SFO - ORD

£80 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 10/12. 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 O'Hare Intl Airport

 
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
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Flight Deals

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

 
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

Wed, 12 Nov - Tue, 18 Nov
Alaska Airlines Logo
07:00 - 19:55SFO-ORD
10h 55m1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
14:54 - 22:01ORD-SFO
9h 07m1 stop
£161Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, 2 Dec - Sun, 7 Dec
United Airlines Logo
23:44 - 06:02SFO-ORD
4h 18mdirect
United Airlines Logo
06:55 - 09:40ORD-SFO
4h 45mdirect
£171United Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, 20 Oct - Wed, 29 Oct
Alaska Airlines Logo
21:17 - 14:50SFO-ORD
15h 33m1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
09:20 - 22:01ORD-SFO
14h 41m1 stop
£175Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Sun, 12 Oct - Sun, 19 Oct
United Airlines Logo
06:30 - 13:05SFO-ORD
4h 35mdirect
United Airlines Logo
06:15 - 08:53ORD-SFO
4h 38mdirect
£176United Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, 10 Nov - Sat, 15 Nov
Alaska Airlines Logo
07:00 - 19:55SFO-ORD
10h 55m1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
14:54 - 21:55ORD-SFO
9h 01m1 stop
£178Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, 20 Nov - Mon, 24 Nov
Delta Logo
06:00 - 17:18SFO-ORD
9h 18m1 stop
Delta Logo
07:47 - 15:57ORD-SFO
10h 10m1 stop
£179Delta
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Thu, 20 Nov - Sun, 23 Nov
Delta Logo
06:00 - 17:18SFO-ORD
9h 18m1 stop
Delta Logo
14:12 - 22:25ORD-SFO
10h 13m1 stop
£215Delta
Find Deal
Tue, 18 Nov - Tue, 9 Dec
Southwest Logo
05:10 - 13:30SFO-ORD
6h 20m1 stop
Southwest Logo
14:15 - 21:50ORD-SFO
9h 35m2 stops
£223Southwest
Find Deal
Tue, 23 Dec - Wed, 31 Dec
Sun Country Air Logo
23:59 - 09:26SFO-ORD
7h 27m1 stop
Sun Country Air Logo
11:45 - 22:54ORD-SFO
13h 09m1 stop
£228Sun Country Air
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Wed, 29 Oct - Thu, 30 Oct
Southwest Logo
05:30 - 16:45SFO-ORD
9h 15m2 stops
Southwest Logo
15:10 - 22:35ORD-SFO
9h 25m2 stops
£234Southwest
Find Deal

Everything you should know

Our travellers' advice
AI-generated summary based on content written by travel experts
United's Economy Plus seats offer extra legroom.
Take the CTA Blue Line from ORD to downtown Chicago.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
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
January
Cheapest • 19% price drop
July
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Cheapest return fare
£161
Overall average: £352
Alaska Airlines
Wed 12/11Tue 18/11
SFO - ORD • 1 stop
Cheapest direct flights
£171
Typical prices: £257-425
United Airlines
Tue 2/12Sun 7/12
SFO - ORD • Direct
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!
Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from San Francisco to Chicago

 
Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarisation of KAYAK-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.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Airlines
American Airlines

American's Main Cabin Extra provides early boarding and complimentary drinks, perfect for a more relaxed journey.


American Airlines offers high-speed Wi-Fi for purchase, with T-Mobile customers possibly receiving complimentary access.

Read more about American Airlinesby Harriet Baskas
United Airlines

United's Premier Access offers priority check-in and boarding, ideal for business travellers.


United's Economy Plus seats offer up to six inches more legroom, enhancing comfort on medium-haul flights.

Read more about United Airlinesby Stefanie Waldek
Airports
SFO

SFO offers kerbside check-in for United, Delta, and Southwest. This service can save time, especially for families.

Read more about SFOby Blane Bachelor
ORD

Take the CTA Blue Line train from ORD to downtown Chicago in about 45 minutes, avoiding traffic delays.

Read more about ORDby Stefanie Waldek
Our travel experts
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on American Airlines

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, 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
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines and ORD

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or out at sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Read more
Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Expert on SFO

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor is a journalist and editor specialising in travel and aviation who writes regularly for top global outlets. Born and raised in Florida, Blane has worked and lived in four countries, including the Netherlands, where she’s currently based with her family. Her favourite way to get to know a new destination is by running or riding a bike around town – or hearing a spooky ghost story about local history.

Read more
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’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 O'Hare Intl Airport clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

If your flying dates are flexible, you should consider flying to Chicago on a Thursday, as we generally find the cheapest rates on that day for this route. On the other hand, Saturday is the most expensive day to fly from San Francisco to Chicago. For your return ticket, we recommend flying on a Monday and avoiding Wednesdays for the best deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport?

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 O'Hare Intl Airport, 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 O'Hare Intl Airport is January, where tickets cost £220 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are November and December, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is £352 and £331 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a stopover from San Francisco to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport?

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 £262, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport?

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 O'Hare Intl Airport, 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 O'Hare Intl Airport, 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.

Find deals

Good to know - Cheap tickets from San Francisco to Chicago

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight£80
Best time to beat the crowds (19% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 4% lower 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 San Francisco to Chicago flights

  • What is the cheapest flight from San Francisco to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport was £109 for a one-way ticket and £218 for a return.

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

    San Francisco and Chicago are both served by 1 main airport. You will leave San Francisco from San Francisco and will be arriving 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, Iberia, Finnair, and British Airways.

  • 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 travellers 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 O'Hare Intl Airport

  • Looking for a cheap flight from Chicago to San Francisco? 25% of our users found flights on this route for Chicago or less round-trip.

Prefer to fly direct from San Francisco to Chicago?

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

Direct departures

San Francisco to Chicago O'Hare Intl

Monday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Tuesday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Wednesday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Thursday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Friday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Saturday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Sunday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Chicago O'Hare Intl to San Francisco

Monday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Tuesday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Wednesday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Thursday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Friday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Saturday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

Sunday

American Airlines, United Airlines

American Airlines, United Airlines

See more direct flights

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports

San Francisco (SFO)
O'Hare Intl (ORD)

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