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How to Get Lounge Access at O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
December 12, 2024
Not a frequent first-class flyer? No problem! You can still enjoy the comfort of airport lounges at Chicago O’Hare without elite status or expensive tickets.
This guide will walk U.S. travelers through all the ways to access O’Hare’s lounges, from smart credit card choices to day passes and memberships. Get ready to relax – you might never wait at the gate again.
Why Lounge Access is Worth It at ORD
O’Hare is a busy and often hectic airport, so having lounge access can greatly improve your travel experience. Lounges provide comfortable seating, free snacks and drinks, Wi-Fi, and a calm atmosphere away from crowded gates.
With O’Hare being a major hub for United and American (and a focus city for Delta), there are many lounges spread across the terminals. Even if you’re not flying business or first class, you can often access these lounges via alternate methods.
Here’s how:
- Premium Credit Cards – some credit cards include airport lounge access as a perk (United Club, Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club, or Priority Pass lounges).
- Airline Membership Programs – you can purchase annual memberships to United Club or Admirals Club, or get them via certain cards.
- One-Time Passes – occasionally you can buy a day pass or use free passes that come with a credit card.
- Elite Status or Partnerships – even without status, if you’re military or have certain partner affiliations, you might qualify.
We’ll detail each approach specifically for Chicago O’Hare’s lounges.
1. Leverage Credit Card Perks for Lounge Access
One of the easiest ways for an average traveler to get lounge access is through the right credit card. Several credit cards offer airport lounge privileges – either via memberships or partnerships like Priority Pass. At O’Hare, here are the credit card options to consider:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard – Grants full membership to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges. Simply having this card allows the primary cardholder to enter any Admirals Club (including all three at ORD Terminal 3) with immediate family or up to 2 guests.
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- The New United Club℠ Card – Grants full United Club membership. With this Chase-issued card (~$525 annual fee), you and two guests can enter any United Club, including the four United Club locations at ORD (T1 and T2) whenever they’re open. This is ideal for United flyers.
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- The New United℠ Explorer Card – This mid-tier United Visa doesn’t give full membership, but it comes with two United Club one-time passes each year. You can use these passes at any United Club, such as during a long layover at O’Hare. It’s a cost-effective way to get occasional lounge access without paying for a full membership.
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- The Platinum Card® from American Express – While O’Hare lacks an Amex Centurion Lounge, the Amex Platinum still gets you access to Delta Sky Clubs when you fly Delta that day. If you’re taking a Delta flight from ORD Terminal 5, just show your Amex Platinum and boarding pass at the Sky Club to enter.
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- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card – If you fly Delta often, this card gives you complimentary Sky Club access whenever you fly Delta, plus two guest passes. It also grants access to Amex Centurion Lounges (but again, none at ORD). For our purposes, its main benefit at O’Hare is Sky Club entry, similar to the Amex Platinum.
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- Capital One Venture X / Chase Sapphire Reserve® – These cards don’t give United/AA/Delta lounge access, but they come with Priority Pass Select memberships. That Priority Pass lets you access the Swissport Lounge at O’Hare T5, which can be useful if you’re flying international or want to hop into T5.
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In summary, the fastest route to O’Hare lounge access via credit card is to get one tied to the airline you use most (United, AA, or Delta). If you frequent American, the Citi Executive card is invaluable. United flyers should consider United Infinite or at least Explorer for the free passes.
Delta travelers will do well with Amex Platinum or Delta Reserve. And even general travel cards with Priority Pass give you some access (Swissport lounge, or partner lounges overseas).
2. Buy a Lounge Membership or Pass
If credit cards aren’t an option, you can outright purchase lounge access via memberships or day passes:
- United Club Membership: You can buy an annual United Club membership from United Airlines. Prices range from $650 or 85,000 miles (for general members) down to $550 or 75,000 miles for Premier elite flyers. This membership gives unlimited access to United Clubs worldwide for you + 2 guests. If you fly through O’Hare frequently on United (or Star Alliance partners), it might be worth it.
- Admirals Club Membership: American sells Admirals Club memberships: $650/year (or $600 for certain elites). Like United’s, this gives you unlimited Admirals Club entry. If you don’t want a credit card, you can still pay AA directly for membership. They also allow paying with miles (e.g. 85,000 miles/year).
- Delta Sky Club Membership: Delta no longer sells individual day passes, but they do sell an annual membership: ~$695/year for an individual (or 70,000 SkyMiles). This grants Sky Club access when flying Delta.
- Priority Pass Membership: If you don’t have a card that gives Priority Pass, you could purchase Priority Pass separately. But at O’Hare, Priority Pass only gets you into the Swissport Lounge in Terminal 5. So buying a membership solely for ORD might not be worth it unless you travel internationally a lot from T5 or plan to use PP at other airports on your journey.
- One-Day Lounge Passes: These are pay-as-you-go options. At ORD, American Admirals Club sells a One-Day Pass for $79 (can be purchased online or at the lounge). This pass is valid for all Admirals Club locations at that airport for the day, and you can bring children under 18 with you. United Club one-time passes cost $59 if bought through the United app
- Independent Lounge Passes: The Swissport Lounge (T5) at ORD can sometimes be accessed by paying at the door (around $50) if it’s not full, and it’s open to any traveler (any airline) for a fee or with Priority Pass. Similarly, the SAS Lounge (T5) and other international carrier lounges (like the LOT Polish Lounge) may offer paid entry during off-peak times or via programs like LoungeBuddy.
3. Use Airline Elite Status or Other Situational Access
Even if you’re not a top-tier elite, there are some scenarios where you might get lounge access:
- Flying Business/First Class: This is obvious, but worth noting – if you splurge (or upgrade) to a business or first class ticket on a long-haul international flight, you will typically get lounge access.
- Military Personnel: O’Hare has USO lounges in Terminal 2 and 3 for active-duty military and their families. These are free of charge (just show military ID). They aren’t “luxury” lounges but do provide comfortable seating, snacks, and a friendly space for service members.
- Status Matches / Challenges: Occasionally, if you have status with one airline, you might get a lounge access voucher or status match.
- Paid Business Class on Partners: If you’re flying a foreign airline out of O’Hare in business class (say, Lufthansa, British Airways, etc.), you will get access to that airline’s partner lounge. Lufthansa business class passengers can use the Swissport or SAS lounge in T5 (Star Alliance). British Airways business class passengers typically get access to the AA Flagship Lounge in T3 (oneworld).
- Priority Pass (again): Remember, if you have any mid-to-high-end travel credit card, it likely includes a Priority Pass Select membership. Even though ORD’s Priority Pass options are thin, it’s essentially “free” lounge access if you already have the card.
Kudos Tip
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FAQs: Lounge Access at O’Hare for Non-Elites
What lounges can I access with Priority Pass at O’Hare?
Only the Swissport Lounge in Terminal 5 is accessible with Priority Pass at ORD. Priority Pass won’t get you into United Clubs, Admirals Clubs, or the Delta Sky Club – those are run by airlines. So Priority Pass is most useful if you’re flying internationally from T5 (or willing to transit there). Note that O’Hare has no Priority Pass restaurants or Minute Suites, just the Swissport lounge.
Is there an American Express Centurion Lounge at ORD?
No, Chicago O’Hare currently does not have an Amex Centurion Lounge (as of 2025). It’s one of the largest U.S. airports without one. Amex Platinum and Centurion cardholders instead can use the Delta Sky Club at ORD when flying Delta, or get a Priority Pass for Swissport. There have been rumors of a Centurion Lounge at ORD in the future, but nothing official yet.
How much does an Admirals Club or United Club day pass cost?
An Admirals Club one-day pass costs $79 (or 7,900 AAdvantage miles). A United Club one-time pass is around $59 (often purchased via the United app). Sometimes you can find these passes on resale markets or from friends who have the United Explorer card (they get two free passes/year). Keep in mind, during busy periods lounges may restrict day-pass users if the lounge is at capacity.
Can I get into the Polaris Lounge or Flagship Lounge with a credit card?
No, not directly. Polaris and Flagship are premium lounges for eligible travelers only – no credit card alone grants access. For Polaris, you must be flying United Polaris business class or better. For Flagship, you need to be in business/first on an international or certain transcon flight, or have top-tier oneworld status. Credit cards like Amex Platinum or Citi Executive can get you into other lounges (Delta Sky Club, Admirals Club), but not the Polaris or Flagship unless you also have the right ticket. These elite lounges don’t sell access either – they’re a perk of your flight experience.
What’s the cheapest way to get lounge access at O’Hare?
The most budget-friendly way is to use credit card free passes or low-cost memberships. For example, the United Explorer card’s free passes essentially cost you nothing beyond the card’s annual fee (which is often waived the first year). Using those two passes for two visits saves you from buying day passes.
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