YOW - CHI

C$ 236 Find Cheap Flights from Ottawa to Chicago

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Ottawa to Chicago departing on 15/9. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Chicago

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Ottawa to Chicago, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Ottawa to Chicago, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Ottawa to Chicago (YOW-CHI)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Ottawa to Chicago that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Ottawa to Chicago

Tue, 30 Sep - Tue, 7 Oct
Porter Airlines Logo
1:25 p.m. - 4:24 p.m.YOW-MDW
3h 59m1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
9:35 a.m. - 4:34 p.m.MDW-YOW
5h 59m1 stop
C$ 406Porter Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, 19 Sep - Mon, 22 Sep
 Logo
4:25 p.m. - 9:51 a.m.YOW-MDW
18h 26m1 stop
 Logo
9:35 a.m. - 6:09 p.m.MDW-YOW
7h 34m1 stop
C$ 418
Find Deal
Fri, 17 Oct - Mon, 20 Oct
WestJet Logo
6:00 a.m. - 4:43 p.m.YOW-ORD
11h 43m1 stop
WestJet Logo
5:30 p.m. - 2:46 p.m.ORD-YOW
20h 16m1 stop
C$ 418WestJet
Find Deal
Fri, 19 Sep - Mon, 22 Sep
Porter Airlines Logo
1:25 p.m. - 4:24 p.m.YOW-MDW
3h 59m1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
9:35 a.m. - 4:34 p.m.MDW-YOW
5h 59m1 stop
C$ 420Porter Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, 9 Sep - Mon, 15 Sep
Porter Airlines Logo
11:00 a.m. - 4:24 p.m.YOW-MDW
6h 24m1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
9:35 a.m. - 4:34 p.m.MDW-YOW
5h 59m1 stop
C$ 424Porter Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, 10 Sep - Sat, 13 Sep
United Airlines Logo
6:33 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.YOW-ORD
2h 27mdirect
United Airlines Logo
10:50 a.m. - 2:04 p.m.ORD-YOW
2h 14mdirect
C$ 446United Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, 19 Sep - Mon, 22 Sep
United Airlines Logo
5:25 p.m. - 6:54 p.m.YOW-ORD
2h 29mdirect
United Airlines Logo
12:50 p.m. - 6:52 p.m.ORD-YOW
5h 02m1 stop
C$ 460United Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, 19 Sep - Mon, 22 Sep
WestJet Logo
5:15 p.m. - 12:39 p.m.YOW-ORD
20h 24m1 stop
WestJet Logo
5:30 p.m. - 4:19 p.m.ORD-YOW
21h 49m2 stops
C$ 465WestJet
Find Deal
Sun, 14 Sep - Sun, 21 Sep
Air Canada Logo
6:00 a.m. - 9:51 a.m.YOW-ORD
4h 51m1 stop
Air Canada Logo
8:25 p.m. - 1:34 a.m.ORD-YOW
4h 09m1 stop
C$ 482Air Canada
Find Deal
Thu, 28 Aug - Wed, 3 Sep
Air Canada Logo
2:25 p.m. - 8:16 p.m.YOW-ORD
6h 51m1 stop
Air Canada Logo
8:40 a.m. - 1:51 p.m.ORD-YOW
4h 11m1 stop
C$ 514Air Canada
Find Deal
Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Ottawa to Chicago

 
Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarisation of KAYAK-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Airlines
Air Canada

Air Canada's priority check-in opens four hours before departure for higher fare classes and elite status.


Air Canada offers Preferred Economy seats with up to 10 cm extra legroom for an additional fee.

Read more about Air Canadaby Stefanie Waldek
United Airlines

United's Economy Plus seats offer up to 15 cm more legroom than standard economy seats.


United offers Priority Boarding for Zone 2, reducing the risk of gate-checking carry-ons.

Airports
YOW

Ottawa airport offers quick security lines due to low flight volume, making it efficient for business travelers.

Read more about YOWby Mark Stachiew
ORD

Take the CTA Blue Line from ORD to downtown Chicago in about 45 minutes, avoiding traffic delays.

Read more about ORDby Stefanie Waldek
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on Air Canada, United Airlines and ORD

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Read more
Mark Stachiew

Mark Stachiew

Expert on YOW

Mark Stachiew

Mark Stachiew

Mark Stachiew has been exploring the world and writing about it for more than 30 years. His travel stories have appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines and online publications in Canada, the United States and beyond.

Read more
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Ottawa to Chicago flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Ottawa to Chicago to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest Ottawa to Chicago flight route?

Data is based on round-trip flight searches on KAYAK over the past month.

The cheapest return flight from Ottawa to Chicago costs C$ 397 on the route between Ottawa (YOW) and Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD). It is also the most popular route.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Ottawa to Chicago?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Ottawa to Chicago clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to Chicago on a Friday and more expensive on a Monday. On your return trip to Ottawa, you should consider flying back on a Thursday, and avoid Sundays for better deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Ottawa to Chicago?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Ottawa to Chicago, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Ottawa to Chicago is May, where tickets cost C$ 467 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are November and March, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is C$ 641 and C$ 602 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Ottawa to Chicago?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

Yes, flying with a layover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 1 stop layover the cheapest option at C$ 542 on average.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Ottawa to Chicago?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Ottawa to Chicago, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Ottawa to Chicago, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 53% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 17 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonFebruary
Cheapest flightC$ 236
Best time to beat the crowds (4% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 0% lower on average.
Flight from Ottawa to Chicago Midway Airport

When to book flights from Ottawa to Chicago

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Ottawa to Chicago based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Ottawa to Chicago

  • Is ORD wheelchair accessible?

    Yes. To assist you throughout O'Hare, each airline offers wheelchair assistance to passengers with mobility issues. You have to make earlier reservations to get these services. All terminals provide easier access with elevators. All elevator panel buttons feature braille and raised numerals. All restrooms located throughout the airport have wheelchair-accessible facilities. In addition, ORD features an adult changing room with restrooms, showers, and emergency pull cords.

  • How many terminals does ORD have?

    ORD features four terminals, including 1, 2, 3, and 5. Terminals 1-3 are referred to as the domestic terminals, and these three terminals are connected to each via pedestrian walkways. Terminal 5 is the leading international terminal and serves some domestic flights. The ATS offers train service rides to get to the terminals. You can also take the terminal transfer bus, which transports domestic arrival passengers between Terminals 1-3 and Terminal 5.

  • Does ORD feature a lounge?

    Yes. Terminal 5 features an AirFrance Lounge on the Airside near Gate M7. Concourses G, H, and L Feature American Admirals Clubs. Terminal 5 also features the Swissport Lounge in the airside of Terminal 5. Concourses B, C, and F feature a United Club lounge. ORD also features a SAS Lounge, a British Airways Lounge, and USO Lounge.

  • How do I get from ORD to the city center?

    ORD features several bus services, including CTA, PACE, and regional buses. You can also get on car rentals with several agencies outside the baggage claim levels. Several hotel shuttles depart from the "Bus/Shuttle Center," located on the main level of the parking garage between elevator centers 3 and 4. You can also get on taxi rides or rent a car and drive to your location.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Ottawa to Chicago?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Ottawa to Chicago was C$ 171 for a one-way ticket and C$ 294 for a round-trip.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Ottawa to Chicago?

    Ottawa is served by only 1 airport and there are 2 airports in Chicago. You will leave Ottawa from Ottawa and you will be arriving in Chicago at one of these airports: Chicago Midway or Chicago O'Hare Intl.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Ottawa to Chicago?

    Air Canada, and Cathay Pacific offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Ottawa to Chicago flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Ottawa to Chicago?

    The Embraer 175 (Enhanced Winglets) is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Ottawa to Chicago flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Ottawa to Chicago?

    Star Alliance is the only airline alliance operating flights between Ottawa and Chicago.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Ottawa to Chicago?

    There are direct flights from Ottawa to Chicago on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Ottawa to Chicago, Porter Airlines or United Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Ottawa to Chicago are Porter Airlines and United Airlines. With an average price for the route of C$ 501 and an overall rating of 8.0, Porter Airlines is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of C$ 654 and an overall rating of 7.4.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Ottawa to Chicago?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Ottawa to Chicago.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Ottawa to Chicago?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Chicago from Ottawa is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Ottawa to Chicago?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Chicago with an airline and back to Ottawa with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Ottawa to Chicago?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Chicago from Ottawa up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Ottawa to Chicago

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for C$ 393 or less one-way and C$ 527 or less round-trip.
  • When getting on flights from Ottawa to Chicago, your journey starts from Ottawa International Airport (YOW). You can get to the airport via OC transport buses. Bus Route 97 offers a ride from the city to the airport. Alternatively, you can get taxis or ride-share apps to the airport. You can also get on charter buses from the city to the airport.
  • You can also opt to drive to the airport for convenient options. YOW provides parking options ranging from short-term to long-term. They are charged on 30-minute, 24-hour, and 30-day periods. The parking lots lie within walking distance of the terminal. It also features electric vehicle charging stations.
  • You can get baby care facilities at YOW when travelling with an infant. Feed and change your baby in comfort and privacy in the airport's Breastfeeding Room. They feature changing tables, rocking chairs, power charging outlets, and lockable doors for privacy. You can find international flights on Levels 2 and 1 of the arrivals hall. Also, most restrooms in the terminal have nursing rooms.
  • Another alternative for flights from Chicago is Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) which lies in the southwestern area of the city. It is closer to Chicago than ORD. It is also ideal for travelers that wish to avoid crowds.
  • Flights from YOW to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) are provided by several airlines. Air Canada and United Airlines provide direct flights on this route. You can also get one-stop flights on the route. Delta Airlines also provide two-stop flights on the route with layovers in Detroit, Toronto, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and New York.

Prefer to fly direct from Ottawa to Chicago?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Ottawa to Chicago.
Find which airlines fly direct from Ottawa Airport to Chicago, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Ottawa to Chicago

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more nonstop flights

Direct returns

Chicago to Ottawa

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more nonstop flights

Reviews of the top 3 airlines flying from Ottawa to Chicago

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Ottawa to Chicago. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Ottawa to Chicago? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
Porter AirlinesOverall score based on 332 reviews
7.0Entertainment
8.7Crew
8.2Boarding
8.0Comfort
7.6Food
Airline reviews

The flight was fine see earlier note for the problem

8.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Aug 2025YHZ - YUL
Read more Porter Airlines reviews

The flight was fine see earlier note for the problem

Three hours on the tarmac with almost zero communication from the cockpit. Not when offered a water in the interim. In my 67 years of flying all over the world the worst experience ever. The plane was half empty, however had to pay for seats to sit next to my girlfriend. Extra to take a carry on. I would never fly Porter again even for free.

All good the seats a little tight and no I pad screen

Everything was good except the fact you charge more for a carry on bag vs a check in bag and to top it off in US$ that was not impressive

Our flight was cancelled at the last minute for maintenance reasons and we were rebooked on a late flight when we purposefully booked our flight to be home early due to work.

Seemed like an old plane. Very noisy. The seat cushions were so old that the metal bracing of the seats were poking through. There was plenty of leg room though.

Flight was delayed over 2 hours, then landed at a different airport!

The whole experience from check in to deboarding was fantastic.

Just an evening before they canceled my ticket and offered me ticket costing 3 x times more than. I will not fall prey to these scams,Will never book through kayak now. Such a bad experience.

was okay except.. 1)the porter check in webpage doesn't let you print your boarding pass from home 2)that there was a 90 min cut off for checking in on the kiosk in general, and to print a boarding pass, even tho i checked in online already....

Flight attendant in first class gave poor service (like he didn't want to be there) and food was awful. We sat waiting for gate upon arrival over 45 mins.

Inoperable monitor left no entert for 9 hours. Crew was not helpful Food was awful.

Weather delay in Chicago?. No sense of urgency to make connection in Chicago for our connecting flight that wasn't delayed. Connection was missed.

Overall it was good. I missed my connection but I was put on another flight.

Overall a very poor experience - booked premium economy tickets but due to last minute flight delays , all my itinery went for a toss and had to fly economy class with no access to lounge or any compensation by united airlines to make up for the flight delays . i had expected better experience than that from united.

It was fine, definitely older planes with no charging or anything. There’s no entertainment set up on board, but it is nice that they allow you to access the in flight entertainment from your phone without having to pay for the Wi-Fi and they do offer free texting.

I liked that the flight was nonstop from ORD to CIU for $200 round trip.

All flight attendants could benefit by taking an international flight on Qantas Airline. Qantas attendants are much more hospitable in every way. Much superior than and attendants on any US airline.

While the staff was pleasant and helpful, the following observations are for your awareness. There was some delay on the tarmac on take off and landing. The paid lunch/food offerings were limited. Entertainment was only available on WiFi at a cost.

The first flight was better in terms of the aircraft.

Bad service as well. Another 3hr delayed flight from chicago to Charlotte.

Staff was very courteous and kept things organized. We will definitely use Air Canada for further travel

Great flights. 90 minute departure delay for maintenance issues, not a great start but, afer that very good. Didn't pay extra for seats and lucked into a window and an aisle seat. Price was excellent at the super low economy level.

Just a little improvement on food but everything is excellent

They lost my checked in luggage, why do I pay for my cargo not arriving at the same destination as me?

Terrible. 3 missed flights and 24 hours delayed with lost bag and promised $100 compensation from United and absolutely nothing from them…

Poor planning meant the plane was delayed an hour, then a thunder storm started and the ground staff couldn't work. Eventual arrival in Santiago was 3 hours late resulting in missed connections and the need to buy new tickets.

The take off was delayed as we were told that the baggages had to be rearranged to balance the weight. I only took a carry-on and a personal item, but the overhead bin was extremely small, even a normal size carryon can’t fit it, so they had to check it in for free. The seat was really tight and no entertainment at all.

flight was delayed 6 hours for weather, then cancelled because of the crash in toronto, but none of the links to cancel or rebook my flights are working

The pork noodles were disgusting. The tuna sandwich had hardly any tuna and the bread was stale. A salad would have been better. An apple or a muffin.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Ottawa to Chicago

Information on your arrival and departure airports

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