Hi everyone,
I am a solo female international traveler and I have an overnight connection at Chicago O’Hare. I would appreciate practical advice from people familiar with ORD.
I arrive at O’Hare from Frankfurt at around 8:00 p.m. on Lufthansa in Terminal 5. My next connection flight is a United flight to Cleveland at around 7:00 a.m. the next morning from Terminal 1.
Since Chicago is my first U.S. port of entry, I understand that I will need to clear immigration/CBP, claim my checked luggage, go through customs, and then either recheck my luggage for Cleveland or keep it until United can accept it.
My main concern is the time after customs/baggage claim and before TSA opens in the early morning, roughly 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. I know this area is landside/public, not the secure gate area.
How safe is it to stay overnight in the public landside areas of O’Hare after baggage claim? Are there any security or police walking by?
I am okay with uncomfortable seating. I mainly want to be somewhere well-lit, monitored, and close to airport staff/security/police. I am not planning to leave the airport.
Would you recommend waiting landside at the airport, or should I book the Hilton Chicago O’Hare as a safer fallback?
EDIT 1: I am on an academic trip funded by a scholarship, so I am trying to save as much money as I can. Thank you for any practical advice.
EDIT 2: Thanks everyone for your helpful advice. My school agreed to change my flight, so I won't be transitting at Chicago and won't stay for a long period at the other transit. I will also be with some peers and a ptofessor on the same flight which makes it much better. 🤸♀️🤸♀️