SDF - CHI

$79 Find Cheap Flights from Louisville to Chicago

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Louisville to Chicago departing on 4/30. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Chicago

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Louisville to Chicago, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Louisville to Chicago, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Cheap Flight Deals from Louisville to Chicago (SDF-CHI)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Louisville to Chicago that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Louisville to Chicago

KAYAK's recommended round-trip deals from the most popular airlines that fly from Louisville to Chicago.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Choose your dates
8:56 am - 9:32 amSDF-ORD
1h 36mnonstop
8:25 pm - 11:01 pmORD-SDF
1h 36mnonstop
$179American Airlines
Find Deal
Sat, May 24 - Sun, May 25
6:00 pm - 6:15 pmSDF-MDW
1h 15mnonstop
10:05 am - 12:20 pmMDW-SDF
1h 15mnonstop
$179Southwest
Find Deal
Sat, Apr 19 - Sun, Apr 20
5:45 am - 6:21 amSDF-ORD
1h 36mnonstop
5:07 pm - 7:29 pmORD-SDF
1h 22mnonstop
$180American Airlines
Find Deal
Sat, Apr 19 - Sun, Apr 20
2:07 pm - 8:08 pmSDF-ORD
7h 01m1 stop
6:30 am - 1:12 pmORD-SDF
5h 42m1 stop
$187Spirit Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, May 12 - Wed, May 14
6:00 pm - 6:15 pmSDF-MDW
1h 15mnonstop
5:50 am - 2:00 pmMDW-SDF
7h 10m1 stop
$189Southwest
Find Deal
Sat, Apr 19 - Sun, Apr 20
7:05 am - 12:20 pmSDF-ORD
6h 15m1 stop
9:55 am - 3:54 pmORD-SDF
4h 59m1 stop
$199Delta
Find Deal
Sat, Apr 19 - Sun, Apr 20
1:43 pm - 5:19 pmSDF-MDW
4h 36m1 stop
10:20 am - 3:55 pmMDW-SDF
4h 35m1 stop
$199Delta
Find Deal
Sat, Apr 19 - Sun, Apr 20
2:07 pm - 8:08 pmSDF-ORD
7h 01m1 stop
12:41 pm - 5:31 pmORD-SDF
27h 50m2 stops
$202Spirit Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, May 14 - Sat, May 17
7:00 am - 7:37 amSDF-ORD
1h 37mnonstop
7:40 pm - 10:14 pmORD-SDF
1h 34mnonstop
$270United Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, Jun 2 - Tue, Jun 3
8:40 am - 9:17 amSDF-ORD
1h 37mnonstop
7:40 pm - 10:14 pmORD-SDF
1h 34mnonstop
$335United Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, Jun 27 - Sun, Jun 29

Expert advice for your flight from Louisville to Chicago 
Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of KAYAK-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.

KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Airlines
ANA

ANA's economy class offers 34 inches of legroom on 787-9 and 787-10 aircraft.


ANA provides slippers in premium economy, enhancing comfort during flights.

Read more about ANAby Gabriel Leigh
Lufthansa

Lufthansa's Economy Flex offers free rebooking and refunds for a fee.


Lufthansa provides complimentary snacks on European flights over 60 minutes.

Read more about Lufthansaby Jessica Macdonald
British Airways

BA's economy fares include a decent carry-on bag, unlike many budget carriers.


BA offers 31-inch legroom in economy, providing comfort for taller passengers.

American Airlines

American Airlines offers Main Cabin Extra with early boarding and complimentary drinks.


Use American's app for in-flight entertainment; seatback screens are being removed.

United Airlines

United's Economy Plus offers up to six inches more legroom than standard economy.


United offers free messaging on most flights; check Wi-Fi coverage before purchasing.

Southwest

Southwest offers two free checked bags up to 50 pounds each, ideal for travelers with luggage.


Download the Southwest app for free in-flight messaging and entertainment streaming.

Read more about Southwestby Blane Bachelor
Our travel experts
Gabriel Leigh

Gabriel Leigh

Expert on ANA

Gabriel Leigh

Gabriel Leigh

Gabriel is a writer and video creator. As senior content producer for Flightradar24 and Monocle’s transport correspondent, he keeps a close eye on aviation in particular. He has also written travel articles for the likes of The New York Times. Born in New York but raised around the world, he now lives in Sweden. He’s been to 75 countries, flying 2.3 million miles on 113 airlines and through 234 airports in the process.

Read more
Jessica Macdonald

Jessica Macdonald

Expert on Lufthansa

Jessica Macdonald

Jessica Macdonald

Currently based in Scotland after living in South Africa and the United States, Jessica has been writing travel and aviation content for more than 10 years. She regularly contributes to Travel + Leisure and TripSavvy, and has had work published by Condé Nast Traveller and The Independent. She has traveled to more than 50 countries across six continents.

Read more
Duncan Madden

Duncan Madden

Expert on British Airways

Duncan Madden

Duncan Madden

Duncan is a freelance travel writer, copywriter and book author in constant search of travel stories and the perpetual sensation of being on holiday. He’s never happier than when on a dusty trail in search of empty waves or ducking under the piste tape in search of snowbound solitude. British born, living in Germany, but happiest heading for the horizon. His first book, Found in Translation, explores the etymologies and stories of country names around the world and is out now.

Read more
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on American Airlines

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Read more
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Read more
Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Expert on Southwest

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor is a journalist and editor specializing in travel and aviation who writes regularly for top global outlets. Born and raised in Florida, Blane has worked and lived in four countries, including the Netherlands, where she’s currently based with her family. Her favorite way to get to know a new destination is by running or riding a bike around town – or hearing a spooky ghost story about local history. She will always choose the window seat.

Read more

KAYAK's insights & trends for Louisville to Chicago flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Louisville to Chicago to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest Louisville to Chicago flight route?

The cheapest price for flight routes found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks for round-trip flights from Louisville to Chicago.
Our data shows that the cheapest route for a return flight from Louisville to Chicago cost $197 and was between Louisville (SDF) and Chicago Midway Airport (MDW). On average, the best prices are found if you fly this route. The average price for a return flight for this route is $197.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Louisville to Chicago?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Louisville to Chicago clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.
If you are looking for a flight deal from Louisville to Chicago, look for departures on Thursdays and avoid leaving on a Sunday, as it's usually the priciest day. When flying back from Chicago, Saturday is the cheapest day to fly and Monday is the most expensive.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Louisville to Chicago?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Louisville to Chicago, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.
The cheapest month for flights from Louisville to Chicago is August, where tickets cost $215 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are March and December, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $475 and $276 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Louisville to Chicago?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.
No, with an average price for the route of $810, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Louisville to Chicago?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Louisville to Chicago, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.
To get a below average price on the flight from Louisville to Chicago, you should book around 4 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 8 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low season

February

High season

June

Cheapest flight

$79
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 2% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 2% lower on average.
Flight from Louisville to Chicago O'Hare Airport

When to book flights from Louisville to Chicago

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Louisville to Chicago based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Louisville to Chicago

  • What are some of the ground transportation selections to get from the Chicago O' Hare International Airport (ORD) to downtown Chicago?

    One of the most convenient methods of travel is to ride on the Blue Line train operated by the Chicago Transit Authority, which makes the trip from the airport to the downtown area in around 42 minutes. There is also a bus service provided by Peoria Charter Coach Company that can make the same trip in around 1h.

  • What are some ground transportation choices to get from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to the center of Chicago?

    A quick and convenient choice for this ride is to travel on the Orange Line train provided by the Chicago Transit Authority, which makes the trip to the downtown area in around 21 minutes. The Chicago Transit Authority also operates their Line 162 bus that can make this trip in around 36 minutes.

  • If I am going to rent a car at Chicago O' Hare International Airport, where will I find the rental car companies?

    All of the 13 or so rental car companies that operate at this airport do so in the Multi-Modal Facility. Passengers can get to this facility after their flight by following the signage to take them to the Airport Transit System.

  • Are there any hotels that travelers can find close to the Chicago Midway International Airport?

    There is a large selection of hotels that sit right to the south of the entryway to the airport along S. Cicero Ave. One of the most convenient choices is the Hampton Inn Chicago-Midway Airport which offers a complimentary hotel shuttle to and from the airport.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Louisville to Chicago?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Louisville to Chicago was $79 for a one-way ticket and $179 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Louisville and Chicago?

    No, a passport isn't needed to fly from Louisville to Chicago. However, local authorities might ask for an official ID.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Louisville to Chicago?

    When flying out of Louisville you will be using Louisville Intl. You will be landing at one of these airports: Chicago Midway or Chicago O'Hare Intl.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Louisville to Chicago?

    American Airlines, Delta, and JetBlue offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Louisville to Chicago flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Louisville to Chicago?

    The Embraer 175 (Enhanced Winglets) is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Louisville to Chicago flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Louisville to Chicago?

    oneworld, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between Louisville and Chicago, with oneworld being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Louisville to Chicago?

    There are nonstop flights from Louisville to Chicago on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Louisville to Chicago, Southwest or United Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Louisville to Chicago are Southwest and United Airlines. With an average price for the route of $264 and an overall rating of 8.0, Southwest is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $234 and an overall rating of 7.4.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Louisville to Chicago?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Louisville to Chicago.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Louisville to Chicago?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Chicago from Louisville is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Louisville to Chicago?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Chicago with an airline and back to Louisville with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Louisville to Chicago?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Chicago from Louisville up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

See more FAQs

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Louisville to Chicago

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $162 or less one-way and $335 or less round-trip.
  • A very convenient way for passengers to get from downtown Louisville to the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) that does not involve driving their own car is to take the Line Two boss operated by the Transit Authority of River City, which makes this trip in around 19min.
  • Travelers that are going to drive their own car to the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport should know that this airport offers the convenience of valet parking. If instead, you are looking for the most cost-effective way to park at this airport, the best choice is the Express Shuttle Parking Lot which offers the lowest daily rate for parking and features a shuttle service back to the airport terminal buildings.
  • If you are going to be taking a pet or a service animal with you through the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, it is good to know that this airport offers two pet relief areas with one of these areas outside of the terminal building, which features a large artificial grass area and a watering bowl. The indoor pet relief area has a location in the stairwell next to the elevator inside of the rotunda.
  • Mothers that are nursing and traveling from the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport will find a nursing room area that includes a common area and three private individual suites call with a locking door. This nursing room sits in Concourse A next to Gate Three.
  • Members of the military that are traveling from the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport can avail themselves of the convenience of the USO Lounge, which has a location in the main terminal building, before passing through the security checkpoints. This lounge features computers with internet access, beverages and snacks, and a wide assortment of multimedia entertainment choices.
See more tips

Prefer to fly direct from Louisville to Chicago?

Find which airlines fly direct from Louisville Intl Airport to Chicago, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Louisville Intl to Chicago

Monday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Tuesday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Wednesday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Thursday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Friday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Saturday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Sunday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Chicago to Louisville Intl

Monday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Tuesday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Wednesday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Thursday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Friday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Saturday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Sunday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Top 3 airlines serving from Louisville to Chicago

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Louisville to Chicago. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Louisville to Chicago? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4275 reviews
8.1Comfort
8.7Crew
7.6Entertainment
8.2Boarding
7.1Food
Airline reviews

1.5 hour delay, poor service, no compassion from the crew. Terrible experience

2.0 MediocreAndre, Mar 2025DEN - LIT
Read more Southwest reviews

1.5 hour delay, poor service, no compassion from the crew. Terrible experience

Great flight, 47 passengers on a 180 seat plane. Stewardess was pleasant and cheerful.

Short flight with plenty of open seats. Drinks and snacks were still provided even on such a short flight. <1 hr

I liked the crew member who gave flight instructions on "in case of a problem:. The seats are so small that only a young teenager could sit in middle seat.

Great experience flying Southwest. The crew was really kind and helpful, and very friendly with our toddler.

Very good. Sad to learn Southwest is going start to charge for bags

Our flight was diverted from being a non-stop to getting within 150 miles and requiring another plane. We heard 4 or 5 different versions from SW as to why we had to stop, then wait for a replacement plane. Five hour delay, weather did not come up as a single excuse.... communication was not clear and well explained. No one really took charge!

My flight to Chicago left and landed early. My return flight left two minutes late and arrived 2 minutes late. My seat selections were ideal! There were no snacks going to Chicago and no snacks on the return trip. There are no charging outlets on board.

WiFi on the flight was not working. Thus, entertainment options were limited.

Great flight staff. Ease of boarding. Overall, very uneventful and easy trip.

Overall poor for me I paid extra for seats with leg room and my regional flights exit row seats have less leg room then the others that's money that could have been saved and on my final flight home the flights air was not operating it was unbearably hot in the cabin I will be contacting United and filing a DOT complaint

There's just no way to sit fully upright and comfortably in these seats. There needs to be 2 more inches of room, and that's not something that only one person on the flight needs - the whole flight needs 2 more inches of room. If that means you sell 6 less seats, so be it. It's too close for anyone. Forcing people to pay for "premium" economy just to get "barely enough space to breathe" isn't really an answer to that.

The crew were very nice. The Chocolate is good and v there’s no entertainment. Thanks

The crew were very nice. I would have appreciated a pillow for comfort. I had a special meal that was sloppy, but the salad was great. Thanks

The plane was in Moline all night. Consequently, we assumed an on time departure at 8:15am. Unfortunately, and as is the normal case with United in Moline, we departed 2.5 hours late. When the crew came, it was discovered that there was very little heat in the plane. Seems this should have been checked hours before the crew arrived. Then when we boarded and the plane was to be de-iced, the United de-icing truck was not working! We awaited the American Airlines truck. All of this caused us to miss our connection in Chicago. My suggestion is never take United Airlines flight from Moline. We have been disappointed 80% of the time and have vowed to not take United again from Moline.

Flight was delayed two hours. No snacks and no tv screens. My bag got stuck in Chicago

The aircrew was solid, the flight was chill, I had no issues. The gate agent was not the best. I was trying to use a military bag upgrade to move my bag from under the seat to the overhead bins and he told me there’s no overhead bins on the plane, argued with me why booking put a military member in basic economy (I don’t really understand this) and made it an issue to even try to help me stating I’d have to call reservations to get a bag upgrade. When every other agent with United can add it at the gate, this man couldn’t be bothered.

They canceled our flight and left us stranded to figure it out

Everything was very good. Was able to change a make run flight leaving on direct earlier in the app -seamless!!! Well done

Being stick waiting for gate at ORD cause me to almost miss my connecting flight…being deaf United made no no effort to keep me updated as I couldn’t hear the PA

The plane was late and then sat on the runway for almost 45 minutes before taking off.

Cabin was roomy enough to easily slide my carry on under the seat in front of me!

Crew professional. Easy bag drop off. On time. Good entertainment.

Everything was great. Boarding, early departure, early arrival, and deplaning were smooth. Smooth flight.

Per usual, flight status, staff courtesy and professionalism were excellent

The only thing is if Wi-Fi is available after you land and taxi to the gate. It takes forever to get to the gate, and having the Wi-Fi continue would be great to bide the time at least 5 minutes before you arrive at the entrance. That is my only comment; otherwise, everything was good.

Had to wait on pilot and crew to depart and had to wait to arrive at the gate because they only had 2 crews working. Delays, delays....Planes just keep getting smaller and tighter and they nickle and dime for everything. When will an airline actually wake up and make flying more enjoyable?

Seating was horrible. Small seats. Access to flight information and extras very iser unfriendly. Kept losing internet after paying for it. Staff in madison was as unprofessional and unhelpful.

Delayed due to no crew. On a major holiday travel day.

Other than being delayed 5.5 hours and having to get a hotel because I missed my connecting flight, it was an okay flight. No in-flight Wi-Fi or entertainment.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Louisville to Chicago

Information on your arrival and departure airports

Compare transportation modes for Louisville to Chicago

Average priceAverage duration
Flights$1,1451h 15m
Buses$1706h 35m

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