The plane ride from Chicago (ORD) to London (LHR) usually takes about 7 to 8 hours on a nonstop flight. This is the main answer to how long is the flight from ORD to LHR. The exact time can change based on things like wind, the type of plane, and the path the plane takes in the sky. This blog post will tell you all about the Chicago to London flight time and what makes it longer or shorter. We will look at the flight duration Chicago London in detail.
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Knowing the Nonstop Trip Time
A nonstop flight time Chicago to London is the fastest way to fly between these two big cities. When you take a plane without stopping anywhere, the time you spend in the air is the shortest possible. For the path from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), this air time is typically between 7 hours and 8 hours.
This time can feel long, but it is much faster than it used to be. Modern planes fly faster. They also fly higher, where the air is thinner. This helps them move more easily.
Think of it like driving a car. If you drive straight without stopping, you get there fastest. A nonstop flight is like that direct drive across the sky. The plane flies over the Atlantic Ocean. It goes from the middle of America all the way to England.
The direct flight duration Chicago to London is what most people mean when they ask about the flight time. They want to know how long they will be sitting on the plane when it goes straight from one city to the other. It is the time from when the plane takes off in Chicago until it lands in London.
- Typical Nonstop Time: Around 7 to 8 hours.
- Fastest Possible Time: Sometimes a bit under 7 hours with strong tailwinds.
- Longest Nonstop Time: Can go over 8 hours with strong headwinds.
So, when you book a nonstop flight time Chicago to London, plan for roughly 7 and a half hours in the air.
Figuring Out the Distance in the Sky
How far is it from Chicago to London? The flight distance Chicago to London is a big part of how long the trip takes. Planes fly a path that is not a straight line on a flat map. They fly over the top of the world on a curved path. This is the shortest way over the Earth’s surface.
The distance flown is about 3,950 miles (or about 6,350 kilometers). This is the great-circle distance. It is the shortest path between the two cities over the Earth’s surface.
A plane flying at a normal speed needs a certain amount of time to cover this distance. The speed of the plane is important. Jet planes fly very fast. They go hundreds of miles per hour.
Let’s think about speed and distance:
* If a plane flies at 500 miles per hour (this is just an example, planes fly faster), a 4000-mile trip would take 8 hours (4000 miles / 500 mph = 8 hours).
* Plane speeds are usually much higher, often around 550-600 mph in the air, but wind also pushes them.
So, the flight distance Chicago to London of about 3,950 miles is why the trip takes many hours, even with a fast plane. The time is needed to cover this large gap across the ocean.
Key Things Affecting Flight Time
The time a plane takes to fly from Chicago to London is not always the same. Many things can change the flight duration Chicago London. Even on the same plane, flying the same path, the time can be different each day. Knowing these things helps you understand why your flight might be a bit shorter or longer than average.
Here are the main factors:
Wind in the Sky
Wind is one of the biggest factors. Planes fly through the air. If the air is moving, it pushes the plane.
* Tailwind: If the wind blows from behind the plane (west to east on this route), it pushes the plane forward. This makes the plane go faster over the ground. The trip takes less time. Strong tailwinds can cut 30 minutes or more off the Chicago to London flight time.
* Headwind: If the wind blows against the front of the plane (east to west on this route), it slows the plane down over the ground. This means the trip takes more time. Strong headwinds can add 30 minutes or more to the flight duration Chicago London.
The winds over the Atlantic Ocean, where planes fly high up, are called jet streams. These are like fast rivers of air. They usually blow from west to east. This is good for flying from Chicago to London. Flights going east (like Chicago to London) often get a push from the jet stream. Flights going west (London to Chicago) usually fly against it and take longer.
So, wind plays a big role in how long your nonstop flight time Chicago to London will be on any given day.
The Type of Plane Used
Different planes fly at different speeds. They also fly at different heights.
* Faster Planes: Some planes are built to fly faster than others. Newer planes are often more fuel-efficient and can fly at good speeds for long trips.
* Slower Planes: Older models or planes built for shorter trips might not be as fast.
* Plane Size: The size of the plane does not change its top speed much, but it can affect how fast it climbs or how it is handled by air traffic control.
Airlines choose certain planes for long trips like Chicago to London. They often use big planes like Boeing 777s, Boeing 787s, or Airbus A330s and A350s. These planes are made for long-haul flights. They can carry many people and lots of fuel. Their design helps them fly fast and high over long distances.
The exact model of plane used for your direct flight duration Chicago to London can affect the time by a few minutes, maybe 10-20 minutes either way, depending on its best flying speed and height for the conditions.
Air Traffic Control and Route Taken
Planes don’t just fly any way they want. Air traffic control (ATC) tells them where to go. They manage all the planes in the sky to keep everyone safe.
* Direct Route: ATC tries to let planes fly the most direct path possible. This follows the great-circle distance we talked about.
* Changes in Route: Sometimes, ATC has to change a plane’s path. This can happen because of:
* Bad weather (like storms).
* Busy air space (too many planes in one area).
* Military areas.
* Other safety needs.
If a plane has to fly a longer path around weather or other traffic, it adds time to the trip. This makes the flight duration Chicago London longer. Even small changes in the path over thousands of miles can add minutes.
Also, planes sometimes have to wait on the ground before taking off or wait in the air before landing. This is less common for long flights like this, but it can happen at busy airports like LHR or ORD. These waiting times add to the overall travel time, though not always to the official ‘flight time’ which starts when the plane leaves the gate or takes off.
Time of Year and Weather
The time of year can affect flight times, mostly because of wind patterns and weather systems.
* Winter: Jet streams over the Atlantic are often stronger in winter. This can mean faster eastbound flights (Chicago to London) and slower westbound flights. Bad winter weather can also cause delays on the ground or force planes to fly different paths.
* Summer: Jet streams might be weaker in summer. Summer storms can also affect routes.
Overall weather along the route matters. Planes will avoid big storm clouds. Flying around bad weather adds distance and time. This is why the Chicago to London air travel time can vary with the seasons.
So, while the distance is fixed, wind, plane type, air traffic needs, and weather all work together to change the actual Chicago to London flight time on any given day.
What is the Average Flight Time?
When we talk about the average flight time Chicago to London, we look at many flights over time. We see what the most common time is. As we said, the typical flight time Chicago to London for a nonstop trip is around 7 hours to 8 hours.
Most airlines will list the planned flight time in this range. For example, an airline schedule might say the flight is 7 hours and 40 minutes. This is the time they expect it to take under normal conditions.
Let’s look at a rough idea of average times:
| Flight Type | Typical Time in Air | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nonstop / Direct | 7 hours 30 minutes | Can be shorter or longer due to wind |
| One Stop | 10+ hours | Includes time on first plane + layover + time on second plane |
| Two Stops | 15+ hours | Includes time on planes + two layovers |
The average flight time Chicago to London for a nonstop flight is usually given in this 7 to 8 hour window. It is important to remember this is the time the plane is in the air or moving on the ground. It does not include the time before your flight at the airport (checking in, security) or time after landing (getting off the plane, passport control, baggage claim).
The typical flight time Chicago to London for a nonstop flight is a useful number for planning. It gives you a good idea of how long the main part of your journey will be.
How Long is the Shortest Flight Time?
The shortest flight time Chicago to London usually happens on a nonstop flight with strong tailwinds. As we talked about, the jet stream over the Atlantic blows from west to east. When this wind is very strong, it can push the plane along, making the trip faster.
On some good days with strong tailwinds, a nonstop flight might take just under 7 hours. It is not common, but it happens. This would be the shortest flight time Chicago to London you could expect for a nonstop journey.
Remember, this is just the time in the air. You still need to be at the airport before the flight starts. For a big international flight like this, airlines ask you to be there 3 hours early. So, the total time from arriving at the Chicago airport to landing in London will always be much more than the flight time itself.
The shortest flight time Chicago to London number (under 7 hours) refers specifically to the time the plane is flying. It does not include any time on the ground before or after.
What About Flights With Stops?
Not all flights from Chicago to London are nonstop. Many flights have one or more stops, also called layovers. These flights take much, much longer than nonstop flights.
A flight with a stop means:
1. You fly from Chicago to another city (like Dublin, Reykjavik, New York, Boston, or a city in Europe).
2. You get off that plane and wait in that city’s airport for some time (the layover).
3. You get on another plane from that city to London.
The flight duration Chicago London on a flight with stops includes:
* The time on the first plane.
* The time you wait during the layover.
* The time on the second plane (and maybe a third plane if there are two stops).
Let’s look at an example:
* Flight 1: Chicago to Dublin (about 7 hours in air).
* Layover in Dublin: 3 hours.
* Flight 2: Dublin to London (about 1 hour 30 minutes in air).
* Total travel time: 7 hours + 3 hours + 1 hour 30 minutes = 11 hours 30 minutes.
In this example, the time you spent flying was about 8 hours 30 minutes (7 hours + 1 hour 30 minutes). But the total trip time was 11 hours 30 minutes.
Flights with one stop usually add at least 2-4 hours to the total trip time, often more depending on how long the layover is. Some layovers can be very short (under 2 hours), but others can be very long (8 hours or more).
Flights with two stops take even longer. They can easily make the total trip time 15 hours or more.
Why do people take flights with stops?
* Price: Flights with stops are often cheaper than nonstop flights.
* Availability: Sometimes there are no nonstop flights that fit your travel dates.
* Loyalty: People might fly through a city that is a hub for their favorite airline to earn more points or miles.
While the Chicago to London flight time in the air might be similar or slightly longer on flights with stops (because the total distance flown with turns might be a bit more), the total time from leaving Chicago until arriving in London is much greater due to the layover.
The nonstop flight time Chicago to London is key if you want the quickest journey. If you need to save money or have other reasons, a flight with one stop is common, but be ready for a longer day of travel.
What Airports Are Used?
The main airport in Chicago for flights to London is O’Hare International Airport. Its code is ORD.
The main airport in London for flights from Chicago is Heathrow Airport. Its code is LHR.
So, when you see how long is the flight from ORD to LHR, it means the flight from Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow. These are two of the busiest airports in the world. This means that sometimes there can be small delays related to taxiing on the ground or waiting for takeoff or landing slots, although these times are usually built into the airline’s schedule.
Flights can also go to other airports:
* From Chicago (ORD) to London Gatwick (LGW).
* From Chicago (ORD) to London Stansted (STN).
* From London (LHR or LGW) to Chicago (ORD or sometimes MDW – Midway, for some airlines).
But the most common route, and the one with the most nonstop flights, is ORD to LHR. The nonstop flight time Chicago to London we have talked about usually refers to this specific airport pair.
Figuring Out Air Travel Time Overall
When you think about your trip from Chicago to London, the Chicago London air travel time includes more than just the time the plane is flying. It is the whole experience from when you leave your home until you get to where you are staying in London.
Here’s what makes up the total Chicago London air travel time for a nonstop flight:
1. Travel to Chicago Airport (ORD): Time to get from your home, hotel, or office to O’Hare. This can be 30 minutes to 1.5 hours or more depending on traffic and distance.
2. Time at Chicago Airport Before Flight: Checking in, dropping bags, going through security, walking to the gate. Airlines tell you to be there 3 hours before an international flight.
3. Boarding: Getting on the plane. This takes about 30-45 minutes.
4. Taxiing and Waiting for Takeoff: The plane moves from the gate to the runway and waits for its turn. This can be 15-30 minutes or more.
5. Flight Time: The time the plane is actually in the air, from takeoff to landing. This is the Chicago to London flight time we have focused on (7-8 hours).
6. Taxiing After Landing: The plane moves from the runway to the gate at LHR. This can be 10-20 minutes.
7. Time at London Airport (LHR) After Landing: Getting off the plane, walking to passport control, waiting in line for passport control, waiting for bags at baggage claim, going through customs. This can take 45 minutes to 1.5 hours or more, especially if lines are long.
8. Travel from London Airport (LHR): Time to get from Heathrow to your final place in London or elsewhere. This can be 30 minutes to 1.5 hours or more.
So, while the nonstop flight time Chicago to London is about 7.5 hours, your total door-to-door travel time will be much longer. It can easily be 12-15 hours or even more, depending on how far you are from the airports and how busy things are.
This is important to remember when planning your trip. The flight duration Chicago London is just one part of the journey.
Let’s look at a possible timeline for a nonstop trip:
- Leave home in Chicago: 7:00 AM
- Arrive at ORD: 8:00 AM (1 hr travel + 3 hrs early)
- Check-in/Security/Gate: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM (2 hrs of the 3 hrs early)
- Boarding Starts: 10:00 AM (Gate closes 30-45 mins before)
- Flight Scheduled Departure: 10:45 AM
- Actual Takeoff (after taxi/wait): 11:00 AM
- Flight Time (Estimate): 7 hours 40 minutes
- Landing in London (LHR) Chicago Time: 6:40 PM (11:00 AM + 7h 40m)
- Landing in London (LHR) London Time: 12:40 AM next day (London is 6 hours ahead of Chicago)
- Taxi to Gate: 12:55 AM
- Get off plane, Passport Control, Baggage, Customs: 12:55 AM – 2:00 AM
- Leave LHR: 2:00 AM
- Arrive at London hotel: 3:00 AM
In this example, leaving home at 7 AM Chicago time means arriving at a London hotel around 3 AM London time the next day. That’s 20 hours of total travel time, even with a ~7.5 hour flight.
This shows that Chicago London air travel time is much more than just the flight duration Chicago London.
Comparing Airlines and Times
Many different airlines fly from Chicago to London. They all use similar types of planes for this long trip. Airlines flying nonstop include:
* American Airlines
* British Airways
* United Airlines
* Virgin Atlantic
The listed nonstop flight time Chicago to London in their schedules will be very close for all these airlines, usually within 15-30 minutes of each other for a given day. This is because they fly the same distance and use planes with similar speeds.
Any small differences in scheduled time might be due to:
* The specific plane model they plan to use.
* Airlines building in extra time to be on schedule (called “padding”). For example, one airline might list the time as 7 hours 50 minutes, and another as 8 hours 10 minutes, even if the actual flight often takes 7 hours 45 minutes. This helps them look better if they arrive early.
When you look for flights, check the scheduled Chicago to London flight time for the specific flight you want to book. Websites and airline apps will show you this.
Remember that the average flight time Chicago to London is just a guide. The time on the day you fly can be shorter or longer because of wind and other factors.
The Journey Over the Atlantic
Flying from Chicago to London means flying over the big Atlantic Ocean. This is a very long time over water. Pilots and flight planners are very careful about this. They use special routes over the ocean called North Atlantic Tracks. These are like invisible highways in the sky.
The North Atlantic Tracks change every day. Air traffic controllers decide where they should be based on the wind, especially the jet stream. They want planes going east to have tailwinds and planes going west to avoid strong headwinds if possible.
So, the exact path your plane takes over the Atlantic for its nonstop flight time Chicago to London can be a bit different each day. This is another reason why the flight duration Chicago London can vary.
The plane flies very high, often between 30,000 and 40,000 feet. Up there, the air is thin and cold. Inside the plane, the air is controlled to be comfortable, but it is still drier than normal air. This long time in dry air is why people sometimes feel dehydrated on long flights.
During the Chicago to London flight time, you will see the ocean below for many hours. At night, it is just dark. During the day, you might see clouds or sometimes icebergs far below if the path goes far north in certain seasons. As you get closer to Europe, you might see land again over Ireland or Scotland before landing in London.
Preparing for a Long Flight
A 7 to 8 hour flight is a long time to be sitting. To make the Chicago to London flight time more comfortable, it helps to prepare.
* Move Around: Try to get up and walk a little bit when it is safe. This helps your body.
* Drink Water: Drink lots of water to stay hydrated because the air is dry. Don’t drink too much alcohol or caffeine.
* Dress Comfortably: Wear loose, comfy clothes.
* Bring Things to Do: Books, movies on a tablet, music, games. Airlines have entertainment, but having your own helps.
* Sleep: Bring a neck pillow and eye mask if you want to sleep. The cabin lights dim after takeoff.
* Adjust to Time: London time is 6 hours ahead of Chicago time. Start trying to adjust your sleep and eating a bit on the plane.
Managing the flight duration Chicago London is easier if you are ready for it.
Final Thoughts on Flight Times
The main thing to remember is that the Chicago to London flight time for a nonstop trip is usually between 7 and 8 hours. This is the typical flight time Chicago to London. The shortest flight time Chicago to London on a nonstop trip is just under 7 hours with good winds.
Flights with one stop will take much longer, often 10 to 15 hours total journey time. The average flight time Chicago to London figure usually talks about the nonstop journey.
The flight distance Chicago to London is about 3,950 miles. This distance, along with plane speed, wind, and air traffic, sets the flight duration Chicago London.
When you plan your trip, look at the scheduled time for your specific flight. And remember that the Chicago London air travel time includes much more than just the hours you are in the air.
Knowing how long is the flight from ORD to LHR helps you get ready for the journey across the Atlantic. It is a long trip, but a common one connecting two big cities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
H5 What is the time difference between Chicago and London?
London is usually 6 hours ahead of Chicago. For example, when it is 10:00 AM in Chicago, it is 4:00 PM in London. Both cities use daylight saving time (or similar), but they start and end it on different dates. This can sometimes make the difference 5 or 7 hours for a week or two each year, but most of the time it is 6 hours.
H5 What is the best time of year to fly from Chicago to London?
The best time depends on what you want.
* Weather: Summer (June to August) has the warmest weather in London, but it is also the busiest time for travel and prices can be higher. Spring (April-May) and Fall (September-October) often have nice weather and fewer crowds. Winter (November-March) is colder, but prices might be lower.
* Flight Time: As mentioned, winter often has stronger tailwinds for eastbound flights, possibly leading to slightly shorter Chicago to London flight time, but weather delays are also possible.
H5 What documents do I need to fly from Chicago to London?
You will need a valid passport. For US citizens visiting the UK for tourism, you usually do not need a visa for stays up to 6 months. But always check the latest rules before you travel, as they can change.
H5 Is this a busy flight route?
Yes, the Chicago to London route is very busy. Many people travel between these two big centers for business and fun. There are many nonstop flights every day offered by several major airlines. This is why knowing the average flight time Chicago to London is helpful for many travelers.
H5 How early should I get to the airport for this flight?
For an international flight from Chicago (ORD) to London (LHR), airlines strongly recommend you arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before your scheduled departure time. This gives you enough time for checking in, going through security, and getting to your gate, even if there are long lines.
H5 What is the difference between a direct flight and a nonstop flight?
Many people use these words to mean the same thing, but sometimes they are different in airline terms.
* Nonstop Flight: The plane flies from City A to City B with no stops. This is the fastest way.
* Direct Flight: The flight keeps the same flight number from City A to City B, but it might stop in a city C in between. If it stops, people might stay on the plane, or they might get off and back on after the stop. For Chicago to London, almost all flights called “direct” are actually nonstop. But always check the details to be sure. The direct flight duration Chicago to London usually refers to the nonstop time.
H5 What can I do during the flight to pass the time?
Airlines on this route offer in-flight entertainment like movies, TV shows, music, and games on screens at your seat. You can also read, work on a laptop, listen to your own music or podcasts, or try to sleep. Walking around and stretching is also a good idea during the flight duration Chicago London.