CHI - SFO

₹ 11,637 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to San Francisco

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Chicago to San Francisco departing on 12/3. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to San Francisco

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to San Francisco, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to San Francisco, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest return fare
₹ 22,450
Overall average: ₹ 35,461
United Airlines
Wed 18/3Wed 25/3
ORD - SFO • Direct
Cheapest one-way flight
₹ 11,912
Typical prices: ₹ 13,195-₹ 28,314
Frontier
Thu 12/3
ORD - SFO • 1 stop
Top airlines
United Airlines
Cheapest • from ₹ 22,450 (return)
American Airlines
Best reviews • 7.2 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Top routes
ORD
-
SFO
Cheapest • 26% average savings
ORD
-
SFO
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
4 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 50% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
July
Cheapest • 13% price drop
March
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Start a new search
KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to San Francisco!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Chicago to San Francisco (CHI-SFO)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights from Chicago to San Francisco that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco

Wed, 18 Mar - Wed, 25 Mar
United Airlines Logo
06:17 - 09:22
ORD
-
SFO
5h 05mdirect
United Airlines Logo
23:59 - 06:19
SFO
-
ORD
4h 20mdirect
₹ 22,450United Airlines
Sat, 21 Feb - Sat, 28 Feb
Southwest Logo
17:15 - 22:30
ORD
-
SFO
7h 15m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
14:30 - 22:35
SFO
-
ORD
6h 05m
1 stop
₹ 22,724Southwest
Sat, 14 Mar - Fri, 20 Mar
United Airlines Logo
06:17 - 09:22
ORD
-
SFO
5h 05mdirect
United Airlines Logo
18:44 - 00:59
SFO
-
ORD
4h 15mdirect
₹ 22,908United Airlines
Wed, 1 Apr - Mon, 6 Apr
Alaska Airlines Logo
16:13 - 22:52
ORD
-
SFO
8h 39m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
20:59 - 06:39
SFO
-
ORD
7h 40m
1 stop
₹ 23,091Alaska Airlines
Sat, 28 Feb - Tue, 3 Mar
United Airlines Logo
06:25 - 09:27
ORD
-
SFO
5h 02mdirect
United Airlines Logo
17:03 - 23:26
SFO
-
ORD
4h 23mdirect
₹ 23,183United Airlines
Sat, 28 Feb - Sat, 7 Mar
Southwest Logo
14:15 - 22:05
ORD
-
SFO
9h 50m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
06:00 - 18:50
SFO
-
ORD
10h 50m
2 stops
₹ 23,274Southwest
Sat, 7 Mar - Sat, 14 Mar
Southwest Logo
18:20 - 23:15
ORD
-
SFO
6h 55m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
22:55 - 12:50
SFO
-
ORD
11h 55m
1 stop
₹ 23,457Southwest
Wed, 25 Mar - Tue, 31 Mar
United Airlines Logo
07:45 - 10:55
ORD
-
SFO
5h 10mdirect
United Airlines Logo
00:45 - 07:07
SFO
-
ORD
4h 22mdirect
₹ 23,549United Airlines
Thu, 19 Feb - Sat, 28 Feb
Delta Logo
07:40 - 15:51
ORD
-
SFO
10h 11m
1 stop
Delta Logo
06:05 - 16:54
SFO
-
ORD
8h 49m
1 stop
₹ 23,824Delta
Tue, 31 Mar - Tue, 31 Mar
Delta Logo
07:25 - 14:05
ORD
-
SFO
8h 40m
1 stop
Delta Logo
22:40 - 09:10
SFO
-
ORD
8h 30m
1 stop
₹ 23,916Delta
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Chicago to San Francisco flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Chicago to San Francisco to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

How much is a return flight from Chicago to San Francisco?

This analysis is based on the cheapest return trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Chicago to San Francisco departing in March.

What is the cheapest Chicago to San Francisco flight route?

Data is based on round-trip flight searches on KAYAK over the past month.

The cheapest return flight from Chicago to San Francisco costs ₹ 21,627 on the route between Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD) and San Francisco (SFO). Over the past month, this route was, on average, 26% cheaper than other Chicago-San Francisco routes. It is also the most popular route.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Chicago to San Francisco?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Chicago to San Francisco clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to San Francisco on a Saturday and more expensive on a Sunday. On your return trip to Chicago, you should consider flying back on a Wednesday, and avoid Sundays for better deals.

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago to San Francisco, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Chicago to San Francisco is July, where tickets cost ₹ 26,298 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and January, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is ₹ 38,485 and ₹ 37,110 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a stopover from Chicago to San Francisco?

The average return price for all direct flights, flights with one stopover, and flights with two stopovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

Yes, flying with a stopover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 1 stop stopover the cheapest option at ₹ 34,670 on average.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago to San Francisco, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Chicago to San Francisco, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 50% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 21 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight₹ 11,912
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 21% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly (7% more expensive on average)
Flight from Chicago to San Francisco

When to book flights from Chicago to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Chicago to San Francisco based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Chicago to San Francisco

  • Can I fly from Chicago to San Francisco non-stop?

    Yes, you can. Flights from Chicago to San Francisco are quite popular and, as such, there are a great number of non-stop flights between the two cities every week. The flight is also not overly long, as it usually takes a little less than 5 hours.

  • How do I get from downtown Chicago to O’Hare International Airport?

    To get to O’Hare International Airport from downtown Chicago you can use the Amtrak connections available (Blue Line) or the bus (there are a great number of lines serving the airport). Alternatively you can take one of the shuttle buses operated by many hotels in the area, or else just hail a cab.

  • Are there on-site hotels at Chicago Midway Airport?

    While there are no hotels located inside Chicago Midway Airport, there are a number of them located just outside, many of which include shuttle services to and from the airport in addition to comfortable rooms and a tasty breakfast spread. These include the Chicago Marriott Midway Hotel, the Courtyard Chicago Midway Airport Hotel, and the Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago Midway Airport Hotel.

  • What is there to do in O’Hare International Airport?

    If your flight to San Francisco is running late, take a chance to relax and stretch at the airport’s yoga room or work up a sweat at the Hilton Athletic Club, open even to non-guests for a small fee. You can also spend the time pampering yourself at the spa, getting a haircut at the barber shop, or enjoying some local art featured in the many displays scattered throughout the airport.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Chicago to San Francisco?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Chicago to San Francisco was ₹ 11,912 for a one-way ticket and ₹ 22,450 for a return.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Chicago to San Francisco?

    On your way to San Francisco, you’ll fly out from Chicago O'Hare Intl. You’ll be landing at San Francisco.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Chicago to San Francisco?

    American Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and Delta offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Chicago to San Francisco flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Chicago to San Francisco?

    The Airbus A321neo is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Chicago to San Francisco flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Chicago to San Francisco?

    oneworld, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between Chicago and San Francisco, with oneworld being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Chicago to San Francisco?

    There are direct flights from Chicago to San Francisco on a daily basis.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Chicago to San Francisco?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Chicago to San Francisco.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Chicago to San Francisco?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San Francisco from Chicago is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Chicago to San Francisco?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to San Francisco with an airline and back to Chicago with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Chicago to San Francisco?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to San Francisco from Chicago up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Chicago to San Francisco

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for ₹ 30,717 or less round-trip.
  • Flights from Chicago to San Francisco usually depart either from Chicago O’Hare International Airport or from Chicago Midway Airport. Although the former is larger and more popular than the latter, it is also furthest away from downtown Chicago, located as it is just 17.5 miles northwest of the city. Though less often used, Chicago Midway Airport is only 10.8 miles south of the city center.
  • If you are flying from Chicago O’Hare International Airport and you are traveling with children, head to Terminal 2, where you can find the children’s play area. Fun and colorful, Kids On The Fly is an aviation-themed playground that has been voted “Most Awesome Airport Play Area”.
  • If San Francisco is just one leg of your trip and you are worried about what to do on your stopover there, don’t! San Francisco International Airport is simply full of things to do: hit the shops for some retail therapy, enjoy the local cuisine at the dozens of cafés scattered throughout the airport, or learn something new at the Aviation Museum or at the various exhibits on art & culture, history, and science organized in the various terminals.
  • If your flight from Chicago to San Francisco has arrived late and you don’t want to travel into the city at night, why not sleep at the airport? Located inside the International Terminal, FreshenUp offers travelers a small number of basic yet comfortable ensuite rooms; alternatively, if you don’t find place there, there are a number of hotels located just minutes from the airport, many of them offering shuttle services to their guests.
  • Once you get to San Francisco Airport, to get downtown you can use the city’s rich transportation network, which includes a number of bus lines and Amtrak connections running between the airport and various important locations within the city multiple times a day.

Prefer to fly direct from Chicago to San Francisco?

 
Nonstop data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying nonstop from Chicago to San Francisco.
Find which airlines fly direct from Chicago to San Francisco Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Chicago to San Francisco

Monday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Tuesday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Wednesday

American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest

American Airlines, United Airlines, +1 more

Thursday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Friday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Saturday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Sunday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Francisco to Chicago

Monday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Tuesday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Wednesday

American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest

American Airlines, United Airlines, +1 more

Thursday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Friday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Saturday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

Sunday

American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +1 more

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top airline flying from Chicago to San Francisco

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Chicago to San Francisco. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Chicago to San Francisco? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.2
American AirlinesOverall score based on 11197 reviews
8.0Crew
6.4Food
7.2Comfort
7.5Boarding
6.9Entertainment
Airline reviews

The aircraft had several problems - from excess fuel to non operational ac. Two hours of delay in Chicago could have been avoided with proper planning and aircraft maintenance.

2.0 MediocreAnuj, Jan 2026
ORD - DFW
Read more American Airlines reviews

The aircraft had several problems - from excess fuel to non operational ac. Two hours of delay in Chicago could have been avoided with proper planning and aircraft maintenance.

Crew in Columbia was not prepared for landing. It was a bit of a disaster and getting bags took forever.

We were upgraded to First Class and it was a great flight

We experienced gate changes and a long delay. My seat was dirty when I boarded and I had to use wipes to clean it myself. There was an unpleasant and overpowering cleaning product scent on the plane as well that lingered through the flight.

My carry on baggage was damaged. Entire trip, I had to carry the baggage. When complained to the boarding crew, they got mad at me and still asked me to valet check in the cabin baggage. Rude boarding crew!!!

Crew were all friendly and helpful. It was a short flight so just a beverage service with a cookie. After we were boarded the plane took about 45 minutes to leave the gate but it was New Year’s Eve so not shocking there was some delay. Overall good experience and very grateful.

The boarding process needs to be fixed. The zone don't work, especially when there is hardly anyone in zones 3, 4,and 5, leaving the majority of the passengers backed up in the aisle, especially because passengers seated near the front are blocking passengers who are seated in the rear of the plane. It would also help if the size of carry on bags was more strictly enforced.

The boarding by groups is pointless. The first two groups worked fine, but almost Noone boarded in goups three thru five leaving the vast majority boarding when group six was called. It defeated the purpose of spreading out the crowd.

We loved the steward on the plane. He made the night enjoyable

The plane was late, when we did board the plane was as cold as a freezer. I was freezing the entire flight, no blankets. Lost miserable flight I’ve ever had.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports