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SFO - CHI

$49 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 10/2. 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
0 bags
sáb 6/15
sáb 6/22

Search 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.
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Chicago.
In the last 7 days travelers have searched 42,211,976 times on KAYAK, and here is why:

Save 21% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

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Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago (SFO-CHI)

 
These are the cheapest deals for flights from San Francisco to Chicago currently on KAYAK along with options from the most popular airlines KAYAK users selected for this route. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.

Recent round-trip flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Recommended round-trip deals departing in the coming months from the most popular airlines that fly from San Francisco to Chicago.

Recent one-way flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Only flying one-way? Below are some of the best one-way flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago found on KAYAK recently.

Recent last minute flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Leaving soon but still want a bargain? Check out these latest deals for last minute flights from San Francisco to Chicago.

Recent direct flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

The latest deals for direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago so you can sit back and relax without the need for a layover.

Cheap bus & train deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Find recent round-trip train or bus tickets from San Francisco to Chicago.

All round-trip flight deals to Chicago

The cheapest plane tickets to Chicago found on KAYAK recently.
Discover the best prices and deals for you by selecting your travel dates.
Choose your dates
12:59 am - 12:00 pmSFO-MDW
9h 01m1 stop
4:18 pm - 6:46 pmMDW-SFO
4h 28mnonstop
$175Frontier
Find Deal
ter, jun 11 - qua, jun 19
9:11 am - 3:23 pmSFO-MDW
4h 12mnonstop
4:41 pm - 7:10 pmMDW-SFO
4h 29mnonstop
$177Frontier
Find Deal
qua, mai 22 - seg, jun 3
11:59 pm - 6:20 amSFO-ORD
4h 21mnonstop
5:25 pm - 8:09 pmORD-SFO
4h 44mnonstop
$179Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
qua, ago 14 - ter, ago 20
11:59 pm - 6:20 amSFO-ORD
4h 21mnonstop
6:35 am - 9:12 amORD-SFO
4h 37mnonstop
$184Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
qua, jul 31 - qua, ago 7
6:30 pm - 12:45 amSFO-ORD
4h 15mnonstop
9:15 pm - 11:56 pmORD-SFO
4h 41mnonstop
$193United Airlines
Find Deal
sáb, ago 10 - qua, ago 14
11:58 pm - 6:20 amSFO-ORD
4h 22mnonstop
9:20 pm - 12:04 amORD-SFO
4h 44mnonstop
$213American Airlines
Find Deal
ter, mai 28 - sex, mai 31
11:59 pm - 6:14 amSFO-ORD
4h 15mnonstop
5:17 pm - 7:52 pmORD-SFO
4h 35mnonstop
$217American Airlines
Find Deal
sáb, ago 10 - qua, ago 14
11:45 pm - 5:58 amSFO-ORD
4h 13mnonstop
5:16 am - 9:39 amORD-SFO
6h 23m1 stop
$218United Airlines
Find Deal
sáb, ago 10 - qua, ago 14
9:45 pm - 7:22 amSFO-ORD
7h 37m1 stop
6:00 am - 12:09 pmORD-SFO
8h 09m1 stop
$236Delta
Find Deal
qui, ago 8 - ter, ago 13
12:25 am - 8:37 amSFO-MDW
6h 12m1 stop
6:45 pm - 11:33 pmMDW-SFO
6h 48m1 stop
$262Delta
Find Deal
seg, ago 12 - qui, ago 15
9:03 am - 3:14 pmSFO-MDW
4h 11mnonstop
$49Frontier
Find Deal
qua, out 2
9:03 am - 3:14 pmSFO-MDW
4h 11mnonstop
$50Frontier
Find Deal
sáb, set 14
11:59 pm - 6:20 amSFO-ORD
4h 21mnonstop
$90Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
qua, ago 14
11:59 pm - 6:13 amSFO-ORD
4h 14mnonstop
$91American Airlines
Find Deal
ter, set 10
11:59 pm - 6:20 amSFO-ORD
4h 21mnonstop
$95Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
ter, jul 16
9:55 pm - 8:38 amSFO-MDW
8h 43m1 stop
$118Delta
Find Deal
sáb, jul 13
9:55 pm - 7:30 amSFO-ORD
7h 35m1 stop
$118Delta
Find Deal
qui, ago 1
11:58 pm - 6:20 amSFO-ORD
4h 22mnonstop
$124American Airlines
Find Deal
seg, mai 27
1:10 am - 7:30 amSFO-ORD
4h 20mnonstop
$130United Airlines
Find Deal
seg, jun 24
11:34 pm - 5:47 amSFO-ORD
4h 13mnonstop
$140United Airlines
Find Deal
sex, mai 31
7:49 am - 5:12 pmSFO-MDW
7h 23m1 stop
4:28 pm - 6:57 pmMDW-SFO
4h 29mnonstop
$170Frontier
Find Deal
ter, mai 21 - sáb, jun 1
9:15 am - 3:27 pmSFO-MDW
4h 12mnonstop
4:28 pm - 6:57 pmMDW-SFO
4h 29mnonstop
$189Frontier
Find Deal
seg, mai 20 - sáb, jun 1
4:55 pm - 4:40 amSFO-ORD
9h 45m1 stop
5:55 pm - 8:39 pmORD-SFO
4h 44mnonstop
$292Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
ter, mai 21 - sex, mai 31
4:55 pm - 4:40 amSFO-ORD
9h 45m1 stop
5:55 pm - 8:39 pmORD-SFO
4h 44mnonstop
$305Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
ter, mai 21 - sáb, jun 1
12:09 am - 6:30 amSFO-ORD
4h 21mnonstop
10:15 pm - 12:59 amORD-SFO
4h 44mnonstop
$328United Airlines
Find Deal
seg, mai 20 - qua, jun 5
12:09 am - 6:30 amSFO-ORD
4h 21mnonstop
5:04 am - 9:27 amORD-SFO
6h 23m1 stop
$331United Airlines
Find Deal
ter, mai 21 - qua, mai 29
11:58 pm - 6:20 amSFO-ORD
4h 22mnonstop
6:15 am - 12:09 pmORD-SFO
7h 54m1 stop
$374American Airlines
Find Deal
ter, mai 21 - dom, jun 2
11:58 pm - 6:20 amSFO-ORD
4h 22mnonstop
9:20 pm - 12:04 amORD-SFO
4h 44mnonstop
$394American Airlines
Find Deal
ter, mai 21 - ter, mai 28
12:40 am - 10:26 amSFO-ORD
7h 46m1 stop
6:07 am - 12:33 pmORD-SFO
8h 26m1 stop
$519Delta
Find Deal
sex, mai 17 - sáb, mai 25
10:55 pm - 7:40 amSFO-ORD
6h 45m1 stop
2:29 pm - 9:50 pmORD-SFO
9h 21m1 stop
$520Delta
Find Deal
sáb, mai 18 - ter, mai 21
9:03 am - 3:14 pmSFO-MDW
4h 11mnonstop
4:09 pm - 6:47 pmMDW-SFO
4h 38mnonstop
$98Frontier
Find Deal
sáb, set 21 - qua, set 25
9:03 am - 3:14 pmSFO-MDW
4h 11mnonstop
4:09 pm - 6:47 pmMDW-SFO
4h 38mnonstop
$100Frontier
Find Deal
qua, ago 21 - sáb, ago 24
11:59 pm - 6:20 amSFO-ORD
4h 21mnonstop
5:25 pm - 8:09 pmORD-SFO
4h 44mnonstop
$179Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
qua, ago 14 - ter, ago 20
11:59 pm - 6:20 amSFO-ORD
4h 21mnonstop
6:35 am - 9:12 amORD-SFO
4h 37mnonstop
$184Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
qua, jul 31 - qua, ago 7
6:30 pm - 12:45 amSFO-ORD
4h 15mnonstop
9:15 pm - 11:56 pmORD-SFO
4h 41mnonstop
$193United Airlines
Find Deal
sáb, ago 10 - qua, ago 14
6:30 pm - 12:45 amSFO-ORD
4h 15mnonstop
8:15 pm - 10:59 pmORD-SFO
4h 44mnonstop
$208United Airlines
Find Deal
sáb, ago 10 - qui, ago 15
11:58 pm - 6:20 amSFO-ORD
4h 22mnonstop
9:20 pm - 12:04 amORD-SFO
4h 44mnonstop
$213American Airlines
Find Deal
ter, mai 28 - sex, mai 31
11:59 pm - 6:14 amSFO-ORD
4h 15mnonstop
5:17 pm - 7:52 pmORD-SFO
4h 35mnonstop
$217American Airlines
Find Deal
sáb, ago 10 - qua, ago 14
11:57 pm - 6:20 amSFO-ORD
4h 23mnonstop
7:00 am - 9:37 amORD-SFO
4h 37mnonstop
$266Undisclosed Carrier
Find Deal
seg, jun 3 - qua, jun 5
11:57 pm - 6:20 amSFO-ORD
4h 23mnonstop
7:00 am - 9:37 amORD-SFO
4h 37mnonstop
$356Undisclosed Carrier
Find Deal
dom, jun 2 - qua, jun 5
8:25 am - 2:39 pmEmeryville-
Chicago Union
52h 14mnonstop
2:00 pm - 4:57 pmChicago Union-
Emeryville
52h 57mnonstop
$270Amtrak
Find Deal
dom, jun 2 - qua, jun 5
8:25 am - 2:39 pmEmeryville-
Chicago Union
52h 14mnonstop
2:00 pm - 4:57 pmChicago Union-
Emeryville
52h 57mnonstop
$270Amtrak
Find Deal
sex, jun 7 - qui, jun 13
8:25 am - 2:39 pmEmeryville-
Chicago Union
52h 14mnonstop
2:00 pm - 4:57 pmChicago Union-
Emeryville
52h 57mnonstop
$270Amtrak
Find Deal
seg, jul 1 - sex, jul 5
8:25 am - 2:39 pmEmeryville-
Chicago Union
52h 14mnonstop
2:00 pm - 4:57 pmChicago Union-
Emeryville
52h 57mnonstop
$313Amtrak
Find Deal
sex, mai 31 - qua, jun 5
8:25 am - 2:39 pmEmeryville-
Chicago Union
52h 14mnonstop
2:00 pm - 4:57 pmChicago Union-
Emeryville
52h 57mnonstop
$327Amtrak
Find Deal
qui, jul 25 - dom, ago 4
8:25 am - 2:39 pmEmeryville-
Chicago Union
52h 14mnonstop
2:00 pm - 4:57 pmChicago Union-
Emeryville
52h 57mnonstop
$351Amtrak
Find Deal
seg, jun 10 - qui, jun 13
8:25 am - 2:39 pmEmeryville-
Chicago Union
52h 14mnonstop
2:00 pm - 4:57 pmChicago Union-
Emeryville
52h 57mnonstop
$351Amtrak
Find Deal
sáb, mai 25 - qua, jun 5
8:25 am - 2:39 pmEmeryville-
Chicago Union
52h 14mnonstop
2:00 pm - 4:57 pmChicago Union-
Emeryville
52h 57mnonstop
$351Amtrak
Find Deal
seg, jul 1 - ter, jul 9
8:25 am - 2:39 pmEmeryville-
Chicago Union
52h 14mnonstop
2:00 pm - 4:57 pmChicago Union-
Emeryville
52h 57mnonstop
$351Amtrak
Find Deal
seg, jun 10 - sex, jun 14
8:25 am - 2:39 pmEmeryville-
Chicago Union
52h 14mnonstop
2:00 pm - 4:57 pmChicago Union-
Emeryville
52h 57mnonstop
$351Amtrak
Find Deal
sáb, jun 1 - qua, jun 5

Flights from San Francisco to Chicago - Travel Insights & Trends

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?

The cheapest price for flight routes found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks for one-way flights from San Francisco to Chicago.
Our data shows that the cheapest route for a one-way flight from San Francisco to Chicago cost $48 and was between San Francisco and Chicago Midway Airport. On average, the best prices are found if you fly this route. The average price for a return flight for this route is $94.

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

The average price of all flights from San Francisco to Chicago 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 Saturday, as we generally find the cheapest rates on that day for this route. On the other hand, Friday is the most expensive day to fly from San Francisco to Chicago. For your return ticket, we recommend flying on a Wednesday and avoiding Sundays for the best deals.

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 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 October, where tickets cost $274 on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and March, where the average cost of tickets is $385 and $378 respectively.

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

The average price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.
No, with an average price for the route of $110, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

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

To calculate daily average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each day before departure over the last year for 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 month.
To get a below average price on the flight from San Francisco to Chicago, you should book around 2 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 46 days before departure.

Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

The cheapest price for the route for each airline clicked by KAYAK users in the last 72 hours.
The best deals for a one-way ticket found by KAYAK users over the last 3 days were on Frontier ($49) and Sun Country Air ($88). The cheapest round-trip tickets were found on Frontier ($175) and Alaska Airlines ($179).

Which airlines fly most frequently between San Francisco and Chicago?

United Airlines connects San Francisco to Chicago up to 12 flights per day, followed by American Airlines (5 flights per day), and Alaska Airlines (2 flights per day).

Which airlines fly non-stop between San Francisco and Chicago?

Airline and price data is aggregated from results in KAYAK’s search results from the last 2 weeks for flights from San Francisco to Chicago.
There are 5 airlines that fly nonstop from San Francisco to Chicago. They are: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier, Southwest and United Airlines. The cheapest price of all airlines flying this route was found with Frontier at $68 for a one-way flight. On average, the best prices for this route can be found at Frontier.

How many flights are there between San Francisco and Chicago per day?

Each day, there are between 21 and 24 nonstop flights that take off from San Francisco and land in Chicago, with an average flight time of 4h 19m. The most common departure time is 11:00 pm and most flights take off at night, while the most flights land at Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport. Each week, there are 155 flights. The most frequent day of departure is Friday, when 15% of all weekly flights depart. The fewest flights depart on a Sunday.

Which cabin class options are there for flights between San Francisco and Chicago?

The average price of flights for each cabin class for the route found by users searching on KAYAK over the last 2 weeks.
There are 4 cabin class options for the route. These are First, Business, Economy and Prem Economy. Perform a search on KAYAK to find the latest prices and availability for all cabin fares, which differ across airlines.

How long does a flight from San Francisco to Chicago take?

Direct flights cover the 1,855 miles separating San Francisco to Chicago in about 4h 10m.

What’s the earliest departure time from San Francisco to Chicago?

Early birds can take the earliest flight from San Francisco at 1:10 am and will be landing in Chicago at 7:30 am.

What’s the latest departure time from San Francisco to Chicago?

If you prefer to fly at night, the latest flight from San Francisco to Chicago jets off at 11:59 pm and lands at 6:20 am.

Good to know

Low season

February

High season

July

Cheapest flight

$49
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 7% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 13% increase in price.
Flight from San Francisco to Chicago Midway Airport

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 round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips 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

  • Where can I relax at SFO?

    Start an early vacation at any of the numerous lounges at San Francisco Airport. Head to the Centurion Lounge at Gate 74 of Terminal 3 whereas Concourse A of International Terminal is home to the Air France-KLM Lounge. Pay at the door or buy a lounge permit to access their amenities such as showers and drinks. You may also access the USO lounge on the Mezzanine Level of Terminal 1 if you are an active US military member as well as your family. Amenities offered at this lounge include drinks, games, toys, as well as books.

  • Where can I park at San Francisco International Airport (SFO)?

    There are several parking options at SFO ranging from hourly and daily parking to short and long-term parking. The Domestic Garage in the heart of SFO offers short-term parking whereas in the front of the International Terminal there is hourly and daily parking at the International Parking garages. There is an off-site long-term parking at 801 South Airport Boulevard.

  • What is there for kids to do at ORD?

    Are you taking your children with you? ORD airport provides travelers with kid-friendly services to ensure a wonderful travel experience. Encourage your children to point out flags they identify or count them out at Terminal 3's Grand Hall of Flags, which represents countries served directly by American Airlines from O'Hare. Furthermore, Terminal 2 houses the Kids on the Fly exhibit, where children may play an aviation inspector or explore the helicopter simulator.

  • Does Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) offer accessible services?

    Yes. The airport has accessible parking spots in each of its parking structures in addition to the bathrooms that are wheelchair-accessible and are situated in Gates A9 and A4A of Concourse A and Gate B15 of Concourse B. Passengers with hearing impairments have access to TTY telephones. At drop-off and pick-up sites, the airport also offers curb ramps and elevators. Shuttles with elevators are provided for free between the terminals and the parking lots.

  • 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 $49 for a one-way ticket and $175 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between San Francisco and Chicago?

    A passport is not required to fly from San Francisco to Chicago.

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

    When flying out of San Francisco you will be using San Francisco. You will be landing at one of these airports: Chicago Midway or Chicago O'Hare Intl.

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

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

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

    The Boeing 737-900 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 oneworld being the most commonly used for this route.

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

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

  • Which is the best airline for flights from San Francisco to Chicago, Alaska Airlines or Delta?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Francisco to Chicago are Alaska Airlines and Delta. With an average price for the route of $328 and an overall rating of 8.0, Alaska Airlines is the most popular choice. Delta is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $286 and an overall rating of 8.0.

  • 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 round-trip 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.

See more FAQs

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 $84 or less one-way and $131 or less round-trip.
  • Perch your laptop and hold meetings while on the go at the Executive Center of Terminal 3 in Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The business center is equipped with meeting rooms and charging stations convenient for business travelers.
  • ORD is Chicago’s major hub and it features four terminals and nine concourses. If you want to transfer between terminals, the automated train ATS will provide convenient access to the entire airport complex.
  • SFO provides the Wag Brigade in an effort to relax and de-stress their passengers on flights from San Francisco to Chicago. Look out for four-legged volunteers throughout the airport and pet them.
  • If you want a quiet area to meditate and reflect, head to the Berman Reflection Room at the Main Hall of the International Terminal of SFO.
  • Your four-legged companion is welcome at Chicago Midway Airport. However, there are some limits and laws in place. MDW's pet policies, like those of other airports, require all pets to be restrained in crates unless they are utilizing pet relieving areas or being screened for security. The airport has two hygienic pet relieving areas, one indoor across Gate A5 in Concourse A and one outdoor on the Lower Level terminal road.
  • 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.
See more tips

Prefer to fly non-stop from San Francisco to Chicago?

Find which airlines fly direct from San Francisco to Chicago, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Nonstop departures

San Francisco to Chicago

Monday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +21 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +22 more

Tuesday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +22 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +23 more

Wednesday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +22 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +23 more

Thursday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +21 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +22 more

Friday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +21 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +22 more

Saturday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +24 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +25 more

Sunday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +20 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +21 more

See more direct flights

Nonstop returns

Chicago to San Francisco

Monday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +21 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +22 more

Tuesday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +22 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +23 more

Wednesday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +23 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +24 more

Thursday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +21 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +22 more

Friday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +21 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +22 more

Saturday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +24 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +25 more

Sunday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +21 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +22 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Top 5 airlines serving 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.
8.0
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 9157 reviews
7.9Comfort
8.2Boarding
8.6Crew
7.3Entertainment
7.3Food
Airline reviews

Boarded the plain and had to wait 1 hour for crew Captain to arrive from another flight

4.0 OkayRandy, May 2024SFO - SEA
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Boarded the plain and had to wait 1 hour for crew Captain to arrive from another flight

They canceled the flight 30 minutes prior to departure without any heads up.

All parts were excellent, especially staff at bag tag printing and inflight crew. Just the normal differences from past air travel could be improved but we’ve learned to accept those—cramped seats, minimal food/beverage, etc.

Attentive crew. Best of all was the empty seat between me and my rowmate.

We had a very scary attempted landing in Palm Springs and were redirected to Ontario. It was a stressful flight.

Every thing means , crew, service, timing, boarding is very good.

I like that we took off on time and arrived a bit early. I like that I could gate check my bag and board early. I don't like how crowded the flight was. I had ok leg room, but could feel every move of the person next to me. And the aisles are very narrow. The gate and flight crews were terrific.

The flight was diverted and departed from San Jose instead of San Francisco. This could’ve been executed more smoothly because after arriving in San Jose it seemed like nothing was being processed correctly as needed for the gate agents to do their jobs well and the flight to leave on time

Excellent service and prices. I was not award of inflight entertainment.

Both flights from NYC to SFO were delayed more than an hour. No wifi, no screens/movies etc. The crew was nice.

There was a loud squeaky sound the whole time we were flying.

I usually have a positive experience with Delta. Complimentary upgrades are always nice!

I didn’t not like that I could not select my seat and ended up with the worse seat.

The landing was bad and the hostess came two times and i was sleeping but when she served the person that nexts to me I woke up and she didn’t even asked me if I need any drink or snacks two times!!!!

Plane was late because of a mechanical malfunction and the food listed as available was not. Flight attendants seem over worked and under paid. They just done seem happy. And that can be seen in their faces.

Waited 3 hours on a plane to de-ice due to manpower issues. Waited another hour and a half once we landed because of a gate issue. Missed my connections. Created. A total of 13 hours of delay.

Great, on time departure, friendly and accommodating crew, great leg room, Smith flight

Plane was turned around due to fog half way into the flight, Delta did not properly direct passengers to stay on same flight and instead failed to properly rebook on Alaska

Like most domestic flights in the US, you are basically on your own with this airline when it comes to food, so be sure to purchase meals and drinks ahead of time or expect to arrive starving and dehydrated (like I was).

You need to be a hacker to get the (Free) WiFi

Crew was great and did their best to make us comfortable and captain came out at the beginning to announce why the flight was delayed, weather situation up ahead, and kept us updated throughout the flight.

United WiFi is consistently unusable (it can take 10 mins to load a single web page). If you need Wifi to do work, be prepared to lose half a day of productivity.

Awful. I got stuck next to a person carrying a dog and behind someone with a dog. People need to board these dogs downstairs. The cabin is crowded enough with your pets

Packed in like sardines, very uncomfortable. Sitting the aisle my shoulder was rammed into numerous times by rushing flight attendants. Also flight was very cold.

Airline did not explain reasons why flight was delayed two hours. Explanations were badly needed and rarely provided. Problem seemed to clearly be the airline’s fault and not the fault of the weather or airport.

Very uncomfortable seats and seat backs, and I am only 5’9”. Delayed due to crew issues, spent a long time with no ventilation. Teeny overhead bins. Wifi worked well. Arrived safely.

I was delighted that we were able to get on the 4:40 pm flight rather than our original booking at 6:55 pm!! Other than that, the flight was comfortable and landed early😊

The Palm Springs to Chicago O’Hare was on Time and Palm Springs airport is easier navigate. As our connection was only an approximately 50 minutes, we asked staff for insights for the Chicago airport in terms of transferring into the other terminal from which our flight left, and they were unhelpful. However, the United App was very helpful in terms of notifications and even providing directions. The Chicago to Detroit flight was significantly delayed which we all know does happen. However, there were very few updates or notifications as to why this was happening when we would actually arrive. It took nearly 30 minutes for bags to make it to baggage claim. We arrived nearly 1 hour late on a 40 minute flight.

Our flight was delayed many times throughout the day. The final delay was about 8 hours. I spent time in line to speak to someone at their understaffed desk, and also spent time waiting online and then chatting with a service rep. None of the United employees were any help at all. I desperately wanted to go get rest and possibly re-book my trip but I was denied any compensation or voucher for a hotel. I was repeatedly told it was not United's fault and therefore they had no compensation to offer. Overall, a cold and callous experience.

Paid WiFi was only available for a few minutes. Avoid at all costs.

The CX617 from HK to BKK was delayed more than 1.5 hours.

This flight is frequently delayed. The connections seemingly are more frequently delayed. I’ve missed connections as a result twice on the same route to charlotte then Charleston. Final destination arrival has been the next day, twice in a row. No pilots, no crew. Too many excuses. Unfortunately, my days with American are over.

Entertainment was okay not because anything was wrong but it is a short flight so having no wifi is annoying but understandable. Crew was outstanding as usual

Those seats were way too narrow. I had the middle seat, one person was a very skinny person and we still couldn’t avoid touching each other anytime one of us moved. The other person was larger and we were basically sitting in each others lap the entire flight. There was zero entertainment. The flight was long enough to justify tvs, but no. Gotta sit there in your infant seat and twiddle your thumbs.

Flight was fine. It took an unusually long time to have baggage delivered to the carousel in ORD.

Average - flew with Jet Blue internal and it was far more comfortable and better food and entertainment. Notable difference

The flight got canceled due to mechanical issues, and he to be rebooked and missed my appointments for that day

The flight was scheduled to depart DCA at 12:30 pm but was delayed twice on the ground so that we were finally scheduled to depart at around 4:00 pm. Once we boarded, it was announced that takeoff would be delayed again to fix a hydraulic problem which delayed our eventual takeoff until around 5:00 pm. Once we departed, it was a smooth flight back to ORD. We did not get any explanation about what caused the original significant delay. In my experience, this happens frequently with AA.

No meal on a cross country flight? SFO-MiA is pretty much the definition of a coast to coast flight. No meal provided. Sky high wi-fi rates too. Stop nickel and diming your customers.

The only problem experienced was a ground stop in Chicago due to weather. But the crew handled everything professionally. They prioritized rebooking those passengers who had connecting flights and then deplaning the other passengers. When the hold was lifted, they efficiently re-boarded all the passengers so that we could depart before our departure limit expired.

Our flight was delayed an hour, then when we got to board our flight finally, we were waiting in our seats for take off for 45 minutes before it was communicated that there was a maintenance issue therefore we waited on the plane for over an hour while that was resolved. We did not get to Phoenix until almost 3 hours after we were originally supposed to. This was the first and last time I will be flying Frontier.

There were 3 leg for the trip and each leg was delayed by 90 minutes or more. The boarding process takes forever with people waiting on the jetway even though most folks do not have carry-on. The whole process is poorly managed.

They cancelled the flight then did nothing to help us rebook. It was awful - I won’t fly with them again

The process of buying the ticket and navigating all the hidden charges that Frontier throws at you was a terrible experience. The actual airport experience and flying was fine.

The truck that was refueling the plane drove away with the hose still connected to the plane and ripped part of the plane off with it

Terrible. Seats are bad and the baggage policy is inconsistent

Better than I expected but I did pay for a seat and carry on bags ahead of time.

I hope to avoid flying with them in the future. First flight got cancelled then got stuck with a 13 hour layover in Denver. The process was long and frustrating to many people.

Flight was delayed on the runway for 40 minutes the crew did not even offer even water to passengers to compensate for the flight delayed. The flight was delayed due to aircraft mechanical issues. Worst customer service ever

The flight was delayed and I had to cancel because I would have missed my connection and there were no other flights for the next two days. They also lost my bag!!

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