Chicago Meeting Professionals Guide - 2025

Connect with colleagues, family, and friends in Chicago. OAG, the leading data platform for the global travel industry, released a “Megahubs 2023” connectivity study that ranked O’Hare the #1 U.S. Domestic Megahub and the #2 North American Megahub in 2023. Chicago’s airports are hubs to three of the four largest carriers in the United States — American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. Four airlines offer dual services out of O’Hare and Midway: Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Volaris. Combined, Chicago’s airports welcomed nearly 96 million passengers in 2023.

More than 45 passenger airlines provide service from Chicago to approximately 260 airports worldwide, giving attendees better travel flexibility.

NEW & COMING SOON AT O’HARE

This is an exciting time for Chicago’s airports. Major investments continue to be made at O’Hare to provide passengers with an experience fit for the global gateway that it is.

TERMINAL 5 PARKING GARAGE

This October, a new six-story parking garage will open at Terminal 5 — more than doubling the available parking spaces. The garage will provide 1,700 short-term, long-term, and premium parking spaces. The garage will also feature park assist technology and electric vehicle charging stations. The garage will connect to Terminal 5 via a pedestrian bridge. Surface Lot D will remain open, offering an additional 660 spaces.

AIRLINE LOUNGES

Whether arriving early at the airport or waiting for others to arrive in Chicago, travelers can work or relax in the various airline club lounges. Day passes can be purchased by non-members at most of the clubs. At O’Hare, the most recent lounge to open was the Delta Sky Club, which opened in Terminal 5. With 20,000 square feet, this is the largest premium passenger lounge that the airline offers outside of its hub airports.

The United Club in Terminal 1 occupies 17,000 square feet and is nearly twice the size of the previous United Club it replaced near Gate 16. With available seating for 400, there is no shortage of space for lounge-goers to work at individual tables, one-person desks, couches, lounge chairs, and coworking-style desks. The American Airlines’ Admiral’s Club in Terminal 3 will also receive a refresh as part of the ElevateT3 development project.

MORE CONCESSIONS, MORE OPTIONS

From America’s Dog to Wow Bao, O’Hare offers a variety of drink, snack, and meal choices to meet all dietary needs, appetites, and culinary desires. For passengers traveling through O’Hare who wish to shop, the vast options include clothing, toys, books, technology, makeup and perfumes, and shoes, in addition to other specialty items, services, and amenities.

Vending machines are located throughout the airport, providing a 24-hour option for travelers to purchase everything from bandages to hosiery to LEGOs. Traveling families can purchase diapers, wipes, pacifiers, formula, bottles, snacks, and children’s activity kits. Hudson Nonstop in Terminals 1 and 3 offers travelers a fast and convenient way to shop for must-have essentials, food and beverages, and local souvenirs. Hudson Nonstop is powered by Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology, which allows passengers to enter the store by inserting their credit card or tapping their mobile wallet at the entry gate, selecting their items, and walking out without any checkout lines.

O’Hare has also expanded the mobile ORDer program powered by Servy beyond Terminal 5 to Terminals 1, 2, and 3, adding new options throughout the airport. Travelers can search, order, and pay for food, beverages, and retail products from their phones for pick-up.

NEW CHICAGO BRANDS

A mix of new food, beverage, and retail spots are making their way to both ends of the modernized Terminal 5. Opening in phases, the announced locations prominently feature both national and Chicago-based brands:

Recently Opened

• The Hampton Social
• BLVD & Branch
• Bar Siena
• InMotion
• Metropolis Coffee Company
• Publican Quality Bread
• Six Points Market
• Dunkin’/Baskin-Robbins
• Gallery ORD
• Protein Bar & Kitchen
• Chick-fil-A

Coming Soon
• Butcher & The Burger
• Bronzeville Bites
• The Dearborn

NEW & NOTEWORTHY AT MIDWAY

At Chicago’s Southwest Side airport, passengers are treated to a collection of Chicago favorites while enjoying an elevated travel experience, thanks to the Midway Modernization Program — the most significant capital program at Midway in nearly 20 years.

CENTRAL MARKET

The redeveloped Central Market, located at the intersection of Concourses A and B, is home to a mix of new and existing brands with diverse ownership teams. The food and beverage locations include the following:

• Connie’s Pizza
• America’s Dog & Burger
• White Sox Bar & Grill
• M Burger
• Beecher’s Handmade Cheese
• Dunkin’
• Reilly’s Daughter
• Retail locations include the following:
• EVOLVE by Hudson
• TUMI
• MAC Cosmetics

The airport now boasts over 70 concession brands, and the expansion increased Midway’s total concessions area from 40,000 square feet to more than 70,000 square feet.

For the first time in the airport’s 96-year history, Midway offers a shared-use passenger lounge. The Club MDW opened in September 2024 and is conveniently located in the airport’s Central Market at the intersection of Concourses A and B. It is available for all travelers regardless of airline and class of service, and it offers complimentary food and beverage service to all patrons in an inviting, relaxing environment. The lounge is accessible through Priority Pass, the world’s largest airport lounge membership program.

For families on the go, Midway recently added a Kids Play Area in Concourse A.

GETTING TO AND FROM O’HARE & MIDWAY

Whether meeting near the airports, downtown, or in the suburbs, there are many ways to get to and from the airports.

TRAINS & BUS SHUTTLES

Public transportation on Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) ‘L’ trains offers easy and economical travel. The CTA Blue Line — conveniently connected to Terminals 1, 2, and 3 — travels between O’Hare Station and the downtown Loop. Transfers from Terminal 5 are available on the ATS train.

The CTA Orange Line travels between Midway Station and the downtown Loop. Located next to the airport terminal, it is connected by an enclosed walkway.

Several airport shuttles, hotel shuttles, and regional buses service O’Hare and Midway, offering transportation for passengers in the city, suburbs, and surrounding states.

Passengers can also utilize the Metra North Central Service train line via the O’Hare Transfer Station to downtown Union Station. The Metra rail station is located outside the northeast corner of the Multi-Modal Facility.

RENTAL CARS

The 2.5-million-square-foot Multi-Modal Facility is a state-of-the-art building that opened at O’Hare in 2018 and consolidates all rental cars. Eleven major rental car companies are located under one roof and are easily accessible from the terminals via the ATS train. It is also a centralized location for Economy Parking (Lot F), Kiss ‘n’ Fly, suburban Pace buses, and Metra rail. Shuttle pickup and drop-off to the facility operates 24/7 and is scheduled to run every 15 minutes.

Midway’s rental car facility hosts all rental car companies (Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Corporate Rent A Car) in one convenient location. Shuttles operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are scheduled to run every 15 minutes. The facility is located at 5150 W. 55th St.

TAXI & RIDESHARE PICK-UPS

Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft are available at specific O’Hare and Midway locations. Taxis, as well as private transportation such as limos, all have dedicated pick-up locations immediately outside the baggage claim levels.

ACCESSIBILITY

The CDA is focused on ensuring Chicago’s airports are fully accessible to all passengers.

ACCESSIBLE DROP-OFF AREAS

Accessible drop-off areas equipped with curb ramps are provided throughout the arrival and departure vehicle loading areas. Restrooms, elevators, signage, restaurants, water fountains, and diaper changing facilities follow ADA Guidelines.

CHANGING PLACES FACILITY

The Changing Places Facility at O’Hare is a first-of-its-kind amenity providing a restroom, shower, and other ADA features for disabled passengers. It is located in Terminal 2 near security checkpoint 5 (Gate F3).

HIDDEN DISABILITIES SUNFLOWER PROGRAM

The CDA partnered with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program to offer additional support to travelers with invisible disabilities, such as autism, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and hearing loss. Lanyards, bracelets, hats, and other sunflower items with a green background and a sunflower enables individuals to discreetly indicate that they have a nonvisible disability and may need additional assistance, understanding, or more time. Sunflower lanyards and basic information cards are available at all information desks at O’Hare and Midway.

MOTHER’S ROOMS AND LACTATION PODS

Eleven parent-friendly Mamava lactation pods are conveniently located at the airports to augment the Mother’s Rooms already in place. The pods are freestanding spaces intentionally designed with easy-to-clean surfaces and app-enabled access for a comfortable and private option to breastfeed or pump.

VISUAL INTERPRETING THROUGH AIRA

Passengers who are blind or have low vision can receive assistance with the help of the Aira app, which is free for users inside both airports. The app connects users with a trained visual interpreter, who will provide assistance from information conveyed by surroundings either from a camera view or what is shared on a screen.

PASSENGER ASSISTANCE

Travelers Aid Chicago at O’Hare and Volunteer Information Services at Midway are both programs that provide resources and information to passengers traveling through the airports.

SERVICE ANIMAL RELIEF AREAS

Interior and exterior service animal relief areas (SARAs) are available at both airports for passenger convenience.

Visit flychicago.com to learn more and follow @fly2ohare and @fly2midway for updates and travel tips.