<p>Same question as fendrock’s thread, different airport.</p>
<p>We are visiting my inlaws in Chicago as usual for Thanksgiving. D (college freshman) will fly in from Boston on Wednesday, arriving at 6:30pm. (I know - terrible time, but she has class earlier in the day.) I come from a long line of “park and go into the airport to pick up family and friends” folks, but H insists that it would be nuts to pick her up - we should just let her take a cab up to Deerfield. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Her departure is early on Sunday morning so that shouldn’t be much of a problem.</p>
<p>I would perhaps take one of the inlaws and have a chance to chat alone during the drive and the wait. Or have H do it with one of his parents. </p>
<p>Is your D very familiar with O’Hare? It’s very nice to have a familiar face waiting just past security. She’s a freshman. She’ll want to play it cool but you are allowed to be happy to see her!</p>
<p>Remember to tell them to call in a suburban cab. The cabs at the airport are Chicago cabs and will cost you extra if you take them into the suburbs.
Depending on the time, they can take the Metra North Central Line.</p>
I remember one memorable trip to see my aunt and uncle for Thanksgiving - they lived in the northern suburbs. The taxi had no map and got thoroughly lost and was indignant that I didn’t know the way. Luckily I had asked my cousin the day before what the fare should be and refused to pay more. When he protested I suggested he come in and discuss the matter with my uncle the lawyer.</p>
<p>Look for GO Airport Shuttle online and see what it would cost to take a shared van out to Deerfield. I just did this in October – it cost me $7 (i.e. less than cab) to go to River Road and I was the only one in the van. </p>
<p>The kiosk for the shuttle is right next to baggage claim. I would book and pay in advance – and have the printed ticket with me.</p>
<p>you can set up an online account for American Taxi 1-847-255-9600, she calls when she arrives at ORD, it’s all automated (computer voice), info is based on your home phone number, they assign a taxi number and tell her which door to go out of - it’s really quick and I’ve used in 25+ times. We’ve picked up my sister at ORD Weds. before Thanksgiving and it’s really a zoo.</p>
<p>The problem at O’Hare is that the lower level pickup area is way too narrow; it’s dysfunctional, and it’s dark. The poor passengers are waiting out on an unheated median, sticking their heads into traffic and bad weather, while cars can’t proceed smoothly. The last time I was there on a busy, pre-holiday night, the line for pickups stretched beyond the buildings and was gridlocked. </p>
<p>We always get around this by using the upper level for pickups, but I wouldn’t go near the place on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. A van service is the way to go. Get a reservation in advance.</p>
<p>Just spent a Wed afternoon at O’Hare to see my mother-in-law when she was between flights. We parked in the economy lots and took the tram into the terminals. I noticed a “kiss and fly” area where people could be picked up/dropped off at the tram stop without paying for parking. An option is to plan to have her take the tram to this area- easy to do without getting lost- and have you pick her up there. With the holiday I’m willing to bet the crowds will be similar parent child scenarios instead of the usual business travelers. Easy to find the info on the web. By the time she is ready to be picked up the tollway traffic won’t be horrendous either. Will save her time and you can talk in the car. You could choose to pay for parking and wait for her at the tram stop- indoors. There are no good places to wait in the terminals- we looked.</p>
<p>I usually hate to hear about parents not picking their kids up at the airport (H flew into O’Hare and his parents never ever ever picked him up; they didn’t pick us up when we were traveling with babies and toddlers either.)</p>
<p>HOWEVER, the problem is that the possibility of her flight being on time at O’HARE on the Wednesday before Thankgiving is extremely slim.</p>
<p>Just the words “O’Hare, Weds before Thanksgiving” strike fear into my heart. I hope it doesn’t snow. If the weather looks bad she should bring a pillow, a blanket, extra food and a good book.</p>
<p>Ah, in the ideal world it works that way!!! </p>
<p>We live 10 minutes from the airport. This summer I checked our departure time before we left the house. On time. By the time we parked the car and checked our bags (maybe 30 minutes later), the flight was delayed by 2 hours. By the time we walked through security (10 minutes later) the flight was delayed by another 2 hours.</p>
<p>Me, too!!! D wants to attend school where it’s cold and where they get snow. That’s always my comeback: Just think first about how you will feel when you spend Thanksgiving in a chair at the airport.</p>
<p>Madness. Insanity. Whatever you do, don’t try to pick anyone up at O’Hare that day.</p>
<p>Maybe if you’re expecting a guest who’s 85, legally blind, and only speaks Swahili. Anybody else should take another form of transport away from O’Hare and be picked up from the destination.</p>
<p>We chose to travel to Chicago (Oak Park) O’Hare on Tuesday to avoid some of the hassle. I second (third?) the motion to call in advance for the taxi.</p>
<p>One time we took a taxi and we had to show the driver how to use his GPS in order to get there. Somehow he could not even figure how to type in the destination, LOL (well, LOL now, not then.)</p>
<p>Wis75 (post #12) has given some good advice. For the past two years that is the method I’ve used picking up a child at O’Hare on Wednesday evening. Absolutely no problems either time–take Mannheim to Bessie Colleman Dr to enter economy lot and hop on the little train. Parking will cost $2. This year I’ll be doing the pickup on Tues. I don’t expect to have any trouble around O’Hare.</p>
<p>Cab rides are a huge ripoff in the suburbs.</p>