CHI - CMH

$46 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 2/28. 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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41.299.237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$131
Overall average: $285
American Airlines
Thu 5/7Sat 5/9
ORD - CMH • Non-stop
Cheapest non-stop
$134
Typical prices: $263-$388
United Airlines
Tue 3/31Mon 4/6
ORD - CMH • Non-stop
Our travelers' advice
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
Video guide: How to find cheap flights to Columbus
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Top airlines
American Airlines
Cheapest • from $131 (round-trip)
Southwest
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Top routes
ORD
-
CMH
Cheapest • 20% average savings
ORD
-
CMH
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
4 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 57% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
May
Cheapest • 19% price drop
May
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Columbus!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
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

Thu, May 7 - Sat, May 9
American Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 2:12 pm
ORD
-
CMH
1h 27mnonstop
American Airlines Logo
2:52 pm - 3:29 pm
CMH
-
ORD
1h 37mnonstop
$131American Airlines
Tue, Mar 31 - Mon, Apr 6
United Airlines Logo
7:14 am - 9:43 am
ORD
-
CMH
1h 29mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
2:15 pm - 2:50 pm
CMH
-
ORD
1h 35mnonstop
$134United Airlines
Mon, Apr 6 - Wed, Apr 8
Southwest Logo
7:00 pm - 9:10 pm
MDW
-
CMH
1h 10mnonstop
Southwest Logo
8:35 am - 8:50 am
CMH
-
MDW
1h 15mnonstop
$134Southwest
Tue, Mar 31 - Mon, Apr 6
Southwest Logo
7:45 am - 9:55 am
MDW
-
CMH
1h 10mnonstop
Southwest Logo
8:20 pm - 11:00 pm
CMH
-
MDW
3h 40m
1 stop
$144Southwest
Sat, Feb 28 - Sat, Mar 7
American Airlines Logo
8:59 pm - 11:28 pm
ORD
-
CMH
1h 29mnonstop
American Airlines Logo
10:32 am - 11:05 am
CMH
-
ORD
1h 33mnonstop
$149American Airlines
Wed, Apr 8 - Thu, Apr 9
Southwest Logo
8:15 am - 6:20 pm
MDW
-
CMH
9h 05m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
3:30 pm - 3:50 pm
CMH
-
MDW
1h 20mnonstop
$149Southwest
Thu, Feb 19 - Mon, Feb 23
Frontier Logo
5:05 am - 9:59 am
ORD
-
CMH
27h 54m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
11:19 am - 10:39 pm
CMH
-
ORD
12h 20m
1 stop
$152Frontier
Tue, Mar 31 - Mon, Apr 6
Southwest Logo
5:40 pm - 11:00 pm
MDW
-
CMH
4h 20m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
8:20 pm - 11:00 pm
CMH
-
MDW
3h 40m
1 stop
$154Southwest
Thu, Mar 12 - Sun, Mar 15
Frontier Logo
6:05 am - 1:56 pm
MDW
-
CMH
6h 51m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
2:51 pm - 10:19 pm
CMH
-
MDW
8h 28m
1 stop
$158Frontier
Sat, Feb 21 - Mon, Feb 23
United Airlines Logo
10:50 am - 1:15 pm
ORD
-
CMH
1h 25mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
2:25 pm - 2:55 pm
CMH
-
ORD
1h 30mnonstop
$171United Airlines
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.

Find cheap flights to Columbus
Find cheap flights to Columbus

Planning a trip from Chicago to Columbus? KAYAK’s data-powered insights will help you find cheap flights. Learn the best time to fly, how early to book your ticket, and other tips to secure great prices.

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 May.

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 $171 on the route between Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD) and Columbus Airport (CMH). Over the past month, this route was, on average, 20% cheaper than other Chicago-Columbus Airport routes. It is also the most popular route.

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 $270 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are January and September, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $551 and $338 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 $383 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 57% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 14 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$46
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 3% 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 $46 for a one-way ticket and $131 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, Delta, 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 170 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 $301 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 $377 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 $216 or less one-way and $313 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 4273 reviews
7.5Entertainment
8.0Comfort
8.6Crew
7.0Food
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

Flight attendants very hospitable and friendly. Pilot flew a smooth take off and landing.

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Feb 2026
MSY - PHX
Read more Southwest reviews

Flight attendants very hospitable and friendly. Pilot flew a smooth take off and landing.

Paid for premium extra leg room but the bin space for rows 1-3 had to go in rows 4-6 and 4-6 had to go to 7-9 because flight attendants have snacks and their luggage upfront. So we pay extra to have to fight thru traffic to get our bags. Only 2nd day of new seating so hope they fix this.

WIFI was great. My selection for seating is an aisle, but during my trip, I never had an aisle seat. If we can get that corrected, I will be thrilled. No snack or drink on this flight.

WIFI was great. My selection for seating is an aisle, but during my trip, I never had an aisle seat. If we can get that corrected, I will be thrilled.

The wifi on the plane is great. The only issue that I have is that I prefer an aisle seat and on my trips this week, I was either in the middle or window. If we can work to secure aisle seating, I will be thrilled. Nice trip.

All good except once again bags took an hour at Midway Airport Happens all the time. Ridiculous

Everything went smoothly and we even arrived a little bit early.

Great vacation. Can't wait till next year for another one.

Great flight but super high price. Glad it was a business trip and not personal

On time. Friendly staff. Took to long to pre bord all the specialty groups. Cramped small plane

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. :/

Great flight. On time boarding. Smooth flight and on time arrival at EWR. The flight crew was marvelous and there was a great selection of movies on the entertainment system. Our bags were at the carousel before we got there. Another excellent flight from United.

I liked the snacks and the flight attendants were friendly.

After a delay at the gate, C3, at Ohare on Sunday, I left my Blk ski coat on the bench at the gate, lost! Please review my lob claim, thx.

Very thoughtful flight attendant offered me water immediately since I had run to make my connection.

one crew said "he" didn't serve double alcohol drinks for travelers in exit rows. crew on prior flight did. Is this a AA rule, and the prior crew was being nice? Also, I think we deserve more than a 25% refund for losing first class seats when rescheduling a flight due to weather

The aircraft had several problems - from excess fuel to non operational ac. Two hours of delay in Chicago could have been avoided with proper planning and aircraft maintenance.

Crew in Columbia was not prepared for landing. It was a bit of a disaster and getting bags took forever.

We were upgraded to First Class and it was a great flight

We experienced gate changes and a long delay. My seat was dirty when I boarded and I had to use wipes to clean it myself. There was an unpleasant and overpowering cleaning product scent on the plane as well that lingered through the flight.

My carry on baggage was damaged. Entire trip, I had to carry the baggage. When complained to the boarding crew, they got mad at me and still asked me to valet check in the cabin baggage. Rude boarding crew!!!

Crew were all friendly and helpful. It was a short flight so just a beverage service with a cookie. After we were boarded the plane took about 45 minutes to leave the gate but it was New Year’s Eve so not shocking there was some delay. Overall good experience and very grateful.

The captain brought my 6 year old son into the cockpit and allowed him to ask questions, sit in the captain’s chair and talk about all the gears and levers. Made the trip very special for him.

The boarding process needs to be fixed. The zone don't work, especially when there is hardly anyone in zones 3, 4,and 5, leaving the majority of the passengers backed up in the aisle, especially because passengers seated near the front are blocking passengers who are seated in the rear of the plane. It would also help if the size of carry on bags was more strictly enforced.

The boarding by groups is pointless. The first two groups worked fine, but almost Noone boarded in goups three thru five leaving the vast majority boarding when group six was called. It defeated the purpose of spreading out the crowd.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports