Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) Flights & Information

Chicago Midway (MDW) is the city’s secondary airport, but it deserves to win first place for location. Unlike the much larger Chicago O’Hare, Midway is closer to the city center making it easier to reach. But, there’s a catch. One airline, Southwest Airlines, dominates Midway, and its network is not as vast as the global carriers that land at O’Hare. But, if Southwest is on your itinerary, then Midway is a bustling airport with a lot of destinations on its departure board. These tips will help you get through MDW, whether you are flying Southwest or one of its other airlines.

Destinations and airlines from MDW

Chicago Midway is primarily a domestic airport with flights mostly operated by Southwest. The airline operates a hub here where passengers can connect between its flights. Passengers can go to all corners of the U.S. from here on Southwest.

Several other airlines serve the airport, too, including Delta, plus low-fare carriers like Avelo, Allegiant and Frontier. Porter Airlines flies to Canada, and Mexican airline Volaris flies to several cities south of the border. Southwest also has some flights to Mexico.

The busiest destinations from MDW include Las Vegas, Phoenix, Atlanta, Denver and Orlando. Cancun is the most popular international destination.

When arriving from an international flight, you will park at Concourse A because this is the only area of the airport to have passenger immigration and customs facilities.

Airport layout

The airport takes up one square mile and is hemmed in by neighborhoods and city streets. It has no additional space to grow beyond its current borders.

There is one main terminal with three concourses made up of nearly four dozen gates. Southwest Airlines tails dominate the airfield, and the airline takes up some of Concourse A and all of Concourse B.

Passengers arrive at the terminal via a roadway that separates the check-in area from the concourses with departure gates. The airport has three levels with the top floor being for ticket counters.

After checking in for a flight, passengers go down one level for security and cross via an indoor bridge over the road below to reach the gates. This is the product of a completely new terminal that was built in 2000.

Since then, the bridge has been expanded to make it less congested, reduce security queues and make the passenger experience more pleasant. Moving walkways also help expedite traveler movement through the terminals.

Baggage claim, the parking garage and ground transportation are all on the lowest level.

Artwork at the airport

Local artists and designers often showcase their work in the terminals as part of Chicago’s public art program. Some of my favorites include the murals depicting scenes of the Chicago River winding through the Loop. In the ticketing area, there is a beautiful red, 3D sculpture meant to evoke the wonder of flight.

Even more spectacular is the 3D sculpture near the security checkpoint area depicting the topography and volume of Lake Michigan using real environmental data. It always mesmerizes me how deep and expansive the lake really is (and also how so many people passing beneath it do not know what it represents).

How to get to Chicago Midway

The easiest way to get there, and with minimal traffic, is via the city’s “L” train network, which has a station directly at the airport. This is one of the cheapest ways to reach the airport. I appreciate that the walk from the terminal to the station is well-marked.

The Orange Line’s last stop is Midway Airport, and it operates almost 24 hours a day taking travelers through southwest Chicago and eventually around the city’s central Loop. To reach the city center, the ride takes less than 30 minutes.

The CTA bus system has several routes that extend to the airport and take travelers to different corners of Chicago from the same station.

Beyond Chicago, there are several convenient bus routes that go to neighboring states. This includes reaching cities like Milwaukee as well as other destinations in Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin. This airport has become an important center for travelers looking for low fares to and from the region.

Car rental offices are available via shuttle (be sure to factor in extra time), and rideshare, taxi and limo services all operate here. Those driving their own cars now have more choices given the newly opened parking decks. New electric charging stations are now in place.

Passenger amenities

For almost a century, the airport had no lounge for travelers. That is about to change with the arrival of a new lounge that will be accessible via Priority Pass or paying for a day pass for entry.

The smallest Concourse C may not have as many restaurants, bars and shops, but it does have a chapel and yoga room for those that need a quiet place to pray, relax or meditate.

Near gate A5, a kids play area is a great way for younger travelers to work off some energy before getting on their flight. If you want to keep them entertained during the flight, the FAO Schwarz toy store in Concourse A will certainly do the trick.

All of these amenities are part of a $70+ million overhaul of the airport that is increasing the restaurant, bar and shopping venues for travelers.

Dining options at MDW

Being so close to the city of Chicago, most travelers should satisfy their taste buds in the city center. But, if you did not have time to do so, there are some opportunities to chow down here before a flight.

My favorite stops include the fried chicken at Big City Chicken, which you will also find along Navy Pier, and the thin-crust, Chicago-style pies from Home Run Inn Pizza. They make the sausage in-house.

You also can’t go wrong at Tallboy Taco for its breakfast and all-day tacos, burrito bowls and cocktails.

Important advice

For now, Southwest (the largest airline at the airport) continues to operate an open seating model that gives passengers the chance to choose their own seat only when boarding the plane based on the type of ticket they have and time they checked in.

Not giving advance seat assignments means that travelers need to be at the gate to line up in their assigned order before boarding begins or they risk losing out on selecting their preferred seats. Long lines at food outlets in the airport could result in your being stuck in a middle seat if you are late for boarding.

Because of this, I recommend ordering food via the airport’s mobile system directly to your gate. It is fast and convenient, and the app asks for your flight’s departure time. If there is not enough time to get the food to you, it will not let you order. This means you can save your place in line at the gate while you wait for your food.

There are several outdoor smoking areas in the terminal (located after security). Spending too much time there could also delay your choosing the best seat on a Southwest flight.

Hotel options

There are several hotels that label themselves as Chicago Midway hotels, but given their city-center location, not all of them offer free shuttles. Pay close attention to which property you choose if you need a free ride to the hotel.

I like the Chicago Marriott Midway since it is the most convenient and full-service option within the area, and it offers a free shuttle from and to the airport.

MDW history

This is the former hub of American Trans Air (ATA), which operated flights around the country and to tropical destinations including Hawaii. The airline has since shut down. Another now defunct carrier, Midway Airlines, was headquartered here, and named itself after the airport.

Before O’Hare opened, this was the city’s primary airport. It was named for the Battle of Midway during World War II. Today, the entrance to Concourse A has the Battle of Midway Memorial, which details this key navy battle in a small museum.

The story of those who fought in the war as well as numerous displays with photographs and descriptions of what happened are part of the memorial. It also outlines the personal Chicago connections of those who fought in the battle.

Kids will be especially impressed with the restored bomber aircraft suspended from the ceiling.

Compare prices with O’Hare

Chicago’s two airports have different airline and destination profiles, but for some travelers, it can be worth comparing prices on sites like Kayak to see which airport is cheaper. If you are traveling long-haul internationally, Midway may not serve all of your needs.

If you find yourself flying into one Chicago airport and needing to transfer to the other, it is possible to use the Orange and Blue lines of the “L” train to get between them on a budget. But, be sure to allow more than an hour to get between the two (sometimes more).