Chicago

$47+ Cheap flights from California to Chicago (CHI)

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 3/25. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
LAX — CHI
Feb 27 — Mar 61
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Cheap flight deals from California to Chicago

Keep the following information in mind while searching for California to Chicago flight deals. Data was last updated February 22, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$110
(Frontier)

One-way from

$47
(Cheapflightsfares)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

October

Average price

$274

Good round-trip deal

$168 or less

Good one-way deal

$61 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Los Angeles-Chicago (CHI) flight deals.
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Los Angeles-Chicago (CHI) flights.
From California to Chicago (CHI)
One-way flight from California to Chicago (CHI)
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 2% potential increase in price ($6 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($6 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in February 2025
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from California to Chicago (CHI).
Price to beat on a one-way flight from California to Chicago (CHI).

Find flight deals from California to Chicago

Cheapest flights from California to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from California to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on February 22, 2025.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/22. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 4/1412:33 pmBUR - ORD
1 stop10h 04mFrontier
Wed 4/166:40 amORD - BUR
1 stop6h 53mFrontier
Deal found 2/22$110
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 4/17:58 pmBUR - ORD
1 stop8h 44mSpirit Airlines
Sat 4/58:09 amORD - BUR
1 stop11h 09mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 2/21$116
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/22. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 4/76:55 pmOAK - ORD
1 stop9h 47mSpirit Airlines
Wed 4/97:41 amORD - OAK
1 stop11h 53mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 2/22$116
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Booking.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 3/247:58 pmBUR - ORD
1 stop8h 44mMultiple Airlines
Wed 3/266:45 amORD - BUR
1 stop6h 48mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 2/21$119
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 3/49:30 pmLAX - MDW
1 stop7h 37mFrontier
Tue 3/117:50 amMDW - LAX
1 stop9h 14mFrontier
Deal found 2/21$132
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 3/265:35 amLAX - ORD
1 stop18h 03mSpirit Airlines
Tue 4/17:51 pmORD - LAX
Nonstop4h 56mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 2/21$132
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 5/18:05 pmLAX - ORD
1 stop7h 05mMultiple Airlines
Tue 5/69:45 amORD - LAX
Nonstop4h 44mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 2/21$133
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 3/158:09 pmLAX - ORD
1 stop6h 55mFrontier
Wed 3/196:45 amORD - LAX
1 stop19h 40mFrontier
Deal found 2/21$136
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 4/912:59 amONT - ORD
1 stop21h 11mFrontier
Mon 4/148:01 pmORD - ONT
1 stop26h 48mFrontier
Deal found 2/21$140
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 3/98:14 pmSAN - ORD
1 stop8h 28mMultiple Airlines
Wed 3/126:45 amORD - SAN
1 stop19h 35mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 2/20$147
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 3/258:07 pmSAN - ORD
1 stop8h 35mSpirit Airlines
Mon 3/3110:27 pmORD - SAN
2 stops22h 44mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 2/21$148
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/21. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/246:25 amSAN - MDW
1 stop6h 26mFrontier
Sun 4/278:01 pmMDW - SAN
1 stop6h 13mFrontier
Deal found 2/21$148

Find flights from California to Chicago within your budget

Customize your flight search to find flights from California 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 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated February 22, 2025.

Fly from

California

Fly to

Chicago

Route

Depart

Return

Price

BurbankChicago

BUR - ORD

BURORD

Burbank Bob Hope

Mon 4/14

12:33 pm-12:37 am

1 stop10h 04m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 4/16

6:40 am-11:33 am

1 stop6h 53m

$110

BurbankChicago

BUR - ORD

BURORD

Burbank Bob Hope

Tue 4/1

7:58 pm-6:42 am

1 stop8h 44m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 4/5

8:09 am-5:18 pm

1 stop11h 09m

$116

OaklandChicago

OAK - ORD

OAKORD

Oakland

Mon 4/7

6:55 pm-6:42 am

1 stop9h 47m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 4/9

7:41 am-5:34 pm

1 stop11h 53m

$116

BurbankChicago

BUR - ORD

BURORD

Burbank Bob Hope

Mon 3/24

7:58 pm-6:42 am

1 stop8h 44m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 3/26

6:45 am-11:33 am

1 stop6h 48m

$119

Los AngelesChicago

LAX - MDW

LAXMDW

Los Angeles

Tue 3/4

9:30 pm-7:07 am

1 stop7h 37m

Chicago Midway

Tue 3/11

7:50 am-3:04 pm

1 stop9h 14m

$132

Los AngelesChicago

LAX - ORD

LAXORD

Los Angeles

Wed 3/26

5:35 am-1:38 am

1 stop18h 03m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 4/1

7:51 pm-10:47 pm

Nonstop4h 56m

$132

Los AngelesChicago

LAX - ORD

LAXORD

Los Angeles

Thu 5/1

8:05 pm-5:10 am

1 stop7h 05m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 5/6

9:45 am-12:29 pm

Nonstop4h 44m

$133

Los AngelesChicago

LAX - ORD

LAXORD

Los Angeles

Sat 3/15

8:09 pm-5:04 am

1 stop6h 55m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 3/19

6:45 am-12:25 am

1 stop19h 40m

$136

OntarioChicago

ONT - ORD

ONTORD

Ontario

Wed 4/9

12:59 am-12:10 am

1 stop21h 11m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 4/14

8:01 pm-8:49 pm

1 stop26h 48m

$140

San DiegoChicago

SAN - ORD

SANORD

San Diego

Sun 3/9

8:14 pm-6:42 am

1 stop8h 28m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 3/12

6:45 am-12:20 am

1 stop19h 35m

$147

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 2/21

Showing 1-10 of 60 results
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Best time to book a flight from California to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from California with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip 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 California to Chicago

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

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from California to Chicago?

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from California to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from California to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $321). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

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

Find hourly flight availability from California 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 February 22, 2025.

Regardless of the time of day you decide to fly, the ticket price will remain around the same. Book flights from California to Chicago as you normally would.

Weekly flight availability from California to Chicago

Explore weekly flight availability from California 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 February 22, 2025.

The most flights from USCA to CHI are scheduled on a Friday (102 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (77 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 1.7 - 4.9 inches per month. August is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 4.9 in. January is typically the driest time to visit Chicago when rainfall is around 1.7 in.

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 73.4 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 23.0 F).

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 February 22, 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Southwest, Alaska Airlines and Delta from California to Chicago to help guide your decision. In addition to providing an overall rating, users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Entertainment

7.6

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.7

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0
Excellent

Arlene,May 2024

SAN - OAK

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

Entertainment

7.6

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.7

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0
Excellent

Arlene,May 2024

SAN - OAK

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

Entertainment

7.6

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.7

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0
Excellent

Arlene,May 2024

SAN - OAK

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

8.0
Very good

Entertainment

7.6

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.7

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0
Excellent

Arlene,May 2024

SAN - OAK

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

Entertainment

7.6

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.7

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0
Excellent

Arlene,May 2024

SAN - OAK

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

Entertainment

7.6

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.7

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0
Excellent

Arlene,May 2024

SAN - OAK

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 California to Chicago. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.
  • What airports serve California to Chicago flights?

    Airports that serve flights from California to Chicago all depend on the location that you choose to leave from. California has multiple airports you can use such as Los Angeles International Airport, San Jose International Airport and Ontario Airport. Just as there are plenty of choices from California there are also choices from Chicago as well. Chicago O’Hare International Airport is a popular choice but there is also Chicago Midway Airport available for flights from California to Chicago.

  • Which airlines fly directly from California to Chicago?

    The airlines that fly directly from California to Chicago depend on the location that you choose. For Flights from Los Angeles to O’Hare typically Spirit Airlines and United Airlines have flights available for you. While if you choose to fly from San Jose International Airport to Chicago Midway Airport typically Southwest Airlines and Delta Airlines have an array of flights to choose from. All the airlines and prices will vary on the dates chosen and locations picked for flights from California to Chicago.

  • What are the stopover options between California to Chicago?

    Typical flights from California to Chicago are nonstop flights but there are some locations that may give you one stopover to possibly two. When flying from Los Angeles International Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, you will not have stopovers and the flight will range near 4h 6m. If you do have a stopover it is usually located at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for a total of 5h 41m. When flying from Ontario to Chicago Midway you will have a total of two stops at both Los Angeles International Airport and Minneapolis?Saint Paul International Airport for a total time of 8h 32m.

  • Do I need a passport or visa to fly from California to Chicago?

    If you are a US Citizen then you will not need to have a visa when flying from California to Chicago due to it being a domestic flight and unnecessary for you to have a visa. You will be required to have photo identification whether that be in the form of a passport or a valid driver’s license it varies from airline but it is required if you are to board the airplane.

  • Which eco-friendly carrier companies operate flights between California and Chicago?

    When planning on an environmentally friendly flight from California to Chicago, think about choosing Spirit Airlines, Frontier, or Sun Country Air. These airlines are dedicated to lowering their absurdly high fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions through the use of fuel optimization techniques. These businesses are also committed to swapping out their older, more complicated engines with newer, lighter, and quieter designs.

  • What kind of research could be done to find a company that travels ecologically between California and Chicago?

    Be sure to research more information about the numerous environmental initiatives being carried out by key airline companies that fly from California to Chicago before booking your ticket. You can evaluate the carriers' sustainable development commitments by looking at their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reports. When preparing their ESG reports, airlines often assess both their operational processes and their transit infrastructure. See what the various airlines that operate flights from California to Chicago are doing to uphold their promise by reading the IATA publication, Environmental Assessment for Airports and Ground Service Providers (IEnVA).

  • How might one travel sustainably from California to Chicago?

    You might be able to travel from California to Chicago in an environmentally friendly manner if you just bring the stuff you'll actually need. Making the plane lighter might drastically cut the amount of carbon it releases into the atmosphere. Taking an economy flight is another choice for traveling sustainably, more so if you want to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide created by each seat on the aircraft.

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

    $47 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Spirit Airlines. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Frontier and Southwest, with prices starting from $55 and $90, respectively.

  • What are the most popular routes from California to Chicago?

  • What are the most reliable airlines from California to Chicago?

    The top 3 most reliable airlines when flying from California to Chicago are Fiji Airways (95%), Austrian Airlines (94%) and Finnair (92%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from California to Chicago?

    On average you can expect to pay $902 for a flight from California to Chicago. The cheapest flight overall is $70 while the most popular route, (Los Angeles - Chicago O'Hare Intl) is currently priced at $107.

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

    Yes. In addition to deals on California to Chicago flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from California to Chicago?

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from California 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.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from California to Chicago?

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from California to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from California to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $321). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near California?

Book flights to California if you plan to visit one of these locations
Merrillville
New Buffalo
Hammond
Benton Harbor
Porter
Lansing
Valparaiso
Chesterton

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Alternative routes for California to Chicago

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.

Top 9 airlines flying from California to Chicago

Discover the top 9 airlines that operate flights from California to Chicago. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated February 22, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Allegiant AirCheapest$49Average$120FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time88%
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$74Average$232FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
FrontierCheapest$74Average$215FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Alaska AirlinesCheapest$100Average$409FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
Sun Country AirCheapest$149Average$362FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time83%
SouthwestCheapest$157Average$440FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$179Average$442FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$182Average$399FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
DeltaCheapest$182Average$462FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A

Helpful tips for your next trip to Chicago

Get useful tips and recommendations to enhance your travel experience on your next trip to Chicago. Learn about must-visit attractions, local customs, transportation options, weather conditions, and other valuable tips to make your trip more enjoyable and hassle-free.
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is a good choice to begin your flight journey if you wish to connect from California to Chicago via an airport that actively values ecological sustainability. Plans are underway to eliminate single-use plastics from the airport's operations.
  • You might want to think about selecting Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) as your endpoint if you wish to travel sustainably from California to Chicago. MDW has started using solar power generating measures to reduce its water consumption levels in Chicago as part of its continuing commitment to preserving the environment.
  • Consider using buses and other forms of public transit to go from MDW to different parts of Chicago as they are more environmentally friendly than private cars or taxis because they emit less CO2.
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