$21 Cheap flight deals from New York (NYC) to Chicago (CHI)

Millions of people fly between New York and Chicago each year, making it one of the world’s busiest air routes. If you want to join them, then Orbitz offers you all the cheapest flights to Chicago.

Popular Routes from New York to Chicago

New York has three major airports, John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty in New Jersey, and you catch a direct flight to Chicago from any of them. Flights from JFK head to O’Hare International and from LaGuardia and Newark you can fly to both O’Hare and Chicago’s other main hub, Chicago Midway International.

More than four million people fly between the cities each year and there are scores of flights every day, taking off every few minutes from early in the morning to late at night.

Among the airlines with services between the cities are America, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United.

The Flight from New York to Chicago

The 730-mile journey from west from New York to Chicago usually takes around two and a half hours, although you will only spend around two hours in the air. During the trip your plane will reach speeds of 500mph and altitudes of 35,000 feet.

The exact flight path depends on weather conditions and other air traffic, but the usual route takes your aircraft up towards the Great Lakes, over Lake Erie across Michigan and into Chicago over Lake Michigan. If you are lucky, and have a seat on the right of the plane, you may even catch a glimpse of Niagara Falls on the way.

The five main airports in New York and Chicago are among the biggest in the US. All of them feature in the top 30 busiest airports in the country, and both Midway and O’Hare once held the title of the world’s busiest airport. Today the most popular route between the cities is from LaGuardia to O’Hare, with 1.6 million passengers each year. Around 700,000 people fly from Newark to O’Hare each year.

Although the flight is domestic, with quicker check in times than for international journeys, it is still a good idea to get to the airport well before takeoff. If you want to check in bags then remember to check if your ticket includes a luggage allowance – some airlines charge extra to put bags in the hold.

US citizens will need some form of photo ID to board the plane, non-US citizens should bring their passport.

Getting to LaGuardia is easy, you can get a taxi, shuttle or bus from Manhattan or Queens, and there are connections to the subway system. There are also long-stay parking lots near the airport if you plan to drive.

Whether you are flying from LaGuardia, JFK or Newark there is plenty to do once you have checked in, with bars, shops, restaurants and even spas where you can relax before you board your flight.

O’Hare is the third largest airport in the US with almost 80 million passengers a year, and more than 50 airlines flying to hundreds of destinations around the world, and you can get into the city center by rail, bus, shuttle or cab. If you book with Orbitz, you can reserve a rental car to collect at the airport.

Other Flight Destinations near the Great Lakes

If you want to explore the Great Lakes, or are looking for cheap flights to alternative destinations in the region, why not consider the following.

Flights from New York to Detroit

Flights from New York to Milwaukee