Taking off Travel blog

Chicago O’ Hare Airport is one of the busiest in the US, with more than 70 million people a year passing through its terminal doors. If you’re going to fly through there, then it pays to know what’s on offer when it comes to flights, amenities and parking.

Terminals And Airlines

O’Hare Airport uses four terminals, each with restaurants, shops, ATMs and business services. Most of the international carriers use Terminal 5, while other flights are routed through Terminals 1, 2 or 3. You can find the airport layout here (PDF).

Most domestic carriers and a wide range of international ones fly though O’Hare Airport. In general, the airline you travel with will determine your gate, though there are occasional exceptions. The normal boarding gates for airlines flying out of O’Hare are listed in this O’Hare airport guide.

Amenities

As well as the services listed above, O’Hare Airport has other useful amenities including:

• facilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including a visual paging system and accessible transport between terminals.
• Taxi service
• Wi-fi internet and several power workstations where passengers can recharge electronic devices free of charge.
• Touchscreen virtual concierges

Read more »

It’s time for another round up of essential gadgets for business travel, plus one non-essential that’s there simply because I like it.

Cell Phone Projector

One of the hot new must-haves this year has to be a cell phone with a mini projector. No longer will you have to worry about how to make that presentation - just load it into your cell phone and you’re ready to go. This one will set you back about $300, but is remarkably convenient. Several cell phone manufacturers are reported to have these in the works, with many expected to launch in 2010.

Weighing In

Need to find out exactly how much weight those company brochures have added to your luggage allowance? Then you need a digital luggage scale. The Balanzza Too is small enough to carry but will make sure that you don’t get hit with overweight charges. The latest version, which ships this month, includes an alarm and flashlight.

Downsize Your Laptop

Cut the weight of your laptop by getting a smaller, speedier version such as the HP Mini, which also has a beautiful dashboard interface for easy navigation. You might struggle a bit with the keyboard, but your shoulders will thank you for the reduced weight. If you can bear it, go even smaller and pick up a Dell mini, which is currently on my wishlist. Read more »

Breaking news: Indy Park Ride Fly is to offer complementary recharging of hybrid vehicles as part of its comprehensive off airport parking service. The service will also be available at Midway Park Ride and Fly and Albany Park Ride and Fly as well as selected parking facilities affiliated with Park Ride Fly USA.

Indy Park Ride Fly Map

WiFi In The Air

It’s time for another round-up of travel news. Today, I’m looking at news of interest to business travelers. First off, there’s good news if you have ever been frustrated by the lack of internet access when flying. Many domestic airlines now offer WiFi access through the GoGo network. Delta, American and Virgin are already signed up, while United Airlines is currently in trials. Other connectivity options are available on other carriers. Find out more in the original story. Read more »