Chicago to Atlanta Flights: Quick Overview
To put it simply: flights from Chicago to Atlanta are domestic U.S. flights between Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and/or Chicago Midway (MDW) airports to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Typically, non-stop flights take about two hours, and airlines like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines should be compared, depending on the schedule.
| Route | Departure | Arrival | Approx. nonstop time | Flight type | Major U.S. airlines | Fare currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago–Atlanta | ORD / MDW | ATL | About 2 hours | Nonstop or connecting | American, Delta, United, Southwest | USD ($) |
ORD vs. MDW: Which Chicago Airport Is Better?
There are two commercial airports in Chicago. O'Hare International Airport (ORD) provides great domestic connectivity and is particularly significant for United Airlines, whereas Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major Southwest Airlines hub. Route data indicates that there are direct ORD–ATL flights from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, while Southwest Airlines provides direct MDW–ATL flights.
Depending on where one is staying, which airline one prefers, what schedules are offered, and how much one would have to pay, one would benefit from choosing one of the two commercial airports in Chicago. O’Hare is connected via CTA Blue Line, while Midway Airport is directly connected with CTA Orange Line.
Thus, direct flights from ORD to ATL are beneficial for people who would prefer flights from O’Hare airport.
Atlanta Airport: What to Know About ATL
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the primary airport in Atlanta and a major domestic aviation facility in the United States. Passengers taking flights from Chicago to Atlanta should factor in time for baggage claim and transport.
At ATL, taxi, rideshare, car rentals, shuttle services, and MARTA trains are available. The official airport information states that MARTA trains are public transit to metro Atlanta and that the Rental Car Center is served by the ATL SkyTrain.
In case of further connections, it is advisable to check terminal and concourse assignments from the airline at the time of departure rather than depending on a static assignment.
Which Airlines Fly From Chicago to Atlanta?
Schedule details currently available allow for the following comparison, however travelers should verify the dates themselves before making reservations.
Delta Air Lines
Currently listed nonstop ORD–ATL. Strong for schedule comparison.
American Airlines
Currently listed nonstop ORD–ATL. Good for fare and schedule comparison.
United Airlines
Currently listed nonstop ORD–ATL. Ideal for O’Hare travelers.
Southwest Airlines
Currently listed nonstop MDW–ATL. Best for Midway travelers.
| Airline | Chicago Airport(s) on This Market | Nonstop Availability | Fare Approach | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | ORD | Currently listed nonstop ORD–ATL | Dynamic | Schedule comparison |
| American Airlines | ORD | Currently listed nonstop ORD–ATL | Dynamic | Fare and schedule comparison |
| United Airlines | ORD | Currently listed nonstop ORD–ATL | Dynamic | O’Hare travelers |
| Southwest Airlines | MDW | Currently listed nonstop MDW–ATL | Dynamic | Midway travelers and fare comparison |
Presently, the available routes have the following airlines listed in ORD–ATL route – American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, while Southwest Airlines provides MDW–ATL service.
With respect to looking for the best airlines for travel between Chicago and Atlanta, it should be noted that there isn’t one airline better than all others.
Chicago to Atlanta Flight Time and Distance
Well, what is the duration of flying from Chicago to Atlanta then? The general rule of thumb for flying direct is about two hours. According to current flight information, the ORD–ATL route takes around 2 hours and 5 minutes, while the Southwest shows 1 hour 50 minutes on average for MDW–ATL flights. But the duration may vary depending on weather conditions, routes, air traffic, etc.
The distance between Chicago and Atlanta flight is about 606 miles in the air. It is not the same as driving distance.
Nonstop vs. Connecting Flights
Nonstop flights from Chicago to Atlanta are normally favored since they do not involve waiting for connections and fewer airport transfers are required. Non-stop flights between Chicago and Atlanta are quite beneficial in case the trip involves business travel or is short.
Sometimes, the connection can offer a better rate or a preferred departure time. While comparing the nonstop flights Chicago to Atlanta with connections, it is necessary to consider something else aside from the cost of the ticket. Consider the total time of flight, the connection time, baggage policy, and possibilities of delays.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines should be compared with the whole trip.
What Affects Chicago–Atlanta Airfares?
The price of cheap flights from Chicago to Atlanta varies according to several factors including demand, date of travel, time of booking, fare type, availability, and whether or not your flight is direct or connecting.
When looking for cheap flights from Chicago to Atlanta, look at the total cost of your flight in USD ($) instead of just considering the quoted base price. At present, Southwest Airlines shows the dynamically priced MDW–ATL rates on their website.
Cheapest Time to Fly
There is not always going to be an absolute cheapest day to fly from Chicago to Atlanta. There are various days that people have the flexibility to choose from, including ORD and MDW.
If you are looking for the most affordable prices when flying to Atlanta from Chicago, do your research through American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines on various days.
Best Time to Book
Best Day for Flying Chicago to Atlanta will depend on your timing and on how much fare is available at that particular moment. Rather than sticking to an Advance Purchase rule of thumb, check multiple days, keep track of changing fares and even compare One Way flights from Chicago to Atlanta and Round Trips from Chicago to Atlanta.
Best Time for Last Minute Flight from Chicago to Atlanta: First, check all four necessary airlines and two Chicago airports. Last minute fares are not necessarily cheap.
Business Class and Premium Cabins
Before purchasing business class tickets from Chicago to Atlanta, passengers need to ensure that their flight and aircraft have business class. Different aircraft may offer premium cabins with different cabin products.
Currently, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines serve the nonstop ORD–ATL route where they have business-class seats listed. Southwest Airlines does not fit into traditional business-class carriers based on their current cabin products and fares.
How to Find Deals
- Search ORD and MDW airports.
- Compare American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.
- Consider flexible travel dates.
- Compare one-way tickets and round trip tickets.
- Compare nonstop flights and connecting flights.
- Check baggage and extra service fees.
- Review airline deals before buying tickets.
- Compare total trip costs and not only ticket prices.
Seats, Baggage and Packing
In order to get the best flight experience from Chicago to Atlanta, seating could be an important thing to consider. You might choose an aisle seat for convenience, a window seat for enjoying the scenery, an exit row seat, or simply choose to sit at the front cabin section.
Each airline company has different baggage restrictions. It is always wise to check the current baggage regulations of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines prior to purchasing a ticket.
As for your normal domestic journey, make sure you have packed the following things.
Domestic Travel Requirements
Passengers on U.S. domestic flights should bring an acceptable identification document. As of May 7, 2025, TSA mandates that passengers who are aged 18 years and above should show a REAL ID-compliant state ID or any other form of acceptable ID at airport security checkpoints.
After Landing in Atlanta
Atlanta International Airport provides various options for ground transport. These include MARTA, taxis, rideshare services, shuttle services, and car rentals. The ground transportation information provided by the airport gives details regarding their locations.
It is advisable to check this before you land.
Time Difference
In general, Chicago is one hour behind Atlanta. People should consider this while making their travel plans.
10 Step Plan to Finding the Right Flight
- Select your airport for departure from Chicago.
- Select airports for arrival in Atlanta.
- Compare American Airlines.
- Compare Delta Air Lines.
- Compare United Airlines.
- Compare Southwest Airlines.
- Compare non-stop flights and connection flights.
- Compare the cost.
- Baggage information.
- Purchase flight that suits you most.
Final Comparison
| Option | Practical Consideration |
|---|---|
| ORD | Strong choice when airline and schedule availability favor O’Hare |
| MDW | Convenient alternative, including Southwest Airlines options |
| ATL | Primary Atlanta arrival airport |
| American Airlines | Current ORD–ATL nonstop option; verify date |
| Delta Air Lines | Current ORD–ATL nonstop option; verify date |
| United Airlines | Current ORD–ATL nonstop option; verify date |
| Southwest Airlines | Current MDW–ATL nonstop option; verify date |
Concluding Thoughts
The most convenient Chicago–Atlanta flights should take into account not only the cheapest available ticket. Compare flights from ORD and MDW, arrival at ATL, non-stop versus connecting, travel duration, baggage policy, and terms of tickets. Look into American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines for the desired period of time. TravelLolo.com may assist in choosing flights and finding suitable offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
The flight without stopping takes approximately 2 hours. The schedules listed are subject to change and may be different depending on the airport and the date. About 2 hours 5 minutes is the current information on ORD–ATL and the average on MDW–ATL is 1 hour 50 minutes (via Southwest).
Both airports are not necessarily superior. ORD might be more convenient if the airline or schedule you prefer has service there, and else MDW might be more convenient geographically or if travelling via Southwest Airlines. Prior to booking, check the airport access, fare, schedule and total journey time.
Yes. The current schedule information provides information on nonstop ORD–ATL service for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, and Southwest currently posts nonstop MDW–ATL service. Itinerary may vary from day to day and season to season – please check the availability before making payment.
According to published route data, Delta Air Lines is currently a nonstop carrier on ORD–ATL. It is up to you to find out if it's the right deal for your travel date, fare, schedule, baggage needs and which airport you prefer. Check the real routes of American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines before flying.
Currently, American Airlines flies to Atlanta from O'Hare. There is no fixed lowest fare and it is variable. Before choosing an American Airlines fare as the best, check dates, fare classes, baggage restrictions, and competing airlines.
Yes. The current route information contains a list of the nonstop carriers on ORD–ATL that includes United Airlines. Please note the available schedule may be different for different flight dates, so please view the current United Airlines schedule before booking.
Currently Southwest Airlines offers nonstop service between MDW and ATL. It also displays the dynamic fares and has an average flight time for the market in its online route page. Review the conditions, baggage, and schedules of the fare on the date you plan to travel.
There is no single booking window that assures the lowest ticket. Begin to compare on dates known, continue to check out choices and think about both Chicago airports. Being flexible and comparing are helpful on high demand dates.
Not necessarily. If you're coming back to Chicago, you might want to consider round-trip flights Chicago to Atlanta, and if you're on an open-ended trip or don't plan to return, you may want to consider one-way flights Chicago to Atlanta.
Do a comparison of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, and then see both ORD and MDW. Compare non-stop and connecting flights, and factor in any additional fees or charges for bags. Availability and demand fluctuate rapidly creating a possibility for last minute fares to be higher.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the main airport on this route. Once at the airport, passengers may take MARTA, taxis, ride-share, shuttles, rentals, or choose from other methods of ground transportation provided by the airport.