Airport Chauffeur
Chicago Airport Pickup Instructions
O'Hare International Airport · Midway International Airport · Private Aviation / Fixed Base Operators (FBO)
Your chauffeur is already tracking your flight. By the time you land, you will have heard from them — a confirmation text before your trip, and a second message when they are en route to the airport. Every flight is monitored in real time; if your arrival time changes, your chauffeur adjusts automatically.
What follows are the exact pickup instructions for each airport and terminal we serve.
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Four passenger terminals · Terminal-specific staging on every run
O'Hare has four passenger terminals. Knowing which one you land in tells you exactly where your chauffeur will be waiting.
Terminals 1, 2 & 3 — Standard Curbside Pickup
Make your way to baggage claim and collect your luggage. Once you have your bags, walk outside through any exit door and cross the street to the middle curb island. Text your chauffeur with the door number you walked out of — for example, Door 1D, 2F, or 3G. Your chauffeur will be positioned at that door.
Domestic baggage claim averages 25 minutes; your chauffeur's staging adjusts to your actual gate arrival, not the scheduled time.
Terminal 5 — International Terminal
Terminal 5 handles international arrivals and select domestic flights including Delta and Southwest. After clearing customs and collecting your luggage, exit through Door 5D or Door 5E. Your chauffeur will be waiting at the first curb directly outside — there is no need to cross the street.
International customs at Terminal 5 can extend past 60 minutes; your chauffeur monitors this and adjusts staging accordingly.
Meet & Greet at O'Hare
If you booked Meet & Greet, your chauffeur parks and meets you inside at your baggage carousel holding a sign with your name. They assist with your luggage and escort you to the vehicle.
Greeter Service — Skip the Walk
The walk from baggage claim to the commercial parking facility at O'Hare can be substantial. If you want to skip it entirely, ask about our Greeter Service — a dedicated greeter meets you at baggage claim, coordinates directly with your chauffeur, and walks you to the vehicle waiting outside.
Contact: support@secondcitylivery.com
Midway International Airport (MDW)
Single-terminal airport · Under 10-minute baggage claim to curbside window
Midway is a single-terminal airport with a tighter curbside window than O'Hare. Baggage claim to curbside is under 10 minutes, which means staging precision matters. Your chauffeur receives live delay updates and moves to the pickup zone once you confirm you have your bags and are ready — not based on landing time or gate arrival.
Standard Curbside Pickup
Follow signs to baggage claim and collect your luggage. Exit through Door 1LL or Door 2LL — LL stands for Lower Level. Cross the street to the middle curb island and text your chauffeur the door number you used. Your vehicle description, plate number, and exact curbside position will be sent to you before you exit the terminal.
Meet & Greet at Midway
If you booked Meet & Greet at Midway, your chauffeur meets you at baggage claim with a name sign, assists with your luggage, and escorts you to the vehicle in the airport parking lot.
Licensing & Permit Compliance
Every chauffeur holds a City of Chicago BACP Public Chauffeur License and the required Chicago Department of Aviation commercial permit and waybill for pre-arranged pickups at MDW. Without both, a driver cannot legally access the designated pickup zone.
Private Aviation & Fixed Base Operators (FBOs)
COI issuance · Tail-number tracking · Planeside when ramp permits
Second City Livery coordinates ground transportation for private aviation arrivals across all Chicago-area FBOs. We confirm ramp rules with each facility directly and issue the required certificate of insurance through our broker the same day.
Tarmac & Ramp Access
Ramp access at Chicago FBOs is not automatic. Every facility has its own COI requirements, escort protocols, and staging windows. Before every FBO run we confirm ramp rules with the facility directly and issue the required certificate of insurance through our broker the same day.
If your FBO permits tarmac access, your chauffeur will be planeside when your aircraft arrives. If tarmac access is restricted, your chauffeur meets you directly outside the FBO exit.
Tail-Number Tracking & Diversions
We track your aircraft via FlightAware and Cirium from the moment your reservation is confirmed. If your flight diverts to a different FBO — a common scenario during Chicago weather events — we reposition the vehicle without requiring you to call from the cabin. Staging adjusts to actual wheels-down at the correct facility.
Booking FBO Transfers
Provide your tail number or aircraft registration and your expected arrival time at booking. This allows us to initiate COI issuance and FBO coordination before the day of travel. For groups with significant luggage — ski equipment, trade-show cargo, oversized bags — confirm passenger count and cargo details at booking so we assign the correct vehicle class before dispatch.
What to Expect Before You Land
- • You will receive a text from your chauffeur confirming booking details before your trip.
- • You will receive a second message when they are en route to the airport.
- • Your flight is tracked in real time — if your arrival changes, your chauffeur adjusts automatically. You do not need to call or send updates.
Ready when you are — driver and vehicle locked in.
Book online in minutes or call to confirm availability for airport, corporate, wedding, event, and long-distance transportation.