Brrr Chicago! More Chicago O’Hare, British Airways Lounge

Brrr Chicago! More Chicago O’Hare, British Airways Lounge

• Seriously… go somewhere warmer!!!
• Early morning Heathrow – Off to Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5, South Galleries Lounge
• BA458 London Heathrow to Madrid
• A MAD transit
• Iberia IB6725 Madrid to Chicago O’Hare
• Crowne Plaza O’Hare
• Dealing with Chicago Cold
• Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• More Chicago O’Hare
• BA296 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow
• Homeward
• Thawing out…

With my time in Chicago coming to an end, it was time to head back to the airport and prepare to go home. That was after I finished repacking all the goodies and such I was bringing back for people.

That done – I headed off from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and back aboard a shuttle bus to the airport.

Taking the shuttle to Terminal 5 is a quite experience – namely, as I was the last person aboard the shuttle by the time I was dropped off.

Soon, I was indoors – and heading to the check in counters for the flight.

International Terminal

I headed to the check in desk – where my luggage was accepted and I was confirmed for the flight. I checked the situation on paid upgrades at the counter. Whilst prices had gone up (from $250 to $330), there was a bigger problem – they weren’t releasing the seats.

Apparently, there had been an equipment swap from a 777-300ER to a 777-200ER, so all upsales were blocked.

Annoying, but such is life.

Oh well. World Traveller it would be. With that, and my boarding pass in hand, I headed to security.

At least there’s information in this terminal!

Security took a few minutes, and soon enough I was through – and into the duty free maze (and out of it in a flash) into the refurbished public area.

Ooh. Power plugs!

And more power outlets – definitely a good passenger experience improvement.

More nice seating.

I’m still impressed with the refurbishment in central atrium of the terminal – which is a massive improvement compared to how it was when I used to traverse Terminal 5 in 2007/8.

However, for classic O’Hare, one need just turn one head away from the central area

Much more traditional O’Hare

Of course – I picked up a large bottle of water for the upcoming flight (well, more for the trip home – it isn’t hard to be dehydrated), and headed off to the British Airways lounge.

Although Hello Kitty seemed to be doing a brisk trade.

Ok. I knew what I was looking for when I arrived at this lounge – I’ve reviewed this as a glorified waiting room with WiFi in the past…. and it still is.

The views weren’t bad from it though.

Lounge seating

Spirits, wines and drinks

Thankfully, the snack bar was fully stocked (unlike last time I was here)… and considering I was the only person in the lounge for a while – this is no bad thing.

Sandwiches and cruets…

Cold items

Seating and a magical door…

Biscuits/Cookies and other nibbles.

Time advanced on, and I caught up with the world using the in-lounge WiFi. It was a bit droppy, but SpeedTest liked what it saw:

Odd, but it worked for the tasks I needed it for.

With that done, and dusk fallen – it was time to depart the lounge. Boarding would be conducted via the lounge itself as opposed to exiting the lounge and going to the gate.

The waiting 777-200ER

Through to boarding.

With my boarding pass zapped one final time, it was time to turn right and head down the jetbridge for the flight back to London.

Next: British Airways Boeing 777-200ER Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow.

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