Houston to Chicago (IAH–ORD) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
Flight Schedule
91 flights
Verified 15h ago
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No flights match your filters.
No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
✦ 1-Stop Connections
→
Separate tickets — book each leg independently. Collect and recheck bags at .
Hub OTP
No data
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No data
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estimated
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Unknown
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✧ 2-Stop Connections
Separate tickets — book each leg independently. Collect and recheck bags at each hub.
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Houston to Chicago
12 carriers, 280 flights/week nonstop.
12 Airlines
280 Flights/wk
926 mi
2h 29m nonstop
157 1-stop hubs
IAH–ORD is served by 12 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines, American Airlines and Iberia lead the route. The flight covers 926 miles in approximately 2h 29m. Beyond nonstop, 157 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Carriers on this route
Airline Landscape
All carriers operating nonstop IAH–ORD service, compared side by side.
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines | 110 | 32Q, 739, 7M9, A21N | 2h29-3h33 | Star Alliance | – | |
| AA American Airlines | 63 | 319, 738, E70, E75 | 2h34-3h01 | Oneworld | – | |
| IB Iberia | 21 | 738, E70, E75 | 2h43-2h52 | Oneworld | – | |
| EI Aer Lingus | 20 | 738, E70, E75 | 2h43-2h46 | – | – | |
| AV avianca | 14 | 32Q, 7M9 | 2h45-2h48 | Star Alliance | – | |
| F9 Frontier | 13 | 321, A20N | 2h48-2h54 | – | – | |
| AS Alaska Airlines | 11 | 738, E75 | 2h44-2h46 | Oneworld | – | |
| BA British Airways | 7 | E70 | 2h43 | Oneworld | – | |
| CX Cathay Pacific | 7 | E70 | 2h46 | Oneworld | – | |
| GF Gulf Air | 7 | E75 | 2h58 | – | – | |
| NK Spirit Airlines | 7 | 32Q | 2h35 | – | – | |
| DL Delta Air Lines | 0 | – | – | SkyTeam | – |
Aircraft on this route
OTP based on airport-level delay snapshots. Duration ranges reflect seasonal/directional variation.
Schedule
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Nonstop flight frequency by day of week, IAH to ORD direction.
Mon
44
flights
Tue
39
flights
Wed
38
flights
Thu
38
flights
Fri
40
flights
Sat
41
flights
Sun
40
flights
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
46
Nonstop flights
280
Outbound / wk
270
Return / wk
Connections
Connection Landscape
Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for IAH to ORD.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
157
Hubs
~3h
Fastest
~44h
Longest
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
6,478
Candidates
Two-stop connections loaded in the connections tab above.
Connections computed from published schedules with minimum connection time verification. Use the interactive explorer above the fold to filter by airline, tier, and layover time.
Reliability
On-Time Performance
What to expect at each end of your journey.
Outbound
IAH → ORD
100%
Generally reliable. Most flights run on time.
Departing
100%
Arriving
96%
Return
ORD → IAH
42%
Frequent delays expected. Consider flexible booking.
Departing
42%
Arriving
100%
OTP = percentage of flights arriving within 15 min of schedule. Based on airport-level delay snapshots.
IAH delays → ORD delays →
Alternatives
Other ways to reach Chicago from Houston
Nearby airports with service to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
| Metric | IAH→ORD | AUS→ORD |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from IAH | – | 140 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 12 | 12 |
| Weekly flights | 280 | 292 |
| Flight time | 2h 29m | 1h 14m |
| Departure OTP | 100% | – |
Airports within 200 miles of IAH with service to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
Know before you go
Travel Essentials
Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
0h
Chicago is 0 hours
the same as
Houston.
IAH: CDT · ORD: CDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Houston, it's 6:00 PM in Chicago.
IAH: CDT · ORD: CDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Houston, it's 6:00 PM in Chicago.
Distance & Flight Time
926 mi / 1,491 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 2h 29m to 3h 33m.
Getting to IAH
IAH has no direct rail link to downtown Houston. The IAH Express bus runs from Houston Amtrak/Greyhound station via Park & Ride to Terminal C (60–90 min, $1.25 with METRO Q card). This is the only transit option; Houston's rail network does not reach the airport.Taxis from downtown Houston cost $50–70 and take 40–60 minutes. Ride-hails (Uber, Lyft) are typically $35–55. IAH sits 23 miles north of downtown on the North Freeway (I-45); traffic is heavy during morning and evening rush. Remote economy parking lots serve all terminals via shuttle.
Getting from ORD
CTA Blue Line runs 24/7 from O'Hare to downtown Chicago (45 min, $5). Taxis use a flat-rate zone system; downtown is around $40–45 plus tip. Ride-shares are typically $30–50.The Airport Transit System (ATS) connects all terminals and parking. Metra commuter rail does not serve O'Hare directly; transfer downtown via Blue Line.
Chicago Climate
Continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid (25–32°C) with afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are cold (−10 to −2°C) with heavy snowfall that regularly delays flights December through March.
Spring and fall are mild but unpredictable. Pack layers. Lake Michigan moderates temperatures near the lakefront, but O'Hare sits inland and runs colder.
Facts
IAH–ORD Quick Facts
Key statistics for the Houston to Chicago route.
Route details
Distance926 mi / 1,491 km
Flight time2h 29m to 3h 33m
Time difference0 hours
Airlines (nonstop)12
Weekly flights280 out / 270 return
1-stop connections157 hubs
Origin: IAH
Full nameGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport
IATA / ICAOIAH / KIAH
TimezoneAmerica/Indiana/Tell_City
Passengers/yr46.7M
Elevation97 ft / 30 m
Destination: ORD
Full nameChicago O'Hare International Airport
IATA / ICAOORD / KORD
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
Passengers/yr80.0M
Elevation680 ft / 207 m
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about IAH to ORD flights.
Nonstop flights from George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport take approximately 2h 29m to 3h 33m. The route covers 926 miles.
12 airlines operate nonstop service: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, avianca, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Aer Lingus, Frontier, Gulf Air, Iberia, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines.
There are approximately 280 nonstop flights per week from IAH to ORD. The return direction has about 270 weekly flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through SUS, SHV, PIA, IAB, BMG, DAY, CAK, DAL, INT, LCQ, APF, RFD, MGM, FRG, SCF, YQB, GJT, CZM, ALB, MLM, PAH, SBA, BFI, PVR, SJC, MTJ, ZIH, GCM, BZE, SJD, HDN, LIR, MAF, GIG, BJX, CUN, ONT, QRO, KEF, SLN, RDU, MEM, MEX, MTY, DEN, MKE, SDF, IND, DFW, MCI, RSW, ECP, STL, AUS, CLE, IAD, LUX, BWI, DSM, DTW, LIT, SGF, MSY, GRR, PDX, TUL, BNA, CHA, CVG, GSP, MXP, XNA, ELP, HHN, ICT, BHM, MCO, JAX, MSP, PIT, ATL, DCA, CHS, NAS, COS, OKC, RIC, SAV, SLC, CLT, SAT, HSV, HNL, CMH, GDL, SMF, PLS, TUS, ABQ, TYS, LGA, LAX, EWR, PHL, PUJ, ORF, SEA, EGE, FLL, PSP, YYZ, OMA, MIA, PNS, SJO, PHX, LAS, JFK, BOS, ASE, EYW, PBI, SFO, AMS, SRQ, TPA, PTY, SAN, YUL, LHR, SNA, BOG, NLU, MUC, SJU, YVR, BZN, ANC, GYD, FRA, GUA, JAC, YYC, GUC, NRT, MBJ, RNO, LGG, CDG, AUA, GRU, STT, IST, TPE, DOH, DXB and HND. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Yes, return flights from ORD to IAH are available. Use the direction toggle at the top to view the return schedule.
Nearby alternatives include AUS. See the Alternatives section for a full comparison.
Click the 'Search Flights' button to check availability and prices on Google Flights. You can also compare airlines and schedules on this page to find the best option.
See the On-Time Performance section for the latest delay data at both airports. This shows departure and arrival reliability to help you plan.
Route data is updated regularly from official airline schedules. On-time performance data comes from recent airport delay snapshots.
United Airlines operates IAH as its primary hub and departs for O'Hare from Terminals A, B, C, or E depending on the day's aircraft assignment. All United gates at IAH are connected airside via an underground train, so terminal assignments at IAH are less critical than at airports without cross-terminal connections. At O'Hare, IAH flights arrive at United's Terminal 1.
Houston is prone to severe weather in spring and early summer, with mesoscale convective systems capable of generating multi-hour ground stops at IAH. Tropical systems from June through November can close or severely restrict the airport for 12–24 hours. The en-route track north also crosses active convective zones over the southern Plains in spring, occasionally requiring rerouting that adds 20–30 minutes to block times.
United's Polaris business class with lie-flat seats appears on some IAH–ORD rotations, particularly early morning and late evening business banks on widebody equipment. The 2.5-hour block time is short enough that many rotations use narrowbody 737s with standard recliner first class. Check the aircraft type at booking. The equipment type is displayed on United's search results before purchase.
Houston Intercontinental to Chicago O'Hare: United Hub-to-Hub Spine
IAH–ORD connects United Airlines' two largest hubs, making it one of the carrier's most operationally significant domestic segments. United holds a commanding share of capacity given its hub dominance at both ends, with American and Southwest providing limited competition. The 2.5-hour block time supports robust morning-departure, afternoon-return business banking, and the route carries substantial connecting traffic using IAH as a Gulf Coast gateway and ORD as a Midwest distribution point. Energy sector business travel between Houston and Chicago's financial district drives consistent demand.
Ground Access and Hub Connectivity
Houston IAH is 35 km north of downtown Houston and reached primarily by taxi, rideshare, or the Airport Direct bus to Midtown. No rail link exists to central Houston. O'Hare connects to downtown Chicago via the CTA Blue Line in 45 minutes for the Loop or via the Metra Union Pacific Northwest line. Both airports' United hubs offer extensive onward connections. IAH feeds Latin America and the Caribbean, while ORD feeds the broader Midwest, East Coast, and transatlantic network.