YOW - CHI

C$ 183 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 4/4. 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, 0 bags

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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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
C$ 300
Porter Airlines
Thu 23/4Wed 29/4
YOW - MDW • 1 stop
Cheapest direct flights
C$ 770
Typical prices: C$ 530-C$ 738
United Airlines
Fri 3/7Sat 11/7
YOW - ORD • Direct
Advice from real travellers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
United's Economy Plus offers 15 cm more legroom.
Ottawa's quick security lines benefit business travelers.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Porter Airlines
Cheapest • from C$ 300 (round-trip)
Porter Airlines
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Direct flights
Every day
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 2h 38m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Top routes
YOW
-
ORD
Cheapest
YOW
-
ORD
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Top layover airports
Toronto (YTZ)
Cheapest • Avg C$ 438 (round-trip)
Toronto (YYZ)
Shortest trip • 4h 30m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
May
Cheapest • 35% price drop
August
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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Flight Deals
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Expert advice
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

Thu, 23 Apr - Wed, 29 Apr
Porter Airlines Logo
6:50 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
YOW
-
MDW
4h 25m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
11:00 a.m. - 5:29 p.m.
MDW
-
YOW
5h 29m
1 stop
C$ 300Porter Airlines
Sun, 12 Apr - Thu, 30 Apr
Porter Airlines Logo
12:10 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.
YOW
-
MDW
4h 10m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
11:00 a.m. - 5:04 p.m.
MDW
-
YOW
5h 04m
1 stop
C$ 311Porter Airlines
Wed, 8 Apr - Thu, 9 Apr
Porter Airlines Logo
6:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
YOW
-
MDW
4h 30m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
11:00 a.m. - 6:24 p.m.
MDW
-
YOW
6h 24m
1 stop
C$ 312Porter Airlines
Wed, 1 Apr - Wed, 15 Apr
Porter Airlines Logo
6:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
YOW
-
MDW
4h 30m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
11:00 a.m. - 5:29 p.m.
MDW
-
YOW
5h 29m
1 stop
C$ 360Porter Airlines
Wed, 25 Mar - Sun, 29 Mar
Porter Airlines Logo
6:45 a.m. - 10:05 a.m.
YOW
-
MDW
4h 20m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
4:15 p.m. - 10:29 p.m.
MDW
-
YOW
5h 14m
1 stop
C$ 365Porter Airlines
Tue, 24 Mar - Thu, 26 Mar
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:15 p.m. - 10:36 a.m.
YOW
-
ORD
19h 21m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:01 p.m. - 12:35 p.m.
ORD
-
YOW
17h 34m
1 stop
C$ 370Multiple Airlines
Tue, 24 Mar - Thu, 26 Mar
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:00 a.m. - 12:22 a.m.
YOW
-
ORD
14h 22m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:01 p.m. - 12:35 p.m.
ORD
-
YOW
17h 34m
1 stop
C$ 375Multiple Airlines
Sat, 28 Mar - Sat, 4 Apr
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:40 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
YOW
-
MDW
4h 10m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:55 p.m. - 12:39 a.m.
MDW
-
YOW
10h 44m
1 stop
C$ 382Multiple Airlines
Thu, 23 Apr - Wed, 29 Apr
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 a.m. - 9:17 p.m.
YOW
-
ORD
15h 17m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:58 p.m. - 12:20 a.m.
ORD
-
YOW
26h 22m
2 stops
C$ 383Multiple Airlines
Fri, 10 Apr - Sun, 12 Apr
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:40 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.
YOW
-
MDW
10h 40m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:05 p.m. - 12:39 a.m.
MDW
-
YOW
7h 34m
1 stop
C$ 390Multiple Airlines
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$ 394 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 Saturday and more expensive on a Monday. On your return trip to Ottawa, you should consider flying back on a Friday, 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$ 393 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are January and November, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is C$ 1,084 and C$ 777 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$ 660 on average.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Ottawa to Chicago

 
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines, Air Canada and ORD

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.

Mark Stachiew

Mark Stachiew

Expert on YOW

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.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flightC$ 183
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 78% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 7% 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$ 183 for a one-way ticket and C$ 300 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 195 E2 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$ 454 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$ 643 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$ 373 or less one-way and C$ 602 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 420 reviews
7.0Entertainment
7.6Food
8.0Comfort
8.6Crew
8.2Boarding
Airline reviews

The Flight took off 2hrs late because there was no pilot showing up when the flight was ready to board.. Though the cabin crew was present and had prepared the plane, the FO turned around after 15 min and went away. A crew to fly the plane finally arrived over an hour later and we were able to board 1h30 min later than planned time... until everything was loaded, we left 2h late from the gate. This was a small plane, so don't expect any Entertainment... Wi-Fi access on board would work, but took an awful amount of time to figure out and get it work (I'm an IT person). Flying as VIPorter customer, I was expecting at least some warm meal, but everything served was just cold.. except the coffee maybe. Even in so-called VIPorter seats, space is cramped and trays are so tiny, you can barely setup your food. Flight caught up during the coast-to-coast crossing and was able to recoup about 45 min from the delay.. still arrived very late in Vancouver and had to wait a long time to get our registered bags. Let's see how the return flight will be in a few days..

6.0 GoodBeat, Jan 2026
YUL - YVR
Read more Porter Airlines reviews

The Flight took off 2hrs late because there was no pilot showing up when the flight was ready to board.. Though the cabin crew was present and had prepared the plane, the FO turned around after 15 min and went away. A crew to fly the plane finally arrived over an hour later and we were able to board 1h30 min later than planned time... until everything was loaded, we left 2h late from the gate. This was a small plane, so don't expect any Entertainment... Wi-Fi access on board would work, but took an awful amount of time to figure out and get it work (I'm an IT person). Flying as VIPorter customer, I was expecting at least some warm meal, but everything served was just cold.. except the coffee maybe. Even in so-called VIPorter seats, space is cramped and trays are so tiny, you can barely setup your food. Flight caught up during the coast-to-coast crossing and was able to recoup about 45 min from the delay.. still arrived very late in Vancouver and had to wait a long time to get our registered bags. Let's see how the return flight will be in a few days..

It was okay. Had a thing with the front desk, she had me repack my suitcases to have them be under the weight restrictions, but then the other one was overweight, she argued with me about it when there were tons of people in line. Wasn’t great.

Due to a known technical error that Porter has not fixed in over a year, I was unable to check in the children on my reservation online and had to do it at the airport. Upon check in, there were no seats together, which was an issue as we had young children. The gate agent did manage to seat us together by moving other passengers, which was appreciated, but the other passengers were never informed, leading to confusion and delay upon boarding. The flight was over an hour late; no explanation or apology was ever issued. The bags on Porter take a long time to arrive--over half an hour at Hamilton on my inbound flight, and not much better on my return to Edmonton.

On my e-boarding pass it shows free wifi, yet the plane I was on didn’t have wifi. Please remove false advertising from your website and boarding passes

3.5 hr delay for a 1 hr work flight. No information as to why the delay until 20 mins before boarding.

Organization and the adjusted times but the snacks could be of a bigger portion

Smaller plane. Food and bar service for free is amazing. Drinks were in glass not plastic cups.

Poor landing as we overshot the runway and had to re land the plane. Lost both of my luggage not found as of yet. Had to pay extra money for my luggage in USD, now great my luggage is gone. Will not fly with Porter again.

This flight to St. Johns was really good. Boarding was a breeze. We left spot on time. Seats were actually pretty good. Recliner further than I expected. Three more flights to go we will see if this is the status quo for Porter.👍

I was not happy with AirfareAssist, the agency that kayak advised me would be handling my booking. I was advised by porter airlines that I had been overcharged for the Basic express , a option that I had asked airfare assist to help arrange after I realized that the basic fare I had chosen with porter did not include a carryon. At each checkin porter advised I had been overcharged for this . They advised that money would be refunded to my credit card, however, this is not likely to happen as it is not my name and credit card that appeared on the porter invoice, but that of another individual/agent. When airfare assist was arranging the basic express with porter on my behalf, they asked me to confirm that I agreed to pay $263 USD for this. I did agree, as I was advised this was needed to proceed. When I checked the invoice on the porter website and saw that it was not my name and credit card on the invoice, I was advised that this was how airfareassist processed the payment. The Porter invoice indicated a billed amount of $126USD I will not use Kayak or their designated AirfareAssist again

Wonderful. Quick boarding. Early departure and we arrived 30 minutes early at our destination. Unfortunately, when you arrive early, there is still a departing aircraft at our gate. We had to park for 30 minutes until the gate was clear. So our early arrival was not really early at the gate. Otherwise it was a quick and smooth flight. Appreciated the efficiency.

Chargers didn’t work, no entertainment and we had to wait for taxiing for easily 40 minutes after arriving early. Bags were late too!

No real complaints. The in flight food was much better than I expected. The in flight entertainment was excellent.

Crew was great (professional, attentive, prompt). Snacks for 4 hrs flight is deplorable.

Horrible Flight significantly delayed. Not due to united issue. But trying to rebook connection flight and get information about overnight accommodation was difficult. Agent did not seem to care or have any interest to help.

United Airlines is my preferred airlines and I am thankful for Gary who also help support me on the phone to switch my flight literally last min.

This Japanese airline provides great service and very helpful in assisting their passengers.

Seated dude next to me even though lots of empty rows. But main thing was we sat on the tarmac after landing for 30 minutes because of, in the words of the dude who sat next to me, “operational incompetence”. We got changing directions about where to pick up gate checked bags. Pilot and flight attendant were awesome though.

It was a pretty standard flight... until the almost hour and a half spent on the taxi way. I get that the weather has been poor but the delay had nothing to do with the weather and more to do with a plane with several issues tying up the gate. I get that that happens from time to time but this has been EVERY flight I've been on for the past 5 years and I fly 3 to 5 times a year. This isn't just United... it's American, it's Delta. It's an issue with the entire industry. I work for UPS and packages on a cargo plane get better service than people do these days. Anymore I HATE flying.

I so appreciate the crew members on each flight of United. They are outstanding.

It was a very small plane and was ok. No food or entertainment so there should be an option for NA.

We were happy with the service and cost of checking a bag

It's kindof ridiculous that your system is even asking me about this since my flight was canceled and I wasn't rescheduled.

Flying with Air Canada is still better than the discount airlines like Flair. The seats are more comfortable and the on-board entertainment is better, with each seat having a built in screen and lots of content to watch. Onboard WIFI is also great to have, as well as plugs for charging. I think passengers in general are getting better at not bringing too much luggage onboard, and Air Canada is better at managing this without customers feeling like they are being taken advantage of with extra fees. I have travelled on different airlines and all seem to be loading faster, with fewer people bringing both a carry on and a personal item. Now I just bring one item and it fits under the seat so I don't need to worry about finding a place in the overhead bins. Overall, across the industry, asking customers to pay for carry on baggage is fair because it allows customers to only pay for what they need, and it helps to keep the planes on time. Kudos to Air Canada for its approach - the desired result is achieved without customers feeling that they are being surprised and caught with unexpected extra fees.

Due to the strike by AC flight attendants, my flight was cancelled. Very disappointing! A refund is being processed. This was not a Kayak issue. I will be sure to come back to Kayak in the future.

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?

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports