The most efficient mode of transport to travel via air route between Atlanta to Chicago would be through taking a plane at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International airport and landing at O’Hare International airport in Chicago. On average, it would take around two hours to fly, whereas the ticket fare would range from $180 for the return journey.
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(ATL) to (ORD) Most Popular Route |
2 hours 8 minutes Average Flight Time |
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$180 Average Round-Trip Price |
5 airlines Fly From Atlanta to Chicago |
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Direct flights go from Atlanta to Chicago every day Direct Flight |
2 Airports Airports in Chicago |
ATL has the designation of the busiest airport in the world by number of passengers, and the good news is that it will be working for you here. With that kind of traffic comes airline competition, and competition helps keep fares from going down.
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Cheapest Round-Trip |
From $123 (Non-Stop, Frontier) |
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Cheapest One-Way |
From $69 (Non-Stop, Frontier) |
Advice from real travelers: Being a frequent traveler on this route, here is the real deal. For one thing, keep Delta out of Atlanta! It's their primary hub, so there are not as many delays, and they have a flight leaving close to every hour. Otherwise, choose Southwest if you have heavy bags, as they offer you two checked bags for free. Last but not least, if you're tall, take the United Economy Plus ticket since regular seats on this two-hour sprint feel cramped.
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Cheapest from $123 (round-trip) |
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Best Reviewed: 7.9 |
There is no second thought that Hartsfield-Jackson is the obvious place to find cheap flights to Chicago from Atlanta. But travelers want to look into other airports for their flights if there are lower parking fees, shorter commutes, and cheaper routes. And some of them are listed below.
Chattanooga is the main hub for regional routes with connecting service from major hubs. Here, you can make stops to reach Chicago. It's about a 2-hour drive (varies by traffic) from Atlanta, and for the information below, check out the table.
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Flight Duration |
4h to 7h (connecting) |
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Cheapest One-Way Fare |
From $110+ |
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Cheapest Round-Trip Fare |
From $200+ |
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Cheapest Airlines |
Another good option that's about 147 miles west of Atlanta is Birmingham-Shuttlesworth. This area requires a two-and-a-half-hour drive. Typically, parking fees are significantly less expensive at BHM compared to those at ATL, and the travel time would probably be negligible to residents of the west side of the metro.
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Flight Duration |
3h 30m to 6h (connecting) |
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Cheapest One-Way Fare |
From $90+ |
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Cheapest Round-Trip Fare |
From $170+ |
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Cheapest Airlines |
Note: Prices were available within the past 7 days. Prices and availability are subject to change.
These airports are located in the region and close to neighbouring states and are best alternatives to the major airports in the city. Travellers also select a town or city for its lower rates, shorter lines to secure and the ease of traveling by rail or via an interstate. And we've found the top ones for you.
The airport serving Chicago includes hub airports Charlotte Douglas and Philadelphia International, both of which connect to GSP. During peak summer, when demand is high in Atlanta, the fare from this airport can sometimes be lower than the fare from ATL.
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Flight Duration |
4h to 6h (connecting) |
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Cheapest One-Way Fare |
From $95+ |
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Cheapest Round-Trip Fare |
From $180+ |
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Cheapest Airlines |
A perfect choice as a regional airport with a limited connection to Chicago that offers travelers a chance to skip all the traffic and congestion in Atlanta.
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Flight Duration |
5h+ (connecting) |
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Cheapest One-Way Fare |
From $120+ |
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Cheapest Round-Trip Fare |
From $220+ |
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Cheapest Airlines |
Note: Prices were available within the past 7 days. Prices and availability are subject to change.
When flying to Chicago, you will find various authentic alternatives that can make a big difference to your entire experience. However, the smart choice selection also depends on where you're headed in the city.
Midway is located 10 miles southwest of the Loop, and it's a 30-minute drive to downtown, or a 30-minute ride on the CTA Orange Line. Southwest Airlines has a solid nonstop operation into Midway from Atlanta, and MDW always has competitive fares for flight tickets from Atlanta to Chicago. The security lines here are quicker than at O'Hare, and the terminal is designed in a less stressful manner.
Also Read: Direct vs. Non-stop Flight: What's the Real Difference?
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Flight Duration |
1h 56m (nonstop) |
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Cheapest One-Way Fare |
From $47 |
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Cheapest Round-Trip Fare |
From $100+ |
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Cheapest Airlines |
O'Hare receives most of the direct flights from Atlanta to Chicago, and is approximately 17 miles northwest of downtown. There are 5 major carriers that fly non-stop from ATL to ORD, which provides travelers greater flexibility in scheduling and competition for price. It's bigger, sometimes busier too, but it's also a place where there are a lot of people going to and from every day, and if something goes wrong, you'll always have another place to go!
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Flight Duration |
2h 08m (nonstop) |
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Cheapest One-Way Fare |
From $69 |
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Cheapest Round-Trip Fare |
From $123 |
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Cheapest Airlines |
Frontier Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines |
The average fare for a round trip ticket is approximately $290, but can vary. The budget carriers, like Frontier, charge between $123 and $290 for round-trip tickets in addition to the legacy carriers. The price of flights from Atlanta to Chicago are higher during July due to demand.
The base fare of Southwest's route from ATL-MDW is always the lowest. For those seeking more comprehensive options, flights on Frontier from Atlanta to ORD are very affordable while flying from Atlanta to Chicago, and offer an excellent value.
Tuesday will mark in circle for the cheapest day to cover the aerial distance between Atlanta and Chicago. And apart from this, Wednesdays come in second place to get the same.
January and early September are not just in the limelight as the cheapest months but also considered the best time to book Atlanta to Chicago flights. And the reason is quite simple, and that is that the demand for traveling is weak.
This is a very short, 590-mile stretch that doesn't make much sense with layovers. Flights arrive from the country without a stop in less than two hours, and connecting flights only take five hours to save $20-$50 when traveling from Atlanta to Chicago.
Read More: Best Airports for Cheap Layovers and Extended Stopovers
The cheapest fares are on offer at Frontier, which charge from $123 round trip and $69 one way. Southwest enters Midway at $180. Keep in mind that Frontier base fares are without bags and seat selection.
Atlanta is the main hub for Delta, which runs the highest volume with it. United and American fly into O'Hare daily, and Southwest has several daily nonstop flights into Midway.
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Airline |
Approx. Weekly Flights |
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Delta Air Lines |
200+ |
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United Airlines |
90+ |
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American Airlines |
75+ |
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Southwest Airlines |
60+ (into MDW) |
Delta, American, United, Frontier, and Southwest are consider as the popular names for the direct flights between Atlanta and Chicago. An additional tip is that the Frontier offers the cheapest base fares, prior to bag and seat fees.
BTS (Bureau of Transportation Statistics) statistics showed that almost 25% of domestic flights were delaye who run from Atlanta to Chicago.
It is not said but recorded that Saturday flights have historically had the fewest delays. Due to the less business travel and less congestion at airports. On the other hand, the highest delay is seen on Sunday due to a high level of leisure travel demand.
Delta is the safest option that comes at the top when it comes to the category of the most punctual major airline in North America for five years, in a row. If we talk in the language of data, Cirium data shows they have an 83.46% on-time record.
First, Business, Premier Economy, and Economy classes are the options for the flight type that you can choose while flying from Atlanta to Chicago. And to make sure you get the best deals, connect with TripMozzo, as we provide the best deals.
On a daily basis, 45 and 65 are the flights that cover the aerial distance of around 591 miles. And the most common time for flying for these flights usually takes place between 6:00 am and 11:00 am.
When flights depart Atlanta, they follow the Eastern time zone, whereas when it arrive in Chicago Central time. As a result, a one-hour time zone shift into your schedule when planning your arrival becomes a part of mandatory thing.
Early departures mark at around 5:30 am, and even though traffic is not going to be the major problem. But you still need to be well prepared. So, it is better to make tight schedules, and always keep in mind the additional hour of time zone shift.
There's no need to come up with a method to determine the ideal time to travel to Chicago from Atlanta. There are clear trends in booking data, and there is a noticeable difference between travelers who act on trends and those who book conveniently.
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Tip |
Detail |
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Day of Week to Fly |
Thursday departures return the lowest average fares from Atlanta |
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Best Day to Book |
Book on a Sunday for fares 6% to 13% lower than Friday bookings |
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Booking Window |
Book at least 40 to 60 days in advance for the strongest pricing |
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Cheapest Airline |
Frontier offers the lowest base fares; factor in bag fees before committing |
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Route Selection |
ATL to MDW via Southwest often undercuts ATL to ORD on total cost |
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Direct or Layover |
Nonstop is almost always the smarter call on this short corridor |
