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$95+ Cheap flights from Des Moines (DSM) 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 5/8. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — CHI
Mar 31 — Apr 71
Mon 3/31
Mon 4/7
1 adult, Economy
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Find cheap flights from Des Moines to Chicago with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Des Moines to Chicago are usually found in February or November, booked 90 days in advance, depart on a Friday or Thursday and return on a Friday

Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to Chicago

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Des Moines (DSM) 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 March 26, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$189
(American Airlines)

One-way from

$95
(American Airlines)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$274

Good round-trip deal

$460 or less

Good one-way deal

$208 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-Chicago (CHI) flight deals.
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Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-Chicago (CHI) flights.
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From Des Moines to Chicago (CHI)
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One-way flight from Des Moines to Chicago (CHI)
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 11% potential increase in price ($33 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($7 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in March 2025
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Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Des Moines to Chicago (CHI).
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Price to beat on a one-way flight from Des Moines to Chicago (CHI).
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Find flight deals from Des Moines to Chicago

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Des Moines to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on March 26, 2025.

This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/25. 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 American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 4/306:14 pmDSM - ORD
Nonstop1h 31mAmerican Airlines
Sun 5/412:15 pmORD - DSM
Nonstop1h 26mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 3/25$189
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/25. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/108:00 amDSM - ORD
Nonstop1h 32mUnited Airlines
Sun 4/138:20 pmORD - DSM
Nonstop1h 32mUnited Airlines
Deal found 3/25$199
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/23. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 4/1511:59 amDSM - MDW
1 stop5h 20mDelta
Wed 4/163:02 pmMDW - DSM
1 stop5h 43mDelta
Deal found 3/23$209
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/25. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 4/3011:59 amDSM - ORD
1 stop5h 05mDelta
Sun 5/46:35 amORD - DSM
1 stop4h 44mDelta
Deal found 3/25$209
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/24. 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 Booking.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 4/118:17 pmDSM - ORD
1 stop17h 00mFrontier
Mon 4/146:40 amORD - DSM
1 stop12h 39mFrontier
Deal found 3/24$210
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/23. 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.
Tue 4/156:40 amDSM - MDW
2 stops9h 25mSouthwest
Wed 4/165:40 pmMDW - DSM
1 stop4h 25mSouthwest
Deal found 3/23$214
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/25. 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.
Fri 6/66:25 amDSM - ORD
1 stop7h 35mSouthwest
Sat 6/77:00 amORD - DSM
1 stop5h 10mSouthwest
Deal found 3/25$214
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/25. 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.
Thu 4/101:27 pmDSM - ORD
1 stop18h 13mMultiple Airlines
Mon 4/149:09 amORD - DSM
2 stops13h 59mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 3/25$264
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/24. 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.
Fri 5/26:00 amDSM - RFD
1 stop10h 49mAllegiant Air
Mon 5/58:58 amRFD - DSM
1 stop13h 23mAllegiant Air
Deal found 3/24$287
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/25. 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.
Fri 5/96:00 amDSM - RFD
1 stop11h 09mMultiple Airlines
Sun 5/119:36 pmRFD - DSM
3 stops25h 37mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 3/25$411

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Customize your flight search to find flights from Des Moines 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 March 26, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to Chicago that are best for you.

Fly from

Des Moines

Fly to

Chicago

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - ORD

DSMORD

Des Moines

Wed 4/30

6:14 pm-7:45 pm

Nonstop1h 31m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 5/4

12:15 pm-1:41 pm

Nonstop1h 26m

$189

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - ORD

DSMORD

Des Moines

Thu 4/10

8:00 am-9:32 am

Nonstop1h 32m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 4/13

8:20 pm-9:52 pm

Nonstop1h 32m

$199

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - MDW

DSMMDW

Des Moines

Tue 4/15

11:59 am-5:19 pm

1 stop5h 20m

Chicago Midway

Wed 4/16

3:02 pm-8:45 pm

1 stop5h 43m

$209

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - ORD

DSMORD

Des Moines

Wed 4/30

11:59 am-5:04 pm

1 stop5h 05m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 5/4

6:35 am-11:19 am

1 stop4h 44m

$209

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - ORD

DSMORD

Des Moines

Fri 4/11

8:17 pm-1:17 pm

1 stop17h 00m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 4/14

6:40 am-7:19 pm

1 stop12h 39m

$210

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - MDW

DSMMDW

Des Moines

Tue 4/15

6:40 am-4:05 pm

2 stops9h 25m

Chicago Midway

Wed 4/16

5:40 pm-10:05 pm

1 stop4h 25m

$214

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - ORD

DSMORD

Des Moines

Fri 6/6

6:25 am-2:00 pm

1 stop7h 35m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 6/7

7:00 am-12:10 pm

1 stop5h 10m

$214

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - ORD

DSMORD

Des Moines

Thu 4/10

1:27 pm-7:40 am

1 stop18h 13m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 4/14

9:09 am-11:08 pm

2 stops13h 59m

$264

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - RFD

DSMRFD

Des Moines

Fri 5/2

6:00 am-4:49 pm

1 stop10h 49m

Chicago Greater Rockford

Mon 5/5

8:58 am-10:21 pm

1 stop13h 23m

$287

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - RFD

DSMRFD

Des Moines

Fri 5/9

6:00 am-5:09 pm

1 stop11h 09m

Chicago Greater Rockford

Sun 5/11

9:36 pm-11:13 pm

3 stops25h 37m

$411

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 3/25

Showing 1-10 of 22 results
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Compare providers for flights from Des Moines to Chicago

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Des Moines to Chicago in March.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
PricelinePrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Des Moines-Chicago flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Des Moines-Chicago flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Des Moines-Chicago flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Des Moines-Chicago flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for Des Moines-Chicago flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

The best insider tips for Des Moines to Chicago flights

Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of Cheapflights-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your Des Moines to Chicago trip
Airlines
British Airways

BA's Executive Club offers free seat selection for oneworld Sapphire or Emerald members.


BA's Avios can be transferred between IAG airlines, offering flexible redemption options.

Read more about British Airwaysby Gabriel Leigh
United Airlines

United's Economy Plus offers extra legroom and priority boarding for a more comfortable short flight.


Prepay checked bags 24 hours before to save on fees; premium cabins include free checked bags.

Read more about United Airlinesby Harriet Baskas
Our travel experts
Gabriel Leigh

Gabriel Leigh

Expert on British Airways

Gabriel Leigh

Gabriel Leigh

Gabriel is a writer and video creator. As senior content producer for Flightradar24 and Monocle’s transport correspondent, he keeps a close eye on aviation in particular. He has also written travel articles for the likes of The New York Times. Born in New York but raised around the world, he now lives in Sweden. He’s been to 75 countries, flying 2.3 million miles on 113 airlines and through 234 airports in the process.

Read more
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on United Airlines

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

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.

Read more

Best time to book a flight from Des Moines to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from Des Moines 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 Des Moines to Chicago

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Des Moines to Chicago. Price data was last updated on March 21, 2025.

Booking 89 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Des Moines to Chicago. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.

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

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from Des Moines to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $323). 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 DSM to CHI?

Find hourly flight availability from Des Moines 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 March 26, 2025.

Unlike at noon, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 51% on flights from Des Moines to Chicago by exploring options for tickets in the evening.

Weekly flight availability from Des Moines to Chicago

Explore weekly flight availability from Des Moines 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 March 26, 2025.

The most flights from DSM to CHI are scheduled on a Tuesday (40 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Sunday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (3 on average).

Rainfall in Chicago by month

Plan your trip to Chicago by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Chicago ranges from 1.7 - 4.9 inches per month. August is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 4.9 in. January is typically the driest time to visit Chicago when rainfall is around 1.7 in.

Temperature in Chicago by month

Plan your trip to Chicago by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Chicago, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, July is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 73.4 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 23.0 F).

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 March 26, 2025.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest, Delta and United Airlines from Des Moines to Chicago. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,273 reviews

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Food

7.1

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Ila,Mar 2025

HOU - DAL

Our original flight was delayed. We were able to change our flight and got home at close to the same time. Looking forward to when you have assigned seating.
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,273 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,273 reviews

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Food

7.1

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Ila,Mar 2025

HOU - DAL

Our original flight was delayed. We were able to change our flight and got home at close to the same time. Looking forward to when you have assigned seating.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,891 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,273 reviews

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Food

7.1

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Ila,Mar 2025

HOU - DAL

Our original flight was delayed. We were able to change our flight and got home at close to the same time. Looking forward to when you have assigned seating.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,608 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,273 reviews

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Food

7.1

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Ila,Mar 2025

HOU - DAL

Our original flight was delayed. We were able to change our flight and got home at close to the same time. Looking forward to when you have assigned seating.
Allegiant Air
7.3
Good
730 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,273 reviews

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Food

7.1

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Ila,Mar 2025

HOU - DAL

Our original flight was delayed. We were able to change our flight and got home at close to the same time. Looking forward to when you have assigned seating.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
10,000 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,273 reviews

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Food

7.1

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Ila,Mar 2025

HOU - DAL

Our original flight was delayed. We were able to change our flight and got home at close to the same time. Looking forward to when you have assigned seating.

Related info for your journey

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

  • What airport do you fly from for flights from Des Moines to Chicago?

    Most people fly from Des Moines (DSM) if they book a flight from Des Moines to Chicago. On average, Des Moines has 20 outbound flights to Chicago per day from 2 airlines. Des Moines is conveniently located just 3.6 mi from Des Moines’s city center.

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

    Our cheapest airline available from Des Moines to Chicago is American Airlines. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $189 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are United Airlines and Delta, starting at $199 and $209 round-trip. American Airlines is currently priced 30% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.

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

    The cheapest airlines for a one-way flight from Des Moines to Chicago are American Airlines ($95), Frontier ($101), and Delta ($105).

  • What are the most popular routes from Des Moines to Chicago?

    When deciding which route to take from Des Moines to Chicago consider Des Moines - Chicago O'Hare Intl, Des Moines - Chicago Midway or Des Moines - Chicago Greater Rockford as they are the most popular.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Des Moines 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 Des Moines to Chicago on time: GoJet (95%), Envoy Air (95%), United Airlines (91%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Des Moines to Chicago?

    Looking for the cheapest flight from Des Moines to Chicago? While on average our users pay $2,433, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $124. The most popular route (Des Moines - Chicago O'Hare Intl), is priced around $189.

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

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

  • How can I find direct flights from Des Moines to Chicago?

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Des Moines 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 Des Moines to Chicago?

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from Des Moines to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $323). 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 Des Moines?

Book flights to Des Moines if you plan to visit one of these locations
Merrillville
New Buffalo
Hammond
Benton Harbor
Porter
Lansing
Valparaiso
Chesterton

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Alternative routes for Des Moines to Chicago

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
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Top 2 airlines flying from Des Moines to Chicago

Discover the top 2 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines 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 March 26, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
American AirlinesCheapest$186Average$289FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$189Average$292FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
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