CHI - YOW

$173 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 8/30. 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 Ottawa

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to Ottawa, 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 Ottawa, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$379
Typical prices: $491-$400
Porter Airlines
Mon 9/14Thu 9/24
ORD - YOW • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$748
Typical prices: $804-$641
Lufthansa
Sat 7/11Mon 7/13
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 $379 (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
Insights
Insights
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 84% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 57% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
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We hope you love your trip to Ottawa!
Flight Deals
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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

Mon, Sep 14 - Thu, Sep 24
Porter Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 12:54 pm
ORD
-
YOW
4h 54m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
8:40 am - 9:35 pm
YOW
-
ORD
13h 55m
1 stop
$379Porter Airlines
Mon, Sep 14 - Sun, Sep 20
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 12:54 pm
ORD
-
YOW
4h 54m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:55 am - 2:35 pm
YOW
-
ORD
8h 40m
1 stop
$388Multiple Airlines
Sun, Sep 13 - Thu, Sep 24
Porter Airlines Logo
3:20 pm - 8:05 am
ORD
-
YOW
15h 45m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
8:40 am - 9:35 pm
YOW
-
ORD
13h 55m
1 stop
$389Porter Airlines
Mon, Sep 14 - Fri, Sep 25
Porter Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 12:54 pm
ORD
-
YOW
4h 54m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
5:55 pm - 9:35 pm
YOW
-
ORD
4h 40m
1 stop
$395Porter Airlines
Mon, Sep 14 - Mon, Sep 21
Porter Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 12:54 pm
ORD
-
YOW
4h 54m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
5:55 pm - 9:35 pm
YOW
-
ORD
4h 40m
1 stop
$405Porter Airlines
Sat, Oct 10 - Sat, Oct 17
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 7:09 pm
ORD
-
YOW
6h 24m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:25 pm - 11:00 am
YOW
-
ORD
17h 35m
1 stop
$411Multiple Airlines
Sat, Jul 11 - Mon, Jul 13
Porter Airlines Logo
10:25 am - 7:09 pm
MDW
-
YOW
7h 44m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
10:40 am - 2:35 pm
YOW
-
MDW
4h 55m
1 stop
$414Porter Airlines
Thu, Oct 15 - Sun, Oct 25
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:20 pm - 8:04 pm
ORD
-
YOW
3h 44m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:15 pm - 3:26 pm
YOW
-
ORD
25h 11m
1 stop
$414Multiple Airlines
Mon, Jul 6 - Fri, Jul 10
Porter Airlines Logo
3:20 pm - 8:04 pm
MDW
-
YOW
3h 44m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 2:35 pm
YOW
-
MDW
8h 35m
1 stop
$415Porter Airlines
Mon, Jul 6 - Fri, Jul 10
Porter Airlines Logo
3:20 pm - 8:04 pm
MDW
-
YOW
3h 44m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 2:35 pm
YOW
-
MDW
8h 35m
1 stop
$418Porter 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.

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 $409 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 Mondays.

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 September, where tickets cost $161 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are February and January, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $693 and $579 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 $580 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 seasonFebruary
Cheapest flight$173
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 48% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 33% lower on average.
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 $173 for a one-way ticket and $379 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, 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 $407 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 $712 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 $771 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 438 reviews
7.6Food
8.0Comfort
8.6Crew
6.9Entertainment
8.2Boarding
Airline reviews

The staff was amazing. Best service I’ve had on an aircraft in a long time. Was not particularly happy with the food. Flight was at 10:50 and left home too early for breakfast and wasn’t able to purchase food at airport and felt for sure I could get some breakfast to buy on airplane. Nope as food was served around 11:30 and only one choice left (I was at 22C) so ordered the chicken dish thinking I’m getting a hot meal but cold chicken with rice and carrots etc. I was looking forward to a croissant sandwich and a hot cup of tea. The FA was kind to explain they were serving dinner at that time. She was lovely Other than the disappointment with the food the staff was amazing. On my return flight I will make sure to eat and take some food with me so I’m not hungry or disappointed. This was my second time ever flying Porter and will consider checking them when I next come to visit my daughter. Have to say it again best crew I’ve ever experienced on a flight and I travel quite a bit. Thanks.

10.0 ExcellentAngela, May 2026
YYZ - YVR
Read more Porter Airlines reviews

The staff was amazing. Best service I’ve had on an aircraft in a long time. Was not particularly happy with the food. Flight was at 10:50 and left home too early for breakfast and wasn’t able to purchase food at airport and felt for sure I could get some breakfast to buy on airplane. Nope as food was served around 11:30 and only one choice left (I was at 22C) so ordered the chicken dish thinking I’m getting a hot meal but cold chicken with rice and carrots etc. I was looking forward to a croissant sandwich and a hot cup of tea. The FA was kind to explain they were serving dinner at that time. She was lovely Other than the disappointment with the food the staff was amazing. On my return flight I will make sure to eat and take some food with me so I’m not hungry or disappointed. This was my second time ever flying Porter and will consider checking them when I next come to visit my daughter. Have to say it again best crew I’ve ever experienced on a flight and I travel quite a bit. Thanks.

A few improvements: 1. No signages at the airport that the porter airline was a codeshare and i could check-in at American counter. 2. Crew at the gate said they couldn't change my reward to Alaska - despite that being done previously 3. Despite there being many open seats, i was assigned a seat at the very back near lavatory, last row. Fortunately, the pilot wanted more people moved up so the flight attendants moved me up. It seemed very odd to have been stuck in last row with very few people nearby..

I didn’t receive any help when they messed up and wasn’t honest and the supervisor did absolutely nothing to help me so I had to buy another ticket at $537

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 was a little delayed but check in was easy and boarding was quick. Luggage was quickly available and everything worked great.

The Flight took off 2hrs late because there was no pilot showing up when the flight was ready to board.. Though the cabin crew was present and had prepared the plane, the FO turned around after 15 min and went away. A crew to fly the plane finally arrived over an hour later and we were able to board 1h30 min later than planned time... until everything was loaded, we left 2h late from the gate. This was a small plane, so don't expect any Entertainment... Wi-Fi access on board would work, but took an awful amount of time to figure out and get it work (I'm an IT person). Flying as VIPorter customer, I was expecting at least some warm meal, but everything served was just cold.. except the coffee maybe. Even in so-called VIPorter seats, space is cramped and trays are so tiny, you can barely setup your food. Flight caught up during the coast-to-coast crossing and was able to recoup about 45 min from the delay.. still arrived very late in Vancouver and had to wait a long time to get our registered bags. Let's see how the return flight will be in a few days..

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!

Due to a known technical error that Porter has not fixed in over a year, I was unable to check in the children on my reservation online and had to do it at the airport. Upon check in, there were no seats together, which was an issue as we had young children. The gate agent did manage to seat us together by moving other passengers, which was appreciated, but the other passengers were never informed, leading to confusion and delay upon boarding. The flight was over an hour late; no explanation or apology was ever issued. The bags on Porter take a long time to arrive--over half an hour at Hamilton on my inbound flight, and not much better on my return to Edmonton.

Much roomer than air Canada! Great flight for the price. No complaints

Smooth travel. Immediate update prior flight delay so I can arrange myself properly without too rush.

Boarded early; and arrived home 40 mins early. After a long flight, it’s nice to be back home early. These flights have no amenities; no snacks. So need to bring your own

A long delay. Don't travel late in the day.

Super friendly with lots of drink options an entertainment. Friendly crew.

The crew was great. Very friendly and responsive. The plane was old, small and tight. We ran out of overhead space and I had to check. Middle seat was particularly tight.

Several missed and almost missed connections. It felt like everything was being patched together last minute without enough resources and it ended up being an extremely stressful experience that basically ruined our weekend on the west coast. What a waste.

Crew was friendly. Seats are too narrow, particularly when a big person is in the adjacent seat, but I understand this is due to smaller planes usually flight into Lincoln. I have experienced several flight delays going out and coming into Lincoln airport, I say maybe 50% or higher of the flights I've taken out of this airport have been delayed.

Great flight. Boarded efficiently. Arrived early at CLT. There was no in flight entertainment on this aircraft. Great crew.

The seat was comfortable. There was a lot of turbulence. If it weren't for that,it would have been okay.

Poor communication, flight was delayed for preventable reasons. I missed my connection.

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.

Didn’t make it on the flight. Delayed then had to be rebooked, which in turn had me waiting at the airport for another 8 hours before next flight

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.

the check-in lady at ORD was extremely rude and unprofessional. very disappointed as it was supposed to be a celebration for my wife's birthday and it really put a damper on things. if i wanted to be treated like trash, i would have flown Economy! (as opposed to business class)

Delayed by 5+ hours and they give a voucher for only $20 CAD which isn’t even redeemable at any place with edible food. Then took almost an hour to clean craft after it landed. And nonsensical boarding delayed even further. We didn’t leave until 1:30am….

I travelled in Business class for the first time and wish I could do that again.

Short flight. Everything was fine except the flight was delayed twice for a total of an hour.

There labor disputes cancelled my flight less than 24 hours before my boarding time but there customer service/website was easy enough to navigate and they rebooked me for no upcharge.

Very bad, flight was cancelled due to strike and staff was unable to rebook us

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports