ORD to CPH Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Chicago to Copenhagen flight turbulent?

The ORD–CPH route typically experiences moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on ORD to CPH?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a 218, that's rows 16-26. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from ORD to CPH?

The ORD to CPH flight takes approximately 8h 30min.

Is the Chicago to Copenhagen flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

ORD

→

CPH

Chicago · Copenhagen · 8h 30min

Turb Score

8h 30min

Duration

3,954 nm

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for ORD–CPH

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h8h 30min

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the ORD–CPH route

The Chicago to Copenhagen route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 37,000 feet, the aircraft encounters the strongest bumps roughly 2–5 hours into the flight. This is clear-air turbulence — no clouds, no visual warning — which makes a pre-flight forecast especially valuable.

The route is served by United Airlines, SAS on B · o · e · i · n · g · · 7 · 6 · 7 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 37,000 feet over a distance of 4,550 miles (3,954 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth.

Turbulence levels on ORD–CPH

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly ORD–CPH

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on ORD–CPH

218

Front

Rows 1–15

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 16-26

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 27+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

JFK → CPH

New York → Copenhagen

See all transatlantic flights →

Passenger Reports

The over the Atlantic section was legitimately rough. I was holding on to the armrests. Lasted maybe 40 minutes. One of the flight attendants had to sit down. Not a fun 8h 30min flight but we landed fine.

Solo traveler · January

Rough patch crossing the jet stream in December — drinks went everywhere on the row behind me. Probably 45 minutes of actual turbulence. Nothing dangerous but definitely uncomfortable.

Business traveler · December

Flew this in June expecting smooth skies based on past experience, but it was noticeably bumpier than usual. About an hour of moderate chop. Seatbelt sign basically stayed on.

Regular traveler · June

All ORD routes→ All CPH routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chicago to Copenhagen flight turbulent?

The ORD–CPH route typically experiences moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected. The turbulence score for this route is 7/100.

When is turbulence worst on ORD to CPH?

Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on ORD to CPH?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a 218 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 16-26. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from ORD to CPH?

The ORD to CPH flight takes approximately 8h 30min, covering 4,550 miles (3,954 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly ORD to CPH?

The main airlines operating this route are United Airlines, SAS, flying B · o · e · i · n · g · · 7 · 6 · 7 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data