NYC to Chicago Flight Overview
Nonstop NY to Chicago flights may be regarded as some of the most convenient domestic U.S. connections, as such flights usually last from 2 up to 3 hours and cover the distance of about 700 up to 750 miles. You can fly out from the JFK airport, EWR or LGA and get to ORD or MDW.
| Item | Quick reference |
|---|---|
| New York airports | JFK, EWR, LGA |
| Chicago airports | ORD, MDW |
| Typical nonstop time | About 2–3 hours |
| Approximate distance | About 700–750 miles |
| Main carriers | United, American, Delta, Southwest |
| Best for simplicity | Nonstop |
As of now, United Airlines and American Airlines operate on the EWR–ORD connection, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines operate on the LGA–ORD route and Southwest Airlines operates on the LGA–MDW route.
Which NYC Airport Should You Use?
There are three main NYC airports: JFK, EWR and LGA.
JFK Airport
JFK airport may be chosen if its schedule or price suits you the most, that is, if you need JFK to Chicago flights and JFK to ORD flights. As of now, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines offer such flights.
EWR Airport
EWR airport is very important for EWR to Chicago flights. Here we have one main carrier: United Airlines with the nonstop EWR to ORD flights. However, American Airlines also offers such flights as of now.
LGA Airport
LGA airport is of high importance for domestic flights to Chicago. As of now, there are LGA to Chicago flights offered by airlines: United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines offer LGA to ORD flights, while Southwest Airlines offers LGA to MDW flights.
Your decision will depend on your location, transport availability, loyalty programs of airlines, desired departure time and prices.
Which Chicago Airport is Better?
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Midway International Airport (MDW) are the top two airports of Chicago.
The ORD Airport is bigger compared to MDW and acts as a major hub for United Airlines and American Airlines. The MDW is a significant hub for Southwest Airlines that may prove useful for the travelers heading for the downtown area of Chicago as well as for the South Side of Chicago.
When considering EWR–ORD flights, evaluate the final destination in Chicago and airfare. When selecting LGA–MDW or other New York-to-Chicago options involving MDW, evaluate if Midway suits you.
Which Airlines Operate Flights from New York to Chicago?
United Airlines should certainly be evaluated, especially for EWR–ORD connections. American Airlines is one of the key airlines in the New York–Chicago corridor (LGA–ORD and other flights in the New York area). Delta Air Lines is worth evaluating for LGA; Southwest Airlines operates LGA–MDW flights.
United Airlines
Excellent EWR–ORD option. Also operates LGA–ORD.
American Airlines
Strong presence on LGA–ORD, EWR–ORD and JFK–ORD.
Delta Air Lines
Excellent LGA presence with LGA–ORD and JFK–ORD service.
Southwest Airlines
Nonstop LGA–MDW. Consider MDW airport and rules.
| Airline | Verified New York-area option | Chicago airport | Booking consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | EWR | ORD | Excellent EWR option |
| American Airlines | LGA, EWR, JFK | ORD | Consider airport and schedule |
| Delta Air Lines | LGA, JFK | ORD | Excellent LGA presence |
| Southwest Airlines | LGA | MDW | Consider MDW airport and rules |
The schedules might change, verify the pairings before booking.
How Long Does it Take to Fly From New York to Chicago?
So, how long is the flight from New York to Chicago? Non-stop flights typically last two to three hours. Based on the present-day flight data, the LGA–ORD flights range from 2 hours 24 minutes to 3 hours 14 minutes, while the average time for the LGA–MDW flight is 2 hours 25 minutes according to Southwest's information on routes.
Flight duration from New York to Chicago depends on various factors such as the routing used, weather conditions, winds, airport pairs, and scheduled block time of the flight.
How Far is it From New York to Chicago by Plane?
Distance between New York and Chicago varies with the specific airports used for departure and arrival. Currently, the distance according to route data is 735 miles for LGA–ORD and 721 miles for EWR–ORD. The figure to use when planning is around 700–750 miles.
Connecting vs Nonstop Flight?
Nonstop flights from New York to Chicago will likely be your best bet because they have no connecting time and less number of airports to involve.
Even the connecting flights may be a suitable option when it comes to scheduling or pricing considerations.
What Factors Affect the Price?
Low-cost flights from New York to Chicago depend on the travel dates, demand for the seats, booking dates, fare class, baggage and seat selection policies, and whether change or refund fees apply. Also, holiday seasons can influence prices.
Current displays by airlines will give useful examples of such fares. However, do not forget that these fares are highly dynamic and disappear fast. Currently, both American Airlines and Southwest display fares date-specific on their pages for New York–Chicago flights, with the disclaimer about changing prices.
This implies that cheap flights from NYC to Chicago, New York to Chicago cheap flights, and the cheapest flights to Chicago from New York can only be considered date-specific.
When is the Cheapest Time to Fly From NYC to Chicago?
There is no month that is guaranteed to be cheap. The cheapest time to fly from NYC to Chicago may vary depending on demand and availability.
Consider flexibility in dates and times of departure, mid-week flights and less common hours. Consider comparisons between all available airports: JFK, EWR and LGA, instead of looking at just one airport.
The best time to fly from New York to Chicago is the time which is acceptable together with a low overall price.
When to Book?
There is no booking window that is guaranteed. Begin comparison of prices at enough advance to monitor changes and then check the whole itinerary before booking.
One-Way or Round-Trip?
One-way flights NYC to Chicago may be better option for flexible trips, round-trip flights NYC to Chicago are preferable if the date of return is fixed. Compare both types since the prices may vary depending on dates, fare rules and availability.
How About Business Class and Premium Cabins?
In case of business class NYC to Chicago consider that domestic premium cabins are not similar in all airlines. United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines provide the option of a premium cabin on certain flights, while Southwest Airlines does not use business class cabins.
Compare the parameters such as seat width, additional legroom, boarding procedure, baggage policy and the conditions of changing.
How Do You Find Deals?
- Search for your preferred dates.
- Check JFK, EWR and LGA.
- Compare ORD and MDW.
- Check United Airlines.
- Check American Airlines.
- Check Delta Air Lines.
- Check Southwest Airlines.
- Compare direct and connecting flights options.
- Add baggage and seating charges.
- Look at the final itinerary and fare conditions.
Should you Consider Last-Minute Tickets?
Last-minute flights from NYC to Chicago are not predictable. Your last-minute booking may yield a good deal, but strong demand might increase prices.
Search all three NYC airports and two Chicago airports where it's possible. Consider also departure times close to those of interest instead of picking the first one.
Which Seat Would You Select?
An aisle seat is helpful for moving around during a two-to-three-hour flight while a window seat would be preferable for sleeping. Look at additional legroom, exit row and front cabin seats, if available.
What About Baggage?
Policies and restrictions on baggage differ by airline and fare. Before making a reservation, learn the latest information regarding allowances and fees of United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines. Don't compare two fares only based on their advertised prices.
What Should be Packed?
- Government-issued identification
- Cell phone and headphones
- Medicine (if needed)
- Clothing according to the weather forecast
- Wallet and travel documents
- Carry-on bag
Before departure, make sure of the necessary identification for this flight and the requirements of TSA, including REAL ID regulations.
How to Get From the Airport?
At ORD airport, a person can find the most convenient way of moving by comparing public transport, taxis, ride sharing, car rental services, and airport shuttles. At MDW airport, there is the option of using the CTA Orange line as public transport that connects the airport and Chicago downtown.
Choose the Chicago airport considering the destination in the city and not only its price.
What is the Time Difference?
New York is in the Eastern Time Zone and Chicago is in the Central Time Zone. Thus, Chicago is one hour behind New York.
Consider this when planning meetings, travel to/from the airport, connections, and return.
What Booking Errors Should be Avoided?
- Limited search to JFK airport
- Forgetting about EWR and LGA airports
- Combining searches of ORD and MDW
- Ignoring baggage and seats costs
- Choosing an inappropriate departure airport because of lower basic fare
How Do I Pick the Best Flight in 10 Easy Steps?
- Choose your travel dates.
- Search JFK, EWR and LGA.
- Compare ORD and MDW.
- Compare United Airlines.
- Compare American Airlines.
- Compare Delta Air Lines.
- Compare Southwest Airlines.
- Look for non-stop and connecting options.
- Figure out the total trip cost.
- Check baggage, seating, schedule and change/cancellation terms.
Final Comparison
| Airline | New York-area airports | Chicago airports | Non-stop considerations | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | EWR | ORD | Non-stop | For Newark travelers |
| American Airlines | JFK, LGA, EWR | ORD | Non-stop options | Schedule flexibility |
| Delta Air Lines | JFK, LGA | ORD | Non-stop options | For Delta travelers |
| Southwest Airlines | LGA | MDW | Non-stop | Midway preference |
Conclusion
The best possible flights from New York to Chicago depend on the point you depart from, your destination Chicago airport, your schedule and overall price. United Airlines is especially important for EWR–ORD, while American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are the best choices for LGA–ORD; and Southwest Airlines offers LGA–MDW.
Compare all three New York airports and do not forget about the difference between ORD and MDW. TravelLolo.com might be useful for comparison of domestic flights and finding airfare deals.
Frequently Asked Questions
The majority of flights from New York to Chicago last about two to three hours non-stop. Time of the scheduled flight varies based on the airport pairings and weather factors. Both LGA–ORD and LGA–MDW are short domestic routes, but can have vastly different schedules even on the same route.
LGA airport plays a special role in domestic service to Chicago, EWR is great for United Airlines and ORD. JFK can also prove to be useful if the schedule or price is better. The best airport is usually the one providing the least time on the ground and air.
No. LGA to MDW scheduled flights and LGA–ORD flights will be about two to three hours, whereas JFK–ORD flights can be within this same range. Actual times vary based on the schedule and operating conditions, so look at the schedule rather than making assumptions.
Depends on your airline, schedule, and final Chicago destination. In the case of United Airlines and American Airlines, it will be better to choose O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Midway Airport (MDW) may become a valuable option for those who have the opportunity to use nonstop flights of Southwest Airlines from LGA to MDW.
Yes. United Airlines offers nonstop flights between EWR and ORD. At the moment, the route data shows United Airlines also provides flights between LGA and ORD, therefore, it is necessary to check the schedule and see whether you will need EWR or LGA.
Yes. American Airlines serves New York–Chicago flights, such as LGA–ORD and current JFK–ORD and EWR–ORD schedules. The availability of airports depends on date, therefore, please make sure you search for the required New York airport.
Yes. Delta Air Lines provides service between New York and Chicago, including LGA–ORD and JFK–ORD flights. The Delta's presence at LGA makes LaGuardia more relevant while comparing flights from LGA to Chicago.
Yes. Southwest Airlines provides nonstop flights LGA–MDW at the moment. The average flight time according to the route page is 2 hours 25 minutes. Also, there is information that listed fares may change. Southwest Airlines does not have a business-class cabin.
Typically, nonstop flight is the easiest way to go to Chicago from New York. However, sometimes a connecting flight may work better for a particular journey depending on schedule and cost.
There is no guarantee that there is a cheapest month. Usually, lower prices are available on some dates but the availability changes frequently. Search flexible dates, compare midweek prices and all three airports in New York. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines provide date-based tools for price comparison.
It does not matter as neither will always be cheaper. Compare One way flights NYC to Chicago with Round trips NYC to Chicago on your specific dates. One way might be useful when you have an open-ended journey while round-trip is easier with a set schedule.
Compare JFK, EWR, and LGA; compare ORD and MDW wherever appropriate. Look for United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines and take into account baggage, seat choice and schedule in your comparisons of costs.