There are no direct flights from Chicago to Australia or New Zealand. There are several daily direct flights to the U.K. by British Midland, United, and American.

Carriers

Major Airlines

Aer Lingus (888/474-7424. www.aerlingus.com). Air Canada (888/247-2262. www.aircanada.ca). Alaska Airlines (800/426-0333. www.alaskaair.com). American (800/433-7300. www.aa.com). British Airways (800/247-9297. www.britishairways.com). BMI British Midland (800/788-0555. www.flybmi.com). Continental (800/525-0280. www.continental.com). Delta (800/221-1212. www.delta.com). Mexicana (800/531-7921. www.mexicana.com). Northwest (800/225-2525. www.nwa.com). TACA Airlines (888/337-8466. www.taca.com). United (800/241-6522. www.united.com). US Airways (800/428-4322. www.usairways.com).

Smaller Airlines

America Trans Air (ATA) (800/225-2995. www.ata.com). America West (800/235-9292. www.americawest.com). Comair (800/927-0927. www.comair.com). Frontier Airlines (800/432-1359. www.frontierairlines.com). Independence Air (800/359-3594. www.flyi.com). JetBlue (800/538-2583. www.jetblue.com). Southwest Airlines (800/435-9792. www.southwest.com). Spirit Airlines (800/772-7177. www.spiritair.com). USA 3000 (877/872-3000. www.usa3000airlines.com/).

Flying Times

To Chicago: From New York, 2 hours; from San Francisco, 4 hours; from Los Angeles, 4 hours; from Dallas, 2½ hours; from London, 7 hours; from Sydney, 17 hours.