Lounge directory · ORD · Last reviewed 30 April 2026
Chicago O Hare Lounges (ORD): Every Lounge and How to Get In
O'Hare runs about 14 lounges across four terminals, and almost every one of them belongs to an airline. If you carry status or a premium cabin ticket this is a fine airport. If you carry only a Priority Pass, your options live in one building. Here is the full map.
- Lounge verdict
- Strong for status holders, thin for everyone else. United and American run deep benches in their own terminals, but only two doors at the whole airport accept Priority Pass, and both sit in Terminal 5.
- Best access play
- Without status, buy your way in: a United Club one time pass for 59 dollars covers Terminals 1 and 2, and an Admirals Club day pass for 79 dollars covers Terminal 3. Priority Pass only pays off if your flight actually leaves from Terminal 5.
- The one thing to know
- Terminal 5 is a separate building. Reaching it means the free ATS train and a fresh security screening, so do not plan a Swissport or Air France lounge visit unless you depart from T5.
Orientation
How the O'Hare lounge map works
The airline decides the terminal and the terminal decides your lounge life. Terminals 1 and 2 are United country, with three United Clubs and the Polaris Lounge in T1 plus a smaller club in T2. Terminal 3 is American territory, with three Admirals Clubs and the Flagship Lounge stacked around the H and K concourses. Terminal 5 handles Delta and most international carriers, and it is the only terminal with independent lounges that sell access through programs like Priority Pass.
Terminals 1, 2 and 3 connect airside, so a United flyer can walk to an Admirals Club without rescreening. Terminal 5 does not: it stands apart, linked landside by the ATS train, and entering it means clearing security again. Hours below were checked on 30 April 2026. Most doors track the first and last departure banks of their airline, which at O'Hare means roughly 5 am openings and closings between 8 pm and 11 pm. Confirm the door you are counting on the day you fly, because banks shift seasonally.
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 lounges
| Lounge | Location | Hours | Access | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Polaris Lounge | Concourse C, near gate C18 | 07:00 to 21:00 | United Polaris and Star Alliance long haul business and first, departing or connecting internationally | The best lounge at O'Hare, recently expanded and renovated, with a la carte dining and shower suites; guard the invitation jealously |
| United Club | Concourse B, near gate B6 | 05:00 to 21:00 | United Club members, one time pass 59 dollars, Star Alliance Gold on international itineraries, eligible United cards | The big workhorse club; crowded at the morning bank but easy to find |
| United Club | Concourse B, near gate B18 | 05:00 to 22:00 | United Club members, one time pass 59 dollars, Star Alliance Gold on international itineraries, eligible United cards | The latest hours in T1 and the most consistent food of the three clubs |
| United Club | Concourse C, near gate C10 | 05:00 to 21:00 | United Club members, one time pass 59 dollars, Star Alliance Gold on international itineraries, eligible United cards | Handy if you board from the C gates; expect a queue when the transpacific bank loads |
Concourse B and Concourse C sit in separate buildings joined by the underground walkway with the neon ceiling, a 5 to 10 minute walk. Pick the club nearest your gate rather than the nearest door, because United boards early and the walk back eats your margin. The Polaris Lounge is the prize, but the door staff check tickets carefully: domestic first class does not get in.
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 lounges
| Lounge | Location | Hours | Access | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Club | Concourse F, near gate F1 | 07:30 to 19:30 | United Club members, one time pass 59 dollars, Star Alliance Gold on international itineraries, eligible United cards | Small and short on hours; walk to the T1 clubs through the airside connector if you have 20 minutes |
| USO O'Hare Center | Mezzanine level, before security | 09:00 to 21:00 | Active duty military, reservists and families with ID | A genuine rest stop with snacks and recliners for those who qualify; note it sits landside |
Terminal 2 is living on borrowed time. The O'Hare Global Terminal project will eventually replace it, construction hoarding moves around, and the lounge offer here is the weakest at the airport. Since T1, T2 and T3 connect airside, treat T2 as a corridor: clear security here when the lines are shorter, then walk to a better club in Terminal 1.
Terminal 3
Terminal 3 lounges
| Lounge | Location | Hours | Access | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines Flagship Lounge | Between gates H6 and K6, upper level | To be confirmed | AA and oneworld long haul first and business, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire on international itineraries | The best food in Terminal 3 by a wide margin; if your ticket qualifies, skip the Admirals Club below it |
| Admirals Club | Between gates H6 and K6 | 05:00 to 23:00 | Admirals Club members, day pass 79 dollars, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire, eligible Citi AAdvantage cards | The flagship of the three clubs and the latest closing door at O'Hare; busy but big enough to absorb it |
| Admirals Club | Concourse G, near gate G8 | 06:15 to 21:45 | Admirals Club members, day pass 79 dollars, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire, eligible Citi AAdvantage cards | The quiet pick, since the G concourse handles mostly regional flying |
| Admirals Club | Concourse L, before gate L1 | 05:00 to 21:45 | Admirals Club members, day pass 79 dollars, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire, eligible Citi AAdvantage cards | Convenient for the L gates and usually calmer than H and K |
American's setup rewards a little planning. The H and K club anchors the terminal and stays open past 11 pm, which makes it the best late evening room at O'Hare full stop. The G8 club is where regulars hide when the main club queues. Flagship Lounge hours were not published consistently when we checked, so confirm with American on travel day if your itinerary qualifies.
Terminal 5
Terminal 5 lounges
| Lounge | Location | Hours | Access | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Sky Club | Concourse M, between gates M11 and M14 | 04:30 to 20:00 Sun to Fri, to 18:00 Sat | Delta One and SkyTeam premium, Sky Club members, Delta Reserve and Amex Platinum cardholders flying Delta same day | Bright, well run and the best non airline specific reason to be happy your flight leaves from T5 |
| Air France Lounge | Near gate M17 | 05:00 to 20:00 | Air France and SkyTeam premium and elites; Priority Pass 05:00 to 12:00 and 17:00 to 20:00 only | Opened October 2025 and immediately the classiest Priority Pass door at ORD; mind the midday blackout window |
| Swissport Lounge | Concourse M, upper level | 07:00 to midnight | Priority Pass, contracted airline premium passengers, paid entry at the door subject to space | Dated but functional, and the only lounge at O'Hare open near midnight; manage your expectations on food |
| LOT Business Lounge | Near gate M18 | To be confirmed, tied to LOT departures | LOT and Star Alliance premium and elites on LOT flights | Polished little room with showers if your Warsaw flight unlocks it; do not build a layover around it |
| SAS Lounge | Near gates M19 and M20 | Closed | None since October 2025 | Closed in October 2025; strike it from your plans |
T5 is where the access programs finally work, and that is exactly the trap. The Swissport and Air France lounges only help passengers departing from Terminal 5, because the terminal rescreens everyone and checks boarding passes. The Air France lounge is the better room when its Priority Pass window is open; the Swissport Lounge is the fallback and the late night option. Delta flyers got a real upgrade when the Sky Club arrived with Delta's move to T5.
Access decoder
What actually opens these doors
Priority Pass is narrow at O'Hare: the Swissport Lounge in Terminal 5, open 07:00 to midnight, and the Air France Lounge near gate M17 from 05:00 to 12:00 and again from 17:00 to 20:00. That is the entire list, and both require a same day T5 departure. For when the windows bite and what to do about it, see the ORD Priority Pass guide.
Paying at the door is the realistic move in the domestic terminals. United sells a one time United Club pass for 59 dollars covering its four clubs in T1 and T2, and American sells an Admirals Club day pass for 79 dollars for its three clubs in T3. Both are subject to space at peak banks.
Credit cards do less here than at most hubs. There is no Amex Centurion Lounge and no Chase Sapphire Lounge at ORD as of June 2026. Amex Platinum opens the Delta Sky Club when flying Delta the same day, the United Club card opens the United Clubs, and Citi AAdvantage Executive opens the Admirals Clubs.
Class of travel and status covers the rest. Polaris and Star Alliance long haul business unlocks the Polaris Lounge in T1, oneworld long haul premium unlocks the Flagship Lounge in T3, and mid tier alliance status opens the United Clubs and Admirals Clubs on international itineraries.
Programs change and doors move, especially with Global Terminal construction reshaping the airport. Treat the tables above as the map and confirm the lounge you are counting on the day you fly.
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FAQ
O'Hare lounge questions
Which O'Hare lounges take Priority Pass?
Two, both in Terminal 5: the Swissport Lounge, open 07:00 to midnight, and the Air France Lounge near gate M17, which accepts Priority Pass from 05:00 to 12:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00. There are no Priority Pass lounges in Terminals 1, 2 or 3.
Is there an Amex Centurion Lounge at O'Hare?
No. As of June 2026 American Express has neither opened nor announced a Centurion Lounge at ORD. Platinum cardholders can use the Delta Sky Club in Terminal 5 when flying Delta the same day, but there is no Amex lounge in the domestic terminals.
Is there a Chase Sapphire Lounge at O'Hare?
No. As of June 2026 the Chase Sapphire Lounge network covers airports like Boston, New York JFK and LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego and Las Vegas, with nothing open at ORD. Sapphire Reserve cardholders use their Priority Pass at the Terminal 5 doors instead.
Can I pay my way into an O'Hare lounge without status?
Yes, two ways. United sells a one time United Club pass for 59 dollars, valid at its Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 clubs, and American sells an Admirals Club day pass for 79 dollars in Terminal 3. Both are subject to space during busy departure banks.
What is the best lounge at O'Hare?
The United Polaris Lounge near gate C18 in Terminal 1, with a la carte dining and shower suites, but it requires a long haul business or first class ticket on United or a Star Alliance partner. Without one, the Admirals Club between H6 and K6 is the strongest buyable room.
Can I use a Terminal 5 lounge if I depart from Terminal 1, 2 or 3?
Practically no. Terminal 5 is a separate building reached by the ATS train, and its security checkpoint checks boarding passes, so you cannot enter airside T5 without a T5 departure. Stick to the lounges in your own departure terminal.
More ORD guides
The rest of the O'Hare cluster
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