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545 N Dearborn St, Chicago, Illinois, 60654, United States
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me at cloud gate
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Hi there,
I will be flying from Vancouver (YVR) into Chicago (ORD) and then to Munich (MUC), all through United airlines. The transfer time that I have to get on my Munich flight is only 1h and 16 min. I have flown abroad before, but never with a stopover. Just want to know if anyone has any tips for me being able to make my connecting flight other than crossing my fingers and hoping that my first flight doesn't get delayed! Thanks :)
I can understand you are feeling a bit nervous about making it to your connecting flight with such a short stopover! O´Hare is not the smallest airport, after all. I do not know the procedures in Chicago, but when I have a stopover on European or Middle Eastern airports, I usually have to check through security once more to get to the terminal of the onwards flight - which can be time consuming if you fly at a time when many machines take off. If possible, I try to fly with cabin baggage only because this increases the chances to have my stuff with me and not coming with the next flight due to the short stopover. if there is a long queue at the transfer checks, it usually helps to approach airport staff and ask for a priority queue so you won´t miss your flight.
I want to say that since the US isn't your final destination you won't have to go through security again, because you'll probably be in a secure area of the airport, but I'm not 100% sure.
There was a discussion on the Flyer Talk forum a few years ago about this question.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-canada-aeroplan/768004-1h14-connection-ohare-enough-time.html
Presuming that things have not changed since then - which is a big presumption, perhaps - you should be okay. It would matter if you can handle all of your international flight security at YVR without having to go through the whole process again at ORD.
Still, even in normal domestic-flight circumstances, luggage transfer at ORD can be iffy. Having your luggage delayed for a day or two while going through O'Hare is a very typical experience. If there's anything that you absolutely need on the first day of your arrival in Munich, you should probably bring it on-board as a carry-on.
If that is Vancouver, Canada, you are flying from, you will have to go through customs and passport control. If it is Vancouver, WA, you are probably OK.
You will NOT have to pass through immigration, customs, nor collect your bags (since you have an international outbound connection). Keep your eyes and ears open for what your connecting gate is and just move quickly.
I've made shorter connections countless times in O'Hare without any issues.
It looks like flights from Vancouver to Chicago on United go into Terminal 1, that means that you must go through customs/immigration in Vancouver. Your onward United flight should also be out of Terminal 1 so while tight, 1 hr 16 minutes should be enough time if your 1st flight departs on time. Ask for a seat in one of the 1st rows in your class so you're not waiting for everyone to deplane.
All flights bound to the US from Canada have pre-screening such that the arrivals are not in Terminal 5.
Like many other cities outside of the motherland Chicago also has a 'Chinatown'. If you have ever been to it's namesakes in San Francisco and/or London then don't be too disappointed.... Chicago's Chinatown is quite different. Much smaller and with less of that typical Chinese architecture I found it to be a bit disappointing but nonetheless it is nice to go for dim-sum or, like I did, watch the Chinese New Year parade (see picture).
Take the elevator to the 96th floor of the John Hancock bulding, located on Michigan Avenue, about 700 North. The elevator is free, but you may have to wait in a short queu. Go to the west side of the bulding and look out the windows. The best time to visit is at sunset. When I was a little girl, this was the world's tallest building. Don't waste your money on the observation deck. It is also romantic to visit late and see the lights of the city. I remember my parents taking my sister and I to the top of the John Hancock building, to the 96th floor, for a Shirley Temple. My sister Kim and I would lean all the way against the windows and look down. We would point out places we know, like Lane Tech High School, Cubs Park, and boats on the lake. The best view is from the Lady's restroom, where there is an unobstructed south view. I recommend that you visit the John Hancock building at sunset. Here is how it looks:
If you asked most people in Chicago, where a Greek neighborhood is, they would almost automatically say, "Greektown". And they are definitely right. Greektown is just a little west of the Loop along Halsted between Madison and Adams. Greektown is an attractive place to eat if you prefer to avoid the snobbiness and expense of downtown, while still maintaining your human dignity. Greektown has a quality to it that is a little preserved, its geared for tourists, and designed to draw people who want Greek things. You can buy Greek wine, drink ouzo, hear Greek music and eat Greek food, even buy Greek candles or books. This web page describes it a little better than I can: http://www.chicagogreektown.com/PAGE2.HTM For those of you who are a bit more adventurous, there is another area I would recommend. Its not as pretty or as fleshed out as Greektown, and a number of Bulgarian places have recently opened there as well, but the area around Lawrence and Rockwell has a number of very interesting places to visit. Nothing there is ultra ultra, but there are some bakeries and restaurants, you can buy food Greek food and wine in the local stores, stuff like that. Its not geared for tourists in even the slightest fashion and I really only recommend it for serious off the beaten path types. This neighborhood is normally quite safe, but exercise some caution late at night. Greekfest
And Chicago is, indeed, a city of festivals. From Grant Park to all the different neighborhoods around the city, there's something going on every weekend - especially in the summer.
In Grant Park, check out the Blues Festival, Country Music Festival, Jazz Festival and, especially Taste of Chicago (beware, though, it gets CROWDED). Taste generally happens in July. There's also arts festivals, food festivals, all sorts of festivals. Be sure to check one out when you're in town.
Enjoy the architecture! Chicago has wonderful architecture and was the birth place of the famous Frank Lloyd Wright. Enjoy the once tallest building in the world the Sears Tower. Along the michigan mile, visit the 'new' water tower and the old water tower - something left from the infamous Chicago fire. Bus tours are availible as well as boat tours. The nice thing about bus tours is that you can see the buildings not accessible from the water.
(picture courtesy of chicago tourism - http://www.ci.chi.il.us/tourism/downtown/SearsTower.html)
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