CHI - YOW

$142 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 6/13. 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 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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Flights Deals

Cheap Flights from Chicago to Ottawa

 
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.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Chicago to Ottawa

KAYAK's recommended round-trip deals from the most popular airlines that fly from Chicago to Ottawa.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
 Logo
9:40 am - 12:22 amMDW-YOW
13h 42m1 stop
 Logo
5:55 am - 4:54 pmYOW-MDW
11h 59m1 stop
Thu, May 29 - Sun, Jun 1
 Logo
9:40 am - 12:22 amMDW-YOW
13h 42m1 stop
 Logo
5:55 am - 8:45 amYOW-MDW
27h 50m1 stop
Fri, Jun 6 - Sun, Jun 8
Porter Airlines Logo
9:40 am - 4:33 pmMDW-YOW
5h 53m1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
12:35 pm - 4:54 pmYOW-MDW
5h 19m1 stop
$339Porter Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, May 26 - Mon, Jun 2
Porter Airlines Logo
9:40 am - 6:13 pmMDW-YOW
7h 33m1 stop
Porter Airlines Logo
12:35 pm - 4:24 pmYOW-MDW
4h 49m1 stop
$347Porter Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, May 27 - Tue, Jun 3
Air Canada Logo
2:16 pm - 5:29 pmORD-YOW
2h 13mnonstop
Air Canada Logo
6:40 am - 8:02 amYOW-ORD
2h 22mnonstop
$516Air Canada
Find Deal
Thu, May 29 - Sun, Jun 1
Air Canada Logo
2:16 pm - 5:29 pmORD-YOW
2h 13mnonstop
Air Canada Logo
6:40 am - 8:02 amYOW-ORD
2h 22mnonstop
$533Air Canada
Find Deal
Sat, Jun 14 - Sat, Jun 21
United Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 2:27 pmORD-YOW
6h 27m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
5:25 pm - 6:53 pmYOW-ORD
2h 28mnonstop
$588United Airlines
Find Deal
Sat, Jun 21 - Sat, Jun 21
United Airlines Logo
2:16 pm - 5:29 pmORD-YOW
2h 13mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
7:29 pm - 11:30 pmYOW-ORD
5h 01m1 stop
$593United Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Jun 19 - Thu, Jun 19
Delta Logo
1:45 pm - 12:22 amORD-YOW
9h 37m2 stops
Delta Logo
5:55 am - 4:33 pmYOW-ORD
11h 38m2 stops
$718Delta
Find Deal
Tue, Jul 1 - Wed, Jul 9
Delta Logo
12:44 pm - 12:22 amMDW-YOW
10h 38m2 stops
Delta Logo
5:55 am - 12:29 pmYOW-MDW
7h 34m2 stops
$718Delta
Find Deal
Tue, Jul 1 - Wed, Jul 9
Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Chicago to Ottawa

 
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
United Airlines

United offers Priority Boarding to avoid gate-checking carry-ons, placing you in Zone 2.


United's Wi-Fi quality varies; check coverage map before purchasing.

Air Canada

Air Canada offers priority check-in for higher fare classes and elite status travelers.


Air Canada provides Wi-Fi on some flights; check availability five days before departure.

Read more about Air Canadaby Stefanie Waldek
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines and Air Canada

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

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.

Read more
Useful Info

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.

What is the cheapest Chicago to Ottawa 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 Ottawa.

Our data shows that the cheapest route for a return flight from Chicago to Ottawa cost $257 and was between Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD) and Ottawa (YOW). On average, the best prices are found if you fly this route. The average price for a return flight for this route is $257.

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 Friday 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 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 July, where tickets cost $381 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are November and September, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $590 and $580 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 $1,113 on average.

Good to know

Low seasonFebruary
High seasonJune
Cheapest flight$142
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 10% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 6% increase in price.
Flight from Chicago Midway 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 CanadaORD-YOWNov 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.
MarcFlew with United AirlinesORD-YOWMar 2024
United's fleet of smaller aircraft on this route is very comfortable.
Verified travelerFlew with United AirlinesORD-YOWJan 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 $142 for a one-way ticket and $312 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, British Airways, Air Canada, and United Airlines 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 $494 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 $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 $257 or less one-way and $498 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?

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
See more direct flights

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 285 reviews
8.2Boarding
7.0Entertainment
8.1Comfort
7.6Food
8.8Crew
Airline reviews

I love the 2 seats per row. More room. The crew were excellent.

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Apr 2025YHZ - YOW
Read more Porter Airlines reviews

I love the 2 seats per row. More room. The crew were excellent.

It was amazing although they did bump us up to the front which gave us more leg room and a meal. The service was great! The staff were friendly. :)

Overall very good... staff were friendly and helpful. boarding was good for the most part, but a little hard to get our carry-on bags on there.... I think people should be directed to keep their coats and small bags with them until all the carry-ons are loaded, and then, if there is space, they can put their small bags and coats up top.. makes it much easier to put baggage up. i loved the internet feature, but the entertainment was not there unless you have your own Netflix or similar platform. My chair did not recline, which was very annoying, and the arms won't go up near the isle, which makes it tough to get in and out of the seat.

Staff were excellant. Only snacks served. Some turbulence so we were offered Free beer or wine.

The staff is always great. Just the fact that our flight was the only one delayed from Halifax when all other carries were still flying. It happen a year ago out of Toronto as well. All others were flying but our flight got cancelled 1 hr before the time of departure.

The only issue had when i mentioned about comfort was the man beside me was on the larger side and took about 1/3 of my seat where i was pressed against the wall/window of the plane for the trip.

The check-in staff, boarding staff, and flight crew were all very friendly. Really miss the Porter lounge in Ottawa.

Thanks for giving a beer to everyone in the seat infront of me and then telling me that I can’t have one because they are going to land. I guess I need to pay for a seat and then pick one in the very front of the plane

The flight was delayed by more than one hour. The terminal was consequently overcrowded and hot. We lost our car reservation and hit rush hour traffic in Boston, which added two hours stuck in traffic to our trip.

Awesome, the whole way through. Thank you, this is the new Canadian Airline benchmark.

A bit rush for transit. Food and entertainment are not available

Boarding was a little difficult. The gate area at O'Hare was very small and crowded due to multiple gates in the area. Could not hear the intercom, so had to rely on signage to see when my group was boarding and the signage was blocked by passengers standing in the gate. Flight was great and we arrived in Montreal on time.

Smooth boarding process. Early departure, smooth flight, early arrival. The entertainment package has very good recent movie options. The flight crew were friendly and professional.

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

They switched out gate from terminal 1 to terminal two ten minutes before boarding. So we had to make a 20 min crazy fast walk to a different terminal. Then we boarded the plane and waited for over 40 minutes until push back. Brutal

My flight was scheduled for about 6:05 departure. There were 11 gate changes from 4-7pm and the flight was 3 hours delayed due to operational issues. The plane taxied around the airport for about half an hour before stopping to be de-iced. It would have been nice if we were alerted of the plan to de-ice prior to the 30 minute drive around the airport. The flight attendant was friendly, which was the only redeeming thing about this flight. As a former flight attendant for United, I was extremely disappointed.

Delays took 2hours and thirty minutes making me miss my connecting flight and make me sit in the Chicago airport for 9 hours

Had a short delay once we boarded the aircraft in Chicago, but it was fixed in no time flat then we were on our way. The pilot was able to make up the time lost and we landed 5 minute later then schedualed . Great service

Our seats were all the way in back of the plane,

The seats on this flight were almost roomy enough to be the basic amount needed for human existence. I think my favorite part of this flight was it landed at an A gate, which was the most palatial part of Sea-Tac I've ever seen - a massive improvement from the S gates.

All was good except for the seats, not very comfy.

2.5 hour delay sitting in the plane on the tarmac, you tell me how the experience was

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.

During the pre-departure safety briefing, the flight attendants rushed through the mandatory safety announcements in both official languages, making it difficult for passengers to clearly understand the instructions. Given the importance of these messages for passenger safety, this lack of clarity was concerning. Perhaps use a recoded message to alleviate this concern. Additionally, the flight attendants appeared to lack the professional attentiveness typically expected during a flight. Rather than focusing on timely and courteous service, they seemed more engaged in personal conversations than in addressing the needs of passengers. I hope this feedback is taken constructively and helps in maintaining the high standards of professionalism and care that travelers expect from a national carrier: AC.

Crammed in like cattle waited 30 mins for late connecting flight (flight didn’t wait for me for me when I missed my connection at 2 different airports on outward journey)

Service is pretty good. Sandwiches have to be purchased but I’ve bought my own food. Seat was comfortable and various movies to chose from.

They announced before boarding that the flight was full and there would be limited space in the overhead bins and you could check in for free. We did and after we boarded the plane found it was not full and there was plenty of space in the overhead bins. I’m not sure why they made this announcement.

Ok Did not like that the second leg of flight was moved earlier making it a rush to make

One leg of the flight arrived late which necessitated a rebooking on the next leg. Although there were no major weather events in play, best choice offered was a 7 hour wait in the Vancouver airport for a 4 hour totally packed red eye flight to Ottawa. No opportunities to return earlier via other major hubs like Toronto or Montreal. Felt very much like national routes were no longer well supported. Adding insult to injury, entertainment system for my seat was out of order. Thought I might use wi-fi, but discovered it would cost $10 per hour! Paid a lot for the flight as it was over the holiday period. Probably won't be doing that again.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports

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