Doors here usually open only for the SAS SK946 bank
The SAS Lounge in ORD Terminal 5 mostly runs around the evening SAS departure to Copenhagen, so you’re looking at a short pre-flight window rather than an all-day hangout. It sits airside in T5 after security, in the international concourse that also serves LOT, Turkish, and other Star Alliance carriers, but access is realistically timed to the SAS schedule instead of general terminal traffic.
Figure on early evening hours tied to SK946, with the lounge often closing not long after boarding starts, sometimes 30 minutes or so before departure. If your connection lands at ORD before 15:00 in T5, this space likely isn’t open yet, and you’ll be killing time in the main terminal until closer to the SAS check‑in and security rush.
The room itself is on the small side for an international lounge in T5, with seating filling quickly during the single departure wave of 150–200 passengers. Don’t plan on spreading out to work for three hours; this is more “grab a drink, bite, use Wi‑Fi, then line up at gate M-something” before your Copenhagen flight than a long layover office.
Food is closer to light buffet than full meal, and regulars note that options thin out once the peak has passed. You’ll usually find cold snacks, some simple hot items, and standard packaged options, but several FlyerTalk posts mention slim pickings if you show up within 20–30 minutes of boarding, as staff start pulling items ahead of closing.
Drinks skew standard European carrier lounge: basic beer and wine, a few mid-shelf spirits, plus coffee from a machine and soft drinks in bottles or cans. If a proper pre-flight dinner matters, people often grab something in T5’s main food court near gates M7–M10 and then use the SAS lounge mainly for drinks and a seat before heading to the plane.
Regular Star Alliance flyers on ORD–CPH runs time their lounge visit tightly: check in around D+2 hours, clear T5 security in 30–45 minutes, then hit the SAS Lounge about 60–75 minutes before departure for one plate, a couple of drinks, and a bathroom stop before boarding when called. They don’t plan on lingering, since closing usually tracks the single outbound bank.
Watch out for days when SK946 runs late or gets swapped, since lounge hours may still mirror the original schedule; always check same-day timings on the flychicago.com lounge page or the SAS app before banking on access. Final tip: if you land into terminals 1, 2, or 3 and need this lounge, allow at least 45–60 minutes to reach T5 by ATS train and clear security again before that narrow evening window.
How to get in
- 01 Terminal 5