The cost of a flight from Chicago to Florida can vary widely depending on factors like the airline, date, time of travel, whether it’s direct or connecting, and what cities in Florida you are traveling to and from in Chicago. Generally speaking, travelers can expect to spend anywhere from $100 to $500 or more for a roundtrip flight, with flights on legacy carriers like United, American and Delta at the higher end, and flights on low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier at the lower end of the range.
Some key questions travelers want to know are:
How much is a direct flight from Chicago to Orlando in October? Direct flights from Chicago to Orlando in October typically range from $180 to $300 roundtrip on most major carriers.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Chicago to Miami? January through March are usually the cheapest months, with average fares of $200 to $280 roundtrip. The most expensive months are June through August when fares can surpass $400 roundtrip.
How much is a nonstop flight from Chicago to Tampa in November? Nonstop flights in November range from around $220 to $330+ roundtrip depending on the airline.
What is the average cost of flying from Chicago to Ft. Lauderdale in December? In December, average costs for roundtrip flights range from $250 to $400+.
How much is a direct American Airlines flight from Chicago to West Palm Beach in January? A direct American Airlines flight from Chicago to West Palm Beach in January starts around $300 roundtrip.
Now let’s take a deeper look at flight costs from Chicago to popular destinations in Florida.
Flight Prices by Florida Destination
Flights from Chicago generally fall into three price categories – cheap (under $200 roundtrip), moderate ($200 to $300 roundtrip), and expensive ($300+ roundtrip). Here are average flight prices to top Florida destinations:
Orlando
As one of the most popular destinations from Chicago, Orlando has the most flight options and competition, keeping prices relatively low. Roundtrip flights in October average around $220. The cheapest months are September and January, while June through August are the most expensive.
Month | Average Price |
---|---|
January | $180 |
February | $200 |
March | $220 |
April | $240 |
May | $260 |
June | $300 |
July | $320 |
August | $300 |
September | $200 |
October | $220 |
November | $240 |
December | $220 |
Miami
Miami flights are more expensive than Orlando, averaging around $250 roundtrip in October. Prices dip in the winter and peak in summer.
Month | Average Price |
---|---|
January | $200 |
February | $220 |
March | $240 |
April | $260 |
May | $280 |
June | $340 |
July | $380 |
August | $360 |
September | $260 |
October | $250 |
November | $260 |
December | $240 |
Tampa
As another major Florida destination from Chicago, Tampa also sees competitive pricing around $240 roundtrip in October. Late winter and fall are the best times for deals.
Month | Average Price |
---|---|
January | $210 |
February | $230 |
March | $250 |
April | $270 |
May | $290 |
June | $340 |
July | $360 |
August | $340 |
September | $250 |
October | $240 |
November | $260 |
December | $240 |
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is a bit more expensive, averaging around $270 roundtrip in October. Look for deals in early spring and fall.
Month | Average Price |
---|---|
January | $230 |
February | $250 |
March | $270 |
April | $290 |
May | $310 |
June | $360 |
July | $380 |
August | $360 |
September | $270 |
October | $270 |
November | $290 |
December | $270 |
West Palm Beach
Palm Beach is one of the more expensive destinations from Chicago, with October flights around $300 roundtrip on average. Winter and fall have the best deals.
Month | Average Price |
---|---|
January | $250 |
February | $270 |
March | $290 |
April | $310 |
May | $330 |
June | $380 |
July | $400 |
August | $380 |
September | $290 |
October | $300 |
November | $320 |
December | $300 |
Average Prices by Airline
In addition to destination, the airline you choose also impacts the flight cost. Here are average roundtrip fares by airline from Chicago to Florida in October:
Airline | Average Price |
---|---|
Spirit | $150 |
Frontier | $190 |
American | $240 |
United | $260 |
Delta | $270 |
Alaska | $280 |
Southwest | $300 |
JetBlue | $310 |
The ultra low-cost carriers Spirit and Frontier offer the cheapest average fares, while Southwest and JetBlue are the most expensive. Legacy carriers American, United and Delta fall somewhere in the middle. However, factors like whether you need to check a bag or select a seat can alter the costs significantly when flying budget airlines.
Tips for Finding Cheap Flights
Here are some tips to get the best deals on flights from Chicago to Florida:
- Book early – Prices will climb steadily as you get closer to your travel dates
- Be flexible with your dates if possible – Shifting your dates by a few days can reveal much lower fares
- Fly midweek – Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are generally the cheapest departure days
- Consider budget airlines – But watch out for fees
- Check alternate airports – Flying into or out of Chicago’s smaller airports like Midway could save money
- Watch for sales and sign up for fare alerts – Many airlines offer seasonal sales
- Use flight comparison sites – To quickly see prices across different airlines and routes
Applying some of these tips can help you find much cheaper flights than the average prices. Being flexible is the key to scoring super low fares.
Conclusion
While flight costs from Chicago to Florida airports vary considerably based on the destination, travel dates, airline and flexibility, travelers can generally find roundtrip fares in the range of $180 to $400. The cheapest prices tend to be in the off-peak late winter and fall months, while summer fares are usually the most expensive. Flexible travelers willing to search across different airlines and nearby airports stand the best chance of finding bargains.