Is 45 minutes enough at ORD? 26% of inbound flights landed too late for it, allowing 30 minutes to reach the next gate. Book 105 minutes to keep the risk under 1 in 10, or 120 in July.
Separately, 3.4% of flights into ORD were cancelled or diverted (4.0% in July). That isn't a missed connection in the same sense: on one booking the airline rebooks you, though it can still cost you the day.
Check your exact itinerary through ORD →
Missed-connection risk by layover and month
Share of flights that landed at ORD too late for the connection (cancellations not included), pooled over 2023–2026. Read across your travel month.
| Layover | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 min | 30% | 23% | 28% | 26% | 28% | 31% | 34% | 33% | 23% | 23% | 24% | 29% | 32% |
| 50 min | 23% | 16% | 21% | 19% | 20% | 23% | 26% | 25% | 15% | 15% | 17% | 21% | 24% |
| 60 min | 18% | 12% | 17% | 14% | 16% | 18% | 21% | 20% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 16% | 18% |
| 75 min | 13% | 9% | 13% | 11% | 12% | 14% | 16% | 16% | 8% | 7% | 10% | 12% | 14% |
| 90 min | 11% | 7% | 11% | 8% | 10% | 12% | 13% | 13% | 6% | 5% | 8% | 10% | 12% |
| 120 min | 7% | 4% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 9% | 9% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 7% | 8% |
Counts flights that landed; cancelled and diverted inbound flights are reported separately above. Assumes 30 minutes to get off the plane and reach the next gate, and that the onward flight leaves on time. A terminal change or re-checking bags needs more.
Late in the day is riskier
Share of flights that would miss a 60-minute connection, by scheduled arrival time at ORD (past 12 months). Delays pile up through the day.
Riskiest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| ASE Aspen | 1,179 | 29% |
| FNT Flint | 1,866 | 24% |
| LGA New York | 11,641 | 24% |
| CHO Charlottesville | 1,236 | 23% |
| FSD Sioux Falls | 2,614 | 23% |
| SBN South Bend | 2,790 | 23% |
| FWA Fort Wayne | 2,812 | 23% |
| TYS Knoxville | 2,733 | 22% |
| DLH Duluth | 1,239 | 22% |
| ABE Allentown | 1,263 | 22% |
| MKE Milwaukee | 5,344 | 22% |
| DFW Dallas | 7,115 | 22% |
Safest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| SMF Sacramento | 1,347 | 12% |
| PDX Portland | 2,814 | 12% |
| SJU San Juan | 1,383 | 13% |
| SAV Savannah | 1,568 | 14% |
| PWM Portland | 1,493 | 14% |
| SNA Santa Ana | 2,164 | 14% |
| CHS Charleston | 2,153 | 14% |
| SAN San Diego | 3,944 | 14% |
| PHX Phoenix | 5,632 | 15% |
| ALB Albany | 2,373 | 15% |
| ORF Norfolk | 1,959 | 15% |
| SAT San Antonio | 2,004 | 15% |
Last flights of the day from ORD
If your inbound runs late and you miss one of these, the next flight is usually the next morning. Typical last scheduled departure over the past three months:
| To | Last departure | Flights / day |
|---|---|---|
| MIA Miami | 6:05 p.m. | 10.9 |
| MCO Orlando | 6:45 p.m. | 14.1 |
| BNA Nashville | 8:08 p.m. | 13.4 |
| ATL Atlanta | 8:09 p.m. | 19.2 |
| LGA New York | 8:20 p.m. | 29.9 |
| CLT Charlotte | 8:53 p.m. | 13.6 |
| DCA Washington | 8:56 p.m. | 20.2 |
| DFW Dallas | 9:05 p.m. | 21.8 |
| DTW Detroit | 9:20 p.m. | 17.1 |
| MKE Milwaukee | 9:20 p.m. | 14.1 |
| PIT Pittsburgh | 9:20 p.m. | 11.8 |
| CLE Cleveland | 9:24 p.m. | 12.9 |
| EWR Newark | 9:30 p.m. | 16.4 |
| CMH Columbus | 9:30 p.m. | 15.2 |
| SFO San Francisco | 9:35 p.m. | 17.2 |
| IAH Houston | 9:36 p.m. | 17.5 |
| BOS Boston | 9:41 p.m. | 24.5 |
| PHL Philadelphia | 9:45 p.m. | 15.4 |
| LAS Las Vegas | 9:59 p.m. | 12.9 |
| SEA Seattle | 10:00 p.m. | 19 |
| CVG Cincinnati | 10:00 p.m. | 14.7 |
| IND Indianapolis | 10:29 p.m. | 14 |
| DEN Denver | 10:30 p.m. | 17.8 |
| GRR Grand Rapids | 10:32 p.m. | 12.5 |
| LAX Los Angeles | 10:34 p.m. | 23.2 |
| PHX Phoenix | 10:35 p.m. | 14 |
| MCI Kansas City | 10:35 p.m. | 12.2 |
| MSP Minneapolis | 10:40 p.m. | 17.8 |
| STL St. Louis | 11:00 p.m. | 15 |
| MSN Madison | 11:00 p.m. | 11.8 |
Questions
Is 45 minutes enough for a connection at ORD?
Often, not always. Over the past year 26% of flights into Chicago landed too late to leave 30 minutes to reach the next gate on a 45-minute layover. With 60 minutes it was 18%; with 90, 12%. Separately, 3.4% of inbound flights were cancelled or diverted; on one booking the airline rebooks you.
How long a layover do I need at ORD?
To keep the risk of a late inbound below 1 in 10, about 105 minutes on an average month and 120 minutes in July, the worst month. Add time if you change terminals or need to re-check bags.
An estimate from past arrival delays, not a guarantee. On one ticket, the airline will rebook you if you misconnect. On separate tickets you're on your own, so leave far more time. Method.