Flights to Chicago Information
Flights to Chicago are the most effective way to reach Chicago, a city situated in the heart of Illinois, in the Midwest of the USA. The Chicago airport, named O’hare International Airport, is one of the busiest and largest airports in the entire US. Located just 14.7 miles or 23 km away from the Chicago Downtown, it is a considerable choice for anyone who is traveling to Chicago.
Chicago is an excellent destination for exploring different and unique locations. In 2018, Chicago received around 57.6 million visitors. It is the 3rd largest city in the US after New York and Los Angeles. This definitely shows that it is one of the most loved cities in the US.
It is known as ‘The Windy City’ because of the cool breeze blowing across the city. It is the perfect getaway from the stressful and monotonous life. It is a city full of artistic wonders and architectural masterpieces. It is also a hub of various sports and cuisines.
Chicago is relatively cheaper than the other US cities. You can also find cheap flights to Chicago every season if you plan it beforehand.
Chicago Airports
Chicago has two international airports - O’hare International Airport and Midway International Airport for all the passengers arriving in Chicago.
O’hare International Airport: The O’hare International airport, also known as ORD, is the sixth busiest airport in the world and the third busiest in the entire US. It is located in the Northwest Chicago and is 18 miles away from Downtown Chicago. This airport is operated by the Chicago Department of Aviation.
The O’hare airport had approximately 2,520 aircraft operations in every single day, in 2018. There are around 37 different airlines that extend their services to 228 destinations worldwide, including the US.
There are many cheap flights to Chicago. The various domestic airline options are United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Delta Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qatar Airways.
The O’hare International Airport also serves as a hub for Chicago flights like United Airlines and American Airlines, along with being the focus city for Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines.
This airport was the first one planned after World War II and has a huge history behind it.
This airport offers plenty of amenities for you, such as a health club with a pool and fitness room, free WiFi, Yoga room, and Mother’s rooms for increased privacy of mothers with new-born babies. If you wish to stay in a nearby hotel, the airport also has an on-site hotel, Hilton O’hare. This airport is also kids-friendly.
You can check out the various art exhibits at the airport or the first airport aeroponic garden for enjoyment purposes. You can also try out different cuisines available at the airport, or go for duty-free shopping!
All you have to do for this hassle-free journey is to book plane tickets to Chicago’s O’hare International Airport.
Midway International Airport: The second international airport in Chicago is the Midway International Airport. It is also known as MDW and was the main airport for Chicago before O’hare. It is situated in the South of Chicago and served around 20,844,860 passengers in 2019.
This airport has a limited influx and outflux of flights. The airlines flying to and from Midwest International Airport are Southwest Airlines and Volaris (usually flying from Mexico to Chicago). It serves as the largest operating base of Southwest Airlines.
There’s also another major airport in Chicago - Chicago Greater Rockford.
Now, the question arises - which airport to choose?
As seen above, Midway airport has limited flights as compared to O’hare. So, the airfare to Chicago Midway airport is costlier than O’hare. However, this airport is closer to Chicago Downtown. If you’re in a hurry, go for Midway airport, but for cheaper airline tickets to Chicago, O’hare is a preferable option.
Pre-Booking Tips to Chicago
Given below are some pre-booking tips you can follow to get cheaper plane tickets to Chicago.
- Book your tickets 3 weeks prior to the date of departure.
- January-February is the cheapest time to fly to Chicago.
- Choose overnight flights as they tend to be inexpensive.
- Before going for the best, look out for various options available.
- If you’re looking for cheaper alternatives, a connecting flight is a good idea.
- Southwest Airlines, Jetblue Airlines, and Alaskan Airlines can offer discounted airfare to Chicago.
- Try to avoid weekends. However, you can get cheaper flight tickets on Friday.
Chicago Attractions
Chicago is a famous tourist destination due to its diverse locations. Chicago has been popular for its art and culture since forever. The footprints of well-known artists such as Picasso, Dubuffet, and Chagall are ingrained on the lands of Chicago since the 20th Century.
The splendid architecture is bound to make you speechless with the designs of architects such as Louis Sullivan beautifying the city of Chicago. On the other hand, this city is the favorite destination for all sports lovers, especially football and basketball lovers. Even shopping and food fanatics love this city.
For all art lovers, the Art Institute of Chicago is the best place to enjoy the beauty of various art pieces from all over the world. It also has a collection of paintings, photographs, architectural art, sculptures, and decorative arts. It is just 3 miles away from Downtown Chicago.
If you’re looking for a fun-filled trip, the Navy Pier it is! This amusement park is the favorite attraction for all adventure lovers. It has a lot of gardens, rides, restaurants, shops, and shows.
You can look out for classic dramatics being showcased at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. This amusement park also organizes various events and festivals.
There’s nothing better than standing at the top of the world and seeing the brightly-lit city from the top. You can get this blissful experience by taking a tour at the Willis Tower Skydeck.
From this building, you can easily get the bird’s eye view of Chicago. It’s considered a must-visit according to various travel junkies mainly because of the spectacular view of the entire city, it offers.
Talking about the famous Downtown Chicago, nothing is better than visiting the Millennium Park. You can visit the Cloud Gate, made up of polished and mirror-like stainless steel that reflects the entire downtown, with enormous buildings and parks.
You can also tour other locations, such as Crown Fountain, Lurie Garden, and Pritzker Pavilion.
If you’re more of a museum person, Chicago offers its tourists with a lot of them. Some of the famous ones are the Museum of Science and Industry for science lovers and Field Museum of Natural History for anthropology enthusiasts.
In the Field Museum of Natural History, There are various exhibits of artifacts and specimens from all around the world. There are also special displays from Ancient Egypt and the skeleton of the largest dinosaur, Tyrannosaurus rex.
There are other museums too such as the Oriental Institute Museum, showcasing antiques found in excavations from various countries.
You can visit many other attractions such as 360 Chicago, Michigan Avenue for luxury shopping, Wrigley field for baseball matches, Lincoln Park, Chicago Riverwalk, Lakefront Trail, Rookery building, and beaches as well.
Best Time to Visit Chicago
The best seasons to visit Chicago are in April-May or September-October.
Spring Season: The months of April and May are the best months to visit Chicago because the airfare to Chicago is less during this time. Additionally, the city is less crowded compared to other seasons.
The temperature range is moderate, however, there might be slight rain on some days.
Some events you can attend in this season are:
- Chicago Improv Festival (April)
- Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (April)
- Mayfest Chicago (May)
Summer Season: The months from June to August are some of the busiest months. You should expect crowds, increased airfare, fewer hotel vacancies, and an overall increase in the price range of everything.
You need to book the hotels and plane tickets to Chicago 2-3 weeks prior to your departure to get good deals.
Some events you can attend in this season are:
- Chicago Blues Festival (June)
- Taste of Chicago (July)
- Square Roots Festival (July)
- Chicago Air and Water show (August)
- Lollapalooza (August)
Autumn Season: The months of September and October have mild temperatures, fewer tourists, and reduced prices of plane tickets to Chicago.
However, due to the onset of winter, the total hours of some parks may be reduced.
Some events you can attend in this season are:
- Chicago Jazz Festival (September)
- Oktoberfest Chicago (September)
- Chicago International Film Festival (October)
- Bank of America Chicago Marathon (October)
Winter Season: The months of November to March have freezing temperatures. Due to this, the overall prices and tourists in Chicago are less at this time.
However, you are advised to visit only if you can withstand low temperatures and cold.
Some events you can attend in this season are:
- The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival (November)
- Christkindlmarket Chicago (November-December)
- Lincoln Park ZooLights (November-January)
- Chicago Auto Show (February)
Getting Around Chicago
The Chicago transport system is very efficient and travel-friendly.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTO) offers the public with trains and buses that can help get you around every nook and corner of Chicago at inexpensive costs.
Water Taxi is a unique experience of getting around Chicago. You can go for Metra - Chicago’s commuter system. These trains are much faster than CTO trains, however, their frequency is less.
Lastly, some other options are taxis, divvy bikes, etc..