CHI - CMH

$65 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to Columbus

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Chicago to Columbus departing on 5/6. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Columbus Airport

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to Columbus, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to Columbus, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$184
Overall average: $317
Multiple Airlines
Fri 4/17Sun 4/19
ORD - CMH • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$188
Typical prices: $298-$486
American Airlines
Tue 3/31Thu 4/2
ORD - CMH • Non-stop
Advice from real travelers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
Southwest offers two free checked bags for extra luggage.
United's Wi-Fi varies; check coverage maps for reliability.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $188 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with American Airlines, Southwest and United Airlines. Average duration is 1h 25m
Direct flights
Direct flights
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+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Top routes
Cheapest • 27% average savings
Most popular
Insights
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Avoid delays
Most punctual • 87% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
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Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $150 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 4h 00m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 53% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
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When to travel
Cheapest • 19% price drop
Most popular
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+1
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Chicago to Columbus (CHI-CMH)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Chicago to Columbus that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Chicago to Columbus

Fri, Apr 17 - Sun, Apr 19
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:28 am - 5:40 pm
ORD
-
CMH
5h 12m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 pm - 10:39 pm
CMH
-
ORD
28h 39m
1 stop
$184Multiple Airlines
Tue, Mar 31 - Thu, Apr 2
American Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 9:36 am
ORD
-
CMH
1h 36mnonstop
American Airlines Logo
10:20 am - 10:53 am
CMH
-
ORD
1h 33mnonstop
$188American Airlines
Tue, Mar 31 - Thu, Apr 2
Southwest Logo
12:45 pm - 2:55 pm
MDW
-
CMH
1h 10mnonstop
Southwest Logo
8:00 pm - 8:15 pm
CMH
-
MDW
1h 15mnonstop
$188Southwest
Thu, Apr 9 - Mon, Apr 13
Southwest Logo
2:10 pm - 11:15 pm
MDW
-
CMH
8h 05m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
3:30 pm - 3:50 pm
CMH
-
MDW
1h 20mnonstop
$192Southwest
Wed, Apr 8 - Wed, Apr 15
Southwest Logo
8:15 am - 6:20 pm
MDW
-
CMH
9h 05m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
6:35 am - 2:55 pm
CMH
-
MDW
9h 20m
2 stops
$193Southwest
Thu, May 7 - Sun, May 10
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:50 am - 5:10 pm
ORD
-
CMH
9h 20m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:05 pm - 10:46 am
CMH
-
ORD
17h 41m
1 stop
$194Multiple Airlines
Tue, May 5 - Tue, May 12
Delta Logo
8:15 am - 1:54 pm
ORD
-
CMH
4h 39m
1 stop
Delta Logo
12:55 pm - 4:55 pm
CMH
-
ORD
5h 00m
1 stop
$197Delta
Tue, May 12 - Thu, May 14
United Airlines Logo
2:20 pm - 4:51 pm
ORD
-
CMH
1h 31mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
9:36 pm - 10:12 pm
CMH
-
ORD
1h 36mnonstop
$198United Airlines
Tue, May 5 - Mon, May 11
Frontier Logo
7:15 am - 5:10 pm
ORD
-
CMH
8h 55m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
6:43 pm - 8:37 pm
CMH
-
ORD
26h 54m
1 stop
$200Frontier
Sun, Apr 19 - Fri, Apr 24
Frontier Logo
5:59 am - 2:52 pm
ORD
-
CMH
7h 53m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
6:35 pm - 10:39 pm
CMH
-
ORD
5h 04m
1 stop
$201Frontier
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Chicago to Columbus flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Chicago to Columbus to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

How much is a round-trip flight from Chicago to Columbus Airport?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Chicago to Columbus Airport departing in April.

What is the cheapest Chicago to Columbus Airport flight route?

Data is based on round-trip flight searches on KAYAK over the past month.

The cheapest return flight from Chicago to Columbus Airport costs $97 on the route between Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) and Columbus Airport (CMH). Over the past month, this route was, on average, 27% cheaper than other Chicago-Columbus Airport routes. The most popular route is between Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD) and Columbus Airport (CMH).

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Chicago to Columbus?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Chicago to Columbus Airport clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

For Chicago to Columbus, Saturday is the cheapest day to fly on average and Tuesday is the most expensive. Flying from Columbus back to Chicago, the best deals are generally found on Thursday, with Monday being the most expensive.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Chicago to Columbus Airport?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago to Columbus Airport, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Chicago to Columbus Airport is May, where tickets cost $283 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are January and March, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $551 and $413 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Chicago to Columbus Airport?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

Yes, flying with a layover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 1 stop layover the cheapest option at $318 on average.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Chicago to Columbus Airport?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago to Columbus Airport, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Chicago to Columbus Airport, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 53% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 17 weeks before departure.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Chicago to Columbus

 
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on American Airlines

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Expert on Southwest

Blane Bachelor is a journalist and editor specializing in travel and aviation who writes regularly for top global outlets. Born and raised in Florida, Blane has worked and lived in four countries, including the Netherlands, where she’s currently based with her family. Her favorite way to get to know a new destination is by running or riding a bike around town – or hearing a spooky ghost story about local history. She will always choose the window seat.

Good to know

Low seasonDecember
Cheapest flight$65
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 8% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 19% lower on average.
Flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Columbus

When to book flights from Chicago to Columbus

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Chicago to Columbus based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking Chicago to Columbus flights

  • How can I fly from Midway to Columbus?

    Southwest is one airline that offers direct flights from MDW to CMH. Delta is among the airlines that offers flights from MDW to CMH with one stop. Stops often occur in cities such as Detroit, Atlanta, and Minneapolis.

  • Do either of the Chicago airports have a hotel at the airport?

    Yes. The Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport Hotel is on ORD grounds, located across from Terminal 2 and connected to all of the terminals of the airport by an underground walkway. Amenities at this hotel include room service, and indoor pool, a business center, wheelchair accessibility, and much more.

  • Which Chicago airports have a USO lounge?

    Both Chicago airports have USO, and in fact, ORD has two USO military lounges. At ORD, you can find a USO in Terminal 2 landside and in Terminal 3 airside. The USO at MDW is airside on Concourse C. Active-duty US military personnel and their families can enjoy the services and facilities of these military lounges free of charge. Amenities include comfortable and relaxing seating, refreshments, devices for connectivity and entertainment, flight information, and much more.

  • Is CMH an accessible airport?

    Yes. CMH has made many adaptations to assist differently-abled passengers. Some of these accommodations include wheelchair availability and assistance, shuttles equipped with lifts to accommodate wheelchairs and electric scooters, and handicap accessible parking. CMH also uses sunflower lanyards and wristbands to identify travelers with challenges that aren't so obvious, such as autism, PTSD, and hearing loss. The lanyards and wristbands discreetly alert airport and airplane staff that these passengers will need extra time and assistance with the travel process.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Chicago to Columbus Airport?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Chicago to Columbus Airport was $65 for a one-way ticket and $184 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Chicago and Columbus?

    No

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Chicago to Columbus?

    Chicago is served by 2 major airports and there is only 1 main airport in Columbus. You will leave Chicago from one of these airports: Chicago Midway or Chicago O'Hare Intl. You will be arriving at Columbus.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Chicago to Columbus?

    American Airlines, and JetBlue offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Chicago to Columbus flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Chicago to Columbus?

    The Embraer 175 (Enhanced Winglets) is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Chicago to Columbus flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Chicago to Columbus?

    oneworld, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between Chicago and Columbus, with oneworld being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Chicago to Columbus?

    There are nonstop flights from Chicago to Columbus on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Chicago to Columbus, Southwest or United Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Chicago to Columbus are Southwest and United Airlines. With an average price for the route of $326 and an overall rating of 8.0, Southwest is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $375 and an overall rating of 7.4.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Chicago to Columbus?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Chicago to Columbus.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Chicago to Columbus?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Columbus from Chicago is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Chicago to Columbus?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Columbus with an airline and back to Chicago with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Chicago to Columbus?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Columbus from Chicago up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Chicago to Columbus Airport

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $137 or less one-way and $289 or less round-trip.
  • Chicago, Illinois is served by two airports, the Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and the Midway International Airport (MDW). ORD is a hub for American and United Airlines. MDW is a hub for Southwest Airlines and a focus city for Frontier. The John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is no longer a hub for any airlines.
  • United and American are among the airlines that offer direct flights from ORD to CMH. Delta and American are among the carriers that offer flights from ORD to CMH with one stop, often in Minneapolis, Philadelphia, or Dallas. United and American are among the airlines that offer two-stop flights from ORD to CMH, with layovers in cities including Detroit, Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Washington DC, and New York.
  • If you want to relax before your flight to CMH, you can stop by the Yoga Room to stretch out and center yourself. Both Chicago airports, ORD and MDW, have a Yoga Room with wall mounted TVs demonstrating poses. The Yoga Room in each airport is open daily from 6 am to 10 pm.
  • CMH has private Nursing Rooms located throughout the airport for traveling moms who would like to breastfeed in private or who need to pump. You can find these Nursing Rooms landside in Baggage Claim and airside at Gates A2, B29, and C51.
  • If you need to pick up a rental car at the Columbus Airport, follow the purple signs throughout the terminal that will guide you to the Arrivals Level. At the Arrivals curb, you can catch a free shuttle for a brief ride to the Rental Car Center. Some agencies that you will find at the CMH Rental Car Center include Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, Thrifty, Alamo, and more.

Prefer to fly direct from Chicago to Columbus?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Chicago to Columbus.
Find which airlines fly direct from Chicago to Columbus Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Chicago to Columbus

Monday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Tuesday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Wednesday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Thursday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Friday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Saturday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Sunday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Columbus to Chicago

Monday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Tuesday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Wednesday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Thursday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Friday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Saturday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Sunday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 3 airlines serving from Chicago to Columbus

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Chicago to Columbus. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Chicago to Columbus? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4318 reviews
8.0Comfort
7.0Food
7.5Entertainment
8.6Crew
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

Long layover between flights to Long Island from BWI - need better coordination between flights

4.0 OkayKenny, Mar 2026
TPA - BWI
Read more Southwest reviews

Long layover between flights to Long Island from BWI - need better coordination between flights

I elected to pay for the upgrades and found very little difference

The new seating arrangement is so over priced for what you get.

The problem with the seat assignments is that there were a lot of rows in the front that were empty but my row at the back was full. Just not so pleasant.

No food or entertainment, just a quick 40 minute flight. A little bumpy due to Santa Ana winds but pilot has no control over that. Good flight and landing!

Good but I prefer choose your own seat. With the new assigned seats they should board from the back I see no advantage to this new boarding. Just like every other airline

I realize they are still working out kinks with the new boarding process, but by the time I boarded in group 5, most of the bins were full. All airlines should better enforce small bags and jackets going under the seats until everyone has boarded.

WiFi was not working and didn’t have a beverage service

Snacks are always pretzels. Why can't you also offer peanuts ?

Flight boarded late after announcing on time boarding. Flight arrived only a little late despite late departure. Had trouble connecting to WiFi

This trip did not start off well. The inbound flight was delayed about 20 minutes. Then, after initial onboarding, the passengers had to deplane due to a mechanical problem. That took about 30 minutes to fix and be cleared. Then, reboarding was chaotic. It took a long time to sort passengers and two passengers on standby were ticketed but there was no seat. So, they had to deplane. One of the flight crew was trying to help passengers figure out a place to put their carry-on bags and that took more time. In the end, our scheduled 10:30 am departure did not actually take off until about 12:05 pm CST. The flight itself was long but we got to Houston. Some passengers missed their connecting flights and had to rebook. Not the best of flights I've had.

We were delayed for about an hour from taking off due to traffic control procedures at the destination airport. But once in the air, the flight went well. The crew members were great and provided cabin service despite moderate turbulence during much of the flight.

Short flight, but no drink/snack service. The flights both going and coming were delayed.

Not being stranded in Chicago for her airport to 11:30 tomorrow morning the 3rd

I was fully checked in the prior night and i was unchecked and then didn’t have a seat when I boarded. Instead of an aisle seat, I was out in the middle seat of the very last row of the plane.

In overall it was a good experience, the only down point was that the entertainment screen was working properly.

They lost my luggage, so, not happy. The crew was nice but my suitcases never made it, still trying to find out what happened!

I understand weather is an issue, but making us chase our plane down at five scheduled gates across three terminals in an airport the size of O'Hare was unfair. They'd have probably been better off to leave gates as TBD until the inbound plane is in final approach instead of running us all over the place. Also, props to the consistently-unprepared ground crew in Richmond for once again leaving my lane parked short of the gate because they couldn't have a crew in place on time with 2 hours notice...

cabin crew was OK, food was OK, the trip from the US to Munich was actually pretty bad comfort wise. Noisy aircraft, lights never dimmed even in Business class (night flight) barely sufficient amenities for the price. I have millions of miles with United but TBH American is gaining ground and Delta has always been marginally better then United although on paper United has more longes and cheaper upgrades.

Essy to get on. The hostess gave very little pop, the plane was late getting in, and we are still waiting for our bags. This sucks. :/

The gate got changed several times and the flight was delayed over an hour. Awful experience

American continues to decline in their customer service and its beyond disappointing.

Delayed initially because they couldn’t print the flight details. Poor instruction on delay. When I got on the plane the flight attendant argued with me about whether my carry on would fit (it did, although she didn’t acknowledge that). No greeting (other than arguing with me) getting on or off the plane.

It was an older plane. First Class was not especially roomy or comfortable. It was a short flight so there were no meal but they did offer mixed nuts which used to be normal but now is rare. Crew member was very polite and professional.

Flight to Tampa was delayed taking off due to plane arriving late but no other issues

Experience was great. The best part is the free Wi-Fi connection which helps me to work on the flight

As previously stated the delay I experienced flying from Wichita to Chicago caused a host of issues. When I finally was able to be booked on the last remaining American flight from Chicago to Cincinnati, the gate changed four times with the last change occurring very near the scheduled boarding time. While I didn't have a problem moving from gate to gate, I did notice and make note of others that had mobility issues and had to move each time for the gate change.

Maintenance took a very long time and then we were in a holding pattern. While a one-off maintenance issue is standard, there were delays on both of my flights for this trip based on maintenance issues with the planes, which delayed both flights over 45 minutes. Thankfully, I didn't have any connections but it wasn't an experience that would make me pick AA if I have other options.

No Snacks or Entertainment. The flight was short, snacks should still be given.

See prior comment about how Kayak mishandled my reservation and delayed my arrival by 6 hours.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Chicago to Columbus

Information on your arrival and departure airports