Is a 45 min layover in Chicago long enough?
ORD · Chicago Ohare International · Chicago, United States
It Depends
This matches the domestic MCT exactly, so it's fine only if both flights are on time and in the same terminal.
Quick Stats
4
30m
25m
United Airlines
Minimum Connection Times
45min
tight60min
✗90min
✗75min
✗AD PLACEMENT — CONTEXTUAL
Tips for 45 min Connections
If connecting from Terminal 5 to a domestic flight, budget extra time for immigration, customs, and a second security screening.
United connections within Terminals 1 and 2 are often walkable without needing the train, saving time versus waiting for the ATS.
American connections in Terminal 3 can involve long walks between concourses, so don't assume a same-terminal connection is fast.
Use the ATS train rather than walking between terminals 1-3 and the remote terminal, as the walking paths are far longer.
Check your gate assignment as soon as you land since O'Hare frequently reassigns gates, especially during weather delays.
Busyness — Connection Risk
12a6a12p6p12a
Low risk
Moderate
High risk
Tight connections are safer outside peak hours. Morning rush (6–9a), midday (11a–2p), and evening (4–8p) are highest risk.
Getting Between Concourses
The Airport Transit System (ATS), an automated people-mover train, links Terminals 1, 2, 3, and the remote parking/Terminal 5 area in a loop, with rides typically taking 4-8 minutes plus walking to platforms. Passengers arriving internationally at Terminal 5 who are connecting to a domestic flight in Terminals 1-3 must clear US Customs and Border Protection, recheck bags, and go through TSA security again before boarding the train to their next gate.
Is 45 minutes enough for a layover at ORD?
This matches the domestic MCT exactly, so it's fine only if both flights are on time and in the same terminal.
Other Layover Durations at ORD
AD PLACEMENT — BEFORE FOOTER