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By Plane
O'Hare International Airport - Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (tel. 773/686-2200) has long battled with Atlanta's Hartsfield for the title of the world's busiest airport. O'Hare is located about 15 miles northwest of the Loop, depending on traffic, the drive to/from downtown can take anywhere from 30 minutes to more than an hour.
Domestic carriers that fly regularly to O'Hare include America West (tel. 800/235-9292; www.americawest.com), American (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com), Continental (tel. 800/525-0280; www.continental.com), Delta (tel. 800/221-1212; www.delta.com), Northwest (tel. 800/225-2525; www.nwa.com), United (tel. 800/241-6522; www.united.com) and its new discount airline Ted (tel. 800/CALL-TED; www.flyted.com), and US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322; www.usairways.com). You'll have the most flight options with American or United, both of which have hubs in Chicago.
Midway International Airport - On the opposite end of the city, the Southwest Side, is Chicago's other major airport, Midway International Airport (tel. 773/838-0600). Although it's smaller than O'Hare and fewer airlines have routes here, Midway is closer to the Loop and attracts more discount airlines, so you may be able to get a cheaper fare flying into here. (Always check fares to both airports if you want to find the best deal.) A cab ride from Midway to the Loop usually takes about 20 minutes. You can find the latest information on both airports at the city's Department of Aviation website: www.chicagoairports.com.
Airlines that fly to Chicago's Midway International Airport are AirTran (tel. 800/247-8726; www.airtran.com), ATA (tel. 800/435-9282; www.ata.com), Continental (tel. 800/525-0280; www.continental.com), Frontier (tel. 800/432-1359; www.frontierairlines.com), Northwest (tel. 800/225-2525; www.nwa.com), and Southwest (tel. 800/435-9792; www.southwest.com). The toll-free numbers listed are for use in the United States and Canada. ATA and Southwest operate the most frequent flights in and out of Midway.
Getting Into Town From O'Hare and Midway - Taxis are plentiful at both O'Hare and Midway, but both are quite easily accessible by public transportation as well. A cab ride into the city will cost about $30 to $35 from O'Hare, and $25 to $30 from Midway. One warning: Rush hour traffic can be horrendous, especially around O'Hare. If you've got to get downtown in a hurry, the El can actually be faster than driving.
Continental Airport Express (tel. 888/2-THEVAN; www.airportexpress.com) services most first-class hotels in Chicago with its blue-and-white vans; ticket counters are located at both airports near the baggage claim (outside Customs at the international terminal at O'Hare). For transportation to the airport, reserve a spot from one of the hotels (check with the bell captain). The cost is $21 one-way ($39 round-trip) to or from O'Hare and $16 one-way ($30 round-trip) to or from Midway. Less expensive "group rates" are available for two or more people traveling together, which are comparable to what you'd pay to share a cab.
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