Tips on commuting out of ORD

[n25na]

I'm commuting out of ORD and so far my wife has been able to drop me off at the airport, but that won't always work. I would like to avoid the $30 cab/shuttle ride one-way, does anyone have a good/cheap way to the airport? The blue line isn't an option, because I'm out in the suburbs......Thanks

 

[labbats]

Other than driving yourself past the airport from the West and parking at the Cumberland stop, etc... I don't see any other way than bus.

 

[nimtz]

I'm commuting out of ORD and so far my wife has been able to drop me off at the airport, but that won't always work. I would like to avoid the $30 cab/shuttle ride one-way, does anyone have a good/cheap way to the airport? The blue line isn't an option, because I'm out in the suburbs......Thanks

Few and pathetic options all around. Don't know which burb you live, but you can take METRA to Des Plaines and grab a cab to the airport. That should be relatively cheap although I've never done it. METRA has an ORD Transfer station, but I don't know anything about it. Using METRA would entirely depend on what burb you live in. There is a bus service from the Northwest burbs to the airport that you can get out of Elgin, but it runs 28 bucks roundtrip. I've used it before and it is reliable and very clean, but their schedule may not be commuter friendly.

Maybe the ORD based guys have a few more tricks that I can't think of right now. Outside of the blue line, the only real way to ORD is driving. Just remember we are only talking about getting you to the airport. Now successfully making your check-in time by flying out of the most delay prone airport in the country, well that is where the fun begins. Trust me I speak from experience.

 

[StaySeated]

The metra ORD stop is out in the long term parking, you get off the train and ride the tram from the long term lot to the terminal. You can't park overnight at the cta parking lot. I know some people work something out with area hotels. They park in the hotel lot and ride the hotel shuttle. You can also get a badge from your airline and park in the employee lot.

 

[TWA Dude]

You can also get a badge from your airline and park in the employee lot.

If that were possible it would be a no-brainer. ORD only allows domiciled employees to park there. So, does anybody know about deals with surrounding hotels?

 

[capt. megadeth]

Now successfully making your check-in time by flying out of the most delay prone airport in the country, well that is where the fun begins. Trust me I speak from experience.

Another reason Chicago is so great right?

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

 

[FlyChicaga]

If that were possible it would be a no-brainer. ORD only allows domiciled employees to park there. So, does anybody know about deals with surrounding hotels?

Check out the same post in the regional section. DoubleTree Club North at Touhy and Mannheim, about $50 per month to park as an airline employee. Bring your ID.

Out-of-domicle employees can park in employee parking. Long process though.

 

[Stearmandriver]

If that were possible it would be a no-brainer. ORD only allows domiciled employees to park there. So, does anybody know about deals with surrounding hotels?

Nope Nope. I'm XJT, commute ORD-IAH currently. I've done it (or CLE) for over 6 years now, had an ORD parking badge the whole time. So do a bunch of other CAL/XJT crewmembers. You don't have to be domiciled in ORD. You only have to work for an airline that serves ORD.

 

[n25na]

who did you go talk to (in what department) to get that badge. I'm an XJ employee so I assume I would have to hunt someone down at Northwest at ORD. thanks

 

[AdlerDriver]

I'm commuting out of ORD and so far my wife has been able to drop me off at the airport, but that won't always work. I would like to avoid the $30 cab/shuttle ride one-way, does anyone have a good/cheap way to the airport? The blue line isn't an option, because I'm out in the suburbs......Thanks

What 'burb are you commuting out of? If you have a metra station near your house, use it and go into the city. Then you just need to take the blue line into ORD. If you happen to be near the NW metra line (Arlington Hts, Palatine, Barrington, Crystal Lake, etc) you can get off at Jefferson Park and pick up the Blue line there. Very easy and reasonably cheap. 1:15 from Crystal Lake until standing in ORD terminal and about $11 round trip.

 

[n25na]

I live in Wheeling, I could pick up the Metra in Mt Prospect to end up in Jefferson Park..any trouble with keeping your car in the Metra parking lot overnight?

thanks

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

I'm commuting out of ORD and so far my wife has been able to drop me off at the airport, but that won't always work. I would like to avoid the $30 cab/shuttle ride one-way, does anyone have a good/cheap way to the airport? The blue line isn't an option, because I'm out in the suburbs......Thanks

You probably thought of this, but Midway is good to fly out of. Its worth the drive. ATA and Southwest love to fill the back with jumpseaters.

 

[Stearmandriver]

who did you go talk to (in what department) to get that badge. I'm an XJ employee so I assume I would have to hunt someone down at Northwest at ORD. thanks

Now that might be a problem. Yes, you'd need one of the NWA managers there to fill out a form for you, to authorize the city Dept. of Aviation to issue the badge. Problem is, the NWA people have historically not been willing to do this for Mesaba folks. My wife's been flying for XJ for 6 years, and she's never been able to get a badge. Good luck though, and let me know if you find someone there that will fill out the form!

 

[PHXFLYR]

Tips on commuting out of ORD...yeah just one....DON"T !!!!!


PHXFLYR

 

[AdlerDriver]

I live in Wheeling, I could pick up the Metra in Mt Prospect to end up in Jefferson Park..any trouble with keeping your car in the Metra parking lot overnight?

thanks

I'm not sure about the parking situation in Wheeling. I usually have my wife drop me off or get a ride and avoid the hassle. I'm sure there are plenty of commuters going into the city that need to park so I'm sure it's available. Cost is probably the only question. I'm sure it beats trying to pay for parking around ORD. If you decide to do the Metra/Blue line option, get a 10 ride pass for the Metra. You can get them on-line or at a ticket office in the station. From Mt. Prospect to J. Park will be 24.65 for 10 rides. Check it out on www.metrarail.com.
Riding the CTA blue line is easier if you use a Chicago card. They have two types. Both are size/thickness of a credit card. Both store credit for fares and you touch them to a spot on the front of the turnstile and the fare is automatically deducted. One is colored blue and you can only recharge it with cash at the machines around the CTA stations. The other (Chicago card-plus)is blue/yellow and you can recharge it at a station or use your credit card on line. CTA fare is $1.75. Start here for CTA info: www.yourcta.com
Without parking at ORD, I highly recommend this option. Occasionally you'll run into a crunch if you have an early departure on a Sunday or late arrival as the schedules are lighter on the weekends. Other than that it's a stress free, no traffic, no snow commute. That's my mass transit public service announcement for the evening. Hope it helps.

 

[n25na]

Thanks AdlerDriver, I think that is what I'm going to try