Flying from Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH): What you need to know
Begin your journey at one of Chicago's main airports, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Check out your options for booking a flight from Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) jetting off from either of these.
2 hours 50 minutes is the average duration of a direct Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport flight.
Houston (where George Bush Intercontinental Airport is located) and Chicago share the UTC-5 timezone. Same timezone means no confusion when scheduling your trip.
The busiest route is from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), with 103 direct services every week. If you're not one for hanging around, the earliest flight from ORD to IAH is the 5am United Airlines service. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the final departure is at 10pm with United Airlines.
Give yourself enough time to catch your flight from Chicago to IAH. As a general rule, arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
With more travelers during peak seasons, aim to get to your terminal earlier than usual. Two hours for domestic flights and up to four for international trips will allow for extra wait times.
Airports in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Fly without interruptions from O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Direct flights from Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) are available from here.
At ORD, you can choose from various carriers that operate direct flights from Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport, such as:
The preferred choice for passengers flying between ORD and IAH is United Airlines.
With 79.75% of its services arriving as scheduled, United Airlines is the highest-rated carrier for punctuality on this route.
ORD is about 40 kilometers from central Chicago. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the center, it'll take 35 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 55 minutes.
Want a relaxed start to your vacation? Stay near O'Hare International Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport or prefer not to rush, these hotels offer the perfect solution:
When it comes to O'Hare International Airport's on-time performance, data shows 74.85% of flights meet their scheduled arrival time.
You'll find ORD at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Consider starting your trip from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). You can book a direct Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) plane ticket from this hub.
Frontier Airlines offers direct flights from Chicago to IAH departing from MDW. Book your favorite seat and arrive at your destination in one go.
Frontier Airlines attracts the most bookings on the MDW to IAH route.
The top on-time carrier is Frontier Airlines. Its Chicago Midway International Airport to George Bush Intercontinental Airport flights land without delay 65.79% of the time.
MDW is around 19 kilometers from central Chicago. It takes 20 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city center. Public transport takes approximately 45 minutes.
Flying off with the first light? Think about checking in to one of these hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport the day before your Chicago to IAH flight:
Chicago Midway International Airport has an on-time performance of 77.88%. This figure shows how frequently flights that take off from this airport reach their destination on time.
You'll find MDW at 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
The journey time to RFD from the center of Chicago is around 4 hours 15 minutes on public transport. If you're planning to travel by car, it'll take you about 1 hour 25 minutes to cover the 137 kilometers or so.
Make departure day worry-free — stay close to Chicago Rockford International Airport and know you'll make it to the terminal with time to spare. Get settled at one of these hotels the day before if you have an early Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport flight:
The on-time performance rating of RFD is 76.19%. In simpler terms, that's how frequently flights departing this airport arrive at their final stop as planned.
You'll find Chicago Rockford International Airport at 2 Airport Cir.
About George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Book one of these accommodation options near IAH instead:
Fast-track your adventure by picking up a George Bush Intercontinental Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Sixt to explore Houston and beyond.
Lock in the best rate by booking your vehicle around three weeks before your Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport flight.
You'll find IAH at 16930 JFK Boulevard.
Getting from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to central Houston
George Bush Intercontinental Airport is about 21 kilometers from central Houston. How long it'll take to get there in a car rental or cab depends on the time of day. Do some research before you go.
If you're traveling by public transport, expect a journey time of about 50 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport is $45. For a return flight on this route, the best price is $90. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares may change.
Booking in advance is often the key to finding a cheap flight from Chicago to IAH. Prices tend to rise as demand increases, so the closer your departure date, the more you'll likely spend on your ticket.
If you're flexible with your trip dates, use the 'Whole month' tool. It'll show you the lowest price in every month when searching for your Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport ticket.
Locking in a cheap plane ticket from Chicago to IAH is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch when there's a better deal.
Filters make it easier to track down a bargain for your flight from Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Choose the flight times, carriers and stops that make sense for you. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to find the most affordable option fast.
The best time to fly from Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
It's time to decide your travel dates for your flight from Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). July is the busiest month to visit Houston. If you like things a bit more low-key, head there in February.
The warmest month in Houston is August, with temperatures ranging between 24ºC (75ºF) and 40ºC (104ºF). Book your Chicago to IAH plane ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
January has temperatures of between 5ºC (41ºF) and 19ºC (66ºF). Search for cheap tickets from Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport around that time if you like traveling in cooler conditions.
More about Houston
After booking your flight from Chicago to George Bush Intercontinental Airport, find a hotel that's got location and comfort covered. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Houston:
Your trip to Houston isn't complete without checking out the sights. Top attractions that are worth your time include The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Beck Building, The Houston Museum of Natural Science and Holocaust Museum Houston.
Explore more of the United States
You've done Houston, now it's time to discover other parts of the United States. Journey around 241 kilometers west to Austin to check off its leading sights. From Texas State Capitol to Central Park and Austin Museum of Art, Downtown, there's plenty to keep you on the go.
Around 306 kilometers south-west of Houston, Corpus Christi is another essential stop in the United States. Get a taste of what this destination has to offer at Texas State Aquarium, Bayfront Park and Corpus Christi Cathedral.
