Traveling in and out of Chicago offers many options but none is more important and daunting than picking the right airport for your transition. There are many aspects to consider when choosing the best and most efficient airport as Chicago has as many faces as hours in a day. Traffic can upset the plans of even the most organized travelers depending on the time, the day, the season, or the game.
Traveling with family and especially young children requires families to be very organized and plan well ahead. Luckily Chicago is the home to one of the most professional and family-friendly transportation companies, Ride In Bliss.
Ride In Bliss prioritizes guiding and serving travelers of Chicago by offering all the accommodations any family could ask for.
When traveling to or through Chicago there are 2 airports that you can land or take off from Midway or O'Hare.
O’Hare Airport
O’Hare is one of the largest airports in North America and also one of the busiest, with over 600 daily flights. If one is traveling to Midwest, chances are they will have to pass through this famous transportation hub. Most international flights to Europe, Asia, Middle East are done from and to O’Hare. Airlines such as United Airlines and American Airlines have their headquarters here and so most of their flights will have connections here. The grandeur and complexity of O'Hare have their advantages and disadvantages. The biggest advantage is that you can get any flight, anywhere, anytime, especially internationally, because there are so many airlines and daily flights. O'Hare has a myriad of restaurants, lounges and stores where travelers can pass their time while on layovers. O’Hare is in a good area of the city; thus, travelers need not feel anxious or unsafe about the place they have landed at. O’Hare can get you anywhere you want with lots of nonstop flights and great amenities.
The disadvantages of flying through O’Hare are that the airport is one of the busiest in the world, thus it can be very difficult to navigate, take a long time to pass through all of the checkpoints and walk from your gate to your lounges. Another downside of O’Hare is that it is located a bit far from downtown Chicago, and it can take a long time to get out of the actual airport area, which will add extra travel time. Located 15 miles northwest from downtown, it can take approximately 45 minutes to get from O’Hare to downtown, and even more during rush hour traffic, so plan accordingly. If you plan on grabbing a taxi or rideshare from the airport prepare to pay around $50-$60 for your ride and bring your child safety seat as these public transportation services will not provide one, and they might even refuse service without one.
TSA Chicago Airport Wait Times
The average O’Hare airport security wait times are around 15 minutes. The best Chicago O’Hare TSA wait times occur on Saturdays 10-11 pm. The worst Chicago TSA wait times are on Tuesdays from 4-5 pm, where you could wait up to 33 minutes.
Midway Airport
Compared to O’Hare, Midway is a much smaller international airport, and it only carries a few airlines. Midway generally operates Southwest Airlines flights and it is much smaller and less busy than O'Hare. The advantage of traveling through Midway is that it is much closer to the city. It can take 15 to 25 minutes from Midway to downtown, as the distance is shorter and the traffic surrounding this airport is much lighter. Overall, due to its size and location Midway can be the more efficient and fast choice for those quick, domestic business travelers who are looking to be in and out, and who do not require many airport amenities. If you plan on taking a public vehicle expect to pay around $45 from Midway to downtown.
On the downside, Midway’s location is seen as a bit dangerous and not as safe as the O’Hare location. This can be a very important factor for those new Chicago visitors and those who plan to take public transportation after their flight. Thorough research of Chicago's airports and their neighborhoods as well as booking the safe, timely, and impeccable services of a transportation company as Ride In Bliss is vital when visiting Chicago for the first time.
TSA Midway Airport Wait Times
The average Midway airport security wait times are also around 15 minutes, but these times can go over 30 minutes in early mornings and late evenings.
Overall, if you are traveling with your family, your flight is long and international and layovers are expected, O’Hare is a better choice simply because it offers more fun things to do for the little ones. Kids will be entertained during those long layovers with some interesting playgrounds, toy stores, the largest mounted dinosaur in the world, and even the restored plane of Edward O'Hare from World War II. With all this and so much more O'Hare is not just an airport but a fun and place to visit.
Midway also has some fun attractions that will keep your kids amused for some time, boasting a World War II Battle of Midway exhibit and lots of kids stores and restaurants.
Choose a Reliable Transportation Partner for Your Airport Travel Needs
Plan the days and times of your travel with your transportation partner, Ride In Bliss, the only company that will provide the appropriate safety seat for your kids free of charge. Time is the most valued commodity and the time we spend in traffic, waiting for the next flight or waiting in line for a taxi at the airport is a waste of precious resources we will never be able to buyback. Next time you plan to travel through Chicago make the smart choice of booking a Ride In Bliss vehicle, let our professional drivers meet and greet you on your time, and avoid the hassle of navigating Chicago airports and taxi lines on your own and make the most of the time you have.
Ride In Bliss specializes in catering to airport travelers with knowledgeable and pleasant drivers that know Chicago airports better than anyone. Ride In Bliss prides itself on providing flawless services to families traveling with children, on providing age-appropriate car seats free of charge, and on waiting for its clients with all the requested refreshments and accommodations.