$117 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to Des Moines - Compare and Save

Among airlines operating Chicago to Des Moines flights:

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

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

3 airlines operate flights between Chicago and Des Moines. The airlines offering nonstop flights on this route include:

• United Airlines
• American Airlines
• Southwest

Flights from Chicago to Des Moines 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 Des Moines (DSM).

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

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

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

Three cabin classes are available on flights from Chicago to Des Moines:

• Economy Class
• Business Class
• First Class

On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $217 round-trip via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD), compared to $383 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.

Connecting flights from Chicago to Des Moines most commonly pass through:

• Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 50% of one-stop connections
• Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 50% of one-stop connections
Together, these airports account for 100% of one-stop bookings on this route.

On the Chicago to Des Moines route, being flexible with your departure day can save you up to 37%. Saturday is the cheapest day at $292 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $461: a $169 difference. Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Chicago to Des Moines flights, with 37% of flights leaving in that window. Evening departures account for 27%, afternoon flights for 18%, and night flights for 18%.

Some of the most popular sights in Des Moines are Iowa Events Center, UnityPoint Health - Des Moines and Des Moines Civic Center. These are among the most viewed places in Des Moines on KAYAK.

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

• Earliest: departs at 12:05 am and lands at 1:37 am
• Latest: departs at 11:10 pm and lands at 12:42 am.

The flight takes about 1h 32m.

Last-minute fares on this route - booked within 2 weeks of departure - run 19% above the route average of $382. Book 18 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A nonstop flight from Chicago to Des Moines takes 1h 32m, covering 312 miles.

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.

One-way fares from Chicago to Des Moines are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $121, which is 49% below the typical average for this route.

Flying via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 4h 07m, compared with 5h 05m via Minneapolis St Paul (MSP).

Des Moines Airport (DSM) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $33 for economy cars. Top options include:
• Hertz
• Payless
• Budget
• Alamo
• Avis

Round-trip flights from Chicago to Des Moines range from $261 to $482, with an average of $382 over the past 12 months. Anything below $261 counts as a good deal.

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