Lounge access rules change often — confirm in the lounge's app or the card's benefits page before you fly.
O'Hare is a hub for both United and American, which is why ORD lounge access is mostly about airline clubs. There's no Centurion Lounge ORD, no Chase Sapphire Lounge and no Capital One Lounge, and Priority Pass ORD lounges exist only in international Terminal 5, so the best credit card for Chicago flyers is usually the co-brand card for the airline you fly.
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Quick answer
- Best overall for ORD lounge access: the co-brand card for your airline (below). There's no Centurion Lounge ORD, Chase Sapphire Lounge or Capital One Lounge; the Amex Platinum only adds the Terminal 5 Delta Sky Club and Priority Pass ORD.
- Best value for Priority Pass: Capital One Venture X — $395 for the Swissport and Air France lounges in Terminal 5, and The Club MDW at Midway
- Best for frequent United flyers: United Club card with United Club access (five clubs in Terminals 1 and 2)
- Best for frequent American flyers: Citi AAdvantage Executive with Admirals Club access (three clubs in Terminal 3); occasional AA flyers can use the Citi Strata Elite's four passes a year
Airport snapshot
United runs Terminal 1 (Concourses B and C) and much of Terminal 2 (E and F). American owns Terminal 3 (Concourses G, H, K and L). Terminal 5 handles most foreign airlines plus Delta and some low-cost carriers. Terminals 1–3 are connected airside, but Terminal 5 is not: outside the connecting-passenger transfer bus hours, getting there means the ATS train and a new security screening. Chicago Midway (MDW), the second airport, is mostly Southwest and has one lounge.
Where to go by terminal
| Terminal | Airlines | Lounges there |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (B, C) | United | United Clubs (B6, B18, C10), Polaris (C18) |
| 2 (E, F) | United, other domestic airlines | United Clubs (E7, F9) |
| 3 (G, H, K, L) | American | 3 Admirals Clubs, Flagship Lounge |
| 5 (M) | Delta, most foreign airlines | Sky Club, Swissport + Air France (PP), LOT |
You can walk between Terminals 1, 2 and 3 after security. Terminal 5 is separate: an airside transfer bus runs from T1 and T3 for connecting passengers with a same-day T5 boarding pass (roughly 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.); otherwise you take the ATS train and clear security again.
Chicago Midway (MDW): One lounge — The Club MDW, opened September 2024 next to gate B1 in the Central Market area. Any airline can use it with Priority Pass or a $50 day pass, up to 3 hours before departure. It's small (about 3,300 sq ft), so expect waits at peak times.
Lounges at ORD
United Club ORD (5 locations) and Polaris Lounge
- Location: Terminal 1 near B6, B18 and C10; Terminal 2 near E7 and F9. The United Polaris Lounge is in Terminal 1 near C18; it reopened in April 2025 after an expansion to nearly 25,000 square feet.
- Access: United Clubs: same-day United or Star Alliance flight plus membership, United Club card, status or a premium ticket. Day pass about $59. Polaris: ticketed in United Polaris or Star Alliance long-haul premium cabins only; no card gets you in.
- Guest policy: United Club card members can bring one adult guest plus dependents under 18 (two adults with All Access, via $50,000 in card spend or Premier Gold).
- Best for: United flyers, who will be near a club wherever they board in T1 or T2.
Admirals Club ORD (3 locations) and Flagship Lounge
- Location: Terminal 3 near G8, before gate L1, and in the H/K crosswalk (near H6/K6), where the Flagship Lounge also sits. American announced a new, larger Admirals Club in Concourse L in February 2026; the current L club stays open during construction, and no opening date has been given.
- Access: Same-day American or oneworld flight plus membership, Citi AAdvantage Executive, status or premium ticket; Citi Strata Elite passes work too. Day pass about $79 or 7,900 miles. The Flagship Lounge is for Flagship First/business on qualifying flights, ConciergeKey and top oneworld elites, not cardholders.
- Guest policy: Citi AAdvantage Executive primary cardholders can bring immediate family or up to two guests. Admirals Club membership prices rose August 23, 2026 (full membership now $1,400 for general members), which makes the card the cheaper route.
- Best for: American flyers.
Delta Sky Club ORD
- Location: Terminal 5, Concourse M, between M11 and M14.
- Access: Same-day Delta flight (no Basic Economy) with membership, status, premium ticket or an eligible Amex. Platinum: 10 visits a year; Delta Reserve: 15; unlimited after $75,000 in calendar-year purchases.
- Guest policy: Two guests at $50 each for Amex cardholders.
- Best for: Delta flyers out of T5. Weekend hours are short; check the app.
Priority Pass at ORD
- Swissport Lounge — real lounge, Terminal 5 near M13. Often crowded; $45 day pass for anyone.
- Air France Lounge — real lounge, Terminal 5 near M17 (opened October 2025). Priority Pass access is limited at peak Air France/KLM departure times.
- LOT Polish Business Lounge (T5) — Star Alliance premium passengers and Gold elites only, not Priority Pass.
- Access: Priority Pass from Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Venture X or Citi Strata Elite. All are in Terminal 5, so they're only practical if you're departing from T5.
Best credit cards for ORD
| Card | Annual fee | Lounges you get at ORD | Guests | Best if you… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Club card | $695 | 5 United Clubs | 1 adult + kids (2 with All Access) | Fly United often |
| Citi AAdvantage Executive | $695 | 3 Admirals Clubs | Family or 2 | Fly American often |
| Citi Strata Elite | $595 | 4 Admirals Club passes/yr, PP (T5) | 2 free at PP | Fly American now and then |
| Amex Platinum | $895 | Sky Club (10 visits), PP (T5) | Sky Club $50 each; 2 free at PP | Fly Delta or international from T5 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $795 | PP (T5), The Club MDW | 2 free at PP | Mostly use lounges elsewhere |
| Capital One Venture X | $395 | PP (T5), The Club MDW | $35 each at PP | Fly from Midway on a budget |
Recommended strategy
- If you fly United often from ORD: The United Club card. Five clubs across T1 and T2 with no visit caps beats any bank card here.
- If you fly American often from ORD: The Citi AAdvantage Executive, now $695 (raised from $595 on August 23, 2026; existing cardholders see it at renewal). If you only fly American a few times a year, the Strata Elite's four passes may be enough.
- If you want one card that covers the best lounges: No bank card does this well at ORD. Pick the airline card for your home airline and use a Platinum or Sapphire Reserve for lounges in other cities.
- If you fly Southwest from Midway: Venture X ($395) gets you The Club MDW through Priority Pass, the lowest-cost way in.
No card? Day passes & other options
United Clubs (about $59) and Admirals Clubs (about $79) sell day passes with a same-day boarding pass on their airline or a partner. In Terminal 5, the Swissport Lounge sells a $45 day pass to anyone. At Midway, The Club MDW sells $50 day passes.
FAQ
Is there a Centurion Lounge at O'Hare? No. Amex has said it would like a Chicago location but hasn't announced one. Platinum holders at ORD can use the Delta Sky Club in Terminal 5 (on Delta flights) and Priority Pass lounges in Terminal 5.
Where are the Priority Pass lounges at ORD? Both are in Terminal 5: the Swissport Lounge near M13 and the Air France Lounge near M17. Terminal 5 isn't walkable from Terminals 1–3 after security (only a limited-hours transfer bus for connecting passengers), so they're realistic mainly when you're flying out of T5.
Does Midway have a lounge? Yes, one: The Club MDW near gate B1, open to any airline with Priority Pass or a $50 day pass.
Amex Platinum vs Sapphire Reserve vs Venture X: which is best at ORD? None of them is great at O'Hare, because there's no Centurion, Sapphire or Capital One lounge. The Platinum edges ahead for Delta flyers thanks to the T5 Sky Club; otherwise all three get the same Priority Pass lounges in T5 and The Club MDW at Midway, so Venture X is the cheapest way to that access. If you fly United or American from ORD, the airline's card is better than any of the three.
Related guides
- United Club access guide
- Admirals Club access guide
- Citi AAdvantage cards guide
- Priority Pass lounges in the USA
- Denver (DEN) lounges
- Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Lounge access rules, guest policies and locations change. Always confirm current details with the airline, lounge operator or card issuer before you travel.
