What is a potential risk of underestimating the required arrival time at O'Hare?

The potential risk of underestimating the required arrival time at O'Hare primarily centers around the possibility of missing the flight. O'Hare is a large and busy airport, typically bustling with travelers, which means that various factors can contribute to delays in getting to your gate on time.

When travelers arrive too close to their boarding time, they may not account for necessary activities such as checking in, going through security, navigating the terminal, and possibly dealing with unexpected delays. These all take time and if the arrival is underestimated, it can lead to a rushed and stressful experience, ultimately putting a traveler at risk of missing their flight entirely.

In contrast, while missing luggage, overpaying for parking, and encountering longer security lines are potential concerns at any airport, they do not have the same direct consequence of potentially missing a flight due to inadequate time management. Therefore, accurately estimating arrival time is crucial to ensure that all pre-flight procedures can be completed without the risk of departure being missed.