HomeSearch by dateVacation packagesHotelsFlight dealsCar rentalTravel tips & news
San Francisco

$90+ Cheap flights from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco (SFO)

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 5/29. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHI — SFO
Apr 21 — Apr 281
Mon 4/21
Mon 4/28
1 adult, Economy
We work with more than 300 partners to bring you better travel deals

Find cheap flights from Chicago to San Francisco with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go

Enter your travel information like dates, passengers, trip type (one-way or round trip), and preferred cabin class then click “Find deals”

2. Select your favorite providers

We find the providers serving your travel needs. Choose up to four travel providers to compare side-by-side for flights, hotels, or car rentals.

3. Compare prices and book

Review each provider’s pricing and select the best option for you! Book through your favorite provider’s website for a seamless experience.

Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Chicago to San Francisco are usually found in September or February, booked 83 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Thursday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco (SFO). 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 April 16, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

eDreams
3 stars

Round-trip from

$188
(Frontier)

One-way from

$90
(American Airlines)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$288

Good round-trip deal

$263 or less

Good one-way deal

$142 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Chicago (CHI)-San Francisco flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Chicago (CHI)-San Francisco flights.
Search Deals
From Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco
Search Deals
One-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 7% potential increase in price ($24 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($6 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in April 2025
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco.
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco.
Search Deals

Find flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco

Cheapest flights from Chicago to San Francisco
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Chicago to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on April 16, 2025.

This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/15. 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.
Sat 4/262:40 pmMDW - SFO
1 stop10h 28mFrontier
Sat 5/32:03 pmSFO - MDW
1 stop22h 45mFrontier
Deal found 4/15$181
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/16. 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.
Wed 5/1411:10 amORD - SFO
1 stop13h 12mFrontier
Sun 5/182:53 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop12h 17mFrontier
Deal found 4/16$188
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/15. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 7/15:15 amMDW - SFO
1 stop6h 10mSouthwest
Wed 7/97:45 pmSFO - MDW
1 stop7h 15mSouthwest
Deal found 4/15$207
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/15. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 5/133:35 pmORD - SFO
Nonstop5h 01mUnited Airlines
Fri 5/1610:50 pmSFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 21mUnited Airlines
Deal found 4/15$207
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/15. 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.
Sat 5/310:22 amORD - SFO
1 stop14h 00mMultiple Airlines
Wed 5/711:48 amSFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 32mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 4/15$209
This Hawaiian Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/15. 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 Hawaiian Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 5/86:58 pmORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 59mHawaiian Airlines
Mon 5/1211:48 amSFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 32mHawaiian Airlines
Deal found 4/15$217
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/16. 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 American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 5/74:51 pmORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 46mAmerican Airlines
Fri 5/912:24 amSFO - ORD
1 stop7h 10mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 4/16$219
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/16. 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 Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 7/17:18 pmORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 48mAlaska Airlines
Wed 7/1611:55 amSFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 23mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 4/16$228
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/15. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 7/36:55 pmORD - SFO
1 stop7h 15mSouthwest
Tue 7/810:45 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop12h 00mSouthwest
Deal found 4/15$232
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/16. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 5/256:24 amORD - SFO
1 stop9h 05mDelta
Sat 5/311:45 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop8h 14mDelta
Deal found 4/16$256
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/15. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 7/11:09 pmMDW - SFO
1 stop7h 04mDelta
Sat 7/512:49 amSFO - MDW
1 stop5h 55mDelta
Deal found 4/15$257

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Customize your flight search to find flights from Chicago to San Francisco 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 April 16, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Chicago to San Francisco that are best for you.

Fly from

Chicago

Fly to

San Francisco

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Sat 4/26

2:40 pm-11:08 pm

1 stop10h 28m

San Francisco

Sat 5/3

2:03 pm-2:48 pm

1 stop22h 45m

$181

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 4/21

10:02 am-10:58 pm

1 stop14h 56m

San Francisco

Sat 4/26

11:38 pm-12:01 pm

1 stop10h 23m

$189

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Tue 7/1

5:15 am-9:25 am

1 stop6h 10m

San Francisco

Wed 7/9

7:45 pm-5:00 am

1 stop7h 15m

$207

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 5/10

7:10 am-11:43 am

1 stop6h 33m

San Francisco

Tue 5/13

12:10 am-6:30 am

Nonstop4h 20m

$207

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 5/3

10:22 am-10:22 pm

1 stop14h 00m

San Francisco

Wed 5/7

11:48 am-6:20 pm

Nonstop4h 32m

$209

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 5/7

4:51 pm-7:37 pm

Nonstop4h 46m

San Francisco

Fri 5/9

12:24 am-9:34 am

1 stop7h 10m

$219

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 5/6

12:00 pm-5:49 pm

1 stop7h 49m

San Francisco

Tue 5/13

8:00 am-6:01 pm

1 stop8h 01m

$225

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 5/16

7:59 pm-10:49 pm

Nonstop4h 50m

San Francisco

Sun 5/18

7:55 pm-5:40 am

1 stop7h 45m

$227

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 7/3

6:55 pm-12:10 am

1 stop7h 15m

San Francisco

Tue 7/8

10:45 pm-12:45 pm

1 stop12h 00m

$232

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 5/25

6:24 am-1:29 pm

1 stop9h 05m

San Francisco

Sat 5/31

1:45 pm-11:59 pm

1 stop8h 14m

$256

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 4/15

Showing 1-10 of 25 results
1
2
3

Compare providers for flights from Chicago to San Francisco

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco in April.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*2 stars
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
CheapOairPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
CheapflightsfaresPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*2 stars
JustAirTicketPrice Accuracy-Trust Score*3 stars
PricelinePrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightnetworkPrice Accuracy-Trust Score*3 stars
CheapTicketsDealPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
Kiwi.comPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Chicago-San Francisco flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Chicago-San Francisco flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Chicago-San Francisco flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Chicago-San Francisco flights, Cheapflights users trust eDreams the most. eDreams has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for Chicago-San Francisco flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

The best insider tips for Chicago to San Francisco flights

Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of Cheapflights-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your Chicago to San Francisco trip
Airlines
United Airlines

United's Polaris Lounges offer showers, daybeds, and dining for premium passengers.


Basic Economy on United allows a personal item but no carry-on bags.

Read more about United Airlinesby Harriet Baskas
Alaska Airlines

Alaska's Premium Class offers extra legroom and free cocktails, but no divider from Main Cabin.


Alaska's Wi-Fi is a flat fee, ideal for business travelers to stay productive.

Read more about Alaska Airlinesby Robert Schrader
Airports
ORD

For a quick departure from ORD, consider taking the “L” train from downtown Chicago to avoid traffic delays.

Read more about ORDby Ramsey Qubein
SFO

Use BART for a budget-friendly trip from SFO to downtown San Francisco. The ride takes about 40 minutes.

Read more about SFOby Harriet Baskas
Our travel experts
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on United Airlines and SFO

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Read more
Robert Schrader

Robert Schrader

Expert on Alaska Airlines

Robert Schrader

Robert Schrader

One of the web's original travel bloggers, Robert launched his first site Leave Your Daily Hell in 2009. Since then, he's expanded into destination niche sites (one each for Japan, Thailand and Taiwan), in addition to having written for the inflight magazines of Singapore Airlines and Korean Air. Overall, he's visited nearly 100 countries, and flies business as often as possible.

Read more
Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on ORD

Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

An avid traveler and aviation expert who has visited 173 countries, all 50 states and seven continents, Ramsey Qubein flies nearly 400,000 miles a year. As a North Carolina-based freelance journalist for publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, USA Today and Bloomberg among others, he explores the latest trends in aviation, hospitality, cruises and business.

Read more

Best time to book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Francisco from Chicago 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.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Chicago to San Francisco

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Chicago to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on April 11, 2025.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Chicago to San Francisco, you should look to book at least 83 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

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

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Chicago to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $393). 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 CHI to SFO?

Find hourly flight availability from Chicago to San Francisco. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated April 16, 2025.

It’s optimal to fly from Chicago to San Francisco in the evening. By choosing this option you can save up to 10% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight at noon.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Chicago to San Francisco?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Chicago to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on March 30, 2025.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Chicago to San Francisco flight should consider departing on Friday afternoons when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday afternoons flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Weekly flight availability from Chicago to San Francisco

Explore weekly flight availability from Chicago to San Francisco. 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 April 16, 2025.

The most flights from CHI to SFO are scheduled on a Wednesday (77 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (49 on average).

Rainfall in San Francisco by month

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

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in San Francisco ranges from 0.0 - 4.4 inches per month. January is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 4.4 in. July is typically the driest time to visit San Francisco when rainfall is around 0.0 in.

Temperature in San Francisco by month

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

If weather is an important factor for your trip to San Francisco, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, September is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 62.6 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 51.8 F).

Reviews of airlines servicing San Francisco

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Francisco. 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 San Francisco. Reviews last updated April 16, 2025.
To help decide which airline to fly from Chicago to San Francisco, see what other customers have to say about Alaska Airlines, Southwest and Delta. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,876 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.1

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.9

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
4.0
Okay

Anonymous,Apr 2025

LAS - STS

flight was delayed both ways even tho the weather was clear >
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,876 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,876 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.1

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.9

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
4.0
Okay

Anonymous,Apr 2025

LAS - STS

flight was delayed both ways even tho the weather was clear >
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,282 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,876 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.1

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.9

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
4.0
Okay

Anonymous,Apr 2025

LAS - STS

flight was delayed both ways even tho the weather was clear >
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,916 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,876 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.1

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.9

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
4.0
Okay

Anonymous,Apr 2025

LAS - STS

flight was delayed both ways even tho the weather was clear >
Hawaiian Airlines
7.9
Good
2,380 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,876 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.1

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.9

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
4.0
Okay

Anonymous,Apr 2025

LAS - STS

flight was delayed both ways even tho the weather was clear >
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,665 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,876 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.1

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.9

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
4.0
Okay

Anonymous,Apr 2025

LAS - STS

flight was delayed both ways even tho the weather was clear >

Chicago to San Francisco Travel Guide

Dozens of flights are waiting to carry you from the freeways and skyscrapers of Chicago to the fishing piers and historic neighborhoods of San Francisco. A major metropolis along the California coastline, the Bay Area is famous for its maritime atmosphere and architectural marvels such as the Ferry Building Marketplace and the Legion of Honor. Browse direct flights between these two major travel hubs to find a cheap flight to match your travel schedule.

The moment you leave the Windy City behind and step onto the hilly streets San Francisco, the historic Bay Area instantly transports you to a world of cable cars and charming wharfs. Trade the trains of Chicago for the ferries and whale-watching bay cruises of this California city, and enjoy milder winter months with temperatures hovering in the 60's F. Before saying goodbye to the Golden Gate Bridge, don't forget to tour Alcatraz Island and enjoy the catch of the day at one of the bay-side seafood shacks.

The Golden Gate Bridge is just a short flight away, so what's stopping you? Try out our smart search engine to find great flight deals and start planning your San Francisco adventure.

Related info for your journey

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

  • How long is the flight from Chicago to San Francisco?

    Flights times from Chicago to San Francisco usually range from four hours and 15 minutes to four and a half hours. If you have a connection in another city, total travel time may be upwards of six hours.

  • Which airlines operate flights from Chicago to San Francisco?

    American Airlines, United, Virgin America and Alaska Airlines all offer non-stop service from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and you can find direct flights from Midway International Airport through Southwest Airlines.

  • How frequent are flights between Chicago and San Francisco?

    Upwards of 20 direct flights to San Francisco leave from Chicago O'Hare per day, with planes departing every hour or so. From Midway, You can choose from around 3 flights leaving each day.

  • Which airports serve Chicago and San Francisco?

    Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the Chicago metro area as well as a major U.S. travel hub, offering daily flights to San Francisco through multiple airlines. Chicago Midway International Airport is a smaller airport that also offers a few flights to the Bay Area, though you have a smaller selection of flight times and prices. When your plane lands in San Francisco, you find yourself in San Francisco International Airport, the area's major airport located a few miles south of the central city area.

  • Which direct flight route between Chicago and San Francisco is cheapest?

    Find the lowest prices on direct flights running from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport. You can also occasionally snag a great deal taking off from Midway International Airport, so be sure to keep your options open while searching.

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

    Located just 11.8 mi from the city center, San Francisco is the airport most travelers will use when flying to San Francisco from Chicago. Booking flights from Chicago to San Francisco (SFO) should be relatively easy as there are 62 daily inbound flights from Chicago from 8 different airlines.

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

    Flying on Frontier is currently your cheapest option to San Francisco, with prices starting at $188. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by Southwest and United Airlines, with the lowest prices starting at $207 and $207, respectively. Users have found that Frontier is 39% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

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

    $90 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from American Airlines. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Alaska Airlines and Frontier, with prices starting from $99 and $100, respectively.

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

    Before booking your flight to San Francisco from Chicago, check out the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time: ANA (97%), Air China (94%), China Southern( 89%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Chicago to San Francisco?

    While on average a flight from Chicago to San Francisco is generally $817, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $98. When looking at the most popular route, (Chicago O'Hare Intl - San Francisco), you can expect to pay $179 for that flight.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco 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 Chicago to San Francisco?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Chicago to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $393). 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 Chicago?

Book flights to Chicago if you plan to visit one of these locations
Roseville
Mountain View
Santa Cruz
Turlock
South San Francisco
Fairfield
Manteca
Sausalito
Richmond
Watsonville
Hollister
Milpitas
Antioch
Vallejo
Newark
Hayward
Alameda
Sunnyvale
Livermore
Campbell

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Alternative routes for Chicago to San Francisco

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
O'Hare Intl to Las Vegas flights
O'Hare Intl to San Francisco flights
Midway to Las Vegas flights
O'Hare Intl to Los Angeles flights
O'Hare Intl to San Diego flights
O'Hare Intl to Santa Ana flights
O'Hare Intl to Ontario flights
St. Louis to Las Vegas flights
O'Hare Intl to Burbank flights
Midway to Los Angeles flights
Midway to San Francisco flights
O'Hare Intl to Oakland flights
O'Hare Intl to San Jose flights
O'Hare Intl to Sacramento flights
O'Hare Intl to Palm Springs flights
Midway to Ontario flights
O'Hare Intl to Reno flights
Midway to San Diego flights
St. Louis to Los Angeles flights
St. Louis to San Francisco flights
Midway to Santa Ana flights
St. Louis to San Diego flights
Rockford to Las Vegas flights
O'Hare Intl to Fresno flights
Midway to Burbank flights
Midway to Palm Springs flights
St. Louis to Ontario flights
Midway to Oakland flights
Midway to San Jose flights
St. Louis to Sacramento flights
Midway to Sacramento flights
Midway to Reno flights
O'Hare Intl to Long Beach flights
St. Louis to Santa Ana flights
O'Hare Intl to Medford flights
O'Hare Intl to Santa Barbara flights
Peoria to San Diego flights
O'Hare Intl to San Luis Obispo flights
St. Louis to San Jose flights
Peoria to Las Vegas flights
Moline to Sacramento flights
St. Louis to Burbank flights
Midway to Long Beach flights
Moline to Las Vegas flights
St. Louis to Long Beach flights
Midway to Fresno flights
St. Louis to Fresno flights
Bloomington to Las Vegas flights
St. Louis to Santa Barbara flights
Evansville to Las Vegas flights

Top 7 airlines flying from Chicago to San Francisco

Discover the top 7 airlines that operate flights from Chicago to San Francisco. 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 April 16, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$78Average$224FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Hawaiian AirlinesCheapest$108Average$268FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time85%
DeltaCheapest$128Average$385FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
Alaska AirlinesCheapest$157Average$286FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
United AirlinesCheapest$179Average$345FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$197Average$330FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$257Average$439FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

100% Free

Cheapflights is completely free to use, so you can start saving the moment you arrive.

Book with Flexibility

Our users can plan ahead with confidence and find flights with no change fees

Travel Smart

Millions of people come to us for their flight needs every year. We help make travel planning easy by providing useful insights and data-driven graphs that can inform your decisions.