CHI - YOW

$160 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to Ottawa - Compare and Save

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 Ottawa departing on 10/1. 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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1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$361
Typical prices: $400-$507
Multiple Airlines
Wed 9/16Thu 9/17
ORD - YOW • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$819
Typical prices: $444-$822
Air Canada
Thu 8/27Sun 8/30
ORD - YOW • Non-stop
Advice from real travelers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts and KAYAK users. AI can make mistakes.
Ottawa Airport is easy to navigate, but smaller bins may force gate-checked bags.
On United, build in extra time if your plans are tight on this route.
Expert advice
Expert advice
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Expert advice
Expert advice
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Top airlines
Cheapest • from $433 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 2h 15m
Direct flights
Direct flights
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Direct flights
Direct flights
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Top routes
Cheapest
Most popular
Insights
Insights
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Avoid delays
Most punctual • 83% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
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Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $381 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 4h 10m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 37% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
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Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Chicago to Ottawa (CHI-YOW)

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

Wed, Sep 16 - Thu, Sep 17
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:55 am - 12:20 am
ORD
-
YOW
13h 25m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:55 am - 2:55 pm
YOW
-
ORD
9h 00m
1 stop
$361Multiple Airlines
Wed, Sep 9 - Wed, Sep 16
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:55 am - 12:20 am
ORD
-
YOW
13h 25m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:55 am - 7:48 pm
YOW
-
ORD
13h 53m
1 stop
$365Multiple Airlines
Wed, Sep 9 - Wed, Sep 16
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:55 am - 12:20 am
ORD
-
YOW
13h 25m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:55 am - 7:48 pm
YOW
-
ORD
13h 53m
1 stop
$367Multiple Airlines
Wed, Sep 9 - Wed, Sep 16
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:55 am - 12:20 am
ORD
-
YOW
13h 25m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:55 am - 7:48 pm
YOW
-
ORD
13h 53m
1 stop
$369Multiple Airlines
Wed, Sep 9 - Wed, Sep 16
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:05 am - 12:20 am
ORD
-
YOW
12h 15m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:55 am - 2:55 pm
YOW
-
ORD
9h 00m
1 stop
$369Multiple Airlines
Thu, Sep 10 - Thu, Sep 17
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:05 am - 12:20 am
ORD
-
YOW
12h 15m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:55 am - 7:48 pm
YOW
-
ORD
13h 53m
1 stop
$375Multiple Airlines
Thu, Sep 10 - Thu, Sep 17
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:15 pm - 12:20 am
ORD
-
YOW
9h 05m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:55 am - 2:55 pm
YOW
-
ORD
9h 00m
1 stop
$376Multiple Airlines
Thu, Sep 10 - Thu, Sep 17
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:15 pm - 12:20 am
ORD
-
YOW
9h 05m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:55 am - 2:55 pm
YOW
-
ORD
9h 00m
1 stop
$379Multiple Airlines
Mon, Sep 28 - Mon, Sep 28
United Airlines Logo
5:59 am - 2:27 pm
ORD
-
YOW
7h 28m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
6:01 pm - 7:25 am
YOW
-
ORD
14h 24m
2 stops
$796United Airlines
Sat, Oct 31 - Sun, Nov 1
United Airlines Logo
8:40 pm - 2:11 pm
ORD
-
YOW
16h 31m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
4:36 pm - 6:20 pm
YOW
-
ORD
2h 44mnonstop
$867United Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Chicago to Ottawa flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Chicago to Ottawa 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 Ottawa?

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 Ottawa departing in September.

Flight prices are below average for this route right now.

Flights to Ottawa from Chicago usually cost between $499 and $869 in September.
The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $361 on Multiple Airlines (Sep 16-Sep 17).

What is the cheapest Chicago to Ottawa flight route?

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

The cheapest return flight from Chicago to Ottawa costs $499 on the route between Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD) and Ottawa (YOW). It is also the most popular route.

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

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

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

What is the cheapest month to fly from Chicago to Ottawa?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago to Ottawa, 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 Ottawa is April, where tickets cost $400 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and February, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $836 and $789 respectively.

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

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 $552 on average.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Chicago to Ottawa

 
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 and Air Canada

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.

Good to know

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$160
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 40% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 16% increase in price.
Flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Ottawa

When to book flights from Chicago to Ottawa

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Chicago to Ottawa 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 Ottawa: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from Chicago to Ottawa 
Verified travelerFlew with Air Canada
ORD
-
YOW
Nov 2024
Ottawa, as a small airport is easiest to navigate! Overhead baggage compartments seem to be smaller, and on every flight they seem to need travellers to volunteer to put carryons in checked luggage instead.
Verified travelerFlew with United Airlines
ORD
-
YOW
Jan 2024
I always expect issues with United but there doesn't seem to be another airline to use. Advice: Give yourself and extra day to get anywhere - don't be in a hurry to get home either.

FAQs for booking flights from Chicago to Ottawa

  • What are the carry-on and checked luggage allowances in the economy for flights from Chicago to Ottawa?

    The carry-on and checked luggage allowance depends on your airline. Porter Airlines allow you to bring carry-on luggage not exceeding 22 x 16 x 9 inches and an additional bag weighing no more than 50 lbs. If you book Delta, your carry-on dimensions limit is 22 x 14 x 9 inches, and another bag not exceeding 50 lbs. Your luggage should fit underneath your seat or in the upper cabin for the comfort of other passengers.

  • Are the origin and destination airports hubs for any airlines?

    Chicago O’Hare International Airport is a hub for American Airlines and United Airlines, linking many domestic and international cities. At the same time, Ottawa Macdonlad-Cartier International Airport (YOW) is a hub for Air Canada. This airport serves millions of passengers annually to major American and European destinations.

  • What nearby cities are served by Ottawa Macdonlad-Cartier International Airport?

    Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport serves several cities. After arriving, you can go to Gatineau to the north, Kanata to the west, Kemptville to the south, Winchester to the southeast, and Almonte to the southwest. You can rent a car and drive to these cities at your own pace or take public transport at the airport terminal, depending on your destination.

  • Are there opportunities to upgrade to first class for flights from Chicago to Ottawa?

    Upgrading to first class on Chicago to Ottawa route depends on your airline. Most airlines email passengers to make them know about available seats and amenities to enjoy while flying first class. Though the upgrading fee depends on your class fare, it's more cost-effective than booking first class originally. In addition, you need to book at least 24 hours before departure to avoid inconveniences and last-minute stress.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Chicago to Ottawa?

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from Chicago to Ottawa was $160 for a one-way ticket and $361 for a round-trip.

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

    Yes, you'll most likely have to show a valid passport before boarding the plane in Chicago and on arrival in Ottawa.

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

    There are 2 airports in Chicago (Chicago Midway and Chicago O'Hare Intl.) and only 1 airport in Ottawa (Ottawa). The cheapest flights are generally found on the Chicago Midway Airport to Ottawa flight route.

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

    American Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Air France, Finnair, and Delta offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Chicago to Ottawa flight route.

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

    The Embraer 175 (Enhanced Winglets) is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Chicago to Ottawa flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Chicago to Ottawa?

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

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

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

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Chicago to Ottawa, Porter Airlines or United Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Chicago to Ottawa are Porter Airlines and United Airlines. With an average price for the route of $398 and an overall rating of 8.0, Porter Airlines is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $758 and an overall rating of 7.4.

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

    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 Ottawa.

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

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

    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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa?

    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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $337 or less one-way and $661 or less round-trip.
  • You can catch a direct flight from Chicago to Ottawa, but several airlines - including Porter Airlines and Air Canada - make a stopover along the way. Major stopover cities include Newark, New York, Washington, D.C., Toronto, Boston, Cleveland, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Montreal.
  • Air Canada offers special meals to travelers with dietary needs on Chicago to Ottawa route. However, you should contact Air Canada customer care directly at least 24 hours before take-off to order your special meal.
  • The most convenient way to travel from Downtown Chicago to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is by taking the L train that connects to the airport. You can also take the CTA Blue Line bus to arrive at the airport in about 45 minutes.
  • If you need a sustainable journey on Chicago to Ottawa route, you can book WestJet. These airlines are committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 by using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The company also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80%.
  • An alternative airport when booking cheap flights from Chicago to Ottawa is Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). The advantage of using this airport is its proximity to Downtown Chicago, around 11 miles. In addition, it's less busy with fewer flights so you can expect shorter queues.

Prefer to fly direct from Chicago to Ottawa?

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

Direct departures

Chicago to Ottawa

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Ottawa to Chicago

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 3 airlines serving from Chicago to Ottawa

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Chicago to Ottawa. 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 Ottawa? 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
Porter AirlinesOverall score based on 449 reviews
8.2Boarding
8.0Comfort
6.9Entertainment
8.6Crew
7.5Food
Airline reviews

We were very offended Reserva check in agent in Calgary. Erroneously profiled and reprimanded for using Reserve line . Hadn't even looked at tickets. We were in fact Reserve passengers

2.0 MediocreDoug, Jun 2026
YYC - YOW
Read more Porter Airlines reviews

We were very offended Reserva check in agent in Calgary. Erroneously profiled and reprimanded for using Reserve line . Hadn't even looked at tickets. We were in fact Reserve passengers

There was No Flight. Both Kayak and Porter refused to honor my booking. I was asked for an additional 1,300 $ CAD to keep the flight. After several emails to both Kayak and Porter I was ignored. I had to cancel my March spring break plans, dog kennel and hotel. I had to re-book another vacation to Nassau in January w Expedia. I had to re-book a new vacation for spring break. Porter and Kayak both blamed each other and would not work together to fix this. Not cool.

Even tho the flight was a bit delayed the team was apologetic. Everyone was friendly and efficient.

The flight booking code given by Kayak was not the correct one used by the airline. I had to call to get the correct one. It was never sent to me. Totally unacceptable!

I like it, but the food isn't good. They need to offer more simple things. This bowls that have so many things your don't know what your are eating. The milenials like it, no the rest. And last but not least, they allowed somebody have a huge dog, vey agressive and fidgety in the flight. That's horrible. No animals should be allowed inside the airplane, what about allergies, etc

There was a 5 hour delay. Missed connection and now an almost 21 hour lay over!

Great! Personable crew. I love that they pour complimentary beer and wine.

The E195-E2 is a great aircraft! Leather seats, lots of legroom and SO quiet! The flight crew is terrific!

Flight Ottawa to Toronto canceled and no crew was available to direct me on what to do. I opened a file and I wait to be compensated.

travelling in 14th of April and now we are in 17th , I have not received my lost/delayed bag... this is very bad and the worst part is their call center is not able to see where is it!!!!

The kid in the middle seat kicked me almost the whole flight, almost kicked my hot tea off my tray. The flight was delayed due to the first plane not being able to be de-iced in July! We had to get a new plane. Now I drive 3 hours back to Edmonton because direct flights from PVR were way to expensive

Not United Airlines' fault. It's ORL airport's fault.

Very nice flight love the small aircraft. We had a wonderful flight attendant. Nice to see someone that really enjoys her job. Don't have her name but had a southern accent.

Seats in waiting area and on plane hard as rock. Fast internet on the flight was great! Crew was kind.

Not the fault of United—weather, reroute around weather, time sitting on tarmac, arrived couple hours late, too late for train into city necessitating a much pricier cab but weather…can’t be helped.

I do prefer to fly United and have always had excellent service, except for bad weather. Flights are on time and staff is alway curtious and helpful

Aircraft has better leg room than any of United's larger planes. We had requested mobility assistance for this and related flights. United's response to all was superb.

The male air hostess was rude and didn’t even offer me a drink. Poor customer service!

My only concern was that we were on the tarmac for so long and weren’t told what was happening. It turned out that the system needed to be restarted but it would have been nice to know earlier.

The flight was on time and the crew were great.

I liked the fact that we arrived on time. What I did not like, I paid for a seat. Unfortunately a very large women sat beside me (required a belt extension). Her body spilled to my side. Not her fault but I had to lean to the left because her body was literally on my side of the seat. This caused a back ache. I was unable to sit straight the entire flight. There should be some form allowance (wider seat) for morbidly obese passengers. These seats are not designed for extremely obese people. I feel compassionate towards these obese passengers but I got off the plane with a substantial lower back ache. I myself have a degenerative disk disease and this did not help me

It was a short flight so, everything went smoothly and we got to where we needed to be safely.

Very tight seats - no legroom at all, very tight to the person in front of you. If you have basic fare, you are loading zone 6 regardless of where you are sitting in the plane - meaning even as a middle aisle person at the front of the plane, I had to get people to get up and let me in as they had boarded earlier. Having to pay for a carry on is criminal. I am a frequent flyer, and air Canada has now joined the list of other terrible North American Airlines.

This flight didn't happen for me because of overbooking.

Everything was simple and easy. The lady at the gate was super friendly, I wish I had her name to share. She's a little older, dark-haired. You can tell she likes her job and would be a great influence on any young people training with her.

Your survey should include a "Not Applicable" response for those elements that were not utilized, such as food (unless your want me to rate the cookie I received) and the entertainment (unless you want me to rate the emergency landing presentation). Boarding was late, the plane took-off almost an hour late, and the gate to board changed five times while I was waiting there. At 1:00 pm the plane had not yet approached the gate for passengers to load, yet the information board indicated that the take-off would be 12:30 pm and its status was "on time". Curious.

Not cancelled the flight I had to rebook with another airline

The flight was delayed for an hour and there was no inflight service.

One stewardess a bit to impatient with older Asian couple.

Seats are too close together. I'm 5'8" and could not sit comfortable the entire flight. I will not book Rouge again because of the leg room.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports