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Cheap flights from San Francisco to Chicago from $186

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 9/1. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — CHI
15 Dec — 22 Dec1
1 adult

Find flights from San Francisco to Chicago within your budget

Customise your flight search to find flights from San Francisco to Chicago that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 139,761 searches. Data last updated 10 December 2024.

Fly from

Any airport

Fly to

Any airport

Route

Departure

Return

Price

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 5/2

11:00-13:07

1 stop24h 07m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 9/2

18:55-21:54

Nonstop4h 59m

$369

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Thu 23/1

13:40-19:59

Nonstop4h 19m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 30/1

06:30-09:24

Nonstop4h 54m

$371

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 22/1

11:05-22:35

2 stops9h 30m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 28/1

17:45-22:35

1 stop6h 50m

$429

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Mon 13/1

14:33-23:59

1 stop7h 26m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 16/1

13:40-19:06

1 stop7h 26m

$431

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Thu 9/1

10:00-16:27

Nonstop4h 27m

$186

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Mon 7/4

16:25-00:35

1 stop6h 10m

$202

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Mon 6/1

05:55-16:13

1 stop8h 18m

$219

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Sat 11/1

05:35-18:10

2 stops10h 35m

$314

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Mon 16/12

20:35-08:06

1 stop9h 31m

$480

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 18/12

00:17-12:12

1 stop9h 55m

$528

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 10/12

Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago (CHI). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated 10 December 2024.

Round-trip from

$369

One-way from

$186

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

April

Average price

$670
Alaska Airlines
  • Alaska Airlines
  • 5/2-10/2
  • 1 total stop
  • 29h 06m total
  • San Francisco to Chicago
Search Deals
Alaska Airlines
  • Alaska Airlines
  • 9/1
  • Nonstop
  • 4h 27m total
  • San Francisco to Chicago
Search Deals
High demand for flights, 1% potential price rise
Search Deals
Best time to find cheap flights, 1% potential price drop
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in December 2024
Search Deals

Find flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Cheapest flights from San Francisco to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 10 December 2024.

Tue 31/1220:35SFO - ORD
1 stop6h 55mAlaska Airlines
Wed 15/107:45ORD - SFO
1 stop8h 02mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 9/12$415
Tue 31/1200:10SFO - ORD
1 stop7h 14mDelta
Wed 8/106:15ORD - SFO
1 stop7h 20mDelta
Deal found 9/12$437
Tue 31/1216:00SFO - ORD
1 stop5h 51mUnited Airlines
Sun 5/106:15ORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 52mUnited Airlines
Deal found 9/12$472
Tue 31/1206:15SFO - ORD
2 stops9h 55mSouthwest
Wed 15/113:45ORD - SFO
2 stops10h 30mSouthwest
Deal found 9/12$617
Tue 17/1218:15SFO - ORD
1 stop21h 10mSun Country Air
Wed 25/1210:00ORD - SFO
1 stop14h 51mSun Country Air
Deal found 9/12$675

Best time to book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from San Francisco with our price prediction graph.
Estimated return price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Travel insights for flights from San Francisco to Chicago

Get recent, data-driven insights about flights from San Francisco to Chicago including ideal travel times, pricing trends, and more.

How far ahead should I book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a return flight from San Francisco to Chicago. Price data was last updated on 6 December 2024.

The price you pay for your flight from San Francisco to Chicago may vary depending on when you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, look to book 83 days in advance of your trip. Fares are likely to increase a fortnight or so before your departure date.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SFO to CHI?

Find hourly flight availability from San Francisco to Chicago. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated 10 December 2024.

When flying from San Francisco to Chicago, the time of day you decide to fly out makes little to no difference towards the overall price you’ll pay on tickets.

Weekly flight availability from San Francisco to Chicago

Explore weekly flight availability from San Francisco to Chicago. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated 10 December 2024.

The most flights from SFO to CHI are scheduled on a Monday (61 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (41 on average).

Rainfall in Chicago by month

Plan your trip to Chicago by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Chicago ranges from 43.0 - 125.0 inches per month. August is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 125.0 mm. January is typically the driest time to visit Chicago when rainfall is around 43.0 mm.

Temperature in Chicago by month

Plan your trip to Chicago by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Chicago, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, July is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 23.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around -5.0 C).

Reviews of airlines servicing Chicago

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Chicago. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Chicago. Reviews last updated 10 December 2024.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest from San Francisco to Chicago to help guide your decision. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,902 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.7

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.7

Reviews

1 / 10

My original flight was delayed so they found this flight for me so I could arrive at a reasonable time

Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,902 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,902 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.7

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.7

Reviews

1 / 10

My original flight was delayed so they found this flight for me so I could arrive at a reasonable time

Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very Good
9,524 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,902 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.7

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.7

Reviews

1 / 10

My original flight was delayed so they found this flight for me so I could arrive at a reasonable time

Delta
8.0
Very Good
8,656 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,902 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.7

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.7

Reviews

1 / 10

My original flight was delayed so they found this flight for me so I could arrive at a reasonable time

JetBlue
7.4
Good
3,314 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,902 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.7

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.7

Reviews

1 / 10

My original flight was delayed so they found this flight for me so I could arrive at a reasonable time

United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,107 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,902 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.7

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.7

Reviews

1 / 10

My original flight was delayed so they found this flight for me so I could arrive at a reasonable time

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from San Francisco to Chicago. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airport do you fly from for flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

    If you book a flight to Chicago from San Francisco, you will be flying from San Francisco, which is the city’s only airport. San Francisco (SFO) is located 19.0 km from the centre of San Francisco. There are 51 flights from San Francisco to Chicago per day from 0 different airlines.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from San Francisco to Chicago round-trip?

    According to our current data, Alaska Airlines ($369), United Airlines ($371), and Southwest ($429) offers the cheapest pricing from San Francisco to Chicago. Alaska Airlines is 36% cheaper than the average price of flights available within the next 90 days to this destination.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from San Francisco to Chicago one-way?

    The cheapest airline one-way is Alaska Airlines, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $186. However, be on the lookout for offers from United Airlines and Delta, as they are both options that can get you from San Francisco to Chicago for a low price.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from San Francisco to Chicago?

    Looking for the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time? Our data shows these are most likely to get you from San Francisco to Chicago on time: Asiana Airlines (93%), Iberia (92%), United Airlines (89%).

  • Can I find deals for flights from San Francisco to Chicago that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on San Francisco to Chicago flights, Cheapflights offers holiday packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

See more FAQs

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