One of the best lounges at Chicago’s O’Hare — and find out how to get inside

Chicago’s largest airport, O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD), continues to interrupt passenger quantity information, and the airport’s lounge recreation is getting higher. Whereas there’s nonetheless no Centurion Lounge, it is making progress nonetheless.

Flyers can select from 15 airline-affiliated lounges throughout 4 terminals on each the departures and arrivals sides to accommodate home and worldwide flights.

Not all lounges are created equal, although — so we have compiled a listing of our favourite lounges at O’Hare.

United Golf equipment and Polaris lounges in Terminals 1 and a pair of: At a look

The place are the United Golf equipment and the Polaris lounge?

There are three United Golf equipment in Terminal 1, particularly close to gates B6, B18 and C10. There is a fourth United Membership in Terminal 2, throughout from Gate F9 and there is now a fifth United Membership now in Terminal 2, Concourse E, close to gate E7. Lots of the United lounges are open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. day by day, although the latest Concourse E lounge (a former Delta lounge) is open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. day by day.

In the meantime, the Polaris lounge is in Terminal 1 by gate C18 and usually opens at 6 a.m. day by day, although it’s at the moment closed for a large enlargement.

What’s it like contained in the United Golf equipment and Polaris lounge?

The 5 United Golf equipment are comparatively comparable, however the primary variations are within the sq. footage, design and stage of renovation.

4 of the 5 United Golf equipment have a full-service bar with beer, wine, liquor and nonalcoholic choices; a minimum of one buffet with cold and hot meals; gentle snacks; a espresso bar; a freestyle Coca-Cola machine; and filtered water. Lounge menus rotate quarterly, incorporating seasonal parts. Automated robotic trash collectors accumulate dishes and trash for purchasers.

Even within the smaller lounges, friends can take pleasure in workspaces, together with collective group areas in addition to particular person seating areas with loads of chairs and retailers.

Most golf equipment have a minimum of 4 premium service reps in every membership per shift.

O’Hare’s numerous United Golf equipment

Situated by gate C10 in Terminal 1, one of many latest United Golf equipment opened in January 2023 and thus displays the model’s membership redesign with vivid, fashionable and industrial options.

Highlights of this membership embody a wellness room for fogeys, a QR-based customer support help technique and a brightly coloured jet bridge outdoors with views from many floor-to-ceiling home windows. The 17,000-square-foot room has 400 seats, so it is unlikely to really feel overcrowded.

The membership close to gate B6 is definitely bigger than the one by C10, at 19,000 sq. toes and greater than 475 seats. It has two scorching plate bars and 4 customer support brokers. Moreover, it is very vivid (due to synthetic and pure gentle), ethereal and open.

You will discover many Lufthansa and ANA flyers within the United Membership close to B18, as many worldwide flights depart from close by gates. Of be aware are the membership’s non-public telephone room and two buffets. Given that it is the smallest membership at ORD — with simply over 10,000 sq. toes and roughly 120 seats — it is also an excellent lounge for lounge newbies to dip their toes in.

One other membership at Gate F9 additionally has two buffet choices. It’s 12,500 sq. toes and has greater than 230 seats.

The most recent United Membership is in Terminal 2 close to Gate E7. It isn’t the fanciest United Membership, but it surely does have a self-service bar.

The Polaris lounge (at the moment closed)

The extra upscale Polaris lounge at O’Hare is located throughout from the duty-free retailer and gate C18. It’s accessible to worldwide clients touring in United Polaris and premium Star Alliance cabins.

It is at the moment closed for enlargement and reworking — however as soon as it reopens, we count on it to be bigger and extra fabulous.

The primary Polaris lounge within the nation, it is marked by its distinctive large chandelier, wherein each ball represents a metropolis road in Chicago.

Associated: United Airways’ high lounge exec pulls again the curtain on 5 main updates for 2025

A few of the lounge’s most luxurious options embody the first-come, first-served showers and personal shaded daybeds, the place you possibly can sleep for an hour on 145-degree heated Saks Fifth Avenue linens. For those who want an extended relaxation — maybe attributable to a world layover — you possibly can lengthen your time in mattress pending availability.

A seasonally rotating, domestically impressed menu served on an island with an adjoining buffet line and particular person eating room for a la carte service means there’s probably one thing to suit most dietary wants. There’s additionally a full-service bar.

There are six bathe suites accessible (together with one People with Disabilities Act-compliant bathe) that present loungers, slippers, Therabody merchandise and different facilities. Everlasting urgent laundry providers — particularly shirts, pants and sweaters — can be found for fast freshening up inside 5 to 10 minutes.

Learn how to entry the United Golf equipment and Polaris lounges

United Membership℠ Card (see charges and charges) cardholders ($695 annual charge) obtain limitless United Membership entry for themselves and a visitor. For those who attain premier Gold standing or spend 50,000 on purchases per calendar yr, you stand up to 2 friends per go to. The United℠ Explorer Card (see charges and charges) contains two single-use United Membership passes yearly.

It’s also possible to pay for a United Membership membership with money or miles, and costs differ by United Premier elite standing stage.

United is now providing two tiers of membership membership, Particular person and All-Entry, because it lately overhauled its entry guidelines.

Choose Premier members also can entry the United Membership. Particularly, United Premier Gold (and better) members can entry the service’s lounges when touring internationally on any Star Alliance service, no matter their class of service. They will additionally carry one visitor departing on a Star Alliance service from the identical airport. Star Alliance Gold members who maintain standing with one other associate airline can use the United Membership with any same-day Star Alliance boarding cross, together with throughout home United journey.

Those that do not maintain playing cards or have standing can buy a day cross for $59 within the membership or by way of the United cellular app (although it is now not good for grab-and-go golf equipment).

When it reopens, the Polaris lounge will once more be accessible to vacationers in United Polaris enterprise class (no friends) in addition to these in Star Alliance top notch (one visitor) and enterprise class (no friends).

Admirals Membership and Flagship Lounges in Terminal 3: At a look

The place are the American Airways Admirals Golf equipment and Flagship Lounges?

There are three American Airways Admirals Golf equipment and one American Airways Flagship Lounge in Terminal 3. Two Admirals Golf equipment are previous safety throughout from gate G8 and earlier than gate L1. In the meantime, the Admirals Membership and Flagship Lounge will be discovered after safety within the crosswalk between gates H6 and K6.

What’s it like contained in the American Airways Admirals Golf equipment and Flagship Lounge?

Not one of the American Airways lounges will change your life in the case of lounge visits, however they do supply just about all of the fundamentals. In our expertise, there’s normally room to sit down down and seize a chunk to eat regardless of which lounge you take pleasure in, although there’s more room within the Flagship Lounge.

Total, the Flagship Lounge makes for a greater expertise, although entry necessities are extra stringent.

O’Hare’s Admirals Golf equipment

Within the common Admirals Golf equipment, the foods and drinks choice is fundamental, however you will not go hungry with a collection of chilly cuts, soups and different snacks. Water, espresso, tea and delicate drinks are self-serve, although there’s a full bar with a bartender at every location.

There are many seating areas to select from, with views of the airport tarmac.

The American Airways Flagship Lounge

The Flagship Lounge is a step above with fewer crowds, devoted service desks and nice airport views (it is a stage above the Admirals Golf equipment).

You will additionally discover bathe services accessible on a first-come, first-served foundation.

An elevated meals station serves cold and hot meals buffet-style. The choice is great, with loads of choices for any urge for food.

There’s additionally a greater collection of beer, wine and alcohol to select from.

Learn how to entry the American Airways Golf equipment and Flagship Lounge

Most often, to entry Admirals Membership, you may have to current a same-day American, Alaska Airways or different Oneworld service flight boarding cross (some lifetime memberships do not require a same-day boarding cross).

These with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Government World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and charges) obtain complimentary Admirals Membership entry, as do Concierge Key members. It’s also possible to entry the golf equipment by holding an eligible premium ticket, particularly business- and first-class tickets on worldwide American- or Oneworld-operated flights.

To entry the Flagship Lounge, you may have to be Concierge Key or be touring in Flagship First on a world flight.

Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald standing by American AAdvantage (by way of Platinum, Platinum Professional and Government Platinum standing) or the Alaska Airways Mileage Plan (by way of MVP Gold, 75K and 100K standing) additionally allows you and a visitor to entry Admirals Golf equipment or Flagship Lounges on qualifying worldwide itineraries operated by American or a Oneworld associate — even in economic system class.

If you’re a member with Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald standing by way of a program aside from AAdvantage or Mileage Plan (like British Airways Gold standing), you and a visitor can entry an Admirals Membership or Flagship Lounge when touring on American or one other Oneworld service for home itineraries as properly.

In any other case, you possibly can pay for entry in a wide range of methods.

A one-day cross is $79 or 7,900 miles. (We don’t suggest this primarily based on TPG’s valuation of American miles.)

Annual particular person and family memberships price between $700 and $1,650, relying in your standing stage and whether or not you’re renewing an present membership or shopping for a brand new one.

Lastly, members can choose a membership membership as two of their Loyalty Level Selection Rewards.

Notice that memberships and day passes are just for Admirals Golf equipment, not Flagship Lounges.

Delta Sky Membership at Terminal 5

The place is the Delta Sky Membership?

The Delta Sky Membership is after safety between gates M11 and M14. It is open day by day from 4:30 a.m. to eight p.m., apart from Saturday, when it closes at 6 p.m.

What’s it like contained in the Delta Sky Membership?

The O’Hare Delta Sky Membership is one in every of our favorites within the system. This lounge measures greater than 22,000 sq. toes and affords a wide range of seating areas.

The Sky Membership has a full-service bar with beer, wine, liquor and nonalcoholic choices. It additionally has a big buffet with cold and hot selections, and several other espresso stations with espresso machines or scorching drip espresso and tea.

There are two full bars and areas for watching TV, planespotting or working. Throughout our visits, it has by no means felt crowded.

Meals is plentiful, with scorching breakfast objects like sausages within the mornings and extra sturdy dishes served later within the day.

The lounge has showers you possibly can e-book on a first-come, first-served foundation.

There may be additionally a wellness room for nursing moms.

Not solely are there nice views of the airport and Delta jets, however there’s even a Chicago-style scorching canine vendor.

Associated: Delta unveils Sky Membership and Terminal 5 gates at Chicago’s O’Hare airport

By far the most effective function of this membership is that it additionally has two boarding gates. One is used for flights to its hub at New York Metropolis’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and the opposite is for worldwide Delta companions like Air France.

Learn how to entry the Delta Sky Membership

There are a selection of the way to get into the Delta Sky Membership.

Some premium playing cards present complimentary lounge entry, and there are additionally numerous paid choices to enter a Sky Membership — so long as you are not flying fundamental economic system.

For instance, The Platinum Card® from American Specific, The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Specific, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Specific Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Enterprise American Specific Card all present complimentary entry for same-day Delta-operated flights or Delta-marketed WestJet flights, excluding Delta fundamental economic system or equal associate fares.

As of Feb. 1, Delta has capped yearly Sky Membership visits (Feb. 1 to Jan. 31) at 10 visits for Amex Platinum and Amex Enterprise Platinum and 15 for Delta Reserve Amex and Delta Reserve Enterprise Amex cardholders.

There are additionally a wide range of paid choices for getting into a Sky Membership, so long as you aren’t flying fundamental economic system.

Delta Reserve cardholders on Delta associate airline flights will pay $50 per go to, whereas elite standing members will pay money or SkyMiles — particularly $695 or 69,500 SkyMiles (particular person membership) or $1,495 or 149,500 SkyMiles (government membership) yearly.

There are numerous methods for Delta SkyMiles elite members to entry SkyClubs. For instance, Diamond and Platinum Medallion members can choose Selection Advantages every Medallion yr for entry. Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion members also can entry lounges when touring in Premium Choose or Delta One seats on a same-day worldwide itinerary.

Premium cabin tickets also can yield lounge entry: home and worldwide Delta One passengers and people flying on a same-day worldwide first-class or business-class ticket on a SkyTeam-operated flight (confirmed in enterprise class or top notch for each section of the ticket) get Sky Membership lounge entry no matter elite standing or membership.

Lastly, SkyTeam Elite Plus members from different airways can entry Delta Sky Membership lounges when touring on a SkyTeam worldwide flight (excluding between the U.S. and the Caribbean) or a SkyTeam home flight connecting to or from a SkyTeam worldwide flight.

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