TRIP REPORT: Back in the Groove – Returning to the wonderful Chicago O’Hare Terminal 5 

Returning to the wonderful Chicago O’Hare Terminal 5
Back in the Groove

• Something a little different? Maybe… 
• Off to the Land of Milk and Honey. I mean Heathrow Terminal 5
• British Airways Galleries Lounge (South Lounge Complex) 
• British Airways BA295 – London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare (Club World)
• Into the USA, Crowne Plaza O’Hare
• Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• The Wonder of Micro Center
• More Food Adventures in Chicago
• Exploring China Town in Chicago
• Returning to the wonderful Chicago O’Hare Terminal 5
  
• British Airways Terraces Lounge, Chicago O’Hare T5
• British Airways BA296 – Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow T5 (World Traveller Plus)
• Welcome back to the United Kingdom
• Well, that’s a bit different

Back to O’Hare

With my time up in the USA, I took the L back to Rosemont station and walked back to the Hyatt (well, with a minor diversion to collect a few Pokémon on the way – regional Pokémon are things worth collecting).

With another jpg captured, I headed back to the hotel and retrieved my baggage, to fill out the final few cubic centimetres of space in my luggage with a few goodies for friends.

I took some time getting everything reloaded – but it is getting to the point where I might have to switch back to the larger suitcase next trip.

With everything loaded up, it was time to board the shuttle bus to the airport.

See you in six months.

Adverts. 

Today, it would be a rather circular trip around the airport, as there were people to drop off at the central terminal area, as well as pick up a lot of new hotel visitors.

United Airlines Boeing 737

United Airlines Boeing 787

Closing in on the Central Terminal Area. 

Parking is a priority.

Eventually, the shuttle bus made its way to Terminal 5 – where I would get off.

$7 for a Cart hire??? (Or you could send someone downstairs, pick up a cart that has been abandoned from arrivals and bring it up. But I never said that).

v
To LED, To Serve.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends. 

With my bags in hand, I was outside the terminal. There was one thing to do – which was to activate the AirTags I had brought.

I wrote about why in this wonderful post.

Let me put it like this, after a previous experience with BA and their luggage handling, I’m not taking risks anymore when it is possible to track almost exactly where my bags are.

With the AirTags loaded and recognised by the phone, I headed into the terminal. British Airways had moved along in Terminal 5 a little further where they were before- but I found my way to the check-in agent.

My passport was accepted, and after a little discussion, my bags were accepted for travel. Annoyingly, they asked for the shoulder strap to be removed from one of my bags. I did this and popped my coat – knowing the bag would need its strap by the time I arrived at Heathrow… and I would need it quickly. 

.2kg over. Not bad. 

With the seat confirmed to be a World Traveller Plus seat (sadly, the upgrade fairies did not visit me), I headed to the left-hand security lane.

And here’s where the passenger experience went south, fast.

It seems the agents didn’t want people queuing for this lane, as it was fouling one of the entrances. I’d also argue it’s one of the more pleasant experiences at O’Hare T5 – even in this age of packing more airlines into that Terminal.

Sadly, the airport agents were having none of this, and diverted most of the queue (including yours truly), through to the main security area.

Wonderful. Welcome to the land of shouty agents and a lack of basic manners.

For those who are leaving the USA (as this is one place where you’re going to find people leaving the country – and as such, speak different languages other than English), it can be intimidating, especially when agents shout in that way that makes you feel small and stupid.

But it seems customer service is never high on the TSA agenda. Even one of the supervisors looked at me as if I was from another planet when I noted to them that some basic manners wouldn’t go amiss in the screen area.

With the TSA experience being… sigh. What can I say? Demotivating as ever would sum it up, it was time to exit via the Duty-Free Shop (which seems to be less inspiring than ever)

There’s Gin. There are also beauty products. All the usual high-value things that airports like to make a buck on. 

Exiting the duty-free and food court area, we’re back into… semi-familiar territories, with a minor change – more building work.

A welcoming sight, even if WaoBao has given up. 

Burned coffee, a speciality.

Maybe O’Hare Terminal 5 needs to be named “the Forth Bridge” and be done with it, with it needing constant work the moment it is going through. Every time I’ve been through, the work seems to be expanding, rather than completing…

That building space has got a lot wider since last time. 

I got some popcorn at Garrets Popcorn (as is fast becoming a tradition) and headed off to the British Airways Terraces Lounge.

Dealing with the TSA took more out of me than Heathrow Security.

Next: British Airways Terraces Lounge, O’Hare Terminal 5.

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