Domestic route
Cheap flights from Chicago to New Orleans
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). 838 miles, 2h 5m nonstop.
ORD to MSY at a glance
Computed from airline schedules and the fares we track for this route. Refreshed several times a day.
- Distance
- 838 milesgreat-circle
- Typical flight time
- 2h 5mnonstop, gate to gate
- Nonstop airlines
- AAUAWNNK4 airlinesAmerican, United, Southwest
- Nonstop flights per day
- 14all airlines combined
- Cheapest month
- January 2027over the next six months
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday17% less than Sunday
- Time difference
- Same time zone
Chicago to New Orleans
Round trips from $83
Per traveler, taxes and fees included. Lowest fare we found departs Tue, Jan 5.
Cheapest month: January 2027
See fares on these datesLock any fare free — pay only when you accept your last-minute deal
Or ask an agent on WhatsAppChicago to New Orleans fares by month
Lowest round-trip economy fare per traveler in each of the next six months, taxes and fees included. Select a month to search that date.
Airlines flying Chicago to New Orleans
4 airlines fly nonstop with 14 departures a day combined, plus 2 more with one stop.
- AAAmerican AirlinesoneworldNonstop · 5 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- UAUnited AirlinesStar AllianceNonstop · 5 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- WNSouthwest AirlinesLow-costNonstop · 2 flights a day · first checked bag from $35
- NKSpirit AirlinesLow-costNonstop · 2 flights a day · first checked bag from $55
- DLDelta Air LinesSkyTeamConnecting via ATL, DTW · first checked bag from $35
- F9Frontier AirlinesLow-costConnecting via ATL, CLE · first checked bag from $55
Connecting options
Hubs where one airline can carry you on both legs, most choices first.
- Atlanta (ATL)DLF92 airlines
- Detroit (DTW)DL1 airline
- Cleveland (CLE)F91 airline
Which airport should I use?
Chicago has 2 airports. Fares can differ by $50 to $150 round trip between them, so check the alternatives before you book.
Other departure airports near Chicago
Tips for this route
- American, United, Southwest and Spirit all fly ORD to MSY nonstop, so compare the total with bags before picking the lowest base fare: the difference between a basic and a standard economy ticket is often less than one checked bag each way.
- January 2027 is the cheapest month to fly over the next six months, with round trips from $83; September 2026 is the most expensive at $104 and up, a difference of $21 per traveler.
- Departing on a Tuesday averages 17% less than a Sunday on this route. If your dates are flexible, shift the outbound by a day or two and check the calendar view before you book.
- Fares on this route are usually lowest 4 to 8 weeks before departure and rise sharply inside two weeks.
Destination guide
New Orleans: Jazz, Creole cooking and the French Quarter
New Orleans is a compact, walkable city with a culture found nowhere else: live music on Frenchmen Street, beignets at Café du Monde, streetcars along St. Charles Avenue. The modern airport terminal opened in 2019, and fares are lowest in the sticky summer months.
Best time to visit: February–May (Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest, Jazz Fest) and October–November are the best weather. Summer is hot, humid and cheap; hurricane season peaks in August–September.
Flying the other way? New Orleans to ChicagoFares, airlines and tips for MSY to ORD.Ready to compare live fares?
See every airline on ORD–MSY side by side with bags and seat rules spelled out.
Search Chicago to New OrleansChicago to New Orleans: common questions
How long is the flight from Chicago to New Orleans?
A nonstop flight from Chicago (ORD) to New Orleans (MSY) takes about 2h 5m gate to gate, covering 838 miles. Connecting itineraries add the layover, typically 1 to 3 hours more in total.
Which airlines fly nonstop from ORD to MSY?
American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines operate nonstop flights from Chicago (ORD) to New Orleans (MSY), with 14 nonstop departures a day between them. One-stop options connect through ATL, DTW and CLE.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Chicago to New Orleans?
Over the next six months, January 2027 has the lowest round-trip fares from Chicago (ORD) to New Orleans (MSY), starting at $83 per traveler including taxes and fees. Within any month, Tuesday departures average the lowest prices.
How far in advance should I book Chicago to New Orleans flights?
Fares on this route are usually lowest 4 to 8 weeks before departure and rise sharply inside two weeks. Air1 Tickets includes free cancellation within 24 hours of booking on every fare, so you can lock in a good price and keep looking.
What is the time difference between Chicago and New Orleans?
New Orleans is in the same time zone as Chicago, so there is no clock change. ORD is on America/Chicago time and MSY on America/Chicago time. Departure and arrival times in search results are always shown in local time at each airport.
Related routes
Other popular city pairs from the same departure city and to the same destination, with the lowest round-trip fares we found.