YOW - CHI

C$ 281 Find Cheap Flights from Ottawa to Chicago – Compare and Save

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 10/9. 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, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
C$ 522
Typical prices: C$ 460-C$ 561
Multiple Airlines
Thu 15/10Wed 21/10
YOW - ORD • 1 stop
Cheapest direct flights
C$ 934
Typical prices: C$ 460-C$ 561
United Airlines
Fri 23/10Thu 29/10
YOW - ORD • Direct
Advice from real travellers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
United Economy Plus adds up to 15 cm more legroom than standard economy.
Air Canada Preferred seats offer up to 10 cm extra legroom for a fee.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Cheapest • from C$ 537 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Direct flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 2h 24m
Direct flights
Direct flights
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Direct flights
Direct flights
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Top routes
Cheapest
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg C$ 455 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 4h 24m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 58% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
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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

Thu, 15 Oct - Wed, 21 Oct
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:55 a.m. - 2:35 p.m.
YOW
-
ORD
8h 40m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 a.m. - 12:54 p.m.
ORD
-
YOW
4h 54m
1 stop
C$ 522Multiple Airlines
Mon, 31 Aug - Sat, 5 Sep
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.
YOW
-
ORD
30h 50m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 a.m. - 12:54 p.m.
ORD
-
YOW
4h 54m
1 stop
C$ 532Multiple Airlines
Thu, 10 Sep - Thu, 17 Sep
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:55 a.m. - 2:35 p.m.
YOW
-
ORD
8h 40m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:20 p.m. - 8:04 p.m.
ORD
-
YOW
3h 44m
1 stop
C$ 534Multiple Airlines
Fri, 4 Sep - Mon, 7 Sep
Porter Airlines Logo
8:00 a.m. - 2:35 p.m.
YOW
-
ORD
7h 35m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
7:00 a.m. - 12:54 p.m.
ORD
-
YOW
4h 54m
1 stop
C$ 537Porter Airlines
Thu, 30 Jul - Sun, 2 Aug
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:55 a.m. - 2:35 p.m.
YOW
-
MDW
8h 40m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:20 a.m. - 5:54 p.m.
MDW
-
YOW
6h 34m
1 stop
C$ 547Multiple Airlines
Tue, 1 Sep - Sat, 5 Sep
Porter Airlines Logo
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
YOW
-
ORD
4h 00m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
11:45 a.m. - 7:09 p.m.
ORD
-
YOW
6h 24m
1 stop
C$ 548Porter Airlines
Thu, 20 Aug - Sun, 23 Aug
American Airlines Logo
8:40 a.m. - 2:20 p.m.
YOW
-
ORD
6h 40m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
8:09 a.m. - 2:55 p.m.
ORD
-
YOW
5h 46m
1 stop
C$ 559American Airlines
Thu, 20 Aug - Sun, 23 Aug
American Airlines Logo
8:40 a.m. - 2:20 p.m.
YOW
-
ORD
6h 40m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
8:09 a.m. - 2:55 p.m.
ORD
-
YOW
5h 46m
1 stop
C$ 561American Airlines
Wed, 2 Sep - Sat, 5 Sep
Porter Airlines Logo
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
YOW
-
ORD
4h 00m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
7:00 a.m. - 12:54 p.m.
ORD
-
YOW
4h 54m
1 stop
C$ 568Porter Airlines
Fri, 24 Jul - Sun, 26 Jul
Porter Airlines Logo
8:00 a.m. - 2:35 p.m.
YOW
-
MDW
7h 35m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
10:25 a.m. - 5:54 p.m.
MDW
-
YOW
6h 29m
1 stop
C$ 581Porter 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.

How much is a round-trip flight from Ottawa to Chicago?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Ottawa to Chicago departing in October.

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$ 494 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 Monday, and avoid Tuesdays 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 August, where tickets cost C$ 186 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are January and May, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is C$ 765 and C$ 640 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$ 754 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$ 281
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 69% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 17% lower on average.
Flight from Ottawa to Chicago O'Hare 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 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from Ottawa to Chicago was C$ 281 for a one-way ticket and C$ 522 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$ 548 and an overall rating of 7.9, Porter Airlines is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of C$ 670 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$ 502 or less one-way and C$ 698 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.
7.9
Porter AirlinesOverall score based on 442 reviews
7.5Food
8.2Boarding
7.9Comfort
6.9Entertainment
8.6Crew
Airline reviews

Look, I understand that Kayak doesn't know I cancelled my flight on Porter. So I didn't actually fly yesterday. My main disappointment is with Porter ticket fare policies, and maybe you can pass this on to them: At my employer's request, I had booked a full fare ticket with no change fees since my trip to Toronto would likely be extended. Indeed, when I went to change my flight home to a later date, I was told the Fare Difference would cost an additional $550. So much for no change fees lol! While I had the agent on the line, I hopped over to Kayak, searched for new flights on the date in question, and saw a one-way ticket that got me home for only $355. So I got reimbursed about $450for the unused half of my roundtrip and bought a new ticket for $355. What good is a full fare / no change fee ticket if they screw you with "fare difference" BS. I'm still flying home on Porter Airlines but they just lost a hundred bucks with their stupid shenanigans.

4.0 OkayJeff, Jul 2026
YYZ - SFO
Read more Porter Airlines reviews

Look, I understand that Kayak doesn't know I cancelled my flight on Porter. So I didn't actually fly yesterday. My main disappointment is with Porter ticket fare policies, and maybe you can pass this on to them: At my employer's request, I had booked a full fare ticket with no change fees since my trip to Toronto would likely be extended. Indeed, when I went to change my flight home to a later date, I was told the Fare Difference would cost an additional $550. So much for no change fees lol! While I had the agent on the line, I hopped over to Kayak, searched for new flights on the date in question, and saw a one-way ticket that got me home for only $355. So I got reimbursed about $450for the unused half of my roundtrip and bought a new ticket for $355. What good is a full fare / no change fee ticket if they screw you with "fare difference" BS. I'm still flying home on Porter Airlines but they just lost a hundred bucks with their stupid shenanigans.

I flew with Porter yesterday and overall had a positive experience. The flight was delayed, but the airline did a good job keeping passengers informed with frequent updates throughout the process. My biggest challenge was actually in Terminal 3, where the speaker system wasn’t very clear. It was often difficult to hear the announcements, which made it harder to follow updates at the gate. On board, the experience improved significantly. The aircraft felt very new and well maintained, and the seats were surprisingly comfortable for a short-haul flight. One of the flight attendants seemed a little disengaged, but the other was excellent—friendly, professional, and a pleasure to interact with. Despite the delay, the comfortable aircraft, clear communication from Porter, and positive onboard service made for a good overall experience.

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.

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

Our flight was delayed by a bit. I appreciated that we were kept informed on why periodically. Boarding was fine. I overheard one flight attendant sounding very rude to a passenger who was not paying attention to the safety demonstration. The snacks were minimal as it was a short flight. There was no entertainment. Overall the flight was good back to LGA.

The check-in staff, boarding staff, and flight crew were all very friendly. Really miss the Porter lounge in Ottawa.

Due to mechanical problems it was delayed causing problems the actual flight. Was fune

Delayed by 2.5 hours. This happened previously on my flight from YOW to YVR on Dec. 26.2023. This is a terrible airline. The reason was there was lack of ground crew. This is a known event. AVOID PORTER AIRLINES IF YOU CAN. There is a reason half the plane was empty.

Flight Ottawa to Toronto canceled and no crew was available to direct me on what to do. I opened a file and I wait to be compensated.

Porter, like most airlines, need to improve their baggage policies. In reality, there are no longer 'cheap flights' because passengers pay exorbitant baggage fees.

Prefer not to have an almost 3 hour delay with useless communication that wasn't accurate.

Starlink is great Crew was polite Business class didn’t get a welcome drink just water and snacks were ok

very average service no complimentary alcoholics drinks unlike other airlines such as Porter airlines No decent seats available during check-in time the day before

My flight was delayed about 1 1/2 hours in Chicago, but other then that it was a good flight.

lots of delays the crew were unclear about where to pick up my carry-on, which they took from me to check in on the plane.

My connecting gate in .Chicago was across the aisle from my arriving gate. Otherwise I would not have made my connection. So that was very fortunate.

My flight was delayed by a whole day, so I lost a day of my vacation.

Wifi wasn't working on one of the UA flights after boarding.

Crew was not very helpful. They forgot to serve me coffee and had to wait for a long time.It looked as if they were not very happy with what they were doing.

Great crew, friendly. Found the trip long just sitting with no onboard entertainment

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

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

They charge 5 dollars for plastic headphones for a flight of 1 hour! Seats are awful. Service is terrible.

Everything was seamless. I would have appreciated knowing there would not be any real food available for purchase in advance. Otherwise a great experience. Thank you!

I was mostly pleased. My greatest disappointment was with respect to the timely update to the estimated departure and arrival times. It was especially sad that the arrival time was not updated online once we were in flight so as to allow my wife to arrive on time to the airport. She was not happy.

Seats weren't comfortable, could have used more let room

Flight was delayed more than 120 min. I had carry on bag but the airplane was full and they had to get it checked in. I had to wait for the small carry on bag at the airport carousel

Flight was delayed 3 hrs, one of the flt attendants was rude to me & I was forced to pay for a middle seat.

Ontime boarding. Almost 1 hour take off delay. We could have boarded slightly later since the pilots were in traffic

One United employee a little impatient, also on flight WiFi was out for some time. I was happy to receive a complimentary alcoholic beverage for volunteering to check my carry on bag.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports