SFO - CHI

₹ 9,004 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Chicago

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San Francisco to Chicago departing on 20/1. 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

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

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Chicago, 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 San Francisco to Chicago, as well as popular online travel agencies
Travellers love KAYAK
41,299,237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

Save 27% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

Track pricesNot ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Free to useThere are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

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

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights from San Francisco to Chicago 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 San Francisco to Chicago

Sat, 11 Oct - Thu, 16 Oct
United Airlines Logo
07:00 - 13:32SFO-ORD
4h 32mdirect
United Airlines Logo
06:15 - 08:56ORD-SFO
4h 41mdirect
₹ 18,273United Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, 21 Oct - Sat, 25 Oct
Southwest Logo
05:45 - 14:00SFO-ORD
6h 15m1 stop
Southwest Logo
07:00 - 11:50ORD-SFO
6h 50m1 stop
₹ 18,362Southwest
Find Deal
Wed, 22 Oct - Sat, 8 Nov
Alaska Airlines Logo
11:22 - 23:59SFO-ORD
10h 37m1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
14:54 - 21:55ORD-SFO
9h 01m1 stop
₹ 18,538Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, 30 Oct - Mon, 3 Nov
United Airlines Logo
05:10 - 11:30SFO-ORD
4h 20mdirect
United Airlines Logo
06:15 - 09:04ORD-SFO
4h 49mdirect
₹ 18,626United Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, 10 Dec - Tue, 16 Dec
Southwest Logo
11:40 - 22:35SFO-ORD
8h 55m2 stops
Southwest Logo
16:25 - 21:50ORD-SFO
7h 25m1 stop
₹ 18,715Southwest
Find Deal
Wed, 22 Oct - Thu, 30 Oct
Alaska Airlines Logo
14:40 - 23:59SFO-ORD
7h 19m1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
17:53 - 23:50ORD-SFO
7h 57m1 stop
₹ 18,803Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, 7 Oct - Sat, 18 Oct
Delta Logo
06:00 - 17:10SFO-ORD
9h 10m1 stop
Delta Logo
07:37 - 16:05ORD-SFO
10h 28m1 stop
₹ 18,891Delta
Find Deal
Thu, 11 Dec - Tue, 16 Dec
Alaska Airlines Logo
07:00 - 18:54SFO-ORD
9h 54m1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
15:05 - 21:46ORD-SFO
8h 41m1 stop
₹ 19,068Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Sat, 25 Oct - Thu, 6 Nov
Alaska Airlines Logo
08:20 - 00:06SFO-ORD
13h 46m1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
14:54 - 22:01ORD-SFO
9h 07m1 stop
₹ 19,333Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Sat, 4 Oct - Thu, 9 Oct
Delta Logo
13:45 - 23:56SFO-ORD
8h 11m1 stop
Delta Logo
07:37 - 23:33ORD-SFO
17h 56m1 stop
₹ 19,686Delta
Find Deal

Everything you should know

Top airlines
United Airlines
Cheapest • from ₹ 18,273 (return)
American Airlines
Best reviews • 7.2 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Top routes
SFO-MDW
Cheapest • 18% average savings
SFO-ORD
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 46% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
February
Cheapest • 16% price drop
August
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Cheapest return fare
₹ 18,273
Overall average: ₹ 31,868
United Airlines
Sat 11/10Thu 16/10
SFO - ORD • Direct
Cheapest one-way flight
₹ 9,004
Typical prices: ₹ 11,564-27984
Hawaiian Airlines
Tue 20/1
SFO - ORD • 1 stop
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 Chicago!
Booking Insights

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

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

What is the cheapest San Francisco to Chicago flight route?

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

The cheapest return flight from San Francisco to Chicago costs ₹ 18,270 on the route between San Francisco (SFO) and Chicago Midway Airport (MDW). Over the past month, this route was, on average, 18% cheaper than other San Francisco-Chicago routes. The most popular route is between San Francisco (SFO) and Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD).

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

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

If you are looking for a flight deal from San Francisco to Chicago, look for departures on Mondays and avoid leaving on a Saturday, as it's usually the priciest day. When flying back from Chicago, Saturday is the cheapest day to fly and Friday is the most expensive.

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Chicago, 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 San Francisco to Chicago is February, where tickets cost ₹ 25,247 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and August, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is ₹ 38,312 and ₹ 32,839 respectively.

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

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.

No, with an average price for the route of ₹ 26,833, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Chicago, 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 San Francisco to Chicago, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 46% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 10 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight₹ 9,004
Best time to beat the crowds (10% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (9% more expensive on average)
Flight from San Francisco to Chicago

When to book flights from San Francisco to Chicago

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Francisco to Chicago 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 San Francisco to Chicago

  • Should I fly into Chicago O’Hare or Chicago Midway Airport?

    O’Hare Airport is located within Chicago, Illinois, 17 miles northwest of the Chicago Loop. The smaller Midway International Airport is located 10 miles southwest of the center. Both airports offer easy public transport connections, so you can’t go wrong with either one.

  • What is the cheapest way to get from the airport to downtown Chicago?

    The “L” train is an inexpensive way to get downtown from the airport. The O’Hare train station is situated on the lower level concourse of Chicago O’Hare Airport, with direct connections from Terminals 1, 2, and 3. The CTA Blue Line trains from Chicago O’Hare run 24/7, with a travel time of 40-45 minutes. If you arrive at Midway Airport, the Midway train station is a short walk east of the airport. Orange Line train services run from early in the morning until 1 am. It takes 20-25 minutes to travel by train to the downtown loop.

  • How do I get around Chicago O’Hare Airport?

    Getting around Chicago O’Hare Airport is easy using the Airport Transit System (ATS), which operates 24 hours a day along a 2.5-mile-long track. This service connects all four terminals, various parking facilities, the Kiss ‘N’ Fly drop off point, and the PACE bus stop. The ATS service is free and takes nine minutes to complete a round trip.

  • What is the closest hotel to Chicago O’Hare?

    The Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel is only a short walk from the airport’s domestic terminals. Amenities include a fitness center, restaurants, conference rooms, and a barber shop. If you need to freshen up after your flight, travelers can use the showers at the hotel’s health club for a small cost.

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

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Chicago was ₹ 102 for a one-way ticket and ₹ 207 for a return.

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

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

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

    All the following airlines offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the San Francisco to Chicago flight route: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, and Iberia.

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

    The Boeing 737-800 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San Francisco to Chicago flight route.

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

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

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

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

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

    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 San Francisco to Chicago.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Chicago from San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Chicago?

    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 Chicago with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline.

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

    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 Chicago from San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Chicago

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for ₹ 14,958 or less one-way and ₹ 35,396 or less round-trip.
  • Flights from San Francisco to Chicago usually depart from San Francisco International Airport. If you’re traveling with children, San Francisco International Airport has a number of interactive play areas to keep kids busy. Additionally, the video arts room showcases contemporary works from local filmmakers and many restaurants have special menus for children.
  • American Airlines and United Airlines offer regular, direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago O’Hare. Non-stop flights take less than four hours to arrive and the return trip takes around five hours.
  • The San Francisco International Airport incorporates a wide selection of art and exhibitions to provide a rich cultural and educational experience for travelers. While you’re waiting for your flight, you can visit more than twenty-five galleries throughout the terminals that reflect the history and cultural life of San Francisco. Travelers can also visit the Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, which house a permanent collection with a focus on local aviation history.
  • Want to relax before your flight from San Francisco to Chicago? Treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure, or massage at one of four XpresSpa outlets at San Francisco International Airport. There are also two dedicated spaces to practice yoga if you want to stretch out before getting on the plane.
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi is available at San Francisco International Airport, O’Hare International Airport, and Midway International Airport. Charging stations and power outlets can be found throughout the terminals and baggage claim areas.

Prefer to fly direct from San Francisco to Chicago?

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

Direct departures

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, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +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

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, Southwest, United Airlines

American Airlines, Southwest, +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 San Francisco to Chicago

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Francisco to Chicago. 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 San Francisco to Chicago? 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 10000 reviews
8.0Crew
7.5Boarding
6.9Entertainment
6.4Food
7.2Comfort
Airline reviews

Any flight to ORD after about 2pm this summer has been challenging. Flight was delayed getting in (coming from ORD) and that led to it not leaving before a ground stop due to lightening before they could fuel the plane, and so forth. They made up some time but we were still late in arriving at ORD, and that led to missed connections.

6.0 GoodMitchell, Aug 2025CMH - ORD
Read more American Airlines reviews

Any flight to ORD after about 2pm this summer has been challenging. Flight was delayed getting in (coming from ORD) and that led to it not leaving before a ground stop due to lightening before they could fuel the plane, and so forth. They made up some time but we were still late in arriving at ORD, and that led to missed connections.

Food was ok, but not as good as I have had before on AA.

Pretty good. The food was just mediocre, the boarding and crew were good.

My flight got switched and my prepaid bag didnt transfer over properly so I paid to check ANOTHER BAG. I was placed in a middle seat and it was just miserable. At least it was a bulkhead row so I had legroom. The flight just never seem3d to end

Was not able to watch most shows on the entertainment site. They would not load

On Wednesday, July 30 we were in mid flight from Manchester to Charlotte and we turned around because the right engine was malfunctioning. That was the last flight out of Manchester that night. I was rebooked for Thursday, which became a weather event Friday. There were no seats left on the flight from Manchester to Charlotte. Consequently I didn’t leave Manchester until Saturday morning and we flew to Chicago so to say the least my scheduled flight and return to Iowa was three days off and it messed with my business schedule. Consequently cash flow. I would like some sort of acknowledgment of this event.

Dreadful experience. Our flight was delayed more than 8 hours due to a maintenance issue and the assistance from rebooking was poor. I was travelling with a bad knee and needed assistance waited in one place more than 3 hours before someone came with a wheelchair. The woman next to me was a 91 year old great grandmother who had waited more than 4 hours. There were moments of support from the staff but it appeared as they were going against the direction of management. It was apathy, lack of ownership and dismissive responses with small moments of kindness and understanding typically from grey haired, female, veteran staff..

Couldn’t get the door on the plane to close leading to a nearly 2 hour delay. But, hey at least they didn’t cancel the flight.

Delayed flight, so I switched fights to SFO to Phoenix , Phoenix to DSM. Excellent service through American Airlines

The flight was fine and the crew awesome. The problem is ORD and AA. Computers went down, ORD fell apart and a 40 min flight turned into a 3 hour trip. Guess the answer is to not try and fly to ORD after noon. But, as I said, crew was awesome and did everything they could to lesson the flight time.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports

Not what you’re looking for? Find thousands of other hotels, flights, car hires and package deals with KAYAK.