Philadelphia International to Chicago O'Hare
676 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 1h 46m with 7 airlines operating direct service from Philadelphia International (PHL) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $119 return), with peak prices in August (around $357). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Philadelphia International
Philadelphia International is American Airlines' largest East Coast hub after Charlotte. Six terminals A through F are connected airside, with SEPTA's Airport Line running from each terminal directly to 30th Street Station downtown in 25 minutes for $7.75. American operates the bulk of the schedule; Frontier and Spirit run heavy ULCC operations on leisure routes. Transatlantic service to Europe is dense — daily flights to London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Doha and Dublin make PHL the cheapest gateway for many small-city US travellers heading to Europe.
Arriving in Chicago
Chicago O'Hare sits 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, with the CTA Blue Line running 24 hours from the airport's own station to the Loop in 45 minutes for $5. Winter weather causes chronic delays from late November through February; book mid-day rather than evening departures during that window. Fares peak around major Chicago conventions and concert weekends; January and August are typically the cheapest months.
Who flies PHL to ORD?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| American Airlines | AA | 1h 46m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 1h 46m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 1h 46m | Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 1h 46m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 1h 46m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 1h 46m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 1h 46m | Economy |
7 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly PHL→ORD
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
Philadelphia to Chicago FAQs
Direct flights from Philadelphia International (PHL) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) take approximately 1h 46m for the 676-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $119. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
7 carriers operate direct service from Philadelphia International (PHL) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD): American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and 2 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — American Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
No — United States is domestic travel for US citizens. A US passport is not required for the 50 states, DC or US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), though Real ID-compliant ID is required at TSA from May 2025.
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) is the primary international airport for Chicago. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.