{ "response": { "Key": "CHI-IAH", "orig": { "code": "CHI", "type": "airport", "city": "Chicago", "fullCity": "Chicago, Illinois", "airport": "Dupage County" }, "dest": { "code": "IAH", "type": "airport", "city": "Houston", "fullCity": "Houston, Texas", "airport": "George Bush Intercontinental Airport" }, "faq": { "q1": { "question": "Are there any direct flights from Chicago to Houston?", "answer": "Yes, there are many nonstop flights from Chicago to Houston, with United and American offering the most service from O'Hare, while Frontier flies from both Midway and O'Hare. United operates up to 232 weekly flights daily, American offers around 125 daily flights including regional affiliates, and Frontier adds 15 weekly flights on select days. The flight takes about 2 hours and 50 minutes on average.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours. Carrier service, flight times and distances for this route come from our flight-schedule database, which draws on published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data, and observed operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We report the days of the week and the departure times each carrier operates. The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time, given both per carrier and across all carriers on the route; where a schedule does not publish an elapsed time, it is derived from the scheduled departure and arrival times converted to UTC. Outbound and return times are computed by the same method, so the difference between them is directly comparable and reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in derivation. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two specific airports named, so an actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer. Where shown, on-time departure and arrival rates and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; where a typical fare is shown, it comes from the U.S. DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), a quarterly 10% sample of tickets sold. Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg. Aircraft types are taken from the equipment each operating carrier schedules on this route, drawn from published airline timetables and airline equipment schedules in our flight-schedule database. They describe typical scheduled aircraft and can vary with seasonal or day-of-week assignments and last-minute equipment swaps.", "toolsUsed": [ "route_airlines", "flight_schedule", "redeye_flights", "route_aircraft" ] }, "q3": { "question": "What are the ground transportation options in Houston?", "answer": "From IAH, you can reach Houston's city center by taxi, ride share (Uber, Lyft), rental car, shuttle, or the METRO bus. Ride shares are the most popular choice for their convenience, while the METRO 500 IAH Downtown Direct bus is the most affordable public transit option. Taxis offer flat-rate fares but are less common than ride shares. The fastest option is usually a ride share or taxi, taking around 30 minutes depending on traffic.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [ { "url": "https://fly2houston.com/iah", "title": "IAH Houston Airport | George Bush Intercontinental", "time_published": "2026-06-23T05:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://fly2houston.com/iah/ground-transportation/", "title": "Ground Transportation | Airport Taxi, Uber, Lyft, Shuttle & Rent Car Houston", "time_published": "2026-01-23T19:44:20Z" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George%20Bush%20Intercontinental%20Airport", "title": "George Bush Intercontinental Airport", "time_published": "2026-05-01T12:20:43Z" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/?diff=597698305", "title": "George Bush Intercontinental Airport: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia", "time_published": "2014-03-01T18:21:06Z" }, { "url": "https://faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/1023367", "title": "Notice JO 7110.659 - Non-Intersecting Converging Runway Operations for George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport Traffic Control Tower and Houston Intercontinental Terminal Radar Approach Control (", "time_published": "2026-04-10T00:00:00Z" } ] }, "q4": { "question": "When is the cheapest time to fly from Chicago to Houston?", "answer": "The cheapest months to fly from Chicago to Houston are September, August, and April, with average fares as low as $219 in September and $247 in August. The most expensive months are December, June, and March, with December averaging $445.", "methodology": "This 'good deal' estimate shows a representative best price for each departure date across roughly a 12-month window (about 3 months back and 9 months forward). It is built from real flight prices found by Priceline users searching this route, accumulated into a price history for each departure date. Rather than weighting all of that history equally, we apply exponential time decay so recent prices dominate — a price seen yesterday counts almost in full, one from about a month ago roughly a third, and prices from a few months back very little — giving a figure that tracks today's market instead of a stale long-run average. Clear price outliers are removed before any calculation, departure dates with no observations are filled in from nearby dates, and the resulting curve is lightly smoothed so it reads as a clean seasonal trend rather than day-to-day noise.", "toolsUsed": [ "seasonal_prices" ] }, "q5": { "question": "How far in advance should I book tickets from Chicago to Houston?", "answer": "For the best fare from Chicago to Houston, book 4 to 6 weeks ahead, with the absolute lowest price often appearing around 25 days before departure at about $144. During summer and holiday periods, prices can run higher and the cheapest seats may sell out sooner, so aiming for the earlier side of that window or a bit beyond is wise.", "methodology": "This booking-window guidance is built from the same real flight prices found by Priceline users searching this route, re-grouped by how many days before departure each price was seen (from the departure day out to about 180 days ahead) across the route's price history. At each booking lead time we report the 25th-percentile price — the cheaper end of what travelers were quoted, rather than the rock-bottom minimum (which can be a fluke) or the average (which is pulled up by expensive last-minute fares). The buy-or-wait advice then applies a risk premium that grows as departure approaches, since seat availability shrinks and prices become less predictable; using that adjusted curve we flag windows where waiting is likely to save a meaningful amount (at least $20 or 5%) versus windows where booking now is the better call. Isolated single-day recommendations are filtered out, so the advice only reflects a window that holds for several days in a row.", "toolsUsed": [ "booking_timing" ] }, "q6": { "question": "Are overnight (red‑eye) flights available from Chicago to Houston?", "answer": "Yes, United Airlines operates nonstop red‑eye flights from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Houston (IAH). The red‑eyes depart daily around 9:05–9:50 PM and, given the roughly 2.5‑hour flight, arrive in Houston the same night, typically before midnight.", "methodology": "Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg.", "toolsUsed": [ "redeye_flights" ] }, "q7": { "question": "Which airlines usually operate this route from Chicago to Houston?", "answer": "United and American are the main non‑stop carriers between Chicago and Houston. United operates up to 232 weekly flights from O'Hare, while American and its regional partners (Republic, Envoy, and PSA) together offer around 125 weekly flights, also from O'Hare. Frontier flies a handful of weekly non‑stops from both Midway and O'Hare. Median per‑carrier fares are not available in the data, so no specific prices are given.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours.", "toolsUsed": [ "route_airlines" ] }, "q8": { "question": "If I need a connection, what are common layover cities between Chicago and Houston?", "answer": "Common layover cities include Dallas, Denver, Atlanta and Charlotte. Dallas and Denver offer efficient connections with multiple daily flights, while Atlanta and Charlotte provide broad domestic networks." }, "q9": { "question": "How reliable are on‑time departures on this route from Chicago to Houston?", "answer": "On the Chicago-to-Houston route, United (UA) has a departure on-time rate of 79% and cancels 0.5% of flights, while American (AA) mainline sees 67% on-time departures with a 1.1% cancellation rate. Frontier (F9) from Midway achieves 79% on-time departures and a 0% cancellation rate, though its O'Hare flights dip to 71% on-time with 2.4% cancellations.", "methodology": "Carrier service, flight times and distances for this route come from our flight-schedule database, which draws on published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data, and observed operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We report the days of the week and the departure times each carrier operates. The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time, given both per carrier and across all carriers on the route; where a schedule does not publish an elapsed time, it is derived from the scheduled departure and arrival times converted to UTC. Outbound and return times are computed by the same method, so the difference between them is directly comparable and reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in derivation. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two specific airports named, so an actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer. Where shown, on-time departure and arrival rates and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; where a typical fare is shown, it comes from the U.S. DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), a quarterly 10% sample of tickets sold.", "toolsUsed": [ "flight_schedule" ] }, "q10": { "question": "Which months have the best weather for traveling to Houston?", "answer": "March to April and October to November offer mild temperatures and fewer visitors, avoiding the hot, humid summer and hurricane season." }, "q11": { "question": "What documents should I bring with me to the airport when flying from Chicago to Houston?", "answer": "For domestic U.S. flights, bring a Real ID or passport, ensure the name matches your ticket and carry payment for baggage and any required health documents." }, "q12": { "question": "Which airport should I use in Houston?", "answer": "George Bush Intercontinental is Houston’s primary airport for most domestic and international flights. William P. Hobby Airport is closer to downtown and mainly serves Southwest Airlines with domestic routes." }, "q13": { "question": "How do I get to Dupage County from the city center?", "answer": "Chicago O'Hare (ORD) is the main airport for flights to Houston, and from downtown Chicago the CTA Blue Line 'L' train offers the most popular and economical ride, taking you directly to the airport in about 45 minutes. You can also take a Metra train with a shuttle connection, use a shared-ride shuttle or bus, grab a taxi, or book a ride-share like Uber or Lyft — ride-shares and taxis are faster in light traffic but cost more. Driving yourself is an option with hourly, daily, and economy parking available on-site, though traffic can make the trip unpredictable.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [ { "url": "https://flychicago.com/ohare/tofrom/pages/default.aspx", "title": "Getting To and From O'Hare International Airport | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)", "favicon": "https://flychicago.com/_catalogs/masterpage/favicon.ico" }, { "url": "https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/map", "title": "Map | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)", "time_published": "2026-05-27T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_Chicago", "title": "Transportation in Chicago", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2026-05-15T02:56:07Z" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation%20in%20Chicago", "title": "Transportation in Chicago", "time_published": "2026-04-13T06:59:09Z" }, { "url": "https://faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/6111", "title": "Order 3330.39 - Chicago/o'hare Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) Staffing PChicago/o'hare Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) Staffing Plan (Cancelled)", "time_published": "2026-04-10T00:00:00Z" } ] }, "q14": { "question": "Are there hotels or sleeping facilities at Houston airport?", "answer": "Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) has the Houston Airport Marriott as the only on-site hotel, located between Terminals B and C and accessible via the complimentary underground Subway train from all terminals. There are no capsule hotels or sleeping pods at IAH. Nearby hotels like the Sheraton North Houston offer free shuttle service.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [ { "url": "https://fly2houston.com/iah", "title": "IAH Houston Airport | George Bush Intercontinental", "time_published": "2026-06-23T05:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/guides/houston-airport-guide.htm", "title": "Houston Airport Guide (IAH) - Sleeping in Airports", "favicon": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/nitropack_static/oBWrHkPujHTPIaVWqdDSDhClXUyrYhhb/assets/images/optimized/rev-b853180/www.sleepinginairports.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cropped-sia-logo-180x180.png", "time_published": "2018-08-25T14:40:18Z" }, { "url": "https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/hougi-sheraton-north-houston-at-george-bush-intercontinental/overview/", "title": "Houston IAH Airport Hotels | Sheraton North Houston", "time_published": "2024-10-11T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/hougi-sheraton-north-houston-at-george-bush-intercontinental/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0", "title": "Houston IAH Airport Hotels | Sheraton North Houston", "time_published": "2025-02-19T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George%20Bush%20Intercontinental%20Airport", "title": "George Bush Intercontinental Airport", "time_published": "2026-05-01T12:20:43Z" }, { "url": "https://fly2houston.com/iah/hotels", "title": "Houston Airport Marriott", "time_published": "2026-01-23T00:00:00Z" } ] }, "q15": { "question": "Are there currency exchange offices, prayer rooms and Wi‑Fi at George Bush Intercontinental Airport?", "answer": "George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) offers currency exchange services and free Wi‑Fi. Currency exchange counters are located in Terminals D and E, near the international arrivals areas. Free Wi‑Fi is available throughout all terminals; connect to the “Free IAH Wi‑Fi” network. Prayer rooms and chapels are not explicitly mentioned in the available information.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [ { "url": "https://fly2houston.com/iah", "title": "IAH Houston Airport | George Bush Intercontinental", "time_published": "2026-06-23T05:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://fly2houston.com/iah/related-content/a-first-time-travelers-guide-to-houstons-bush-airport", "title": "How to Navigate IAH Airport: A First-Time Traveler’s Guide to Houston’s Bush Airport", "time_published": "2026-01-23T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George%20Bush%20Intercontinental%20Airport", "title": "George Bush Intercontinental Airport", "time_published": "2026-05-01T12:20:43Z" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/?diff=597698305", "title": "George Bush Intercontinental Airport: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia", "time_published": "2014-03-01T18:21:06Z" }, { "url": "https://nfdc.faa.gov/nfdcApps/services/ajv5/airportDisplay.jsp?airportId=IAH", "title": "GEORGE BUSH INTCNTL/HOUSTON", "time_published": "2000-01-01T00:00:00Z" } ] }, "q17": { "question": "What aircraft are typically used on flights from Chicago to Houston?", "answer": "The most common aircraft on nonstop flights from Chicago to Houston are the Airbus A321neo and Boeing 737-800, with the 737 MAX 8 and 737-900 also appearing regularly. United flies the A321neo and 737-900, Southwest and American operate the 737-800, and Southwest also uses the 737 MAX 8; Frontier's and some Southwest flights show unspecified types. The exact aircraft can vary by day and airline, but these narrowbody jets dominate the route, and Wi‑Fi and seatback entertainment are widely available across carriers.", "methodology": "Aircraft types are taken from the equipment each operating carrier schedules on this route, drawn from published airline timetables and airline equipment schedules in our flight-schedule database. They describe typical scheduled aircraft and can vary with seasonal or day-of-week assignments and last-minute equipment swaps.", "toolsUsed": [ "route_aircraft" ] }, "q18": { "question": "Which airline alliances serve flights from Chicago to Houston?", "answer": "Star Alliance (via United) and Oneworld (via American Airlines) serve the Chicago to Houston route nonstop, while Frontier also flies it but belongs to no alliance.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours.", "toolsUsed": [ "route_airlines" ] }, "q20": { "question": "What are the best airport lounge options when departing from Chicago?", "answer": "At Chicago O'Hare (ORD), travelers can find several airline-branded lounges: United operates multiple United Clubs (Terminals 1 and 2) and a Polaris Lounge (Terminal 1, Gate C18) for international first and business class passengers; American has two Admirals Clubs (Terminal 3, Gates G8 and L2A) and a Flagship Lounge (Gate H6/K6); Delta's Sky Club is in Terminal 5 near Gate M13. Independent lounges include the Swissport Lounge (Terminal 5, Gate M18, accessible via Priority Pass or day pass), the Wingtips Lounge (Terminal 5, near Gate M19, accepting many airline elite and business class travelers), and the Air France Lounge (Terminal 5, Gate M17, for SkyTeam Elite Plus and business class). Most lounges offer complimentary drinks, Wi-Fi, and quiet workspaces, and day passes are available at several locations if you lack elite status or a premium ticket.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [ { "url": "https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/ServicesAmenities/services/Pages/lounges.aspx", "title": "Airline Lounges | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)", "time_published": "2026-05-29T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://www.delta.com/us/en/airports/united-states/chicago-sky-club-airport-map", "title": "Chicago O'Hare (ORD) Airport Map & Lounges | Delta Air Lines", "time_published": "2022-11-18T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://my.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america/ohare-international/ord10-swissport-lounge", "title": "Swissport Lounge ORD AIRPORT Terminal 5 O'Hare International | Priority Pass", "time_published": "2024-11-05T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://americanexpress.com/en-ca/travel/lounges/the-platinum-card/ORD", "title": "American Express Lounges at O'Hare International Airport | Amex CA", "favicon": "https://www.americanexpress.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png" }, { "url": "http://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/travel/lounges/the-platinum-card/ORD/Swissport-Lounge-Terminal-5-Concourse-M-5mTKilCqDl/", "title": "Swissport Lounge at O'Hare International Airport | Amex US", "favicon": "https://www.americanexpress.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png" } ] }, "q21": { "question": "What is the baggage allowance on this route from Chicago to Houston?", "answer": "On domestic flights from Chicago to Houston, basic economy fares often restrict carry‑ons to a small personal item and charge for checked bags, while standard economy typically allows a carry‑on and personal item with checked bags available for a fee. Checked bag allowances vary by airline and fare class, so confirm with your carrier." }, "q22": { "question": "What cabin and seat options are typical from Chicago to Houston?", "answer": "On this domestic route, typical cabins are Economy and standard recliner Business class; Premium Economy and flat‑bed Business are not common." }, "q23": { "question": "Are same‑day changes or standby possible on this route?", "answer": "Policies differ by airline and fare; flexible and premium tickets usually allow same‑day changes or standby, while Basic Economy generally does not." } } } }