The Air France – KLM Lounge Chicago O’Hare International Airport is a popular Priority Pass airport lounge in International Terminal 5.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport is the busiest and largest airport in the Midwest. It is a major hub that connects smaller airports throughout the region to major International destinations, including Paris and Amsterdam.
The two available Priority Pass Chicago Lounges are both in Terminal 5: Swissport Lounge Chicago and the KLM – Air France Lounge.
Here’s our review of Air France – KLM Lounge Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
When we fly, we always take our Priority Pass to get into over 1,200 lounges at airports around the world (and get discounts at several restaurants!) If you travel, consider getting a Priority Pass Membership and stop paying for drinks and food at the airport!
Air France – KLM Lounge Location
Four of the five terminals at Chicago O’Hare Airport are designed to handle domestic flights. Terminal 5 is solely dedicated to International destinations, and that’s where you’ll find the Air France Lounge.
To get from domestic to international at O’Hare, you will either have to exit the secured area and get another pat down at the International Terminal, or get on a TTS (Terminal Transfer Bus) between Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 inside the secured area.
Read the official Fly Chicago page for updates and information.
You’ll fine the KLM – Air France Lounge in International Terminal 5, between Gates M7 and M8. Its front door literally faces the other Chicago Priority Pass Lounge – the Swissport Lounge.
Find the hallway across from the Big Bowl to your right if you come from the shuttle bus or security.
Accessing Chicago Air France – KLM Lounge
As you might guess, Air France and KLM Lounge Chicago offers services to premium cabin passengers within the Sky Team Alliance, including Korean Air, Delta, AeroMexico, Alitalia, China Eastern, and of course Air France and KLM.
The lounge also offers access to people who hold several airport lounge memberships, including Priority Pass, Lounge Buddy, and DragonPass. Although keep in mind that they may have limited hours for these memberships.
Air France Lounge O’Hare layout
Chicago Air France – KLM Lounge is not very big. It is basically a long room with an open concept. Around the edges, you’ll find smaller rooms.
There are no windows or natural light; however, the lighting designer did a good job creating a cozy ambiance from the interior lights.
There are several seating options throughout the lounge. A few couches create smaller “rooms” within a larger room for groups or family.
If you opt to sit at tables, there are a few wide surface glass ones here.
There are a few cubicles behind the food bar with nine different places where you can work.
Although there are no computers, these stations are great if you carry your own laptop or if you need to charge anything, really.
Food at the Chicago KLM – Air France Louge
Don’t expect much from Air France – KLM Lounge for food. They only offer limited options, like cold sandwiches, chips, packaged cookies, pudding and fruit cups, and other smaller snacks.
You can find some packaged sandwiches in the fridge as well. Here are some of the cold sandwiches they have. Neither of the vegetarian sandwiches was available during my visit:
- Vegetable Tapenade
- Garden Vegetable Sandwich
- California Dreaming: Turkey/Swiss Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Lemon Mayo
- Bruschetta Chicken: Balsamic Glaze, Grilled Chicken, Fresh Mozzarella, Fresh Basil, Tomato & Red Onions served on Chiabatta
- Italian Slam: Italian Ham, Hot Capicola, Genoa Salami, Spicy Giardinera and Provolone Cheese with Mayonnaise on Herb Ciabatta
- and several salad packages
The food selection is pretty scarce. There’s a hot soup option.
However, the best part of the O’Hare Airport Air France – KLM Lounge is the ice cream. We’ve visited many airport lounges around the globe and finding ice cream inside a lounge is always a treat for us!
Drinks at Air France – KLM Lounge Chicago
A coffee machine offers options to make regular coffee and milk-based drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos.
Individual cans of Coca-Cola branded sodas and juices are available, as well as a water station for sparkling and still water.
The lounge offers a self-serve bar, which includes some basic liquor. Wine bottles are kept in the cooler underneath the counter, with options like New Zealand’s Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc and California’s Meiomi and Robert Mondavi.
Beer selection is pretty basic bottled beer: Sam Adams, Blue Moon, Fat Tire, Heineken and Amstel Light.
Air France – KLM Chicago Lounge Hours
The Air France – KLM Lounge Chicago is open:
- 06:00 – 21:30 Monday & Saturday
- 08:15 – 23:50 Tuesday, Thursday – Friday & Sunday
- 06:00 – 23:50 Wednesday
Priority Pass Access and some other lounge programs may be restricted between 13:00 – 16:00 & 18:00 – 20:00 daily, or when the lounge is at full capacity.
Wi-Fi at Chicago O’Hare
There is a password-protected Wi-Fi network inside the KLM – Air France Lounge, and you can use it pretty much from everywhere inside the lounge.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport has its own free Wi-Fi network, and you can also use this network.
Business Center
There is no computer or printer to use in the business center. However, they have a limited area where you can find the high-top style tables with chairs and charging outlets to use for your laptop.
There is no Restroom
Inexplicably, there is no restroom or shower facility in this lounge. You will need to leave the lounge area to use the public restroom outside in the airport terminal.
Odd.
Wheelchair Access
Generally speaking, the layout of Air France – KLM Lounge Chicago is wheelchair accessible. There is enough room between furniture, as well as aisles large enough for wheelchairs to get by.
However, like in everywhere else, during busy hours, it may present some challenge to get around in a wheelchair. Passengers will have luggage and bags everywhere.
And, for some reason, they allow baggage trolleys in the lounge.
Charging Stations
The Air France – KLM Lounge is not a big place. Each seating group has outlets that guests can use.
A great area to charge your electronics is the work stations, which have power outlets on the desks.
Conclusion
Surprisingly, we’ve found that Chicago O’Hare Airport Lounges are not up to the same standards as you might expect from a major hub. Their airport lounges need some major upgrades.
There are only two Priority Pass lounges in the airport, and both of them are for International departure only.
Because they are directly across from each other, Air France – KLM Lounge is often compared to the Swissport Lounge.
While both lounges enforce the rule on Priority Pass hours, many people find that, even with the lack of hot food and other selections, Swissport Lounge is the best.
The staff are friendlier, and there are fewer visitors that crowd the lounge area.
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I noticed the info desks have signs posted with the various gates with a TTB. Gate K20 is one, the other two gates are slipping my head. However, The people at the info desk suggested not to go. The TTB was only for those holding an international ticket so leaving security and taking the terminal bus to 5 and going through security again would have been my only option. I havent tryed but the info desk people could have been wrong about the TTB. TSA precheck would be the only reason to even attempt this because lines can get long during the busy boarding times. I would also have to plea with security at international terminal to let me thru, not difficult but a pain. Then I would have to plea with the desk attendent at the lounge to let me in because its at their discretion to accept people. I believe people who take the flights on specific airlines have priority. I think its too many hurdles to visit the KLM or Swissport lounges while flying on a domistic ticket. With all of that and the bad reviews tell me these two Priority Pass lounges are not worth it. Next time I fly thru ORD airport I’ll obtain a American, United or Delta lounge pass.