I decided to get an early start this Monday morning because I was itching to get through security, pick up something to drink, and chill out for a bit before my flight began to board.
I hopped out of my taxi at 4:20am and, surprise, nothing was open…including security. That’s right – security doesn’t open until 4:30am so don’t bother coming any earlier unless you enjoy standing in line.
I did happen to be one of the first people through security (@4:35am) and then I tried to get an orange juice at the Starbucks closest to my my gate (Gate 22 in Terminal C). As I stood at the empty cashier line, the single worker, unpacking coffee cups, told me they only opened at 5am. Awesome.
No wonder the security line is so long in on Monday mornings.
Benefits to getting to Ohare early? Having the entire moving walkway and escalators all to yourself!
On a happier note, I think someone at Ohare may have overheard my idea to sell power strips at the airports. I saw, what I could only call, a laptop bar, as I exited security. It was long counter, attached to the wall of a gate, with stools and power outlets. I hope they install them in all the gates. That way I can add, “locking down your spot at the laptop bar” as another benefit to beating security out of bed.
UPDATE: The Starbucks located in the B terminal right before the escalators to the C terminal appears to be open at 4:30am.