CHI - DSM

$93 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to Des Moines

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 Des Moines departing on 8/14. 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

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Des Moines

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to Des Moines, 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 Des Moines, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Flights Deals

Cheap Flights from Chicago to Des Moines (CHI-DSM)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Chicago to Des Moines 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 Des Moines

Thu, Aug 21 - Mon, Aug 25
 Logo
8:12 pm - 8:41 pmORD-DSM
24h 29m2 stops
 Logo
4:29 pm - 7:07 pmDSM-ORD
26h 38m2 stops
Thu, Aug 14 - Mon, Aug 18
United Airlines Logo
9:00 am - 10:29 amORD-DSM
1h 29mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
6:50 pm - 8:25 pmDSM-ORD
1h 35mnonstop
$177United Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Aug 28 - Thu, Sep 4
American Airlines Logo
3:18 pm - 4:44 pmORD-DSM
1h 26mnonstop
American Airlines Logo
4:20 pm - 6:00 pmDSM-ORD
1h 40mnonstop
$178American Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Aug 28 - Thu, Sep 4
American Airlines Logo
10:06 pm - 11:24 pmORD-DSM
1h 18mnonstop
American Airlines Logo
7:08 am - 8:39 amDSM-ORD
1h 31mnonstop
$179American Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, Sep 22 - Thu, Sep 25
Frontier Logo
6:00 am - 1:40 pmORD-DSM
7h 40m1 stop
Frontier Logo
2:25 pm - 12:00 amDSM-ORD
9h 35m1 stop
$189Frontier
Find Deal
Mon, Aug 25 - Fri, Aug 29
Frontier Logo
6:00 am - 2:23 pmORD-DSM
8h 23m1 stop
Frontier Logo
6:20 pm - 12:32 amDSM-ORD
6h 12m1 stop
$194Frontier
Find Deal
Mon, Aug 18 - Thu, Aug 21
Southwest Logo
7:00 am - 1:00 pmORD-DSM
6h 00m1 stop
Southwest Logo
1:55 pm - 11:05 pmDSM-ORD
9h 10m1 stop
$202Southwest
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Tue, Oct 14 - Wed, Oct 15
Southwest Logo
12:40 pm - 8:55 pmORD-DSM
8h 15m1 stop
Southwest Logo
10:15 am - 4:45 pmDSM-ORD
6h 30m1 stop
$208Southwest
Find Deal
Wed, Aug 27 - Wed, Sep 3
Delta Logo
11:05 am - 4:45 pmORD-DSM
5h 40m1 stop
Delta Logo
2:49 pm - 9:35 pmDSM-ORD
6h 46m1 stop
$209Delta
Find Deal
Wed, Aug 27 - Wed, Sep 3
Delta Logo
1:08 pm - 4:45 pmMDW-DSM
3h 37m1 stop
Delta Logo
6:00 am - 12:28 pmDSM-MDW
6h 28m1 stop
$209Delta
Find Deal
Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Chicago to Des Moines

 
Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of KAYAK-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Airlines
United Airlines

United offers Priority Boarding to avoid overhead bin space issues, placing you in Zone 2.


United's Economy Plus seats offer up to six inches more legroom than standard economy seats.

American Airlines

American Airlines' Main Cabin Extra offers early boarding and complimentary alcoholic drinks.


American Airlines provides 20 minutes of free Wi-Fi by watching a short advertisement.

Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

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.

Read more
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on American Airlines

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

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.

Read more
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Chicago to Des Moines flights

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

What is the cheapest Chicago to Des Moines flight route?

The cheapest price for flight routes found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks for round-trip flights from Chicago to Des Moines.

Our data shows that the cheapest route for a return flight from Chicago to Des Moines cost $189 and was between Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD) and Des Moines (DSM). On average, the best prices are found if you fly this route. The average price for a return flight for this route is $189.

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

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

When flying from Chicago to Des Moines, you should consider leaving on a Thursday and avoid Tuesdays if you are looking for the best rates. For your return to Chicago, you’ll find the best rates on Fridays and the most expensive ones on Tuesdays.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Chicago to Des Moines?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago to Des Moines, 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 Des Moines is March, where tickets cost $208 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are February and August, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $466 and $324 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Chicago to Des Moines?

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 $218 on average.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Chicago to Des Moines?

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 Des Moines, 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 Des Moines, you should book around 4 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 19 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
High seasonNovember
Cheapest flight$93
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 1% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 11% lower on average.
Flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Des Moines

When to book flights from Chicago to Des Moines

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Chicago to Des Moines 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 flights from Chicago to Des Moines

  • What is the cheapest flight from Chicago to Des Moines?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Chicago to Des Moines was $93 for a one-way ticket and $176 for a round-trip.

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

    No

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

    When flying out of Chicago you will be using one of these airports: Chicago Midway or Chicago O'Hare Intl. You will be landing at Des Moines.

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

    Only American Airlines offers inflight Wi-Fi service on the Chicago to Des Moines flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Chicago to Des Moines?

    The Airbus A319 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Chicago to Des Moines flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Chicago to Des Moines?

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

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

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

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Chicago to Des Moines, United Airlines or American Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Chicago to Des Moines are United Airlines and American Airlines. With an average price for the route of $281 and an overall rating of 7.4, United Airlines is the most popular choice. American Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $250 and an overall rating of 7.2.

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

    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 Des Moines.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Des Moines 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 Des Moines?

    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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines?

    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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $283 or less one-way and $199 or less round-trip.

Prefer to fly direct from Chicago to Des Moines?

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

Direct departures

Chicago to Des Moines

Monday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Tuesday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Wednesday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Thursday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Friday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Saturday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Sunday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Des Moines to Chicago

Monday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Tuesday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Wednesday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Thursday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Friday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Saturday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Sunday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top airlines flying from Chicago to Des Moines

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Chicago to Des Moines. 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 Des Moines? 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.
7.4
United AirlinesOverall score based on 8863 reviews
7.7Boarding
7.0Entertainment
8.1Crew
6.6Food
7.3Comfort
Airline reviews

It was delayed instead of departing at 9:20pm, we departed at 11pm… putting us in Columbus after 2am! It was awful. Had I known about the delay, I could have spent some time in the United Lounge… I was starving because I started my journey in Budapest… so I was exhausted and hungry. Plus I had to make new arrangements to be picked up at the airport in Columbus, instead of midnight it was 2:30 am after getting luggage and out of airport. Not feasible. I would have just stayed in Chicago for the night and gotten a morning flight.

10.0 ExcellentAnita, Jul 2025ORD - CMH
Read more United Airlines reviews

It was delayed instead of departing at 9:20pm, we departed at 11pm… putting us in Columbus after 2am! It was awful. Had I known about the delay, I could have spent some time in the United Lounge… I was starving because I started my journey in Budapest… so I was exhausted and hungry. Plus I had to make new arrangements to be picked up at the airport in Columbus, instead of midnight it was 2:30 am after getting luggage and out of airport. Not feasible. I would have just stayed in Chicago for the night and gotten a morning flight.

It was great, I’m very grateful for the pilots and crew flight attendants for everything.

Evidently, my seat had the only broken TV. I couldn’t plug it in, get it to come on, or watch anything, and of course, no one could fix it while we were on the plane. The service was good and the boarding was quick

I was charged for my daughters bag when I am supposed to receive two free checked bags with my United Explorer card.

The schedule to Moline changed 5 times. The gate changed 6 times. That is a pathetic way to run an airline. No wonder that no one in our company flies on United Express to or from Moline. Changes happen most of the time. I learned my lesson on this trip…never again!

Flight was great. Efficient boarding. Short flight. Early arrival. Friendly flight crew. The entertainment system did not work well. Could not access it until the aircraft reached 10K feet or more. Lots of glitches.

A bit rush for transit. Food and entertainment are not available

Smooth boarding process. Early departure, smooth flight, early arrival. The entertainment package has very good recent movie options. The flight crew were friendly and professional.

My flight was scheduled for about 6:05 departure. There were 11 gate changes from 4-7pm and the flight was 3 hours delayed due to operational issues. The plane taxied around the airport for about half an hour before stopping to be de-iced. It would have been nice if we were alerted of the plan to de-ice prior to the 30 minute drive around the airport. The flight attendant was friendly, which was the only redeeming thing about this flight. As a former flight attendant for United, I was extremely disappointed.

Delays took 2hours and thirty minutes making me miss my connecting flight and make me sit in the Chicago airport for 9 hours

After a two hour delay, my flight was CANCELLED! No pilot available. Such BS.

Amazing food, great staff, with one noticable detail missing ...but no seat entertainment in any of aircraft ...I am not a fan

I wish American Airlines would change the airline industry by loading the plane back to front instead of front to back. Planes would board so much more smoothly and quickly.

I have long legs, my foot was out in the aisle and when a flight attendant came walking by and I didn't notice, instead of saying "excuse me" or anything like that, she kicked my foot. Extremely rude

Excellent! The gate agents were kind enough to rebook me on an earlier flight saving me from a 6 hour layover. Even my luggage made it despite the fact that the connection was technically too narrow. The flight itself was very comfortable, roomy, and clean. Plenty of space for my carryon items with plugs to charge my phone. After a long international flight of 14 hours, this was an excellent way to end my travels!

Great experience. Flight boarded easily. Departed early. Smooth flight. Great arrival in DC--almost no taxing! Almost direct to gate from runway. Crew was terrific. Same cookies and beverages in main cabin. I did not use the entertainment system on this flight.

Most of the delay was due to weather which is not what was at issue here. One delay was due to a missing flashlight and in the end the flashlight was actually found on the plane. The entertainment system is very limited. Live TV options offer only a few channels that are not very appealing. Boarding and deplaning are always difficult. It just takes too much time to get on and off the plane. On the plus side, I missed my connecting flight, but was easily able to book a later flight from the app while enroute.

You were more on time than United. I'm so over united delays.

The meals were mediocre and the alcohol selection was poor. I enjoyed the selection of movies and other entertainment.

I chatted with the captain before the flight, and similarly during the welcome announcement, he warned of a turbulent flight that may impact the in-flight service. However, once at altitude, he announced that the weather changed and he immediately turned off the seatbelt sign. But it appeared the cabin crew had already decided to take off this flight. They remained seated and then just chatted in the galley. The flight was fully catered, but only first class received service.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Chicago to Des Moines

Information on your arrival and departure airports

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