Kansas City skyline behind Union Station. Flights from Chicago to Kansas City

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Chicago to Kansas City

Search Chicago O'Hare to Kansas City International, with O'Hare's nonstop list, getting to O'Hare by CTA Blue Line and the RideKC bus from MCI downtown.

ORD to MCI · 402 mi · 1h 30m est.

ORD to MCI
402 miles
1h 30m nonstop (estimated)
3 airlines in our fare results

Photo: Dean Hochman, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Chicago to Kansas City flight insights

Average flight time

~1h 30m (estimated)

ORD → MCI

Cheapest cached price

$107

Checking live fares…

Prices shown may not be current. Last checked: Oct 27, 2026.

Planning a trip from Chicago to Kansas City? The average flight time on this route is ~1h 30m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $107 (last checked Oct 27, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Chicago to Kansas City covers a straight-line distance of about 402 miles. Based on that distance, a nonstop flight would take approximately ~1h 30m (estimated). Actual flight time varies by airline, aircraft and routing.

Chicago to Kansas City at a glance

ORD to MCI is about 402 miles in a straight line. The curved line is an illustration; the route your airline flies may differ.

Route Quick Facts

Quick facts for flights from Chicago to Kansas City on Eazair
Origin	Chicago (ORD)
Destination	Kansas City (MCI)
Average Flight Time	~1h 30m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$107
Fares Last Checked	Oct 27, 2026
Distance	402 miles (ORD to MCI)
Time in Kansas City	Same time as Chicago
Airlines in our fare results	3

Local time in Kansas City is the same as in Chicago. Chicago is on Central Time, Kansas City on Central Time.

Flight deals from Chicago to Kansas City

This page searches Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) to Kansas City International (MCI). Kansas City Downtown Airport, Wheeler Field (MKC), is a separate airport that the city says is designed for business, government and general aviation users. O'Hare's nonstop list, as of 1 Sep 2026, shows American Airlines and United Airlines serving Kansas City. Schedules change, so check the stops shown with each result before you choose a fare.

Arriving on the CTA Blue Line, which runs 24 hours, you reach O'Hare station on the lower level of the parking garage, and Basement Level tunnels lead on to Terminals 1, 2 and 3. O'Hare says its checkpoint hours may be affected by day-to-day airport activities and recommends checking with your airline about operations on your flight date. Confirm your terminal on your boarding pass or airline app before you set out.

MCI opened a new single terminal in 2023, the City of Kansas City says, with gates lettered A and B. American lists Concourse A, and Southwest lists B gates. For downtown, RideKC Route 229 Boardwalk-KCI links the airport with Boardwalk Square Transit Center and East Village Transit Center. RideKC's timetable calls the airport stop KCI Airport New Terminal, and on weekdays lists the first trip from the airport at 6 a.m. and the last at 10:10 p.m. RideKC set 1 Jun 2026 as the date fares return.

EazAir's first fare check for Chicago to Kansas City was made on 21 Sep 2026, looking for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult departing 30 days later. One check cannot show a pattern. Bag allowances and seat rules differ by carrier and fare type, so compare what each result includes before you choose. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Chicago to Kansas City flights

Departure · Chicago

O'Hare International (ORD)

Central Time

Other airports near Chicago: Chicago Midway International (MDW)

Arrival · Kansas City

Kansas City International (MCI)

Central Time

About Kansas City

Areas to know in Kansas City

Westport
Crossroads Arts District
Country Club Plaza

Weather in Kansas City

A humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters, known for notably variable day-to-day weather.

Chicago to Kansas City: airport and fare guide

Checked on 17 Oct 2026 against the airport, airline and transit pages listed under Sources. Airports and airlines change these details, so confirm them with your airline before you fly.

Chicago O'Hare International's nonstop list (as of 1 Sep 2026) shows Kansas City (MCI) served by American Airlines and United Airlines. Schedules change, so check the stops shown with each result.

Kansas City Downtown Airport, Wheeler Field (MKC) is a separate airport. The City of Kansas City says new facilities there are designed to serve business, government and general aviation users.

Chicago Midway (MDW) is a separate airport, served by the CTA Orange Line. Check which Chicago airport each fare uses.

Leaving from Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)

The CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours to O'Hare station, which links to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 by Basement Level tunnels. For Terminal 5, ride the free Airport Transit System from Terminal 2.
Pace Routes 250 and 330 and Metra North Central Service weekday trains stop at the Multi-Modal Facility, which the Airport Transit System links to every terminal.
O'Hare lists the Terminal 5 checkpoint (CP10) as open 24 hours, with TSA PreCheck from 3:45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Terminal 2's checkpoint (CP5) is listed from 3:15 a.m. to 11 p.m., with PreCheck from 3:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In Terminal 1, CP1 is listed from 3:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and CP2, with TSA PreCheck, from 4 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. In Terminal 3, CP7A is listed from 3:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with PreCheck from 3:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
O'Hare says checkpoint hours may be affected by day-to-day airport activities, and recommends checking with your airline about operations on the date of your flight.

Arriving at Kansas City International (MCI)

Airline	MCI concourse
American	Concourse A, according to American
Southwest	Gates B54, B56, B58, B60, B62 to B66 and B68, according to Southwest
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

The airport's own site could not be read for this guide, so these locations come from the airlines' MCI pages, which show no date. Gates can change.

MCI has one terminal, opened in 2023, according to the City of Kansas City.
Gates are lettered A and B. American lists Concourse A, and Southwest lists B gates.
The main security entrance is near the midpoint of the check-in hall, the city says.

Getting from MCI	Where to board	Where it goes
RideKC Route 229 Boardwalk-KCI bus	RideKC's timetable lists the stop as KCI Airport New Terminal.	Boardwalk Square Transit Center and East Village Transit Center downtown. A fare applies. RideKC set 1 Jun 2026 as the date fares return to its buses.

How EazAir measured fares on this route

EazAir's first fare check from Chicago to Kansas City was on 21 Sep 2026. For the return direction, Kansas City to Chicago, EazAir's first check was on 3 Oct 2026. Each check asked partner travel sites for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days after the check. Results can include connecting flights. One check cannot show a pattern. Search your own dates for current prices.

Sources

Delta: Delta's new O'Hare home (11 Oct 2022, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: Public transit (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
CTA: Airports (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: ATS service update (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: TSA checkpoints (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: Domestic nonstop destinations (as of 1 Sep 2026, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
American Airlines: Kansas City, MO (MCI) (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Airport information, Kansas City (MCI) (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
City of Kansas City: MCI security line layout changed (posted 04/10/2026, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
City of Kansas City: Economic study shows impact MCI has on the region (posted 02/02/2026, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
RideKC: 229 Boardwalk-KCI (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
RideKC: Fares and Passes (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
EazAir fare checks for ORD to MCI, 21 Sep 2026 to 21 Sep 2026; MCI to ORD, 3 Oct 2026 to 3 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which Kansas City airport does this page search?

It searches Kansas City International (MCI). Kansas City Downtown Airport, Wheeler Field (MKC), is a separate airport, which the city says is designed for business, government and general aviation users.

Is there a nonstop flight from O'Hare to Kansas City?

O'Hare's nonstop list, as of 1 Sep 2026, shows Kansas City served by American Airlines and United Airlines. Schedules change, so check the stops shown with each result.

How do I get from MCI to downtown Kansas City by bus?

RideKC Route 229 Boardwalk-KCI runs from the stop listed as KCI Airport New Terminal to Boardwalk Square and East Village transit centers. On weekdays, the last trip from the airport is listed at 10:10 p.m. A fare applies.

Where is American at Kansas City International?

American lists its MCI ticket counter in Concourse A and says it does not accept cash or checks. American also lists a pet relief room inside the terminal, between gates A8 and A10.

How do I reach O'Hare on the CTA Blue Line?

Ride the Blue Line, which runs 24 hours, to O'Hare station, then follow the Basement Level tunnels to Terminals 1, 2 and 3. For Terminal 5, ride the free Airport Transit System from Terminal 2.

How far is Chicago O'Hare from Kansas City International?

ORD and MCI are about 402 miles apart in a straight line. Flight times vary by airline, direction and routing, so check the scheduled time shown with each result.

Airline bag fees

Baggage allowances differ significantly between fare classes (Basic/Light vs. Standard/Flex) and can change over time. Always verify the exact allowance for your specific fare with the airline before you fly.

Checked bag fees from each airline's own website
Airline	Carry-on, basic economy	1st checked bag	2nd checked bag	Source
American Airlines	Included	$45	$55	aa.com, Sep 24, 2026
United Airlines	Not included	$40	$50	united.com, Sep 24, 2026
Delta Air Lines	Included	$45	$55	delta.com, Sep 24, 2026
Southwest Airlines	Included	$45	$55	southwest.com, Oct 27, 2026
JetBlue	Included	$45	$59	jetblue.com, Sep 24, 2026
Alaska Airlines	Included	$45	$55	alaskaair.com, Sep 24, 2026
Frontier Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	flyfrontier.com, Sep 24, 2026
Sun Country Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	suncountry.com, Sep 24, 2026

Domestic US fees per bag, each way, when paid online in advance. "Varies" means the airline prices bags by route and date.

Travel tips

Arrive early for domestic flights

TSA generally recommends arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic departure, more at larger hub airports during peak travel periods.

Pack a mixed carry-on

Keep a change of clothes, chargers, and any essentials in your carry-on rather than only your checked bag, in case of a delay or a bag that doesn't arrive with you.

Screenshot your confirmation

Save a screenshot or PDF of your booking confirmation and boarding pass before you travel, in case you lose signal or battery at the airport.

Check in online when it opens

Most airlines open online check-in 24 hours before departure. Checking in early can help with seat selection and, on some airlines, boarding group assignment.