HomeSearch by dateVacation packagesHotelsFlight dealsCar rentalTravel tips & news
Chicago

$72+ Cheap flights from Columbus to Chicago (CHI)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 4/7. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CMH — CHI
Feb 7 — Feb 141
Sat 2/7
Sat 2/14
1 adult, Economy
We work with more than 300 partners to bring you better travel deals

Find cheap flights from Columbus to Chicago with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go

Enter your travel information like dates, passengers, trip type (one-way or round trip), and preferred cabin class then click “Find deals”

2. Select your favorite providers

We find the providers serving your travel needs. Choose up to four travel providers to compare side-by-side for flights, hotels, or car rentals.

3. Compare prices and book

Review each provider’s pricing and select the best option for you! Book through your favorite provider’s website for a seamless experience.
Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Columbus to Chicago are usually found in August or September, booked 71 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Friday and return on a Saturday

Cheap flight deals from Columbus to Chicago

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Columbus (C01) to Chicago (CHI). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated January 8, 2026.

Round-trip from

$150
(Frontier)

One-way from

$72
(Frontier)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

August

Average price

$286
From Columbus to Chicago (CHI)
Search Deals
One-way flight from Columbus to Chicago (CHI)
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 4% potential increase in price ($12 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 0% potential price decrease ($3 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in January 2026
Search Deals

Find flight deals from Columbus to Chicago

Cheapest flights from Columbus to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Columbus to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on January 8, 2026.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/6. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 3/102:51 pmCMH - MDW
1 stop8h 28mFrontier
Tue 3/176:00 amMDW - CMH
1 stop6h 56mFrontier
Deal found 1/6$150
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/6. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 1/2612:03 pmCMH - ORD
1 stop11h 43mMultiple Airlines
Tue 1/277:20 amORD - CMH
1 stop15h 07mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 1/6$152
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/6. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 1/3012:03 pmCMH - MDW
1 stop11h 16mFrontier
Sun 2/15:01 pmMDW - CMH
1 stop16h 46mFrontier
Deal found 1/6$154
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/6. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 1/2312:03 pmCMH - ORD
1 stop11h 43mFrontier
Sun 1/252:42 pmORD - CMH
1 stop19h 05mFrontier
Deal found 1/6$154
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/7. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 2/45:45 amCMH - ORD
1 stop16h 18mSpirit Airlines
Wed 2/117:20 amORD - CMH
1 stop15h 07mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 1/7$155
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/7. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 1/1512:00 pmCMH - MDW
1 stop11h 19mFrontier
Sun 1/186:10 amMDW - CMH
1 stop27h 48mFrontier
Deal found 1/7$157
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/6. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 1/2612:03 pmCMH - ORD
2 stops10h 00mMultiple Airlines
Thu 1/292:42 pmORD - CMH
1 stop19h 05mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 1/6$158
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/6. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 1/275:45 amCMH - ORD
1 stop16h 18mMultiple Airlines
Thu 1/292:42 pmORD - CMH
1 stop19h 05mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 1/6$159
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/6. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 2/2411:39 amCMH - ORD
1 stop8h 32mSpirit Airlines
Wed 2/257:00 amORD - CMH
1 stop15h 32mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 1/6$160
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/7. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 1/297:28 pmCMH - ORD
1 stop16h 07mMultiple Airlines
Mon 2/28:43 pmORD - CMH
1 stop25h 44mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 1/7$162
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/7. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 1/1512:00 pmCMH - ORD
1 stop11h 44mFrontier
Sun 1/186:20 amORD - CMH
1 stop27h 38mFrontier
Deal found 1/7$164
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/6. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 2/2010:54 amCMH - ORD
1 stop12h 45mMultiple Airlines
Fri 2/278:16 pmORD - CMH
1 stop13h 28mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 1/6$165

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Columbus to Chicago that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated January 8, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Columbus to Chicago that are best for you.

Fly from

Columbus

Fly to

Chicago

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ColumbusChicago

CMH - ORD

CMHORD

Columbus

Tue 2/24

9:05 am-9:39 am

Nonstop1h 34m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 2/25

12:50 pm-3:16 pm

Nonstop1h 26m

$171

ColumbusChicago

CMH - MDW

CMHMDW

Columbus

Tue 3/10

5:45 am-9:50 am

1 stop5h 05m

Chicago Midway

Tue 3/10

6:05 pm-8:15 pm

Nonstop1h 10m

$181

ColumbusChicago

CMH - ORD

CMHORD

Columbus

Sat 1/17

2:18 pm-2:55 pm

Nonstop1h 37m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 1/18

5:55 pm-8:21 pm

Nonstop1h 26m

$189

ColumbusChicago

CMH - MDW

CMHMDW

Columbus

Thu 2/5

8:15 am-12:46 pm

1 stop5h 31m

Chicago Midway

Mon 2/9

6:14 pm-12:04 am

1 stop4h 50m

$191

ColumbusChicago

CMH - MDW

CMHMDW

Columbus

Wed 4/1

6:15 am-8:53 am

1 stop3h 38m

Chicago Midway

Tue 4/7

9:35 am-1:30 pm

1 stop2h 55m

$191

ColumbusChicago

CMH - MDW

CMHMDW

Columbus

Thu 3/5

6:23 am-8:54 am

1 stop3h 31m

Chicago Midway

Tue 3/10

6:34 pm-11:59 pm

1 stop4h 25m

$191

ColumbusChicago

CMH - MDW

CMHMDW

Columbus

Wed 2/18

6:23 am-8:54 am

1 stop3h 31m

Chicago Midway

Tue 2/24

9:34 am-1:26 pm

1 stop2h 52m

$191

ColumbusChicago

CMH - MDW

CMHMDW

Columbus

Mon 2/2

10:17 am-12:46 pm

1 stop3h 29m

Chicago Midway

Mon 2/9

9:33 am-1:28 pm

1 stop2h 55m

$191

ColumbusChicago

CMH - MDW

CMHMDW

Columbus

Mon 2/2

10:17 am-12:46 pm

1 stop3h 29m

Chicago Midway

Thu 2/5

9:33 am-1:28 pm

1 stop2h 55m

$191

ColumbusChicago

CMH - MDW

CMHMDW

Columbus

Tue 1/27

6:25 am-8:52 am

1 stop3h 27m

Chicago Midway

Tue 2/3

9:33 am-1:28 pm

1 stop2h 55m

$191

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/6

Showing 1-10 of 43 results
1
2
3
...
5

Best time to book a flight from Columbus to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from Columbus with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Columbus to Chicago

How far ahead should I book a flight from Columbus to Chicago?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Columbus to Chicago. Price data was last updated on January 2, 2026.

The best time to book flights from Columbus to Chicago is 71 days before your desired departure date. The cost of your flight will likely increase significantly if you book two weeks in advance of your flight.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Columbus to Chicago?

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Columbus to Chicago (average of $106). Flying from Columbus to Chicago in April is currently the most expensive (average of $221). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from CMH to CHI?

Find hourly flight availability from Columbus to Chicago. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated January 8, 2026.

It’s optimal to fly from Columbus to Chicago in the morning. By choosing this option you can save up to 32% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight at noon.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Columbus to Chicago?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Columbus to Chicago. Price data was last updated on January 3, 2026.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Columbus to Chicago flight should consider departing on Tuesday at noon when fares are most often at their lowest. Monday at noon flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Weekly flight availability from Columbus to Chicago

Explore weekly flight availability from Columbus to Chicago. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated January 8, 2026.

The most flights from C01 to CHI are scheduled on a Thursday (49 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (32 on average).

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Columbus to Chicago?

Reviews of airlines servicing Chicago

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Chicago. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Chicago. Reviews last updated January 8, 2026.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest, United Airlines, and American Airlines from Columbus to Chicago by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,248 reviews

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,248 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,248 reviews

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,139 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,248 reviews

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am
American Airlines
7.2
Good
11,095 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,248 reviews

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am
Spirit Airlines
6.3
Okay
8,287 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,248 reviews

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am
Frontier
5.7
Fair
3,062 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,248 reviews

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Columbus to Chicago. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • How long is the flight from Columbus to Chicago?

    United Airlines, Southwest, and Delta can get you from Columbus to Chicago in just under 1h 34m. Your travel time can differ by up to 3h 57m. The distance between Columbus and Chicago is about 295 mi. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Columbus to Chicago round-trip?

    According to our current data, Spirit Airlines ($90), Frontier ($143), and Southwest ($155) offers the cheapest pricing from Columbus to Chicago. Spirit Airlines is priced at 68% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Columbus to Chicago one-way?

    The cheapest airlines for a one-way flight from Columbus to Chicago are American Airlines ($68), Frontier ($78), and United Airlines ($101).

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Columbus to Chicago?

    Looking for the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time? Our data shows these are most likely to get you from Columbus to Chicago on time: Qatar Airways (77%), Iberia (76%), Royal Jordanian (75%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Columbus to Chicago?

    Looking for the cheapest flight from Columbus to Chicago? While on average our users pay $967, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $136. The most popular route (Columbus - Chicago O'Hare Intl), is priced around $160.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Columbus to Chicago that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Columbus to Chicago flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Columbus to Chicago?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Columbus to Chicago.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Columbus to Chicago?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Columbus to Chicago by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Columbus to Chicago?

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Columbus to Chicago (average of $106). Flying from Columbus to Chicago in April is currently the most expensive (average of $221). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near Chicago?

Book flights to Chicago if you plan to visit one of these locations
Lansing
Merrillville
Hammond
Porter
Benton Harbor

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Alternative routes for Columbus to Chicago

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
Detroit to O'Hare Intl flights
Cleveland to O'Hare Intl flights
Columbus to O'Hare Intl flights
Pittsburgh to O'Hare Intl flights
Cleveland to Midway flights
Akron to O'Hare Intl flights
Detroit to Midway flights
Cincinnati to O'Hare Intl flights
Detroit to St. Louis flights
Columbus to Midway flights
Cincinnati to Midway flights
Pittsburgh to Midway flights
Columbus to St. Louis flights
Cincinnati to St. Louis flights
Pittsburgh to St. Louis flights
Dayton to O'Hare Intl flights
Cleveland to St. Louis flights
Akron to Midway flights
Dayton to Midway flights
Dayton to St. Louis flights
Cincinnati to Rockford flights
Akron to St. Louis flights
Cincinnati to Moline flights
Detroit to Moline flights
Pittsburgh to Moline flights
Pittsburgh to Rockford flights
Cleveland to Moline flights
Detroit to Peoria flights
Huntington to O'Hare Intl flights
Erie to O'Hare Intl flights
Cleveland to Bloomington flights
Pittsburgh to Evansville flights
Cleveland to Rockford flights
Dayton to Moline flights
Detroit to Evansville flights
Cleveland to Evansville flights
Detroit to Bloomington flights
Pittsburgh to Springfield flights
Toledo to St. Louis flights
Erie to St. Louis flights
Dayton to Quincy flights
Akron to Dubuque flights
Toledo to Champaign flights
Erie to Midway flights
Detroit to Springfield flights
Detroit to Champaign flights
Cleveland to Dubuque flights
Columbus to Champaign flights

Top 5 airlines flying from Columbus to Chicago

Discover the top 5 airlines that operate flights from Columbus to Chicago. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated January 8, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$90Average$228FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
FrontierCheapest$143Average$215FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
SouthwestCheapest$155Average$323FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
American AirlinesCheapest$155Average$307FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$163Average$310FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

100% Free

Cheapflights is completely free to use, so you can start saving the moment you arrive.

Book with Flexibility

Our users can plan ahead with confidence and find flights with no change fees

Travel Smart

Millions of people come to us for their flight needs every year. We help make travel planning easy by providing useful insights and data-driven graphs that can inform your decisions.