CHI - IST

$284 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to Istanbul

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 Istanbul departing on 9/5. 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.
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KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Istanbul Airport

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to Istanbul.
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to Istanbul.
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Flights Deals

Cheap Flights from Chicago to Istanbul (CHI-IST)

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

Sat, Oct 18 - Mon, Nov 3
Icelandair Logo
7:25 pm - 11:55 pmORD-IST
20h 30m1 stop
Icelandair Logo
8:05 am - 5:20 pmIST-ORD
18h 15m1 stop
$666Icelandair
Find Deal
Sat, Nov 8 - Sat, Nov 22
Icelandair Logo
6:30 pm - 11:55 pmORD-IST
20h 25m1 stop
Icelandair Logo
8:05 am - 5:20 pmIST-ORD
18h 15m1 stop
$668Icelandair
Find Deal
Tue, Oct 7 - Wed, Nov 19
 Logo
7:25 pm - 3:50 amORD-IST
24h 25m2 stops
 Logo
4:40 pm - 9:10 pmIST-ORD
13h 30m1 stop
Tue, Oct 7 - Wed, Nov 19
Lufthansa Logo
6:30 pm - 9:20 pmORD-IST
18h 50m1 stop
Lufthansa Logo
6:30 am - 1:25 pmIST-ORD
15h 55m1 stop
$762Lufthansa
Find Deal
Tue, Nov 4 - Thu, Dec 4
LOT Logo
9:55 pm - 12:40 amORD-IST
17h 45m1 stop
LOT Logo
7:50 am - 8:00 pmIST-ORD
21h 10m1 stop
$774LOT
Find Deal
Tue, Nov 4 - Thu, Dec 4
Turkish Airlines Logo
11:55 am - 7:20 amORD-IST
10h 25mnonstop
Turkish Airlines Logo
7:35 am - 10:10 amIST-ORD
11h 35mnonstop
$803Turkish Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Oct 9 - Thu, Oct 23
Turkish Airlines Logo
11:25 am - 5:45 amORD-IST
10h 20mnonstop
Turkish Airlines Logo
6:30 am - 9:40 amIST-ORD
11h 10mnonstop
$815Turkish Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, Nov 7 - Fri, Nov 21
LOT Logo
9:55 pm - 9:45 pmORD-IST
14h 50m2 stops
LOT Logo
2:55 pm - 8:00 pmIST-ORD
14h 05m1 stop
$826LOT
Find Deal
Sun, Nov 2 - Sun, Nov 9
Lufthansa Logo
3:55 pm - 6:05 pmORD-IST
17h 10m1 stop
Lufthansa Logo
7:00 pm - 1:25 pmIST-ORD
27h 25m1 stop
$841Lufthansa
Find Deal
Sun, Aug 10 - Fri, Aug 22
British Airways Logo
9:15 pm - 12:25 amORD-IST
19h 10m1 stop
British Airways Logo
8:20 am - 3:55 pmIST-ORD
15h 35m1 stop
$847British Airways
Find Deal
Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Chicago to Istanbul

 
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
IndiGo

IndiGo seats offer 30” pitch and 18” width, generous for a low-cost carrier.


Pre-purchase food for better rates and availability on IndiGo flights.

Read more about IndiGoby Robert Schrader
Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines offers free Wi-Fi for messaging with Miles & Smiles membership.


Enjoy 11.3-inch screens and USB ports in Turkish Airlines economy class.

Our travel experts
Robert Schrader

Robert Schrader

Expert on IndiGo

Robert Schrader

Robert Schrader

One of the web's original travel bloggers, Robert launched his first site Leave Your Daily Hell in 2009. Since then, he's expanded into destination niche sites (one each for Japan, Thailand and Taiwan), in addition to having written for the inflight magazines of Singapore Airlines and Korean Air. Overall, he's visited nearly 100 countries, and flies business as often as possible.

Read more
Gabriel Leigh

Gabriel Leigh

Expert on Turkish Airlines

Gabriel Leigh

Gabriel Leigh

Gabriel is a writer and video creator. As senior content producer for Flightradar24 and Monocle’s transport correspondent, he keeps a close eye on aviation in particular. He has also written travel articles for the likes of The New York Times. Born in New York but raised around the world, he now lives in Sweden. He’s been to 75 countries, flying 2.3 million miles on 113 airlines and through 234 airports in the process.

Read more
Useful Info

KAYAK's insights & trends for Chicago to Istanbul flights

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

Find cheap flights to Istanbul
Find cheap flights to Istanbul

Planning a trip from Chicago to Istanbul? 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.

What is the cheapest Chicago to Istanbul Airport 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 Istanbul Airport.

Our data shows that the cheapest route for a return flight from Chicago to Istanbul Airport cost $620 and was between Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD) and Istanbul Airport (IST). On average, the best prices are found if you fly this route. The average price for a return flight for this route is $620.

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

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

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

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago to Istanbul 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 Istanbul Airport is January, where tickets cost $924 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and May, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,383 and $1,216 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Chicago to Istanbul 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 Istanbul 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 Istanbul Airport, you should book around 4 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 22 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonFebruary
High seasonJuly
Cheapest flight$284
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 9% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 12% increase in price.
Flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Istanbul Airport

When to book flights from Chicago to Istanbul

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Chicago to Istanbul 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.

Flights from Chicago to Istanbul: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from Chicago to Istanbul 
Verified travelerFlew with Turkish AirlinesORD-ISTApr 2025
Turkish as a great choice (flew direct - great service and food)
Verified travelerFlew with Turkish AirlinesORD-ISTNov 2024
Turkish doesn't maintain time, flights are mostly delayed, their crisis / situation management is terrible when a flight gets cancelled, communication / customer service is the worst in the industry.

FAQs for booking Chicago to Istanbul flights

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

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Chicago to Istanbul Airport was $284 for a one-way ticket and $666 for a round-trip.

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

    Yes

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

    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 Istanbul.

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

    All the following airlines offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Chicago to Istanbul flight route: American Airlines, Finnair, Lufthansa, United Airlines, British Airways, and SWISS.

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

    The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Chicago to Istanbul flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Chicago to Istanbul?

    Star Alliance is the only airline alliance operating flights between Chicago and Istanbul.

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

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

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Chicago to Istanbul, Delta or LOT?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Chicago to Istanbul are Delta and LOT. With an average price for the route of $991 and an overall rating of 8.0, Delta is the most popular choice. LOT is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $907 and an overall rating of 7.6.

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

    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 Istanbul.

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

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

    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 Istanbul 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 Istanbul?

    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 Istanbul 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 Istanbul Airport

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $459 or less one-way and $883 or less round-trip.

Prefer to fly direct from Chicago to Istanbul?

Find which airlines fly direct from Chicago to Istanbul Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Chicago to Istanbul

Monday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Tuesday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Wednesday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Thursday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Friday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Saturday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Sunday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Istanbul to Chicago

Monday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Tuesday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Wednesday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Thursday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Friday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Saturday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Sunday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Top 5 airlines serving from Chicago to Istanbul

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Chicago to Istanbul. 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 Istanbul? 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
DeltaOverall score based on 7950 reviews
7.9Entertainment
7.9Comfort
8.5Crew
8.2Boarding
7.3Food
Airline reviews

Good flights. On time. They had a gluten free snack option which was nice

8.0 ExcellentDenise, May 2025TRI - ATL
Read more Delta reviews

Good flights. On time. They had a gluten free snack option which was nice

Take this flight once or twice a month. Just don’t cut it from the schedule.

737-800 in first class was pretty dumpy. Seat had an uncomfortable angle, storage under the seat was blocked so even my very modest backpack didn't fit, power outlet was flaky. Weird tiny seat pockets that couldn't hold a gallon ziploc bag, emesis bag missing, etc. etc. No in-flight service due to turbulence. Crew was excellent, boarding was smooth despite a full flight.

Food from the flight from Atlanta to Santiago was very poor..

Flight was delayed due to weather. Crew did a nice job of making us comfortable. No complain complaints.

Our bag was lost so that made unnecessary chaos On our trip

Delta is my preferred airline. I've traveled with them for years. On time in most cases, good communication, easy to use app. Most planes are pretty nice. I was on a CRJ 700/900 however, which was pretty badly aged inside and needed a refresh. No infotainment, unreliable wifi, best to download before boarding or bring a book. Food choices are really just snacks on this flight, nice variety but about what you'd expect. Great staff and prompt in departure and early arrival too. Overall quite satisfied.

Crew was friendly Love the entertainment in the seat head rest.

Delta flight was on time, seats were comfortable, and crew was nice.

This had nothing to do with Delta… The flights were on time and flawless. The service was excellent. We purchased seats in (aisle/middle) comfort plus since this was a cross country flight. Unfortunately, the woman seated at the window was 300+ pounds and, as might be expected, covered up about a third of the middle seat also. there was absolutely nothing that Delta could have done about that… I just don’t know what the answer should be. If you purchase a seat, you should should be able to use the entire seat and not just the portion that someone else is not sitting/oozing in. Disappointing…there should be something that could be done….I'm just not sure what solution could be.

The customer service rep on chat refused carrying golf set at no charge that is customary for LOT and others. I wanted yo carry just ONE club not even full set! Web check in was nightmare. Most horrible lounge at warsaw. To call it business class is a BIG exaggeration. Rude staff warsaw to nyc. Seats uncomfortable and not flat as is now customary. Bad content and entertainment system.

It was was okay but the seat was stiff and hard to sit on it!!

Seats were so uncomfortable, my butt hurts so much, I wish they have more cushions,it really was horrible, Except that, Stewarts were polite food was decent

The 737 lacked business-class seating. It was basically economy plus but with the middle seats left unsold. There were no TV screens but good food and service.

Plane is super outdated, seats not that comfortable for business class. Lounge also out dated. They need to catch up to 2024. Don’t think I’d ever fly again.

Everything was good, flight was smooth and on time Like service

Boarding was impossible to navigate. Had mobility issues and a business class ticket, but still boarded almost at the end of the queue because there was absolutely no organization or assistance.

Aircraft was new. Food so so, especially vegetarian was very disappointing.

Very courteous staff. Abnoxious passenger in front of me who reclined her seat all the way without warning and without considering the person behind her. My flight ORD-WAW was so much more pleasant because of the courtesy of the passenger in front of me.

LOT told me on my first flight that I had missed boarding my second flight and told us to go to a service desk to reschedule. We then were told our flight was still boarding and that we had to run through the Warsaw airport to catch it which is just a long long runway airport. The workers at the airport were not helpful at all and you have to go through two passport checkpoints. I have asthma and was almost dead when I got on the plane and no one helped or gave us water or even acknowledged us. The flight was fine - the crew members are not friendly so it’s a very functional flight at best. Also my bag didn’t make it to my final destination.

It wasn't good. I didn’t understand. They changed 320 dollars for 2 luggage. My ticket was regular and I paid almost 1200.00 dollars. Why they did charge? I want my money back.. thanks Yılmaz polat

Very punctual, the onboard staff was friendly and correct, the flight was fortunately very calm, the toilets were clean, in short, an excellent experience Thanks

Ordered Vegan meal - it was ok, but not exceptional. Seat ok row 39 middle section aisle. Nearly full flight - crew was busy but they did the best they could. There was a USB A port at the seat. I listened to my own music and only looked at flight information. One nice thing was the connection information was made available in the screen.

Very nice and friendly crew. Boarding system can be improved.

The Etickets had been changed (Why?) without notice ; Hence, that caused troubles when checking in. Not until I contacted my ticket agent and was given correct Etickets could I then check in.

Cleanliness of seats, trays, storage pockets need more attention, but everything else was good.

A great airline, no complaints at all. My experience with Cheap Tickets was very disappointing however. Two hours after purchasing the flight they called to tell me that the ticket price had gone up. I’ve never heard of such a thing. That is called false advertising; I will never use this ticketing service again and will warn all friends to never use it.

One of the worst check in process at the DIA as well as the boarding counter Changed seat at the last minute and assigned middle seat while I paid for window seat. Requested many times but to no avail . horrible customer service and very poor process Requesting refund for seat that was changed last minute

Good overall flight. Excellent crew. Food options could be improved.

Vegan food tasted good. Restroom could be kept cleaner. Seat tray table was a bit tilted so food tray kept sliding down a bit. Flight crew can be a little more friendly, caring and approachable. Their faces lacked smiles and tone was stern.

The row of seats were so cramped it was difficult to get in and out of your seat. I even upgraded. A long flight and sad accommodations 😵‍💫 the shorter flight was very comfortable and the seating was spacious

I bought a ticket and paid for for our luggage but I had to pay for my luggage again. I’m so disappointed! We had a 30 min delay and because of that we missed our connecting flight and were told that we would be on the next flight (9am flight ) but we were landed we were booked at 12pm flight. I had a little baby w me, it was very stressful. I begged to leave at 10 am at least. I was emailed that we get a voucher but they didn’t work when we were at a breakfast store. I’ve been always happy w Lufthansa but this time was awful.

Good service … bus transfer upon arrival from plane to terminal: atrocious!!!

helpful and friendly. The Lufthanza people I dealt with before my holiday were so unhelpful by comparison.

We had a 1 1/2 hour delay before we left Denver. When we arrive to Frankfort, they didn’t announce that people with connecting flights to exit the plane first. My next flight was already boarding when we we taxiing in to the gate. I waited another 10 minutes to get off the plane. I had to run to catch my next flight. I mean run! I made it with one minute to spare, but my luggage did not. My luggage came two hours later on a different flight.

My flight was late from US to Frankfurt so I missed my connecting flight flight and I had to wait for long to catch the next flight which was very tiring. Otherwise everyone was very nice.

No entertainment since it was a 3 hr flight. Good leg room for economy.

I have flown with many airlines. My first time was several years ago. Now I remember why I avoided them for so long. Lufthanza is the only airline who has ever raised a size/weight issue with my modest standard size carry on. I had to repack three times to meet their carry-on weight criteria. (Apparently the rules of physics apply differently on Lufthansa flight than on other airlines.) In the meantime their staff was quite rude, repeating meaningless phrases like "Rules are Rules." And ignoring the additional fact that weight is also weight, whether it is in found in your carry on or in your suitcase. They eventually acknowledged that customer service and satisfaction is, for them, a low priority. Never choosing Lufthansa again.

They are professional. Nice crew. Still flying Boeing 747. Thank you for that. I love this airplane. Traditional.

Connecting from Germany with not enough time to go thru TSA and security so many times. Kayak or whomever doesn’t leave you enough time between flights. I made it with 5 min before my zone was called. Too stressful

Surly rude flight attendants. I ordered the chicken and was given a vegetarian meal with no explanation and no opportunity to change it. I tried to order another beverage and was told by the young humorless flight attendant to “wait”. And she never came back. The seats were very uncomfortable and cramped. The last time I flew British Airways was many years ago but I remember it was amazing and the crew were very charming. This was a terrible disappointment given the cost of the flight.

Nice flight, attentive crew, soft landing by the Pilot,, comfortable seat.

I paid for business class…. And was counting on the usual packet of toilettes to be provided. They were not because not enough were brought on the plane so they could t give to some and not all. So no tooth brush nor eye cover. Then NO coffee since there was no hot water. The lay I er too short because of delays and my luggage didn’t make the next flight!! It is now a day later and I am awaiting to hear if my bag has arrived. Very inconvenient!. I suppose I need to be glad that I spend over $4000 since I doubt those in coach or premium economy even made that next flight..Heathrow is the worst.

Too much long line at the TSA and Security. Prepare for long walk for baggage claim.

The flight from Seattle was delayed, which made me miss my connection to Florence. I was re-booked NINE HOURS LATER!!! That’s basically a vacation day lost. British Airways needs to partner with other airlines when possible to get a more realistic travel time, if delays occur. I realize there aren’t many flights to Florence from London, so I would book differently were I to return. The actual flight from Seattle was very comfortable and the crew was great, no faults there. I enjoy British Airways, this was an anomaly.

The crew could not have been more helpful, my meal was excellent, I slept peacefully until right before landing, and the BA lounge was a godsend. The only negative I encountered was the coffee both on the plane and in the lounge. Not to my taste but that’s a personal preference.

I don’t understand why a reputable airline like BA would delegate their London flights to AA. Makes no sense to me, as most domestic carriers do such a poor job these days. Terminal 3 at LHR is a total dump

The boarding process was quite loud and chaotic. The flight attendants kept barking over the PA system about people needing to only stow large items in the overhead bins. During the one and only service, I was hit by the service cart. At the same time, a passenger was returning from the bathroom and the crew definitely saw him but stopped a few seats short of allowing him to sit down before starting service and made him wait a good 10 minutes before passing his seat and allowing him to sit down, after which he had to ask for his snack and beverage or he would have been passed over. Neither flight attendant thanked passengers as they left; in fact, I did not see them again once the plane door was opened.

Cancelled flight minutes before boarding. Rescheduled flight was two days later

The flight attendants were EXTREMELY personable and appreciated the service, lights going off after dinner (probably the norm, but I haven’t flown evening overnight flights in a while). Thank you!

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

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