10 Tips to Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to Las Vegas
Follow these 10 tips to find cheap flights from Chicago to Las Vegas and you could save up to $477 per round-trip ticket!
Hopper Editors - Thu Oct 26 2017
If you are looking for a quick weekend getaway from Chicago, Las Vegas it is. In fact, Sin City is the most popular place to visit from Chicago. Not only is the flight less than four hours, average ticket prices are less than $300. That means Chicagoans looking to have some fun — club hopping, Blackjack playing, pool partying or roller coaster riding — can do so without worrying how much they spent on their plane ticket. Check out Hopper’s additional tips for finding cheap flights from Chicago to Las Vegas to enjoy more money in your pocket as you make your way to Sin City. Just try and not spend it all in your first night.
Photo by nevbrown/Flickr.
1. The cheapest day to fly from Chicago to Las Vegas is on a Tuesday, saving up to $35
While the weekend seems like an ideal time to visit Vegas, Sin City really never sleeps. If your schedule allows, departing from Chicago to Las Vegas on a Tuesday could save you up to $35. That could be better spent on a round or two of poker. Win some (or a lot of) money, and you are looking at a possible room upgrade at your Vegas hotel. After all, this is Vegas. Anything’s possible!
2. Save up to $52 by returning on a Wednesday
Playing well? If you find yourself on a roll (so to speak) in Vegas, you may want to extend your stay. Plan your flight home on a Wednesday, and you could save up to $52. That may be chump change to a high roller, but it is also the equivalent of a delicious meal at one of Las Vegas’ popular celebrity-chef restaurants. For instance, pecan-crusted redfish is only $37 at Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House. Order that, and you’ll still have money for dessert — that is, if you still have the appetite for it.
3. The cheapest time to book a flight from Chicago to Las Vegas is 21 days in advance, saving up to $300
While a last-minute weekend getaway may be exactly what you need, you can save up to $300 by booking 21 days in advance. Prices rise dramatically if you wait to book a flight until 10 days or less in advance. Plus, you’ll want to save money so you can make sure to get the full Vegas experience while you’re visiting. Blackjack hands and several shots of tequila don’t exactly come cheap in Sin City.
4. The cheapest time to fly from Chicago to Las Vegas is in January, saving up to $50
While traveling in January can be tiring, especially in Chicago when winter temperatures reach below zero, you can save up to $50 doing so. Plus, traveling to a warmer destination like Vegas is sure to appeal to those Chicagoans looking to escape the snow and ice. Prices are better than in August or October when ticket prices to Vegas reach above $300, and temperatures are milder than the scorching desert heat at the end of a Vegas summer.
5. Fly out of O’Hare (ORD) for the best deals
Flights out of O’Hare International Airport average about $284, which is why flying out of this Chicago airport offers the best deals. A flight out of Midway International Airport is about $40 more on average. Use that $40 towards a ride on the Stratosphere’s Big Shot. The ride, located atop the hotel, takes passengers to a height of 1,149 feet above The Strip before dropping them 160 feet at 45 mph. Be prepared for your stomach to drop while catching some of Sin City’s best views.
6. American has the cheapest direct flights from Chicago to Las Vegas
Compared to other airlines, American Airlines offers the best deals on non-stop flights from Chicago to Las Vegas. While prices are about $50 more than some Spirit Airlines flights, Spirit Airlines has several hidden fees that passengers will have to pay at time of departure. For instance, Spirit passengers have to pay $35 each way for any type of luggage apart from a small personal item that can fit under the seat in front of them. American, on the other hand, allows for customers to have a carry-on and a personal item, free of charge.
Airlines offering direct flights from Chicago to Las Vegas:- Spirit makes the journey in 3.75 hours for $279 round trip, on average.- American makes the journey in 4 hours for $336 round trip, on average.- United makes the journey in 4 hours for $345 round trip, on average.
Airlines offering connecting flights from Chicago to Las Vegas:- Frontier makes the journey in 6.5 hours via Denver for $300 round trip, on average.- Delta makes the journey in 5.5 hours via Minneapolis for $391 round trip, on average.
7. Frequent fliers on American can use 25,000 miles to book a round-trip ticket
If you fly American frequently, which is likely for Chicagoans since O’Hare is a hub for the airline, then you can use your miles to book a flight to Vegas. About 25,000 miles can get you a round-trip ticket from Chicago to Las Vegas. It’s a good destination to spend your frequent flier miles on because direct flights between the two occur frequently. That means in less than four hours, you can be attending a Cirque du Soleil show, being entertained by some of the world’s best acrobats.
8. Check out Hopper’s When to Fly and Buy Reports for up-to-date information
Hopper’s When to Fly and Buy Reports provide the most up-to-date travel deals for those travelers looking for a cheap flight from Chicago to Las Vegas. Being the most popular air route out of Chicago, more than 42 million travelers search for the Chicago to Vegas flight each month. Hopper’s report shows the best non-stop flight details, depending on the date you wish to leave and the airline you wish to take. Visitors to the site can also create a price alert that will email them when prices for the specific route get cheaper.
9. Take a look at Hopper’s Airline Fees Calculator to get the real cost of your ticket
As previously mentioned, some airlines charge hidden fees that customers will not pay until their flight. Do not be fooled by the low airfare, especially if you plan on taking a large bag of luggage or want to check-in early. Several airlines will tack on last-minute fees that make the ticket cost much more than others. As such, check out Hopper’s Airline Fees Calculator, which helps you factor in all of the costs before making your final purchase.
10. Keep in mind that a cheap flight from Chicago to Las Vegas is about $284 round trip
There are thousands of flights from Chicago to Las Vegas to choose from, which is why it’s good to remember that a fair rate is about $284 round trip. Some travelers have found rates for as low as $262, but there’s no point in wasting time shuffling through flights if you have already found one for under $300. Time can be better spent figuring out which of the many hotel pools you want to lounge around.