One-way fares from Chicago to Phoenix started at $114 in greenspicks route research. Compare ORD and MDW options, see which airlines flew the route, and learn when to book.
Direct Answer: What Do Chicago to Phoenix Flights Actually Cost?
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Chicago to Phoenix Flight Price Range: What greenspicks Actually Found
greenspicks pulled Travelpayouts fares on June 21, 2026 and observed one-way prices ranging from $114 to $290 across ORD and MDW departures. These are individual observations across different dates and routes, not an airline price ranking or comprehensive market survey.
Here’s what the data returned:
| Price | Airline | Route | Duration | Travel Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $114 | American Airlines | ORD-PHX | 222 min (nonstop) | Aug 26, 2026 |
| $121 | Frontier | MDW-PHX | 573 min (connection) | Jul 8, 2026 |
| $122 | Alaska Airlines | ORD-PHX | 483 min (connection) | Jul 3, 2026 |
| $125 | Southwest | MDW-PHX | 215 min (nonstop) | Aug 26, 2026 |
| $133 | United | ORD-PHX | 360 min (connection) | Jul 8, 2026 |
| $148 | Southwest | MDW-PHX | 220 min (nonstop) | Jul 3, 2026 |
| $195 | Frontier | ORD-PHX | 372 min (connection) | Jul 6, 2026 |
| $199 | Frontier | MDW-PHX | 573 min (connection) | Jul 6, 2026 |
| $288 | Southwest | MDW-PHX | 360 min (connection) | Jul 5, 2026 |
| $290 | United | ORD-PHX | 241 min (nonstop) | Jul 5, 2026 |
Data source: Travelpayouts. Retrieved June 21, 2026. Prices change often — verify before booking.
Note the wide price spread even within the same week. The $114 and $290 fares represent the extremes we observed, but your actual fare depends heavily on your specific travel date and how far in advance you search.
ORD vs MDW: Which Chicago Airport Saves You Money on Phoenix Flights?
Route research for this guide found fares from both O’Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW)—the lowest ORD fare was $114 on American while the lowest MDW fare was $121 on Frontier.
But that comparison requires context. The $114 American fare was a 222-minute nonstop. The $121 Frontier fare involved connections stretching the journey to 573 minutes. That’s a difference of nearly six hours of travel time for a $7 savings.
ORD Fares Observed
O’Hare returned five fares in our research: $114 (American, nonstop, 222 min), $122 (Alaska, connection, 483 min), $133 (United, connection, 360 min), $195 (Frontier, connection, 372 min), and $290 (United, nonstop, 241 min). The two nonstop options from ORD were at opposite ends of the price range.
MDW Fares Observed
Midway also returned five fares: $121 (Frontier, connection, 573 min), $125 (Southwest, nonstop, 215 min), $148 (Southwest, nonstop, 220 min), $199 (Frontier, connection, 573 min), and $288 (Southwest, connection, 360 min).
Key finding:
The lowest absolute fare was from ORD ($114), but MDW showed competitive nonstop options starting at $125 on Southwest. If you value your time, that $11 difference for a clean nonstop might be worth it depending on which airport is more convenient for you.
These are individual observations from specific dates, not a definitive statement that one airport is always cheaper. Check both when searching for your travel dates.
Airlines Flying Chicago to Phoenix: What the Data Showed
Travelpayouts returned fares from five airlines on this route during our June 2026 research:
- American Airlines — Observed from ORD only. Returned one fare at $114 (nonstop).
- Alaska Airlines — Observed from ORD only. Returned one fare at $122 (connection).
- Frontier Airlines — Observed from both ORD and MDW. Fares ranged from $121 to $199, all with connections.
- United Airlines — Observed from ORD only. Fares at $133 (connection) and $290 (nonstop).
- Southwest Airlines — Observed from MDW only. Fares ranged from $125 to $288, with both nonstop and connecting options.
This list reflects what appeared in our data pull, not every airline that flies this route. Availability changes daily, so verify current options when you search.
Nonstop vs Connecting Flights: Duration and Price Tradeoffs
Our editorial team pulled fares showing nonstop flights as short as 215 minutes alongside connecting itineraries stretching to 573 minutes. The relationship between price and duration is not straightforward on this route.
Nonstop Options Observed
Four nonstop fares appeared in our data: American at $114 (222 min from ORD), Southwest at $125 (215 min from MDW), Southwest at $148 (220 min from MDW), and United at $290 (241 min from ORD). The $114 American fare proves that nonstop does not automatically mean expensive.
Connecting Options Observed
Six connecting fares appeared: Alaska at $122 (483 min), Frontier at $121 (573 min), United at $133 (360 min), Frontier at $195 (372 min), Frontier at $199 (573 min), and Southwest at $288 (360 min).
Key finding:
The $114 American fare was nonstop at 222 minutes. The $121 Frontier fare involved connections adding 351 minutes to your travel day. On this route, the cheapest observed fare was also the most time-efficient a rare combination worth noting.
When comparing fares, always check the duration. A $7 savings that costs you six extra hours of travel may not be worth it, especially if you factor in meals, potential missed connections, and fatigue.
How to Book Cheap Chicago to Phoenix Flights: Step-by-Step
Here’s the booking approach greenspicks recommends based on what the data showed for this route:
- 1
Check both ORD and MDW departure options
Our research showed fares from both airports within $7 of each other at the low end, but with significant differences in flight duration. Do not assume one airport is always cheaper.
- 2
Compare nonstop vs connecting flight tradeoffs
Use the duration data to evaluate whether the savings on a connecting flight justify the extra travel time. On this route, we observed connecting flights adding 140 to 351 minutes to your journey.
- 3
Use a fare search tool for your specific dates
Our observed fares ranged from $114 to $290 depending on travel date and routing. Your dates will likely show different prices, so verify current availability.
Ready to search? Search Chicago to Phoenix flights — check current fares for your dates.
- 4
Consider midweek departures
General booking guidance suggests midweek flights often price lower than weekend departures. See our cheapest days to fly guide for more on timing strategies.
- 5
Set fare alerts for your preferred route
Most flight search tools let you track prices over time. This removes the guesswork about whether prices are rising or falling for your dates.
- 6
Book when the fare meets your budget threshold
Rather than waiting for an impossible-to-predict “lowest” price, decide what you are willing to pay and book when you see it. Our guide to finding cheap flights covers this strategy in detail.
Cheapest Time to Fly Chicago to Phoenix: What We Can and Cannot Tell You
Our fare data represents cached observations from specific dates, not a comprehensive seasonal analysis. We cannot tell you which month is definitively cheapest to fly this route.
What we can tell you: the observed fares spanned July and August 2026. The $114 fare was observed for an August 26 departure. The July fares in our data ranged from $121 to $290. This is not enough data to claim August is consistently cheaper than July.
For general guidance on timing your booking, see our resources on the best time to book flights and cheapest days to fly. These provide broader context that our limited route data cannot.
Phoenix weather is a factor worth considering. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, which drives down demand and sometimes prices. Conversely, winter and spring are peak season for visitors escaping colder climates. But we did not observe enough fare data across seasons to quantify this relationship.
Budget Flights Chicago to Phoenix: Hidden Costs to Watch
The fares we observed do not include baggage fees, seat selection, or other ancillary charges. These can significantly change your total cost depending on which airline you book.
The five airlines in our data American, Alaska, Frontier, United, and Southwest have different baggage policies. Frontier typically charges for carry-on bags in addition to checked bags on their lowest fare classes. Southwest includes two free checked bags with every ticket, which can offset a higher base fare.
We did not pull specific fee amounts because they vary by route, fare class, and loyalty status. Check each airline’s website directly for current baggage pricing, or see our airline baggage fees comparison for general guidance.
Key finding:
Always calculate total trip cost including bags before comparing fares. A lower base fare with paid bags may cost more than a higher fare with bags included.
Other potential add-ons to budget for: seat selection fees, priority boarding, in-flight food and drinks, and change or cancellation fees if your plans shift.
Phoenix Airport Ground Transportation Overview
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) sits about four miles from downtown Phoenix, making ground transportation relatively straightforward compared to many major airports.
The Valley Metro Rail connects to the airport via the free PHX Sky Train, offering a budget-friendly option to reach downtown and other metro Phoenix destinations. The light rail runs regularly throughout the day.
Rideshare pickup zones are located at designated areas outside each terminal. If you prefer to rent a car, the Rental Car Center is accessible via the PHX Sky Train from all terminals.
We did not pull specific pricing for rideshare, taxi, or transit fares because these change frequently. Verify current costs through the relevant apps or the airport’s official website before your trip.
How We Researched These Prices
Our editorial team reviews flight routes, nearby airport pairs, airline options, fare patterns, booking-source data, transport choices, and destination-specific travel context before publishing each guide. For this article, we used Travelpayouts /aviasales/v3/prices_for_dates API to pull fare data for ORD-PHX and MDW-PHX routes. We searched 2 routes and received data for both, totaling 10 observed fares. Data was retrieved on June 21, 2026.
Limitations: This data represents cached fares from specific dates, not real-time availability or comprehensive market coverage. Prices change frequently. Baggage fees, seat selection, and other ancillary costs are not included in the observed fares. We cannot confirm seasonal pricing patterns from this limited data sample.
FAQ: Chicago to Phoenix Cheap Flights
What is the cheapest flight from Chicago to Phoenix?
greenspicks observed a $114 one-way fare on American Airlines from ORD in our June 2026 research. This was a nonstop flight scheduled for August 26, 2026, with a duration of 222 minutes. Fares change frequently based on demand, travel date, and how far in advance you book. Verify current prices before booking, as this observed fare may no longer be available.
How long is the flight from Chicago to Phoenix?
Nonstop flights in our data ranged from 215 to 241 minutes (roughly 3.5 to 4 hours). Connecting itineraries ran significantly longer, from 360 to 573 minutes depending on the layover city and connection time. When comparing fares, always check the total travel duration to understand what you are actually paying for.
Which airlines fly from Chicago to Phoenix?
Travelpayouts returned fares from American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines during our June 2026 research. American, Alaska, and United fares appeared from ORD. Southwest fares appeared from MDW. Frontier showed fares from both airports. This reflects our data pull, not necessarily every carrier on the route.
Is it cheaper to fly from ORD or MDW to Phoenix?
The lowest fare we observed was $114 from ORD (nonstop on American). The lowest MDW fare was $121 on Frontier, but that itinerary involved connections totaling 573 minutes. Both airports showed sub-$150 options in our data. For nonstop flights specifically, ORD had the cheapest at $114, while MDW’s cheapest nonstop was $125 on Southwest. Compare both airports for your specific dates.
When is the cheapest time to fly to Phoenix from Chicago?
Our data showed fares across July and August 2026 dates only. We observed the $114 lowest fare for an August 26 departure, while July fares ranged from $121 to $290. We cannot confirm seasonal patterns from this limited sample. Use fare alerts to track prices for your specific travel window rather than relying on general seasonal advice.
Are there nonstop flights from Chicago to Phoenix?
Yes. Our research observed nonstop options from both Chicago airports. From ORD, American and United showed nonstop fares. From MDW, Southwest showed nonstop fares. Nonstop durations ranged from 215 to 241 minutes. Not all airlines offer nonstop service on every departure date, so check availability for your specific travel day.
How far in advance should I book Chicago to Phoenix flights?
General booking guidance from fare-tracking tools like Google Flights and Hopper suggests 1 to 3 months ahead for domestic flights typically offers competitive pricing. We did not observe booking-window data specific to this route, so we cannot confirm an optimal number of days in advance. Set fare alerts and book when you find a price that fits your budget.