Chicago

$55+ Cheap flights from Houston 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 1/22. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
HOU — CHI
Jan 8 — Jan 151
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The best prices from Houston to Chicago are usually found in September or April, booked 75 days in advance, depart on a Saturday or Tuesday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Houston to Chicago

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Houston (HO1) 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 3, 2025.

Round-trip from

$118
(Frontier)

One-way from

$55
(Cheapflightsfares)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$190
From Houston to Chicago (CHI)
One-way flight from Houston to Chicago (CHI)
High demand for flights, 8% potential price rise
Best time to find cheap flights, 3% potential price drop
Average for round-trip flights in January 2025

Find flight deals from Houston to Chicago

Cheapest flights from Houston to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Houston to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on January 3, 2025.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/2. 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.
Wed 1/291:14 pmIAH - MDW
1 stop11h 03mFrontier
Sun 2/27:00 amMDW - IAH
1 stop9h 32mFrontier
Deal found 1/2$118
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/2. 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.
Fri 2/710:09 amIAH - ORD
1 stop4h 51mFrontier
Mon 2/103:56 pmORD - IAH
1 stop5h 08mFrontier
Deal found 1/2$119
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/2. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 1/308:50 pmIAH - ORD
Nonstop2h 44mMultiple Airlines
Sun 2/29:22 pmORD - IAH
1 stop10h 04mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 1/2$122
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/2. 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 Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 1/138:50 pmIAH - ORD
Nonstop2h 44mSpirit Airlines
Thu 1/164:27 pmORD - IAH
Nonstop2h 56mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 1/2$132
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/2. 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 1/1610:36 amHOU - MDW
1 stop13h 41mFrontier
Thu 1/237:15 amMDW - HOU
1 stop26h 21mFrontier
Deal found 1/2$133
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/31. 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 1/3110:36 amHOU - ORD
1 stop13h 56mFrontier
Sun 2/27:25 amORD - HOU
1 stop26h 11mFrontier
Deal found 12/31$138
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/2. 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 3/128:10 amHOU - MDW
Nonstop2h 25mSouthwest
Wed 3/199:20 pmMDW - HOU
Nonstop2h 45mSouthwest
Deal found 1/2$151
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/2. 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.
Tue 3/256:33 pmHOU - ORD
1 stop5h 45mAmerican Airlines
Tue 4/112:05 pmORD - HOU
1 stop5h 57mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 1/2$171
This Lucky2Go deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/2. 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 Lucky2Go is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 2/158:01 pmIAH - MDW
1 stop28h 16mMultiple Airlines
Mon 2/176:48 pmMDW - IAH
1 stop12h 40mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 1/2$182
This eDestinos deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/1. 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 eDestinos is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 1/296:16 pmHOU - ORD
1 stop19h 46mMultiple Airlines
Wed 2/51:39 pmORD - HOU
2 stops19h 57mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 1/1$199
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/2. 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.
Tue 2/410:01 amIAH - ORD
1 stop7h 37mAmerican Airlines
Tue 2/48:30 pmORD - IAH
Nonstop3h 02mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 1/2$204
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/2. 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 2/43:33 pmIAH - ORD
1 stop5h 42mDelta
Tue 2/116:45 amORD - IAH
1 stop8h 18mDelta
Deal found 1/2$217

Find flights from Houston to Chicago within your budget

Customize your flight search to find flights from Houston 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 3, 2025.

Fly from

Any airport

Fly to

Any airport

Route

Depart

Return

Price

HoustonChicago

IAH - ORD

IAHORD

Houston George Bush Intcntl

Sat 2/15

8:22 pm-7:09 am

1 stop10h 47m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 2/18

3:14 pm-10:12 am

1 stop18h 58m

$118

HoustonChicago

IAH - MDW

IAHMDW

Houston George Bush Intcntl

Wed 1/29

1:14 pm-12:17 am

1 stop11h 03m

Chicago Midway

Sun 2/2

7:00 am-4:32 pm

1 stop9h 32m

$118

HoustonChicago

IAH - ORD

IAHORD

Houston George Bush Intcntl

Wed 1/15

8:50 pm-11:34 pm

Nonstop2h 44m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 1/22

4:27 pm-7:23 pm

Nonstop2h 56m

$121

HoustonChicago

IAH - ORD

IAHORD

Houston George Bush Intcntl

Sat 2/1

8:50 pm-11:34 pm

Nonstop2h 44m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 2/12

8:33 am-4:44 pm

1 stop8h 11m

$125

HoustonChicago

HOU - MDW

HOUMDW

Houston Hobby

Thu 1/16

10:36 am-12:17 am

1 stop13h 41m

Chicago Midway

Thu 1/23

7:15 am-9:36 am

1 stop26h 21m

$133

HoustonChicago

HOU - ORD

HOUORD

Houston Hobby

Fri 1/31

10:36 am-12:32 am

1 stop13h 56m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 2/2

7:25 am-9:36 am

1 stop26h 11m

$145

HoustonChicago

HOU - MDW

HOUMDW

Houston Hobby

Wed 3/12

8:10 am-10:35 am

Nonstop2h 25m

Chicago Midway

Wed 3/19

9:20 pm-12:05 am

Nonstop2h 45m

$151

HoustonChicago

IAH - ORD

IAHORD

Houston George Bush Intcntl

Wed 3/5

6:30 am-9:04 am

Nonstop2h 34m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 3/12

12:00 pm-5:29 pm

1 stop5h 29m

$165

HoustonChicago

HOU - ORD

HOUORD

Houston Hobby

Tue 3/25

6:33 pm-12:18 am

1 stop5h 45m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 4/1

12:05 pm-6:02 pm

1 stop5h 57m

$171

HoustonChicago

IAH - MDW

IAHMDW

Houston George Bush Intcntl

Sat 2/15

8:01 pm-12:17 am

1 stop28h 16m

Chicago Midway

Mon 2/17

6:48 pm-7:28 am

1 stop12h 40m

$182

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/2

Showing 1-10 of 37 results
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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
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.

Travel insights for flights from Houston to Chicago

Get recent, data-driven insights about flights from Houston to Chicago including ideal travel times, pricing trends, and more.

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Houston to Chicago. Price data was last updated on December 27, 2024.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Houston to Chicago, you should look to book at least 75 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, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Houston to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from Houston to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $318). 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?

Find hourly flight availability from Houston 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 3, 2025.

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 22% on your trip compared to booking a flight at noon.

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

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Houston to Chicago. Price data was last updated on May 5, 2024.

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

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 January 3, 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Delta, Frontier and United Airlines from Houston to Chicago to help guide your decision. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
8.1
Very good
4,694 reviews

Entertainment

7.7

Food

7.2

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

Wish the there were an electrical outlet to plug the phone. it died within 10 minutes of being in the air.

8.1
Very good
4,694 reviews
8.1
Very good
4,694 reviews

Entertainment

7.7

Food

7.2

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

Wish the there were an electrical outlet to plug the phone. it died within 10 minutes of being in the air.

8.0
Very good
9,604 reviews
8.1
Very good
4,694 reviews

Entertainment

7.7

Food

7.2

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

Wish the there were an electrical outlet to plug the phone. it died within 10 minutes of being in the air.

8.0
Very good
8,536 reviews
8.1
Very good
4,694 reviews

Entertainment

7.7

Food

7.2

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

Wish the there were an electrical outlet to plug the phone. it died within 10 minutes of being in the air.

7.4
Good
8,968 reviews
8.1
Very good
4,694 reviews

Entertainment

7.7

Food

7.2

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

Wish the there were an electrical outlet to plug the phone. it died within 10 minutes of being in the air.

7.4
Good
804 reviews
8.1
Very good
4,694 reviews

Entertainment

7.7

Food

7.2

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

Wish the there were an electrical outlet to plug the phone. it died within 10 minutes of being in the air.

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

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Houston to Chicago. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.
  • 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 $118, was found to be the cheapest airline from Houston to Chicago.Alternate airlines to your destination round-trip include Spirit Airlines and Southwest. Frontier is currently priced 35% 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 $55. Users have also found prices from $63 and $76 on Spirit Airlines and Southwest, 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, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Houston to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from Houston to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $318). 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

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Alternative routes for Houston to Chicago

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.

Top 6 airlines flying from Houston to Chicago

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from Houston 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 3, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$45Average$141FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$62Average$152FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
United AirlinesCheapest$138Average$327FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$144Average$247FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$190Average$380FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
DeltaCheapest$196Average$418FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A

Helpful tips for your next trip to Chicago

Get useful tips and recommendations to enhance your travel experience on your next trip to Chicago. Learn about must-visit attractions, local customs, transportation options, weather conditions, and other valuable tips to make your trip more enjoyable and hassle-free.
  • 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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