SWISS Lounge

SWISS Lounge – Chicago O’Hare (ORD)

The SWISS Lounge at Chicago O’Hare is one of the smaller clubs at Terminal 5. And considering that Terminal 5 as a whole suffers from a significant lack of real estate, small is no overstatement.

SWISS Lounge ORD design

Affectionately dubbed the “SWISS corner” by some frequent travelers, the lounge is comprised of a single cramped seating area with a window but no view — unless a view on concrete structures and a jetway counts — and a small, dark dining area with communal tables and no natural light. The buffet is located in the hallway linking the two rooms.

SWISS has done an admirable job at decorating the space with their signature lounge design. The airline’s frequent travelers will feel right at home with the Vitra designer seats, square lamps, black high tables, and of course the beautiful signature wall made of Jura stone. The whole layout is simple and elegant, but lacks luster due to the lack of space and natural light.

SWISS Lounge – Chicago O’Hare (ORD)

SWISS Lounge ORD amenities

The food and beverage offer is pretty strong around SWISS flight times, with a small selection of hot and cold appetizers and entrees, served on real china with linen. At all other times, though, expect much lighter fare such as fruit and deli plates.

The lounge has a small bathroom – sadly, a rare feature at Terminal 5 lounges – but obviously no showers.

SWISS Lounge ORD bottom line

Overall, we can’t help but feel a bit underwhelmed by the SWISS Lounge at Chicago O’Hare, perhaps because SWISS has set a pretty consistent high standard for their facilities worldwide, which this club does not meet, mostly due to the lack of light and real estate. Be sure to arrive early if you’d like to secure a seat.

Note that First Class and HON passengers benefit from a small dedicated SWISS First Class adjacent area, however there is no Senator lounge at ORD. If the club is busy, you may want to walk over to the SAS Lounge a few minutes away, as it features a slightly more cheerful and spacious design overall, despite more limited catering.