Chicago

Cheap flights from Houston to Chicago (CHI)

HOU — CHI
Nov 28 — Dec 51
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Houston to Chicago are usually found in January or April, booked 79 days in advance, depart on a Saturday or Wednesday and return on a Wednesday

Find flight deals from Houston to Chicago

Popular in

October

Cheapest in

January

Average price

$315
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 11% potential increase in price ($32 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($6 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in October 2026

Best time to book a flight from Houston to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from Houston with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price

Cheapflights Insights

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

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

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Houston to Chicago, you should look to book at least 78 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

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

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Houston to Chicago (average of $209). Flying from Houston to Chicago in June is currently the most expensive (average of $345). 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 HOU to CHI?

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Houston to Chicago in the evening. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 47% on your trip compared to booking a flight at noon.

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

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Houston to Chicago flight should consider departing on Thursday afternoons 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.

The best insider tips for Houston to Chicago flights

Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your Houston to Chicago trip
Our travel experts
Marisa Garcia

Marisa Garcia

Expert on Frontier and Southwest

Marisa knows planes inside and out, spending 16 years working on aircraft in hangars at airports around the world. She is an aviation industry expert, specialized in airline interiors and regulations. Ten years ago, she pivoted to journalism. She shares her insights in leading aviation, travel, and business publications and on her site FlightChic.

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on United Airlines

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on ORD and MDW

An avid traveler and aviation expert who has visited 173 countries, all 50 states and seven continents, Ramsey Qubein flies nearly 400,000 miles a year. As a North Carolina-based freelance journalist for publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, USA Today and Bloomberg among others, he explores the latest trends in aviation, hospitality, cruises and business.

Evie Carrick

Evie Carrick

Expert on IAH

Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who has lived in five countries and traveled to over 50, with extensive experience flying around the world. She was born in Colorado, but has spent time flying to both coasts to visit family. She writes regularly for Travel + Leisure, BuzzFeed, and SKI and recently published seven travel journals with Simon & Schuster.

Reviews of airlines servicing Chicago

Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest,United Airlines, andJetBlue from Houston 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.

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Overall

7.9

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Reza,Jun 2026

TPA - MDW

The seats were super cramped and couldn’t move without hitting other passengers

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Overall

7.9

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Reza,Jun 2026

TPA - MDW

The seats were super cramped and couldn’t move without hitting other passengers

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Overall

7.9

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Reza,Jun 2026

TPA - MDW

The seats were super cramped and couldn’t move without hitting other passengers

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Overall

7.9

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Reza,Jun 2026

TPA - MDW

The seats were super cramped and couldn’t move without hitting other passengers

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Overall

7.9

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Reza,Jun 2026

TPA - MDW

The seats were super cramped and couldn’t move without hitting other passengers

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Overall

7.9

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Reza,Jun 2026

TPA - MDW

The seats were super cramped and couldn’t move without hitting other passengers

Houston to Chicago Travel Guide

You can land at Chicago O’Hare that’s on the northwest side of the city. It’s 14 miles from the busy Loop business sector. This is Chicago’s busiest airport. It serves flights that go to Europe, Africa, Asia, and North and South America. It’s the sixth busiest airport in the world.

Your other option is to land at Chicago Midway. This was once the city’s main airport until O’Hare came on the scene. The airport is still quite busy, serving more than 22 million passengers in 2018. The majority of the traffic coming through this airport is provided by Southwest Airlines.

Southwest has some other options between Hobby and Midway. They make stops in St. Louis, New Orleans, Orlando, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Nashville, Jacksonville, Austin, and a few others. Most of their stopovers are under an hour.

Related info for your journey

  • What airports serve Houston to Chicago flights?

    You have choices when you’re flying from Houston to Chicago. You can fly out of either George Bush Intercontinental Airport or William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. You can fly into either Chicago O’Hare or Chicago Midway. You should be able to find a flight that fits your needs and your budget with ease with so many options.

  • Which airlines fly directly from Houston to Chicago?

    You can book flights on Spirit Airlines, United, and American Airlines that are non-stop between these two cities. These are all between George Bush and O’Hare. You can fly from Hobby in Houston to Midway in Chicago direct on Southwest. The flights run about 2h 20m.

  • What are the stopover options between Houston to Chicago?

    You’ll find a number of stopovers on this route. You can have stops in Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Minneapolis, Cleveland, or Denver. There’s a range of stopover times but they’re typically around an hour and not more than a couple of hours.

  • Do I need a passport or visa to fly from Houston to Chicago?

    You don’t need a passport or a visa to fly this route. This is a purely domestic flight that requires only a form of ID.

  • Are there direct flights from Houston to Chicago?

    Flying directly from Houston to Chicago is the best way to ensure sustainability. George Bush International Airport (IAH) has sustainable practices by providing several direct flights to O'Hare International Airport (ORD). A couple of airlines provide direct flights, including Air New Zealand, United Airlines, and Scandinavian airlines. Passengers can purchase enough food for the trip by grabbing organic and local foodstuffs at the Houston Airport Marriott between Terminals B and C.

  • Which hotels are near George Bush International Airport?

    Passengers traveling to Chicago through George Bush International Airport (IAH) and with early morning flight can spend their night at one of the several hotels near the airport. In this case, book your room with lodging that you have invested in and take action to improve fuel efficiency. Lodges like Airway Inn Houston offers affordable rooms with light-emitting diodes to save energy. Passengers can use public transport to get to the hotel.

  • How can I get to Chicago’s city center from O'Hare International Airport (ORD)?

    Travelers arriving at O'Hare International Airport (ORD) can get to W Chicago city center by taxi, Towncar, driving a rental car, or shuttle. However, using the subway or public bus is recommended for sustainability. The distance between the two destinations is 17.4 mi. Using the subway will take 47 minutes, while the bus will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes, depending on traffic.

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

    Frontier, at $64, was found to be the cheapest airline from Houston to Chicago.Alternate airlines to your destination round-trip include United Airlines and American Airlines. Frontier is currently priced 74% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.

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

    For one-way options, check prices for Frontier. According to our data, you can fly for as low as $33. Users have also found prices from $92 and $98 on American Airlines and JetBlue, respectively.

  • What are the most popular routes from Houston to Chicago?

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Houston 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 Houston to Chicago?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Houston to Chicago (average of $209). Flying from Houston to Chicago in June is currently the most expensive (average of $345). 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
Benton Harbor
Merrillville
Lansing
Valparaiso
Hammond
Saint Joseph
Porter

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Alternative routes for Houston to Chicago

Top 6 airlines flying from Houston to Chicago

AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$64Average$190FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
United AirlinesCheapest$160Average$407FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$177Average$404FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$209Average$425FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
DeltaCheapest$228Average$328FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
JetBlueCheapest$268Average$309FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%

Helpful tips for your next trip to Chicago

  • Passengers traveling from Houston to Chicago through George Bush International Airport (IAH) can get to the airport using a town car, taxi, or drive. However, the most sustainable means is by boarding a bus. Line 102 bus is located at Milan St. and Mc Kinney St.
  • Travelers moving from Houston to Chicago can use airports like Houston Southwest Airport, West Houston Airport, or William P. Hobby Airport. However, George Bush International Airport (IAH) has been vocal about its sustainability commitment. The airport seeks to achieve trash-free travel.
  • When traveling to Chicago from Houston, consider booking economy class flights since they don't spend much fuel, producing less carbon. Economy class flights are available at IAH.

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