Getting There By Air

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O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Tel: (773) 686 3700 or 1 800 832 6352.
Website: www.flychicago.com

O'Hare is the major international airport for Chicago, only 30km (19 miles) northwest of the downtown area.

Airport facilities: Permanent bureau de change facilities and ATMs are available in all terminals and the latter take most international cards. Hotel and transportation information in eight different languages is available at Virtual Concierge Kiosks located in the baggage areas. Also located in each terminal are a variety of restaurants, bars, fast food outlets and shops, as well as car hire from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National. University of Illinois Medical Center, a fairly comprehensive medical clinic, is located in Terminal 2. 

Business facilities: Laptop Lane, located in Terminal 1, offers workstations for travellers. The Hilton Business Center (tel: (773) 601 1743), located in the Hilton Hotel in Terminal 2, offers full business services. For a fee, Wi-Fi access is available in most sections of the airport.

Transport to the city: The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) (tel: 1 888 968 7282/ YOUR CTA; www.transitchicago.com) and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) (tel: (312) 913 3110; www.rtachicago.com) are the major means of public transportation to and from the airport. Blue Line trains are the quickest and cheapest way into central Chicago. The service operates 24 hours and leaves every 10 minutes (journey time - 45 minutes). The walk from the flight terminals to the trains is a long one.

Continental Airport Express (tel: (773) 247 1200 or 1 888 284 3826; www.airportexpress.com) operates a shuttle minibus service 0600-2330 to central Chicago, and to the northern suburban locations in a shared coach (journey time - 45 minutes). Omega (tel: (773) 734 6688; www.omegashuttle.com) offers an hourly service 0600-2330, between O'Hare and Midway Airports, and also departs from Hyde Park (near the University of Chicago) from 0500 (journey time - 45 minutes). Taxis are available for around US$40 per person plus a fuel surcharge and for Share-a-Ride, sharing a cab with a stranger, the fare would be one-half. Expect to tip the driver about 10-15%.

Midway International Airport (MDW)
Tel: (773) 838 0600 or 1 800 832 6352.
Website: www.flychicago.com

This airport, 18km (11 miles) southwest of Downtown Chicago, is used by domestic and discount airlines.

Airport facilities: ATMs, cafes, bars, newspaper stands and car hire from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty.

Business facilities: There is no business centre, but Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport for a fee.

Transport to the city: The CTA (tel: 1 888 968 7282/YOUR CTA; www.transitchicago.com) and RTA (tel: (312) 913 3110; www.rtachicago.com) are the major means of public transportation to and from the airport. The Orange Line train goes to the city centre 0435-2320 (journey time - 20-25 minutes). Continental Airport Express (tel: (773) 247 1200 or 1 888 284 3826; www.airportexpress.com) operates a shuttle minibus service 0600-2330 to central Chicago and to northern suburban locations (journey time - 45 minutes). Omega (tel: (773) 734 6688; www.omegashuttle.com) offers an hourly service 0700-2345, between O'Hare and Midway Airports. Taxis to the centre will cost around US$35-40 plus a fuel surcharge, depending on the traffic, and from the South Side US$17. Share-a-Ride costs about half the fare (journey time - 30 minutes).

Approximate flight times to Chicago: From London is 8 hours 30 minutes; from New York is 2 hours 15 minutes; from Los Angeles is 4 hours; from Toronto is 1 hour 45 minutes and from Sydney is 13 hours 30 minutes.

Up-to-date arrival and departure information for both Chicago airports can be found on www.flychicago.com.