£112 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to New Orleans – Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Chicago to New Orleans:

• Earliest: departs at 05:00 and lands at 07:32
• Latest: departs at 22:25 and lands at 00:57.

The flight takes about 2h 32m.

Only Economy class is available on flights from Chicago to New Orleans.

A direct flight from Chicago to New Orleans takes 2h 32m, covering 834 miles.

No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need another form of identification, such as a driving licence.

Return flights from Chicago to New Orleans range from £194 to £351, with an average of £266 over the past 12 months. Anything below £194 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 16% above the £266 route average. Book 6 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average £151 return via Philadelphia (PHL), compared with £269 for direct.

Frontier is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while United Airlines has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Chicago to New Orleans flights are:

• Frontier: 82% on time
• United Airlines: 81% on time
• Southwest: 80% on time

On average, flights on this route are punctual 79% of the time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge £30–£75 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Chicago to New Orleans flights, with 45% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 22%, Night flights for 22%, and Evening flights for 11%.

Two airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi on Chicago to New Orleans flights:

• American Airlines
• JetBlue

Pricing varies by airline and fare class. Some plans are included with the ticket or loyalty programme, while others are paid add-ons priced by flight length.

Based on prices from the last 5 days, flying between Chicago and New Orleans is around £209 return, with a flight time of about 5h 17m. Recent return train fares are around £190 return, with a trip time of about 19h 42m. Compared with flying, recent train fares are roughly 10% lower. However, the train takes about 14+ hours longer each way.

One-way fares from Chicago to New Orleans are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about £121, which is 19% below the typical average for this route.

New Orleans Louis Armstrong Airport (MSY) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around £19 for economy cars. Top options include:

• Dollar
• Hertz
• Priceless
• Thrifty
• Budget

Flights from Chicago to New Orleans may depart from several airports in Chicago area, including Chicago Midway (MDW), Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) and Chicago Greater Rockford (RFD). Flights usually arrive at New Orleans Louis Armstrong (MSY).

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route, while night departures tend to have the most.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Chicago to New Orleans route, 21% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 2h 50m.

One-stop flights from Chicago to New Orleans most commonly connect through:

• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) – 39% of one-stop connections
• Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) – 13% of one-stop connections
• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – 10% of one-stop connections
• Philadelphia (PHL) – 9% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 21% on flights from Chicago to New Orleans. Saturday is the cheapest departure day at £239 return on average, while Thursday is the most expensive at £300, a difference of £60.

Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

3 airlines operate flights between Chicago and New Orleans. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• United Airlines
• Southwest
• American Airlines

Flying via Lambert-St Louis (STL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 4h 16m, compared to 4h 44m via Dallas Love Field (DAL) and 4h 45m via Houston Hobby (HOU).

Some of the most popular sights in New Orleans are New Orleans Marriott, New Orleans Morial Convention Center, and Fair Grounds Race Course. These are among the most viewed places in New Orleans on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating Chicago to New Orleans flights:

• United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• Southwest: offers free seat selection
• American Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• United Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Southwest: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• American Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Business Class

Baggage allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.