Midway airport-Chicago

[Dizneycrazy3]

I will be flying out of Midway for the first time this summer because of booking with Southwest Airlines. I have never been to Midway, always flown out of O'Hare. Also will be using the Midway Park and Fly option. Any tips or experiences with Midway compared to O'Hare that I should be aware of?

 

[mysparky]

I fly into/out of Midway, rather than Ohare, whenever I can. The airport is smaller and out of the 4 times I've gone through Midway, I've always had ontime arrivals & departures. Can't say the same about Ohare!

 

[Kitzer]

We have flown to Disney the last two years from Midway and will this year also. We have had no problems flying out of Midway on Southwest. Whenever I fly out of Midway for business I leave my car in the main garage and I never have a problem locating a spot. If you're going to be gone for an extended stay, they have several offsite parking locations nearby that transport you right to the terminal. Midway is Fine!

 

[Terry's Angels]

I really like flying out of Midway, I've only flown out of O'hare once in the past five years, versus at least 3 trips a year out of Midway. In fact, I tell my friends to please fly into Midway (if they can) rather than O'hare. Midway is smaller and their flights tend to be more "on time" than O'hare. Like a previous poster, I've always found parking in either the garage or the remote lot. We tend to fly early mornings and there are plenty of shuttles running to get to the airport and I've never waited more than 5 mins for a shuttle. HTH

 

[bribert]

Everything is better at Midway than at O'hare!!
We always use Park ride & fly, it's soo easy. Be sure to book online!!!! When you pull in to the lot, a shuttle will follow you when you park, load up & go!!!
Also, don't forget to check-in at SWA as much as 24 hours in advance to get group "A" seating & avoid the check-in lines at the airport!

 

[dudspizza]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I have a question about ground transportation from Midway to downtown. We "may" fly from MSP to Midway on Airtran if the deal is right for my daughter's national dance competition. We are staying at the Hyatt Regency downtown. What is the best option for getting downtown? I see I can pay for a shuttle type service, take a cab, or the METRA. Is it safe to take the METRA train? There is a stop a few blocks from the hotel.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Duds

 

[zulaya]

duds--

I fly to MDW every July for Pampered Chef National Conference and I always take the Orange line into Downtown. Totally safe, totally easy, totally cheap. I walk to the Sheraton Hotel and Towers and it's about .4 miles. If you are within a couple blocks, no sweat. Take the train.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Everything you've always wanted to know about Midway Airport: http://www.flychicago.com/midway/concessionsmidway/pdf/MDWVisitorsGuide2005Revised.pdf

The rail service serving Midway Airport is the CTA, Chicago's elevated and subway system (not Metra, the suburban rail network). You can go to the CTA Orange Line directly from the Midway Airport terminal building. Taking the CTA Orange Line is the cheapest and probably the fastest way to travel to downtown Chicago.

 

[Terry's Angels]

duds--

I fly to MDW every July for Pampered Chef National Conference and I always take the Orange line into Downtown. Totally safe, totally easy, totally cheap. I walk to the Sheraton Hotel and Towers and it's about .4 miles. If you are within a couple blocks, no sweat. Take the train.

I totally agree!! Take the train - avoid traffic.

 

[WDWFigment]

Not to hijack this again, but we will be flying out of Midway for MCO this year, and we are planning on taking the South Shore Line into downtown, then the Orange Line CTA into Midway. Does anyone know what station we need to get off the Shore Shore Line at? I'm not quite sure if Millennium is our best bet; we aren't fully comfortable in Chicago (been lost a few times downtown), and don't want to start our trip off on the wrong foot. Is it fairly simple to go from the South Shore Line to the CTA on foot?

 

[crzykid]

I used to take the south shore ALL the time for work. You need to exit at Randolph its the last stop so you wont have to worry about missing your stop. Go up the stairs turn right and you need to head away from the lake. I think you can catch the Orange line on Wabash which is a block walk away. When you turn you will see and hear the trains. Easy and simple.

 

[inkkognito]

For those parking/flying, I highly recommend the lot right across the street from the Orange Line train station. It is so close that you can literally walk to the airport...you just cross the street, and there you are! It's a HUGE lot, but if you are parked towards the back, there is a shuttle bus that will take you to the front if you don't feel like walked.