Domestic route
Cheap flights from New Orleans to Chicago
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD). 838 miles, 2h 5m nonstop.
MSY to ORD 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
- Tuesday18% less than Friday
- Time difference
- Same time zone
New Orleans to Chicago
Round trips from $82
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 WhatsAppNew Orleans to Chicago 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 New Orleans to Chicago
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?
New OrleansChicago has 2 airports. Fares can differ by $50 to $150 round trip between them, so check the alternatives before you book.
Other arrival airports near Chicago
Tips for this route
- American, United, Southwest and Spirit all fly MSY to ORD 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 $82; September 2026 is the most expensive at $108 and up, a difference of $26 per traveler.
- Departing on a Tuesday averages 18% less than a Friday 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
Chicago: Big-shoulders architecture and a lakefront for everyone
Chicago is America's most connected inland hub — O'Hare and Midway between them have nonstops from nearly every US city — so fares are consistently reasonable. The lakefront, the architecture and the food make it a strong long weekend.
Best time to visit: June–September is warm, with festivals almost every weekend (and the highest hotel rates). May and October are cool and cheaper; winter is cold but hotels are a bargain.
Flying the other way? Chicago to New OrleansFares, airlines and tips for ORD to MSY.Ready to compare live fares?
See every airline on MSY–ORD side by side with bags and seat rules spelled out.
Search New Orleans to ChicagoNew Orleans to Chicago: common questions
How long is the flight from New Orleans to Chicago?
A nonstop flight from New Orleans (MSY) to Chicago (ORD) 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 MSY to ORD?
American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines operate nonstop flights from New Orleans (MSY) to Chicago (ORD), 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 New Orleans to Chicago?
Over the next six months, January 2027 has the lowest round-trip fares from New Orleans (MSY) to Chicago (ORD), starting at $82 per traveler including taxes and fees. Within any month, Tuesday departures average the lowest prices.
How far in advance should I book New Orleans to Chicago 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 New Orleans and Chicago?
Chicago is in the same time zone as New Orleans, so there is no clock change. MSY is on America/Chicago time and ORD 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.