USO - Chicago, Illinois

Matt M.

USOs are always a good place for service men and women, including veterans. I would give this location 5 stars if it were actually in the secured area of the airport. The one inside was closed and I had a 4 hour layover and I would've had to go through the long lines of the security checkpoint again at O'Hare... no thanks

Been T.

This is an excellent spot to relax, and the team is always nice here.

■Parking... it's O'Hare, you have hourly parking 💸, bus service, the monorail 🚝, etc.
■This is one of two in the airport, and is before security. Located up on the mezzanine level.
■Stairs and an elevator to get there.
■Sign in on the tablet or use the USO app! Then you must show your ID.
■Lots of amenities including two "quiet rooms" to take a nap before your flight.
■Be prepared for the weekend rush Friday's.
■This center is amazing, both terminals 2 & 3, however, THE USO needs to send more support here. It almost feels like they're neglected in a way.

Overall, this place is run excellently with and incredible team and manager. If you have the chance, check it out!

Specialist S.

There are two distinctly and significantly different USO at O'Hara Airport. The information posted here is confusing because it does not differentiate between the two. I have been to the USO "inside security". It is in the Rotunda of terminal "3" THREE! It is not open 24 hours a day.
Where I sit now is the USO outside, before security! This USO is in terminal "2" TWO. This USO is open 24 hours each day. It is located on the Mezzanine level. To find it, go to the elevators alongside the security check point, choose either the elevator or stairs to the Mezzanine level. To sign-in here takes two at the most three minutes; if you do not have two or three minutes to spare before your flight, you should not be here. See the photographs to understand the location better.

Rosalyn M.

Visited 6/19 The man at the front desk was an absolute sweetheart. He helped me and offered me food and let me rest. I was so happy here! One of the best USO I've been to.

Amanda C.

They were incredibly rude to me when I tried to sit there and wait six hours for my flight. All I have as "proof" is my old dependent ID, since my husband got out of his nearly decade long Army career with two Afghanistan deployments three years ago. I was very disgustedly told "Absolutely not. Not if your card is expired, no." All I wanted to do was sit and work, but I can find somewhere else to do that without being derided and glared at. Very rude staff.

William K.

Just a quick note about all the 1-star reviews for the USO's at O'Hare Airport, all of them are from veterans which the USO doesn't serve, the USO is for the comfort and convenience of Active Duty, personnel, (including Reserve and Guard personnel on Active Duty) and their dependents.

Operational requirements permitting, the infrequent use of the center by military retirees, Guard and Reserve Personnel, not on active duty may be authorized by the director of the center.

With that in mind, if you're no longer in the military, there are plenty of other airport clubs at O'Hare and other airports for others to use. I volunteer here, but I can't use it for when I'm traveling, nor do I wish to use the facilities here unless I am volunteering here.

While I am not in the military, nor a civilian contractor any longer, I have been to various USO centers over the years as the guest of an active or retired military member. This is by far is one of the best I've been to, its why I feel its worth five stars, and why I volunteer my spare time here on a very regular basis.

There are two USO's at O'Hare Airport, both deserve the five star rating, There is another center open from 6am til 10:30pm at night, in Terminal 3, in the upper level rotunda. But this review is for the 24 hour USO center, in front of security, above Delta ticketing, on the Mezzanine level of Terminal 2.

The charter states, the center is open to active duty, reserve, (basically anyone in the Uniformed Services), retired military, and their dependents. To the occasional civilian who thinks their tax dollars pays for all of this, it doesn't. USO's operations are funded solely on donations by private individuals.

When I first started volunteering here, the director explained it this way, run the center like it was your home, just ID everyone as they come in. (Anyone that knows me, knows ID everyone that comes to my door.) After signing in, and showing your ID, you can place your bags in our gear room, grab a bite to eat from one of our two refrigerators, one stocked with all sorts of Pepsi products. The other with peanut-butter and jelly, ham and cheese, and turkey and cheese sandwiches, quite often the airport restaurants drop off all sorts of healthy snacks, salads and sandwiches.

There is enough sugary junk food here to put the healthiest service member into a diabetic coma, various volunteers source local supermarkets, pastry shops for pies and cakes, and there's a regular supply of fresh flowers in the center.

There are three computers on the back wall, but only one works with the printer, there is Wi-Fi, the SSID is a widely held secret amongst non-military O'Hare regulars, just ask the volunteer at the desk how our 'IT manager' is hiding the network this year and how to get on the network,

One of the kind but curmudgeonly volunteers (a retired Marine Captain) graciously donated the leather recliners up front. they are by far the most comfortable seats in the center, I want one for my home office!

We have a kids room with every imaginable kids DVD's there is for even the most jaded toddler.

All in all, probably the best USO you will ever visit, its definitely a favorite of those travelers stranded at O'Hare and considerably better than sleeping on the floor in baggage claim with the homeless populations rifling through your bags..

Jacqueline V. H.

9am is a bit of a late start. I never catch a USO open.

E ?. M.

My flight got cancelled and I had to stay overnight. Luckily I was prepared for any worst case scenario I could think of at the time. I had snacks, a blanket, and my phone charger in my carry-on so I had all I needed to survive at least 24 hours in the airport. I was just bored so I thought I’d stop by and hopefully sit in a comfy recliner our home away from home is known for. I will say It was no surprise this USO was being kept in great shape by committed volunteers. Unfortunately for me all the recliners were already taken so I just looked around for a few minutes and realized how thankful I am that the USO has not stopped supporting our troops - especially with very limited resources these days. Now a retired guest, the least I could do is donate, or in other words, give back as a token of my appreciation for making younger me feel at ease during those countless occasions where I was passing through important chapters of my life. Gratitude. S/F