Chicago

$70+ 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 5/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CMH — CHI
May 9 — May 161
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Columbus to Chicago are usually found in August or September, booked 65 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Friday and return on a Saturday

Cheap 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 April 9, 2026.

This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/6. 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 Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 5/16:35 pm
CMH
-
ORD
1 stop5h 04m
Frontier
Sun 5/310:50 am
ORD
-
CMH
1 stop7h 33m
Frontier
Deal found 4/6$160
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/5. 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 4/2712:10 pm
CMH
-
ORD
1 stop23h 13m
Multiple Airlines
Thu 4/301:27 pm
ORD
-
CMH
1 stop8h 05m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/5$161
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/4. 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 4/233:47 pm
CMH
-
ORD
1 stop9h 37m
Multiple Airlines
Sat 4/254:28 pm
ORD
-
CMH
1 stop21h 24m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/4$163
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/6. 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 4/2012:10 pm
CMH
-
MDW
1 stop8h 21m
Frontier
Thu 4/232:15 pm
MDW
-
CMH
1 stop26h 25m
Frontier
Deal found 4/6$164
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/8. 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 5/412:00 pm
CMH
-
ORD
1 stop20h 55m
Frontier
Wed 5/64:05 pm
ORD
-
CMH
2 stops24h 05m
Frontier
Deal found 4/8$164
This Expedia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/8. 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 Expedia is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 5/218:48 pm
CMH
-
ORD
1 stop27h 25m
Frontier
Sun 5/246:55 am
ORD
-
CMH
1 stop9h 15m
Frontier
Deal found 4/8$165
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/7. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 4/297:15 am
CMH
-
MDW
1 stop5h 20m
Southwest
Wed 4/296:20 pm
MDW
-
CMH
Nonstop1h 15m
Southwest
Deal found 4/7$167
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/8. 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 4/237:00 pm
CMH
-
ORD
1 stop16h 23m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 4/2611:28 am
ORD
-
CMH
1 stop22h 47m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/8$168
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/6. 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 5/16:35 pm
CMH
-
ORD
2 stops16h 01m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 5/57:15 am
ORD
-
CMH
1 stop8h 55m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/6$171
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/6. 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.
Thu 4/306:00 am
CMH
-
ORD
1 stop16h 17m
Multiple Airlines
Mon 5/44:28 pm
ORD
-
CMH
1 stop23h 42m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/6$172
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/8. 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 5/412:00 pm
CMH
-
MDW
1 stop11h 19m
Frontier
Wed 5/63:07 pm
MDW
-
CMH
2 stops25h 03m
Frontier
Deal found 4/8$173
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/5. 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 4/2712:10 pm
CMH
-
ORD
1 stop11h 29m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 4/2911:28 am
ORD
-
CMH
2 stops21h 15m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/5$174

Find 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 April 9, 2026.

Round-trip from

$160
(Priceline)

One-way from

$70
(Frontier)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

August

Average price

$289
From Columbus to Chicago (CHI)
One-way flight from Columbus to Chicago (CHI)
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 10% potential increase in price ($35 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($8 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in April 2026

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 April 9, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Columbus to Chicago that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip

ColumbusChicago

CMH - ORD

CMHORD

Columbus

Sat 5/23

7:00 am-7:36 am

Nonstop1h 36m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 5/26

2:18 pm-4:53 pm

Nonstop1h 35m

$198

ColumbusChicago

CMH - MDW

CMHMDW

Columbus

Wed 5/20

7:10 pm-7:25 pm

Nonstop1h 15m

Chicago Midway

Thu 5/21

5:30 am-12:00 pm

1 stop5h 30m

$208

ColumbusChicago

CMH - ORD

CMHORD

Columbus

Wed 6/3

3:02 pm-8:26 pm

1 stop6h 24m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 6/6

5:41 pm-11:30 pm

1 stop4h 49m

$218

ColumbusChicago

CMH - ORD

CMHORD

Columbus

Wed 5/27

4:49 pm-8:26 pm

1 stop4h 37m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 5/28

8:10 am-1:49 pm

1 stop4h 39m

$218

ColumbusChicago

CMH - ORD

CMHORD

Columbus

Sat 5/23

7:09 am-12:56 pm

2 stops6h 47m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 5/26

9:25 am-7:43 pm

2 stops9h 18m

$228
Quickest round-trip

ColumbusChicago

CMH - MDW

CMHMDW

Columbus

Thu 4/30

8:00 pm-8:15 pm

Nonstop1h 15m

Chicago Midway

Mon 5/4

7:50 am-10:00 am

Nonstop1h 10m

$239

ColumbusChicago

CMH - ORD

CMHORD

Columbus

Thu 5/7

5:36 am-6:12 am

Nonstop1h 36m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 5/14

2:20 pm-4:51 pm

Nonstop1h 31m

$239

ColumbusChicago

CMH - MDW

CMHMDW

Columbus

Thu 5/7

8:00 pm-8:15 pm

Nonstop1h 15m

Chicago Midway

Thu 5/14

12:45 pm-2:55 pm

Nonstop1h 10m

$239

ColumbusChicago

CMH - ORD

CMHORD

Columbus

Tue 6/9

6:52 am-1:04 pm

2 stops7h 12m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 6/9

5:57 pm-11:09 pm

1 stop4h 12m

$243

ColumbusChicago

CMH - ORD

CMHORD

Columbus

Wed 4/29

3:00 pm-9:25 pm

1 stop7h 25m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 5/2

1:29 pm-12:43 am

2 stops10h 14m

$243

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 4/5

Showing 1-10 of 41 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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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 April 3, 2026.

The best time to book flights from Columbus to Chicago is 65 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 May is currently the most expensive (average of $180). 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 April 9, 2026.

It’s optimal to fly from Columbus to Chicago in the morning. By choosing this option you can save up to 28% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight in the afternoon.

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 April 4, 2026.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Columbus to Chicago flight should consider departing on Tuesday evenings 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 April 9, 2026.

The most flights from C01 to CHI are scheduled on a Wednesday (63 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (38 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 April 9, 2026.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest,United Airlines, andAmerican 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.

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

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 15m. Your travel time can differ by up to 5h 09m. The distance between Columbus and Chicago is about 282 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, United Airlines ($135), Southwest ($137), and Frontier ($143) offers the cheapest pricing from Columbus to Chicago. United Airlines is priced at 53% 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 ($63), Frontier ($78), and Southwest ($88).

  • 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: Finnair (100%), Republic Airways (84%), British Airways (81%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Columbus to Chicago?

    Looking for the cheapest flight from Columbus to Chicago? While on average our users pay $769, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $129. The most popular route (Columbus - Chicago O'Hare Intl), is priced around $156.

  • 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 May is currently the most expensive (average of $180). 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

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Top 4 airlines flying from Columbus to Chicago

Discover the top 4 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 April 9, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
United AirlinesCheapest$135Average$299FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$137Average$321FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
FrontierCheapest$143Average$215FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
American AirlinesCheapest$155Average$287FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

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