CHI - YOW

$114 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to Ottawa

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 2/17. 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
$261
Overall average: $576
Multiple Airlines
Tue 4/7Wed 4/15
ORD - YOW • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$725
Typical prices: $252-$727
United Airlines
Sun 3/22Mon 3/30
ORD - YOW • Non-stop
Our travelers' advice
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts and KAYAK users. AI can make mistakes.
United offers Priority Boarding to avoid gate-checking.
Ottawa's small airport is easy to navigate for arrivals.
Expert advice
Expert advice
+1
+1
Expert advice
Expert advice
+1
Top airlines
Porter Airlines
Cheapest • from $282 (round-trip)
Porter Airlines
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Top routes
ORD
-
YOW
Cheapest
ORD
-
YOW
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
May
Cheapest • 32% price drop
April
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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We hope you love your trip to Ottawa!
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

Tue, Apr 7 - Wed, Apr 15
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:05 am - 5:25 pm
ORD
-
YOW
31h 20m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 9:17 pm
YOW
-
ORD
15h 17m
1 stop
$261Multiple Airlines
Wed, Apr 8 - Wed, Apr 15
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:17 am - 5:25 pm
ORD
-
YOW
9h 08m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 9:17 pm
YOW
-
ORD
15h 17m
1 stop
$262Multiple Airlines
Thu, Apr 9 - Wed, Apr 15
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:00 pm - 12:25 am
ORD
-
YOW
11h 25m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 9:17 pm
YOW
-
ORD
15h 17m
1 stop
$263Multiple Airlines
Tue, Apr 7 - Tue, Apr 14
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:05 am - 5:25 pm
ORD
-
YOW
31h 20m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 9:17 pm
YOW
-
ORD
15h 17m
1 stop
$264Multiple Airlines
Wed, Apr 8 - Tue, Apr 14
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:17 am - 5:25 pm
ORD
-
YOW
9h 08m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 9:17 pm
YOW
-
ORD
15h 17m
1 stop
$266Multiple Airlines
Thu, Apr 9 - Tue, Apr 14
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:00 pm - 12:25 am
ORD
-
YOW
11h 25m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 9:17 pm
YOW
-
ORD
15h 17m
1 stop
$267Multiple Airlines
Sat, Apr 4 - Wed, Apr 8
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:25 pm - 12:25 am
ORD
-
YOW
11h 00m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:55 pm - 12:07 am
YOW
-
ORD
9h 12m
1 stop
$280Multiple Airlines
Thu, Feb 26 - Thu, Mar 19
Porter Airlines Logo
11:05 am - 6:09 pm
MDW
-
YOW
6h 04m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
11:00 am - 3:20 pm
YOW
-
MDW
5h 20m
1 stop
$282Porter Airlines
Sat, Apr 4 - Wed, Apr 8
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:25 pm - 12:25 am
ORD
-
YOW
11h 00m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:35 pm - 12:07 am
YOW
-
ORD
9h 32m
2 stops
$284Multiple Airlines
Thu, Apr 9 - Wed, Apr 15
Porter Airlines Logo
4:15 pm - 10:29 pm
MDW
-
YOW
5h 14m
1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
6:50 am - 10:05 am
YOW
-
MDW
4h 15m
1 stop
$307Porter 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 April.

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 $349 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 Tuesdays if you are looking for the best rates. For your return to Chicago, you’ll find the best rates on Saturdays 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 May, where tickets cost $339 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are January and November, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $640 and $638 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 $577 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 seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$114
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 28% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 3% 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 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Chicago to Ottawa was $114 for a one-way ticket and $261 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 O'Hare Airport to Ottawa flight route.

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

    British Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines, Iberia, and Finnair 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 $528 and an overall rating of 7.9, Porter Airlines is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $595 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 $366 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.
7.9
Porter AirlinesOverall score based on 412 reviews
6.9Entertainment
7.5Food
7.9Comfort
8.6Crew
8.2Boarding
Airline reviews

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..

6.0 GoodBeat, Jan 2026
YUL - YVR
Read more Porter Airlines reviews

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

On my e-boarding pass it shows free wifi, yet the plane I was on didn’t have wifi. Please remove false advertising from your website and boarding passes

As a first time flyer with Porter I was happy with the service and comfort of the airline.

3.5 hr delay for a 1 hr work flight. No information as to why the delay until 20 mins before boarding.

Other than wifi no on board entertainment. Will use them again, roomier seats than other airlines and snacks and beverages, better than average

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

Smaller plane. Food and bar service for free is amazing. Drinks were in glass not plastic cups.

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. :/

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

Great flight. On time boarding. Smooth flight and on time arrival at EWR. The flight crew was marvelous and there was a great selection of movies on the entertainment system. Our bags were at the carousel before we got there. Another excellent flight from United.

I liked the snacks and the flight attendants were friendly.

The movies offered were great. Staff were very pleasant and very efficient.

After a delay at the gate, C3, at Ohare on Sunday, I left my Blk ski coat on the bench at the gate, lost! Please review my lob claim, thx.

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

Flight was delayed by 1.5hrs. Once inside, people had their small handbags on the storage. The crew (male guy) was not helpful in making some space in the storage. Instead, he asked few bags to be checked-in and it was not a great experience. No attempt to help but just followed the things with a straight face. People had their literally small bags and he wouldnt not move from one storage to another even if there was space and would not let us do i as well. Once flight was on, they ran out of Orange juice, really running out of orange juice when the temp were 32.degrees outside. didnt made the sense. Onasking for a extra snack, he made a face as if he was giving me out of his pocket. if the flight was delayed, there could have an attempt to provide something extra incase people did asked.

Abandoned me in hallway in a wheelchair… which I asked for because I sprained my back. After waiting in the hallway, I decided to walk the rest of the way since someone respecting me up.. My experience with the united was totally the opposite. Wheelchair access, propped swift and save me a lot of grief. Air Canada totally disorganized.

Terrible confusion btw air Canada and United. Wasn’t able to change ticket because I had purchased on kayak. Rethinking booking tickets on this site, and will try to avoid United and aircanada going forward.

Conflicting information provided about baggage allowance. One screen said I had a carry on and another said I didnt.

Miserable staff as it was a late/delayed flight and crew wasn’t in the best spirits. Completely understood as neither was most of the passengers. Still unacceptable l.

the seats aren't the most comfy -- too little padding and I could feel whatever the passenger behind me was doing. Otherwise, it's all good.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports