Is the lounge in CHI open 24 hours (and safe?)

[Texan Eagle]

Is the Metropolitan Lounge in Chicago open 24 hours? If yes, is it safe to spend a few hours in the dead of the night?

I have a trip planned starting out of CHI on Empire Builder and I am arriving into Chicago by a flight that reaches ORD at 1.20am. Trying to figure out what would be the best way to spend the few hours until daybreak. Once it is 7am or so, I will start my brief sightseeing tour of Chicago before boarding the Builder, but what to do from about 1.30am to 7am is my dilemma. I do not wish to dole out $80-100 on a motel room just for these few hours if there can be a cheaper option available.

I read that the CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours, so if it is an option, I could take the train to downtown and head to CHI and go to the Metropolitan Lounge to spend the few hours since I have a valid sleeper reservation for the same day. Alternately, does anyone know if ORD airport is open (and safe) even in the middle of the night after most flights have departed and morning arrivals have not started yet? Any short term accommodation or lounge that's not too expensive? Airport website doesn't seem to be very informative.

 

[jphjaxfl]

Is the Metropolitan Lounge in Chicago open 24 hours? If yes, is it safe to spend a few hours in the dead of the night?
I have a trip planned starting out of CHI on Empire Builder and I am arriving into Chicago by a flight that reaches ORD at 1.20am. Trying to figure out what would be the best way to spend the few hours until daybreak. Once it is 7am or so, I will start my brief sightseeing tour of Chicago before boarding the Builder, but what to do from about 1.30am to 7am is my dilemma. I do not wish to dole out $80-100 on a motel room just for these few hours if there can be a cheaper option available.

I read that the CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours, so if it is an option, I could take the train to downtown and head to CHI and go to the Metropolitan Lounge to spend the few hours since I have a valid sleeper reservation for the same day. Alternately, does anyone know if ORD airport is open (and safe) even in the middle of the night after most flights have departed and morning arrivals have not started yet? Any short term accommodation or lounge that's not too expensive? Airport website doesn't seem to be very informative.

Is the Metropolitan Lounge in Chicago open 24 hours? If yes, is it safe to spend a few hours in the dead of the night?
I have a trip planned starting out of CHI on Empire Builder and I am arriving into Chicago by a flight that reaches ORD at 1.20am. Trying to figure out what would be the best way to spend the few hours until daybreak. Once it is 7am or so, I will start my brief sightseeing tour of Chicago before boarding the Builder, but what to do from about 1.30am to 7am is my dilemma. I do not wish to dole out $80-100 on a motel room just for these few hours if there can be a cheaper option available.

I read that the CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours, so if it is an option, I could take the train to downtown and head to CHI and go to the Metropolitan Lounge to spend the few hours since I have a valid sleeper reservation for the same day. Alternately, does anyone know if ORD airport is open (and safe) even in the middle of the night after most flights have departed and morning arrivals have not started yet? Any short term accommodation or lounge that's not too expensive? Airport website doesn't seem to be very informative.

The Metropolitan Lounge in Union Station is not open after the departure of the last train with Sleeping Car service which is the Lake Shore Limited. O'Hare Airport is open 24/7, but many of the businesses are not. It is safe anytime. I haven't been at O'Hare in the early morning hours, but a few years ago there were a lot of homeless people hanging out because they take the Blue Line out specially when its cold. Security didn't seem to bother them and they were harmless. I would probably find a cheap room for a few hours rather than hanging out at O'Hare.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Might consider the Hostel International on ?Congress?

 

[Bob Dylan]

Might consider the Hostel International on ?Congress?

Second!

 

[Eric308]

Many of the major airports have "Minute Suites" now. You pay by the hour and they are cozy and spartan, but do the job. I stayed in one at Atlanta Hartsfield recently. I think O'Hare has them as well.

 

[MiRider]

Many of the major airports have "Minute Suites" now. You pay by the hour and they are cozy and spartan, but do the job. I stayed in one at Atlanta Hartsfield recently. I think O'Hare has them as well.

They're not at O'hare yet and they're not exactly cheap either.

According to NBC Chicago, the "Extended-Stay" suites at O'Hare will be cozy efficiency-style rooms stuffed with a daybed sofa, a TV and a workstation with an Internet-ready computer. The 29 suites are a compact 62 square feet and range in price from $30 an hour to $120 a night for travelers in by 11 p.m. and out by 7 a.m.

 

[Eric308]

Many of the major airports have "Minute Suites" now. You pay by the hour and they are cozy and spartan, but do the job. I stayed in one at Atlanta Hartsfield recently. I think O'Hare has them as well.

They're not at O'hare yet and they're not exactly cheap either.

According to NBC Chicago, the "Extended-Stay" suites at O'Hare will be cozy efficiency-style rooms stuffed with a daybed sofa, a TV and a workstation with an Internet-ready computer. The 29 suites are a compact 62 square feet and range in price from $30 an hour to $120 a night for travelers in by 11 p.m. and out by 7 a.m.

Whoops! The desk clerk at Hartsfield told me they were up and running. Sorry. Also, I didn't pay anywhere near that $30...you get 15% off for over three hours and I also got a healthy senior discount. It was super handy and I didn't even have to leave the terminal as I had a early morning international flight. Hey, did you ever do a trip report and guess my station?

 

[SarahZ]

I've been at O'Hare in the middle of the night. It didn't feel unsafe at all. Security patrols the common areas, and there are all kinds of janitors and maintenance staff wandering around. Plus, you get some late-night flights and early-morning fliers lining up for security, so there's really only 3-4 hours where it's truly empty. I think it's peaceful.

If you want to get some sleep, there are lots of affordable hotels near the airport that offer free shuttle service. You could get a few hours of sleep before taking the shuttle back to the airport to catch the Blue Line. Some of them might offer you a discount since you're only staying a few hours.

 

[Eric308]

I've been at O'Hare in the middle of the night. It didn't feel unsafe at all. Security patrols the common areas, and there are all kinds of janitors and maintenance staff wandering around. Plus, you get some late-night flights and early-morning fliers lining up for security, so there's really only 3-4 hours where it's truly empty. I think it's peaceful.
If you want to get some sleep, there are lots of affordable hotels near the airport that offer free shuttle service. You could get a few hours of sleep before taking the shuttle back to the airport to catch the Blue Line. Some of them might offer you a discount since you're only staying a few hours.

Good idea. I stayed at a place called Candlewood Suites not long ago and it was $62 bucks a night. Most of the hourly places around O'Hare serve other functions and I would not recommend them.

 

[fairviewroad]

Will you just have a carry-on bag? If so, then just remain airside at O'Hare. You'll be

perfectly safe (from the dangers of 4 ounce shampoo bottles, at any rate). If you're going

to just crash on the floor somewhere, you may as well stay at ORD instead of rolling the

dice on the Blue Line at 2 in the morning.

 

[Acela150]

IINM Union Station closes at Midnight.

 

[SarahZ]

I've been at O'Hare in the middle of the night. It didn't feel unsafe at all. Security patrols the common areas, and there are all kinds of janitors and maintenance staff wandering around. Plus, you get some late-night flights and early-morning fliers lining up for security, so there's really only 3-4 hours where it's truly empty. I think it's peaceful.
If you want to get some sleep, there are lots of affordable hotels near the airport that offer free shuttle service. You could get a few hours of sleep before taking the shuttle back to the airport to catch the Blue Line. Some of them might offer you a discount since you're only staying a few hours.

Good idea. I stayed at a place called Candlewood Suites not long ago and it was $62 bucks a night. Most of the hourly places around O'Hare serve other functions and I would not recommend them.

That's where we're staying the night before we fly to SF. The rates are low, and the rooms are really nice. I've stayed there before. The staff is so friendly and accommodating that I bet they might be willing to give someone a room for half-price if they're just sleeping for a few hours (especially if it's the same day and those rooms weren't booked - most hotels would rather have some money than no money). It's worth a phone call, anyway.

 

[railiner]

Will you just have a carry-on bag? If so, then just remain airside at O'Hare. You'll beperfectly safe (from the dangers of 4 ounce shampoo bottles, at any rate). If you're going

to just crash on the floor somewhere, you may as well stay at ORD instead of rolling the

dice on the Blue Line at 2 in the morning.

Good point. And by remaining on the airside (if they let you, they may not), you won't be bothered by any homeless, as they can't pass the security checkpoint.

It's possible that they 'purge' everyone from the airside after the last, late night operations, so they can shut down the checkpoint until morning.

 

[AlanB]

IINM Union Station closes at Midnight.

Correct, the station isn't even open overnight, much less the Met Lounge.

Years ago when the Pennsy used to run to CHI, if it arrived too late, the Amtrak police met the train and escorted the passengers right out of the station to the street.

From Midnight until 5:30 AM, CUS is shut down tight.

 

[SubwayNut]

I highly doubt at a major international airport like O'Hare with at least some dead of night arrivals and late departures will clear the concourses. I would definitely stay inside the secure area, did spend the night on the Concourses (all three remained open) at the Denver Airport after a quite late flight made me the last bus till morning to my destination.

No homeless can get beyond the checkpoints.

 

[railiner]

This thread has got me to wondering how many major Amtrak stations are 'open all night'? I believe most NEC stations are, and perhaps LAX. But how many others, besides the ones that long distance trains call at during the 'wee hours'?

Even Grand Central Terminal in New York closes from around 1 - 5 AM....

 

[zephyr17]

LAUS is 24 hours.

 

[Texan Eagle]

LAUS is 24 hours.

Why would LAUS have to be open 24 hours? The last of the LD trains are out by ~11pm and the first ones don't arrive until about 5am, so what trains are scheduled in the wee hours of the night? Surfliners? MetroLink?

 

[shanghaiamtrak]

LAUS is 24 hours.

Why would LAUS have to be open 24 hours? The last of the LD trains are out by ~11pm and the first ones don't arrive until about 5am, so what trains are scheduled in the wee hours of the night? Surfliners? MetroLink?

theres at least one Amtrak bus that leaves in the middle of the night--1:45 am for Bakersfield.

 

[GG-1]

I believe the subway also runs all night.

Aloha

 

[AlanB]

I believe the subway also runs all night.

No, there is about a 4 hour period where neither the Gold line nor the Red line are operating through most of the week. On Friday night/early Sat morning and Saturday night/early Sun morning there are later trains that reduce that window.

 

[zephyr17]

It is physically open 24 hours and the ticket office is near 24 hours, too (there is apparently are some very early am meal breaks). It is for the Thruway buses. There are northbound buses to Bakersfield connecting with the San Joaquins at 1:15am, 1:45am and 4:10 am. There are southbound buses at 12:40am and 2:30am.

Los Angeles, CA - Union Station (LAX) Station Building (with waiting room)
800 North Alameda Street
Los Angeles Union Station
Los Angeles, CA 90012





Monday 24 Hours Tuesday 24 Hours Wednesday 24 Hours Thursday 24 Hours Friday 24 Hours Saturday 24 Hours Sunday 24 Hours


Ticket office:





Monday Midnight
1:45 am
2:40 am to 1:25 am
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11:59 pm Tuesday Midnight
1:45 am
2:40 am to 1:25 am
2:20 am
11:59 pm Wednesday Midnight
1:45 am
2:40 am to 1:25 am
2:20 am
11:59 pm Thursday Midnight
1:45 am
2:40 am to 1:25 am
2:20 am
11:59 pm Friday Midnight
1:45 am
2:40 am to 1:25 am
2:20 am
11:59 pm Saturday Midnight
1:45 am
2:40 am to 1:25 am
2:20 am
11:59 pm Sunday Midnight
1:45 am
2:40 am to 1:25 am
2:20 am
11:59 pm

 

[fairviewroad]

Good point. And by remaining on the airside (if they let you, they may not), you won't be bothered by any homeless, as they can't pass the security checkpoint.It's possible that they 'purge' everyone from the airside after the last, late night operations, so they can shut down the checkpoint until morning.

There are arrivals until 1 a.m. and departures starting around 5 a.m. So there's really a very short window during which

it would even be practical to close airside. And doing a thorough "purge" would take an hour or more, if your motivation

was security (think of all the bathrooms that you'd have to "clear"). Also, at an airport the size of ORD there are *always*

misconnects even during good weather, and there's no point in having all the poors souls w/o a hotel room clear out and

then proceed back through security three hours later. Bottom line, other than having to put up with the sound of vaccuums

and ceaseless PA announcements, there's really nothing remarkable about remaining airside overnight at a major

airport (been there, done that).

For more:

http://www.sleepinginairports.net/

 

[railiner]

ORD Hilton has some very comfortable chairs in its lobby. I once sat there and used their wifi during a layover between my arriving flight, and then the CTA to catch Amtrak.

It was only for a few hours, and no one bothered me, but I would imagine if you fell asleep, they might ask you to leave.....

 

[MikefromCrete]

ORD Hilton has some very comfortable chairs in its lobby. I once sat there and used their wifi during a layover between my arriving flight, and then the CTA to catch Amtrak.It was only for a few hours, and no one bothered me, but I would imagine if you fell asleep, they might ask you to leave.....

I'm surprised they let you stay in the lobby. A hotel's business is selling rooms, after all.