Cheap flights from Chicago (CHI) to California from $42

The flight time from Chicago to California varies a bit depending on which city you fly into, but on most trips, expect a flight time of around four hours.

American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United and Virgin America all have flights available from Chicago to one or more cities in California.

Chicago to California is a popular route with dozens of flights every day. Quite a few of those are direct flights, and there are also many with stops available.

Chicago's primary airport is O'Hare International Airport, but there are also flights to California at its other airport, O'Hare International Airport. California has airports in quite a few of its major cities, with Los Angeles International Airport being the busiest. It's followed by San Francisco International Airport, San Diego International Airport and Oakland International Airport.

If you’re booking a flight to California from Chicago, you will likely depart from O'Hare International Airport (ORD). When you arrive in California, the major airports include Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Oakland International Airport (OAK), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and San Jose International Airport (SJC). It all just depends on the airline you’ll be traveling with. Since both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have their hub at SFO, they tend to land there more often than not. Similarly, because LAX is the primary hub for American Airlines and Delta Air, you’re most likely to land in Los Angeles when flying with either of these airlines.

Chicago to California is a very popular route, with hundreds of Americans flying to the west coast every week. As a result, there are a good number of airlines serving this route that provide direct flights. Spirit is one of the leading airlines, offering multiple flights every day. United Airlines is another option and is actually the most popular because of its amazing in-flight amenities. During your flight from Chicago to California, you’ll receive complimentary snacks as well as in-flight wireless internet that you can use for entertainment or work during your flight. They also provide personal entertainment devices, such as small tablets, in case you want to catch up on your favorite TV show.

Despite being a very short trip, there are still connecting flights between the two cities. Flights from Chicago to California that include a layover usually cost less compared to direct flights. Therefore, if you are traveling on a budget, you should consider these options. If you’re content with a one-stop flight, the most common layovers on this route stop at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) or Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Other layover options include Dallas/Fort Worth, Boise, and Fort Lauderdale. Although indirect flights are cheaper, keep in mind that they will add three to six hours to your total travel time.

No, a passport will not be necessary when flying to California from Chicago since you’re traveling on a domestic flight. However, you will still be required to prove your identity with a photo ID, and a REAL ID will be required for domestic flights in the near future, as part of a new system the government is introducing. You will need to have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another form of ID such as a US passport, US passport card, or NEXUS card, among others.

Yes, there are multiple flights from Chicago to California for under $100. The cheapest flight booked recently is on Frontier for just $91, but on average you can expect to pay $120.

Cheapflights has at least 20 direct flights from Chicago to California under $200. A good price for a nonstop flight from Chicago to California is less than $181.

There are currently 20+ open flights from Chicago to California within the next 7 days for less than $100.

Nonstop flights can be found on the following days: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday.

39 flight departures from Chicago to California per day on average.
Early Morning (Midnight to 6am) - 23% of flight departures
Morning (6am - Noon) - 23% of flight departures
Afternoon (Noon - 6pm) - 18% of flight departures
Evening (6pm - Midnight) - 36% of flight departures

Departing from Chicago to California will take you 13h 54m. There are 1750 mi between Chicago and California. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

The most popular route from Chicago to California is Chicago O'Hare Intl - Los Angeles. You may also consider Chicago O'Hare Intl - San Francisco or Chicago O'Hare Intl - San Diego.

American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Delta are the most popular airlines when flying from Chicago to California.

No one likes to see their flight delayed. When booking a flight from Chicago to California consider choosing Japan Airlines (91%), Qantas Airways (85%) or ANA (84%) as they are the most reliable in getting you off to your destination on time.

On average you can expect to pay $769 for a flight from Chicago to California. The cheapest flight overall is $89 while the most popular route, (Chicago O'Hare Intl - Los Angeles) is currently priced at $93.

These are just IATA (International Air Transport Association) codes. They are used in aviation to identify and differentiate airports. That’s why a Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Los Angeles Airport flight would often be abbreviated as a ORD to LAX flight. Ready for more IATA code knowledge? These are related airports for your current travel destination: San Francisco Airport (SFO), San Diego Airport (SAN), Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty Airport (SNA), San Jose Airport (SJC), Sacramento Intl Airport (SMF).

The amount of baggage you can bring on your Chicago to California flight depends on the airline and the type of fare you've chosen. After entering your flight details, you'll be able to view the specific baggage policies for each deal in the search results. Keep in mind that certain deals may offer additional baggage allowance.

Yes, Cheapflights allows you to browse and filter Chicago to California flight deals by airline. After entering your origin and destination, use the available filters to view flights offered by airlines.

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

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

Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Chicago to California by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

Many airlines flying from Chicago to California offer the option to travel with pets. After selecting a flight deal, you can find more information about the airline's pet policy on their official website or by contacting the airline directly. Please note that additional fees and restrictions may apply.

Yes, you can often find last-minute deals on Chicago to California flights on Cheapflights. However, these deals can vary and may not always be available. We recommend checking back frequently or signing up for price alerts for the most up-to-date deals.

The Chicago to California flight deals you see on this page were last updated on 4/29.

Most of the airlines that offer flights to California from Chicago have some type of ongoing program to reduce the airline’s environmental impact and promote sustainable travel. Spirit Airlines, for example, has a daytime flight to California that is considered to have less carbon emissions than other flights making the same route due to the type of aircraft and its engine’s fuel efficiency. Spirit also encourages passengers to avoid bringing extra luggage that would weigh the aircraft down by not including a free carry-on bag with their tickets. United Airlines and American Airlines also have eco-friendly programs and are committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050. They both have already taken action by using sustainable aviation fuel, thereby reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

When booking tickets to California from Chicago, there are a few choices passengers can make to reduce their own carbon footprint. Packing light and not bringing extra luggage is one way of helping. The more the aircraft weighs, the more fuel it burns, increasing its carbon emissions and producing more pollution. Traveling in economy class and on larger airplanes may also help because they are more space-efficient. You can also choose one of the many direct flights offered on this route, avoiding unnecessary layovers and extra carbon dioxide emissions. If possible, it’s best to book a flight offered during the daytime because sunlight helps heat the aircraft and absorb some of the carbon dioxide.