The Airport In Home Alone: A Behind-The-Scenes Look

what airport is in home alone

In the 1990 Christmas classic Home Alone, the McCallister family travels by road to O'Hare International Airport outside Chicago, where they board a flight to Paris. The airport scenes in the film were shot at O'Hare, which was also used to depict Paris's Orly Airport. The McCallister family home, where most of the film is set, is in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, Illinois.

Characteristics Values
Airport in Home Alone O'Hare International Airport, Chicago
Airport in Paris scenes O'Hare International Airport, Chicago
Paris-bound flight airline American Airlines
Paris-bound flight aircraft McDonnell Douglas DC-10
Paris-bound flight gate Gate H17 in Terminal 3
Paris-bound flight destination airport Orly Airport
Paris-bound flight departure runway Runway 14L-32R
Paris-bound flight registration N358AA
Kate McCallister's return flight to Chicago McDonnell Douglas MD-80 to Dallas, then a DC-10
Kate McCallister's return flight stopover Dallas
Kate McCallister's return flight final destination Scranton
Kate McCallister's return flight airline American Airlines
Kate McCallister's return flight aircraft Boeing 747
Kate McCallister's return flight departure airport Charles de Gaulle Airport

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The McCallister family flies to Paris from O'Hare International Airport, Chicago

The McCallister family's journey in Home Alone begins at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois. The family's home in the film is located in the North Shore village of Winnetka, Illinois, around 15 miles north of downtown Chicago. The McCallisters travel by road from their home to O'Hare Airport, from where they fly to Paris. Interestingly, the airport scenes depicting Paris in the film were also filmed at O'Hare International Airport.

O'Hare International Airport is the fourth busiest airport in the world. In the film, the McCallister family is seen running through the airport, and several sculptures and artworks commissioned for the airport's concourses are visible in the background. One such artwork is the "SkyWhale" by British sculptor Kenneth Snelson, which features several whales flying through the clouds at various angles.

The McCallister family's flight to Paris is a key plot point in the film, as they inadvertently leave behind their young son, Kevin, who must defend their suburban Chicago home from burglars while they are away. The family's destination is Paris, France, although the specific airport in Paris is not explicitly mentioned in the film. However, according to the Home Alone Wiki, the original script indicates that the family flew to Charles de Gaulle Airport on an Air France Boeing 747.

The McCallister family's mode of transport to the airport is not shown in the film, but given their departure from O'Hare International Airport, they likely travelled by car, as the airport is located outside of Chicago's city centre. The airport is easily accessible by road, and multiple public transportation options are available, including bus, train, and taxi services.

Overall, the use of O'Hare International Airport as the McCallister family's departure point adds to the film's strong connection to the Chicago area.

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Paris-bound, the family boards at Gate H17 in Terminal 3

In the 1990 Christmas classic Home Alone, the McCallister family travels by road to O'Hare International Airport outside Chicago, bound for Paris. The airport scenes were filmed at O'Hare, which posed as both the Chicago and Paris airports. The Paris-bound family boards at Gate H17 in Terminal 3.

The film features Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, a young boy inadvertently left behind when his parents and siblings travel to France. Kevin is left to defend his home from two burglars, Harry and Marv, who are attempting to rob every house on his block.

The McCallister family home is located in the North Shore village of Winnetka, Illinois, 15 miles north of downtown Chicago. The house, at 671 Lincoln Avenue, was chosen for its suburban exterior and old-school interior design, complete with chandeliers, winding staircases, and high ceilings.

The airport scene in Home Alone is memorable, with the family rushing to make their flight and accidentally leaving Kevin behind. The scene was filmed at O'Hare International Airport, which at the time was undergoing significant renovations, including new artwork and sculptures commissioned for the concourses. These renovations can be spotted in the background as the family runs through the airport.

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Kate McCallister boards a flight to Dallas, then another to Scranton, Pennsylvania

In the 1990 Christmas classic Home Alone, Kate McCallister, played by Catherine O'Hara, is on a mission to get back home to Illinois and her son Kevin as fast as she can. The McCallister family, including Kate, initially leave from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport for Paris. However, Kate soon realizes that her son Kevin has been left behind, and she is determined to return to him.

Unfortunately, there are no direct flights available from Paris back to Chicago, and Kate is desperate to get back home. She learns that she will have to wait three days for the next direct flight, which is not an option for her. As a result, she decides to take a different route, boarding a flight to Dallas and then another to Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Kate's journey is not without its challenges. She faces hazardous weather conditions, flight cancellations, and uncooperative airline staff. Her frustration is palpable as she navigates these obstacles. At one point, she expresses her exhaustion and frustration to a ticket agent in Scranton, emphasizing that she has been from "Chicago to Paris to Dallas" and is now in Scranton, desperately trying to get back to her eight-year-old son, Kevin.

Despite the difficulties, Kate perseveres. After arriving in Scranton, she accepts a ride from a kind stranger, Gus Polinski, and his polka band. Together, they make the final leg of the journey back to Winnetka, Illinois, where the McCallister family resides. Kate's journey across the Atlantic and back, via two US airports, and finally by van, covers over 11,000 miles in just three days.

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The McCallisters fly to Paris on an American Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10

The McCallisters' journey in Home Alone begins at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, where they board an American Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10 bound for Paris. The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a trijet wide-body aircraft that was introduced by American Airlines in 1971. The aircraft typically seats 270 passengers across two classes and was designed for long-range flights.

The McCallisters' flight to Paris is a nod to the film's theme of family and the importance of spending time together. The family's journey to France is meant to be a fun and exciting adventure, but it takes an unexpected turn when they accidentally leave Kevin behind.

While the McCallisters are en route to Paris, Kevin is left to defend the family home from two bumbling burglars, Harry and Marv. He sets up booby traps and uses his cleverness and imagination to outwit the intruders, showcasing his bravery and resourcefulness.

The choice of the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft for the McCallisters' flight is interesting given the plane's history. While it was initially popular, a series of incidents and crashes, including the deadly American Airlines Flight 191 crash, led to a temporary ban on the DC-10 in 1979. However, as design flaws were rectified, the aircraft's safety record improved, and it continued to be used for many years.

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The Paris airport scenes were also filmed at O'Hare International Airport

The 1990 Christmas classic Home Alone was filmed in Chicago, Illinois. The McCallister family's journey starts at O'Hare International Airport, and their destination of Paris is also, in fact, O'Hare Airport. The film features a famous scene in which the family runs through the airport, which took days to film in the busy Chicago airport. The scene involved thousands of extras, all expertly choreographed so that none of them would be in danger while running through the airport at full speed.

The airport scene was not the only one filmed at O'Hare Airport. The flight information board in San Francisco International Airport was also filmed there, as were the rows of AA aircraft at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

The director of Home Alone, Chris Columbus, spoke about how the dash through O'Hare Airport was the hardest scene to film. He said, "There were so many setups and narrowly missed moments of disaster, but to my knowledge, no one got hurt. And frankly, that’s a Christmas miracle."

Frequently asked questions

Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

Also at O'Hare International Airport.

The McCallister house and Mitch Murphy's residence were filmed on Lincoln Avenue in the North Shore village of Winnetka, Illinois.

Hughes' films *Sixteen Candles* and *Ferris Bueller's Day Off* also feature locations in and around Chicago.

They fly to Paris on an American Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10.

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