 4 (3 United Clubs + Polaris), Terminal 2 has 2 (United Club + USO), Terminal 3 has 5 (3 Admirals, Flagship, USO), and Terminal 5 has 4 (Sky Club, Swissport, SAS, LOT) – totaling 15, plus there may be a few airline-specific ones like Emirates lounge making it around 16+. The number can change if new lounges open (for example, if Amex builds a Centurion Lounge in the future).

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Is there a Priority Pass lounge in Terminal 1, 2, or 3?

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No. Priority Pass is only accepted at the Swissport Lounge in Terminal 5 at ORD. Terminals 1-3 have no Priority Pass locations. The only way to use Priority Pass in T1-3 would be if a restaurant participated, but currently none do at O’Hare. So if you’re flying out of T1-3 and have PP, you’d have to go to T5 which isn’t practical unless you’re already there.

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Which O’Hare lounge is best for a long layover?

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If you have access to all, the Polaris Lounge (if eligible) is the most luxurious with full meal service. The Flagship Lounge and Delta Sky Club are also excellent choices with substantial food options. For a layover with Priority Pass, the Swissport Lounge in T5 is decent but can get crowded since it’s small. Admirals Clubs and United Clubs are comfortable for passing time, offering good Wi-Fi if you need to work. If you have a really long layover (5+ hours), you might even lounge-hop: for example, try the Sky Club in T5 (if you can get in) for lunch, then an Admirals Club in T3 for a change of scenery. Just account for security lines if changing terminals.

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Can economy class passengers use lounges at O’Hare?

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Yes – being in economy doesn’t exclude you from lounges. You’ll just need another method of access (credit card, membership, day pass, or to be someone’s guest). Many economy class travelers at ORD use lounges via their credit cards (e.g. Amex Platinum holders in Delta Sky Club, or Citi Executive card holders in Admirals Club). Also, paying for a day pass is an option for anyone, regardless of ticket class – for instance, an economy passenger on American can buy a $79 Admirals Club pass and enjoy the lounge before their flight.

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Does O’Hare have any sleeping pods or private lounges?

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O’Hare doesn’t currently have pay-by-use sleeping pods or Minute Suites. Lounges like Polaris have nap rooms but only for eligible travelers. If you need to rest overnight and don’t have lounge access, you may have to exit and use the Hilton hotel connected to O’Hare or nearby hotels. Some Admirals Clubs and United Clubs have quiet areas, but none offer dedicated nap pods to general guests.