$179 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to Columbia - Compare and Save

Among airlines operating Chicago to Columbia flights:

• American Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

2 airlines operate flights between Chicago and Columbia. The airlines offering nonstop flights on this route include:
• United Airlines
• American Airlines

Flights from Chicago to Columbia may depart from several airports in Chicago area, including Chicago Midway (MDW), Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) and Chicago Greater Rockford (RFD). Flights usually arrive at Columbia Metropolitan (CAE).

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• American Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• United Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route and airline, so travelers should check the fare details before booking.

Only Economy Class is available on flights from Chicago to Columbia.

On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $210 round-trip via Fort Lauderdale (FLL), compared to $354 for nonstop.

There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $40–$100 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite-status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

One-stop flights from Chicago to Columbia most commonly connect through:

• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) - 49% of one-stop connections
• Charlotte Douglas (CLT) - 38% of one-stop connections
• Philadelphia (PHL) - 5% of one-stop connections
• Washington, D.C. Reagan-National (DCA) - 2% of one-stop connections

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 32% on the Chicago to Columbia route. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $306 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $449, a difference of $143. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

Afternoon is the busiest departure period on Chicago to Columbia flights, with 40% of flights leaving in that window. Morning departures account for 20%, evening flights for 20%, and night flights for 20%.

A nonstop flight from Chicago to Columbia takes 2h 12m, covering 652 miles.

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Chicago to Columbia:

• Earliest: departs at 6:29 am and lands at 8:41 am
• Latest: departs at 8:48 pm and lands at 11:00 pm.

The flight takes about 2h 12m.

Last-minute fares on this route - booked within 2 weeks of departure - run 28% above the route average of $350. Book 17 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID, or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $279 to $2,580. That means the highest observed fare was about 9x higher than the lowest one.

One-way fares from Chicago to Columbia are currently in line with typical prices for this route. Average one-way fares are about $286.

Flying via Charlotte Douglas (CLT) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 4h 32m, compared with 4h 57m via Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) and 4h 58m via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD).

Columbia is 1 hour ahead of Chicago (Eastern Time vs Central Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $27 for economy cars. Top options include:
· Alamo
· Thrifty
· Dollar
· Enterprise Rent-A-Car
· Avis

Round-trip flights from Chicago to Columbia range from $280 to $449, with an average of $350 over the past 12 months. Anything below $280 counts as a good deal.

American Airlines is the only airline on the Chicago to Columbia route offering in-flight Wi-Fi. Pricing depends on fare class.