CHI - DSM

$101 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 4/15. 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 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
Travelers love KAYAK
41,299,237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

Save 23% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

Track pricesNot ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Bundle and saveSave money when you bundle your flight + hotel.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$257
Overall average: $278
American Airlines
Fri 6/19Sun 6/21
ORD - DSM • Non-stop
Cheapest non-stop
$256
Typical prices: $212-$365
American Airlines
Sun 4/26Sun 5/3
ORD - DSM • Non-stop
Advice from real travelers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
American's Main Cabin Extra includes early boarding.
United's Economy Plus adds up to six inches of legroom.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $256 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.4 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with American Airlines, Southwest and United Airlines. Average duration is 1h 30m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Top routes
Cheapest • 14% average savings
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $208 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 4h 00m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 22% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Des Moines!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight 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

Fri, Jun 19 - Sun, Jun 21
American Airlines Logo
6:40 am - 8:13 am
ORD
-
DSM
1h 33mnonstop
American Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 6:43 am
DSM
-
ORD
1h 43mnonstop
$257American Airlines
Fri, Mar 27 - Sun, Mar 29
Southwest Logo
9:50 pm - 11:15 pm
MDW
-
DSM
1h 25mnonstop
Southwest Logo
4:40 pm - 6:00 pm
DSM
-
MDW
1h 20mnonstop
$257Southwest
Thu, Apr 9 - Mon, Apr 13
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:00 pm - 10:06 pm
ORD
-
DSM
10h 06m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:07 pm - 9:36 am
DSM
-
ORD
36h 29m
2 stops
$262Multiple Airlines
Thu, Apr 9 - Fri, Apr 10
Southwest Logo
3:30 pm - 9:55 pm
MDW
-
DSM
6h 25m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
5:25 am - 6:45 am
DSM
-
MDW
1h 20mnonstop
$267Southwest
Thu, Apr 9 - Mon, Apr 13
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:00 pm - 10:06 pm
ORD
-
DSM
10h 06m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 10:05 am
DSM
-
ORD
28h 05m
1 stop
$269Multiple Airlines
Fri, Apr 10 - Fri, Apr 17
Southwest Logo
10:05 am - 6:35 pm
MDW
-
DSM
8h 30m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
4:20 pm - 5:40 pm
DSM
-
MDW
1h 20mnonstop
$272Southwest
Wed, Apr 15 - Mon, Apr 20
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:27 pm - 4:00 pm
ORD
-
DSM
26h 33m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:48 pm - 12:24 am
DSM
-
ORD
29h 36m
2 stops
$278Multiple Airlines
Wed, Apr 15 - Mon, Apr 20
United Airlines Logo
12:59 pm - 2:25 pm
ORD
-
DSM
1h 26mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
8:04 am - 9:36 am
DSM
-
ORD
1h 32mnonstop
$280United Airlines
Wed, Apr 15 - Mon, Apr 20
Southwest Logo
10:00 am - 11:25 am
MDW
-
DSM
1h 25mnonstop
Southwest Logo
5:25 am - 6:45 am
DSM
-
MDW
1h 20mnonstop
$280Southwest
Fri, Apr 3 - Sun, Apr 5
Delta Logo
8:55 am - 3:42 pm
ORD
-
DSM
6h 47m
1 stop
Delta Logo
6:15 am - 1:17 pm
DSM
-
ORD
7h 02m
1 stop
$297Delta
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.

How much is a round-trip flight from Chicago to Des Moines?

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 Des Moines departing in June.

What is the cheapest Chicago to Des Moines flight route?

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

The absolute cheapest return flight from Chicago to Des Moines costs $157 on the route between Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD) and Des Moines (DSM). However, over the past month, flights between Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) and Des Moines (DSM) were, on average, 14% cheaper than other Chicago-Des Moines routes. The most popular route is between Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD) and Des Moines (DSM).

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 Saturday and avoid Tuesdays if you are looking for the best rates. For your return to Chicago, you’ll find the best rates on Thursdays 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 July, where tickets cost $224 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and January, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $389 and $360 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 $268 on average.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Chicago to Des Moines

 
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.

Good to know

Low seasonNovember
Cheapest flight$101
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 16% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 12% increase in price.
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 $101 for a one-way ticket and $256 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?

    American Airlines, and JetBlue offer 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 oneworld 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 $301 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 $320 and an overall rating of 7.1.

  • 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 $131 or less one-way and $300 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,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

Des Moines 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 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 9431 reviews
7.7Boarding
6.6Food
7.1Entertainment
7.3Comfort
8.1Crew
Airline reviews

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.

4.0 OkayDr. Joseph, Feb 2026
ORD - IAH
Read more United Airlines reviews

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.

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

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.

Boarding delayed 20 minutes for no reason, no wifi, in flight entertainment, or snacks / waters?

Delayed an hour due to operational issues. Minimal apologies or care for the significant inconvenience caused. Landed at nearly 1am and they still couldn’t find ground staff to get us off the plane promptly.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports