Chicago · USA · North America

ORD airport lounges: all 11, ranked by access

Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) has 11 airport lounges across 4 networks — United Club, Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club, Plaza Premium. 9 sell a walk-in day pass; the rest are card-, status-, or ticket-gated.

Eligibility traced to official sources · Verified July 2026

Who gets into each ORD lounge

✓ included · ◐ included only when flying that airline · $ paid day pass · ✗ not available. Computed by our eligibility engine, not a static table.

LoungeAmex PlatSapphireVenture XPriority PassDL statusUA statusAA statusDay pass
United Club
Terminal 1
$
Admirals Club
Terminal 3
$
United Club
Terminal 1
$
United Club
Terminal 1
$
United Club
Terminal 2
$
United Club
Terminal 2
$
Admirals Club
Terminal 3
$
Admirals Club
Terminal 3
$
Delta Sky Club
Terminal 5
Plaza Premium
Terminal 5
Plaza Premium
Terminal 5
$

Chicago lounges: what to know before you go

Chicago O'Hare is a dual fortress — United's biggest hub alongside Atlanta-rivaling American operations — so both United Clubs and Admirals Clubs are well represented, mostly in Terminals 1 (United) and 3 (American). Terminal 5 is the international terminal and historically the odd one out for domestic lounge access, though it's where you'll find independent and international-carrier lounges. The catch at ORD is that the terminals are not all connected airside: getting from United's Terminal 1 to American's Terminal 3 is doable airside, but reaching Terminal 5 has historically meant leaving security. Check your departure terminal before you pick a lounge. Winter is the other ORD reality — this is one of the most delay-prone airports in the country from December through March, so a lounge here is as much about riding out a ground stop as pre-flight relaxation. The United Club in Terminal 1 (near the C concourse) and the flagship Admirals Club in Terminal 3 are the anchors. If ORD is home, match your lounge card to your airline; card-agnostic flyers should lean Amex Platinum, though O'Hare has fewer independent Priority Pass options than a coastal hub.

Lounge Intelligence · Updated 2026-07-13

Every lounge at ORD, by terminal

Day passes at ORD

No qualifying card or status? These ORD lounges sell walk-in access with a same-day boarding pass.

LoungeTerminalDay pass
United ClubTerminal 1$59
Admirals ClubTerminal 3$79
United ClubTerminal 1$59
United ClubTerminal 1$59
United ClubTerminal 2$59
United ClubTerminal 2$59
Admirals ClubTerminal 3$79
Admirals ClubTerminal 3$79
Swissport LoungeTerminal 5$50

ORD lounge FAQ

How many airport lounges are at Chicago (ORD)?

Chicago O'Hare Intl has 11 tracked lounges across 4 networks: United Club, Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club, Plaza Premium. Access rules for each are traced to an official source and re-verified regularly.

Can I buy a day pass to a lounge at ORD without a premium card?

Yes. At ORD, walk-in day passes are available at: United Club ($59), Admirals Club ($79), Plaza Premium ($50). Airline flagship networks such as Amex Centurion and Delta Sky Club do not sell walk-in day passes at any airport.

Does Delta elite status get me into the Delta Sky Club at ORD?

No. Delta Medallion status alone does not grant Sky Club access on domestic itineraries. Entry is gated by an eligible Delta-affiliated card (such as the Amex Platinum or Delta SkyMiles Reserve) while flying Delta, or by flying an eligible international premium cabin — not by status.

Can I use Priority Pass at the Admirals Club at ORD?

No. American's Admirals Club does not accept Priority Pass. Access requires Admirals Club membership (including via the Citi / AAdvantage Executive card), a qualifying American premium-cabin ticket, or a paid day pass where offered.

Which cards get me Priority Pass access at ORD?

Priority Pass membership comes bundled with several premium cards — including The Platinum Card from American Express, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and the Capital One Venture X. At ORD, Priority Pass gets you into the independent and Plaza Premium-style lounges, but not the card-exclusive airline networks.

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