Chicago Flightsw
Chicago Flights
If you want to get flights to Chicago, with airlines like United and BMI, you can find the latest deals using the search panel below. I have also collected some of the best prices for Chicago flights in the table to give you an idea what to expect.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Getting to Chicago was really easy, helped by direct flights from and to Manchester. United Airlines have Chicago as what's called a 'hub city', which means that most of their flights go through the city on their way elsewhere. Of course by going to Chicago this gave me lots of options for flights, and getting a direct one pleased me no end. What was also good was leaving Manchester in the late morning and arriving in Chicago only a couple of hours later! David Blaine I am not, it was just the magic of different time zones, with Chicago being 6 hours behind us here in the UK.
The flight itself was actually with bmi - they do all the Manchester routings apparently, and I have to say they were excellent. The plane was an Airbus A330 with comfy seats and reasonable legroom. I struggle to sleep on journeys, so the toys I had were a blessing on this 8 hour trip. Most planes seem to have these in seat video screens now, and this one was no exception. There's plenty of choice - films and tv, and it's so much better than trying to share one screen at the front like the old days. A really cool thing they did was show the take off and landing on the screens - for those who weren't too worried of course. They also have video games to play, although it was a Nintendo so no Gran Turismo. Still, good to while away an hour though.
Flights to Chicago go into O'Hare International Airport, which is about 15 miles out of the city centre for those heading that way. There are cabs and Chicago car-hire depots there so transport is not a problem, but of course I was being collected so it was just a matter of looking out for my Auntie, which is not as easy as it sounds in an airport this busy. There was a point where I thought I may end up living here, like Tom Hanks in the film The Terminal. However, we managed to find each other and then it was a quick drive to the suburbs.
I did drive in Chicago later during my stay, having arranged car hire in Chicago before I set off. There are depots in the city as well as at the airport so it was pretty straightforward to collect the car. Driving here was okay too, not as daunting as I first imagined, although for the first couple of days I did have to keep reminding myself which side of the road I was supposed to be on.
I got the car from the Chicago car hire depot so I could look around the area and explore a little. As well as driving along the edge of Lake Michigan I also went down from Chicago, in to the heart of the Illinois agriculture belt. Some of the roads here are just like in the movies - long and straight with nothing but fields around. A great experience that I've always wanted to do. Driving for miles and miles then coming to a small town and stopping for a while has to be ultimate Americana for me. The people were all really friendly too. I guess I was as much a novelty to them as they were to me.
As with most trips they are over too soon, and this was no exception. I actually went to the airport the night prior to flying home as my relatives would have been at work when I needed to be leaving, so I got a room at one of the Chicago hotels but one near the airport. It was very nice too, with an excellent restaurant and some great gym facilities - of which I only used the jacuzzi I have to admit.
And so it was time to go back home, but Chicago will certainly be seeing me again soon - I'll be picking up some more of those cheap flights to Chicago because you should always stay in touch with your family.