Here, we are going to discuss, where to smoke in Chicago O’Hare Airport, if you are on the trip. Is there a smoking lounge at Chicago Airport? Is smoking in O’Hare Airport allowed in the open air or the dedicated room? Can I be fined for smoking in ORD? Continue reading to know everything about smoking areas in Chicago Airport.
Is there any Designated Smoking Area in Chicago Airport?
We’ll start with the unpleasant news immediately as we don’t want to mislead you. There is no designated smoking area in Chicago Airport. Neither domestic Terminals 1, 2, 3, nor international Terminal 5 have smoking lounges in Chicago Airport. We know, how disappointed our readers are, especially foreigners, who come to Chicago as guests.
Probably, they plan to relax in a comfortable place with cigars in their hands, starting their interesting trip to the USA. In many European countries, the governmental regulation of smoking in airports and other public places is not as strict as in the USA. So, foreign passengers in ORD are really upset to know that such a big busy airport has no indoor smoking facilities.
The main reason, why there’s no dedicated smoking area in O’Hare Airport is the legislation provided by the US government. In Illinois, smoking is prohibited on the streets, in parks, beaches, and embankments. That means it is not allowed to smoke in the airport, too. We should inform you, that O’Hare Airport occasionally receives inquiries from the passengers to arrange the dedicated smoking room here. Fulfilling such demands would probably be impossible, because of the clean indoor air ordinance of Chicago policy.
Where Are the Outdoor Smoking Zones in O’Hare Airport?
This regulation prohibits smoking and even vaping within the airport premises. That’s why the smoking rooms and lounges were closed at O’Hare Airport many years ago. If you wish to smoke or vape, you should come outside.
How to Find the Smoking Area in the Chicago Airport?
If you hope to find some dedicated smoking room or lounge, we have to end your happiness. There’s no dedicated smoking area with some amenities for smokers, like chairs, tables, ashtrays, or something like that. There are also no signs in the Chicago O’Hare Airport, which will lead you to the outside smoking area. So, if you plan to smoke at the O’Hare Airport, use these instructions:
1. Follow the signs to find the exit from the terminal (any of them – 1, 2, 3 or 5)
2. Go outside the terminal building
3. Step away for at least 20 feet from the Terminal entrance (Probably, you’ll see the sign, which indicates “No Smoking within 15-20 ft of doors”)
4. Then, there will be a place, where you are allowed to light up. Don’t expect any amenities, just ashtrays (if you are lucky enough).
5. After smoking the cigarette, you have to come back to the terminal building and pass the Transportation Security Administration line again. We know that it’s an additional complication, but those are the rules here at ORD.
Interesting fact: They are trying to discourage smoking in ORD airport as well as in Chicago itself. So, you can hardly find any dedicated smoking rooms with the necessary amenities here. You can see just compact sections within public areas, where it is allowed to smoke. By the way, cigarettes are really expensive in Chicago! The pack of them costs here $11-$15!
Working Hours of Smoking Zones in O’Hare
They don’t have any special working hours for smoking areas in Chicago O’Hare airport. So, these areas are available 24/7, just like the ORD airport in general. The smokers can light up any time after leaving the Terminal building and go out for at least 15 ft from its exit.
Rules of Smoking at O’Hare Airport
The absolute ban on smoking inside the O’Hare airport is not a problem for US passengers. According to the statistics, just 20% of US residents smoke cigarettes. So, there’s no society demand for having comfortable smoking rooms in the USA. That’s why Chicago O’Hare Airport is not the best place for smokers. The site “airportsmokers.com” gives just 1 out of 10 scores for smoking facilities there. But we know that it is not a question of your choice.
The long flights present a predicament for smokers. Many travelers spend in the airplane 4-7 hours or even more. It’s a challenge for the smoker to refuse cigarettes for such a long time. So, if you have made up your mind to light up in the O’Hare airport, stick to these rules to avoid trouble.
1. No Smoking inside the airport!
Smoking in public buildings is forbidden in Chicago in general. And of course, it is not allowed to smoke inside the terminals. So, don’t light up as it may cause a fine or even arrest.
2. Don’t smoke in the area within 15 ft of the terminal perimeter
Make sure, you have enough time to smoke a cigarette in O’Hare Airport. To take a cigarette break, you should go out of the terminal building for 15 ft at least, then smoke, and after that get back inside.
Note: To return, you have to pass the security desk again. Then, you have to get the distance to your gate, from where your flight will start. Keep in mind, that there may be some queues at the security station, so calculate your time correctly not to miss your flight.
3. Avoid lighting up in the area with “No Smoking” signs
The “No Smoking” sign warns you, that lighting up is forbidden here. So, get at a distance of 15 ft at least from these signs.
4. Don’t blow the smoke, if there are nonsmokers by your side, especially if there are kids among them
Keep in mind, that smoking in the USA is not encouraged. If you are a foreigner, you may consider smoking as something habitual, but in USA the smokers are in the minority. To avoid conflicts with non-smokers, we recommend you not to light up, if there are no other people, especially kids, nearby.
5. Electronic cigarettes and vaping are also banned
In Chicago O’Hare smoking e-cigarettes and vaping equates to tobacco use. So, to vape you have to get outside the terminal, too.
6. Dispose of the smoking materials properly!
There are no designated smoking areas in Chicago O’Hare. So, even getting the ashtray is a real problem there. Take a portable ashtray or can of Cola with you while smoking outside. Then shoot the ashes from the cigarette there and throw the smoking leftovers away in the trash.
Fine for Lighting Up in a Non-Smoking Area in O’Hare Airport
Even if you were exhausted during the trip and dream about a single puff of a cigarette, we don’t recommend you go to the restroom or other facility for that aim.
In case, if you light up in the wrong place at ORD, you’ll face such troubles:
1. That would be awful to non-smokers, and they may complain to the airport staff member
2. The staff member or the non-smoker can call the police
3. You may be fined $500 or even arrested
4. As a result, you may miss your flight
So, we recommend you not to risk and never smoke in the wrong places at O’Hare Airport.
Alternative Options for Smokers in ORD
What to do if an uncomfortable ORD smoking area outside aggravates you, but your flight was long enough and you need to light up?
There are several alternative options you may use if you are a smoker.
1. If you have a big gap between the flights (up to 10 hours), you may go outside the airport and smoke at some other place in Chicago. Although smoking is forbidden in that city, still there are some places without “No Smoking” signs, where it is possible to take a puff. But on your way back all security checks (search, metal detector frame, etc.) will be carried out again. It’s very inconvenient.
2. You may use a patch
Have you tried patches? If your flight is long enough, but you hate smoking outside the terminal at O’Hare Airport, then you may use a nicotine patch. In this case, you’ll reduce the withdrawal syndrome symptoms. So, you won’t look for Chicago O’Hare Airport smoking area and put your cigarette aside while you are here.
3. Consider another way of travelling
Some American smokers refuse to travel by plane, as many airports don’t have any inside smoking rooms. So, if it is possible, consider traveling by train or by bus (car).
4. If you are a US resident, consider giving up smoking
Smokers are a minority in the USA. From year to year, it’s getting harder to find a designated smoking area in this country. For some people, giving up smoking is a better option than the necessity of finding smoking areas in Chicago O’Hare Airport and anywhere else. So, just think if you could quit this habit.
Conclusion
Smoking is discouraged in Chicago. That’s why there’s no inside smoking lounge at Chicago Airport. Nothing will change for the better for smokers in ORD as it is the airport policy. In the future, it will be harder to find the convenient Chicago O’Hare airport smoking area. So, you should have enough time to find an outside smoking area in Chicago airport or consider the alternative options we’ve offered you in this text. Keep in mind that smoking is the wrong places at Chicago O’Hare is forbidden. In this case, you’ll be fined for $500 or even arrested.