Chicago

$46+ Cheap flights from California to Chicago (CHI)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 7/22. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
LAX — CHI
Jul 8 — Jul 151
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Cheap flight deals from California to Chicago

Keep the following information in mind while searching for California to Chicago flight deals. Data was last updated July 3, 2025.

Round-trip from

$117
(CheapOair)

One-way from

$46
(FlightHub)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$301

Good round-trip deal

$250 or less

Good one-way deal

$131 or less
From California to Chicago (CHI)
One-way flight from California to Chicago (CHI)
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 7% potential increase in price ($24 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($4 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in July 2025
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from California to Chicago (CHI).
Price to beat on a one-way flight from California to Chicago (CHI).

Find flight deals from California to Chicago

Cheapest flights from California to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from California to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on July 3, 2025.

This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 8/135:42 pmBUR - ORD
1 stop9h 08mSpirit Airlines
Tue 8/196:00 amORD - BUR
1 stop6h 17mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 7/2$117
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/30. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 7/311:02 pmLAX - MDW
1 stop8h 15mFrontier
Sun 8/176:20 amMDW - LAX
1 stop7h 47mFrontier
Deal found 6/30$149
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 7/307:20 pmLAX - ORD
1 stop16h 53mSpirit Airlines
Wed 8/66:40 amORD - LAX
Nonstop4h 28mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 7/1$149
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/3. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 8/1112:12 amLAX - ORD
1 stop9h 23mMultiple Airlines
Fri 8/225:10 amORD - LAX
1 stop8h 57mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/3$150
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 7/174:24 pmLAX - ORD
Nonstop4h 22mFrontier
Mon 7/215:01 amORD - LAX
1 stop9h 16mFrontier
Deal found 7/1$152
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 7/157:00 pmSAN - ORD
1 stop9h 03mSpirit Airlines
Tue 9/96:00 amORD - SAN
1 stop14h 10mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 7/1$167
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 7/234:44 pmSAN - ORD
Nonstop4h 23mFrontier
Thu 7/241:39 pmORD - SAN
Nonstop4h 20mFrontier
Deal found 7/1$169
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 7/154:44 pmSAN - ORD
Nonstop4h 23mMultiple Airlines
Fri 7/183:18 pmORD - SAN
1 stop9h 48mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/1$170
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 10/215:19 pmSAN - ORD
Nonstop4h 40mAlaska Airlines
Wed 10/299:20 amORD - SAN
Nonstop4h 25mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 7/2$171
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/3. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 9/175:01 pmSAN - ORD
Nonstop4h 13mUnited Airlines
Sun 9/217:15 amORD - SAN
Nonstop4h 20mUnited Airlines
Deal found 7/3$184
This Hawaiian Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Hawaiian Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 10/2312:20 pmSAN - ORD
Nonstop4h 39mHawaiian Airlines
Mon 10/277:55 pmORD - SAN
Nonstop4h 20mHawaiian Airlines
Deal found 7/2$197
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 8/1611:15 pmLAX - MDW
Nonstop3h 55mSouthwest
Sat 8/238:50 pmMDW - LAX
Nonstop4h 20mSouthwest
Deal found 7/2$197

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Customize your flight search to find flights from California to Chicago that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated July 3, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from California to Chicago that are best for you.

Fly from

California

Fly to

Chicago

Route

Depart

Return

Price

BurbankChicago

BUR - ORD

BURORD

Burbank Bob Hope

Wed 8/13

5:42 pm-4:50 am

1 stop9h 08m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 8/19

6:00 am-10:17 am

1 stop6h 17m

$117

Los AngelesChicago

LAX - MDW

LAXMDW

Los Angeles

Thu 7/31

1:02 pm-11:17 pm

1 stop8h 15m

Chicago Midway

Sun 8/17

6:20 am-12:07 pm

1 stop7h 47m

$149

Los AngelesChicago

LAX - ORD

LAXORD

Los Angeles

Wed 7/30

7:20 pm-2:13 pm

1 stop16h 53m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 8/6

6:40 am-9:08 am

Nonstop4h 28m

$149

Los AngelesChicago

LAX - ORD

LAXORD

Los Angeles

Mon 8/11

12:12 am-11:35 am

1 stop9h 23m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 8/22

5:10 am-12:07 pm

1 stop8h 57m

$150

Los AngelesChicago

LAX - ORD

LAXORD

Los Angeles

Fri 8/29

3:30 pm-12:32 am

1 stop7h 02m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 8/31

5:10 am-12:07 pm

1 stop8h 57m

$154

San DiegoChicago

SAN - ORD

SANORD

San Diego

Tue 7/15

7:00 pm-6:03 am

1 stop9h 03m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 9/9

6:00 am-6:10 pm

1 stop14h 10m

$167

San DiegoChicago

SAN - ORD

SANORD

San Diego

Wed 7/23

4:44 pm-11:07 pm

Nonstop4h 23m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 7/24

1:39 pm-3:59 pm

Nonstop4h 20m

$169

San DiegoChicago

SAN - ORD

SANORD

San Diego

Tue 7/15

4:44 pm-11:07 pm

Nonstop4h 23m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 7/18

3:18 pm-11:06 pm

1 stop9h 48m

$170

San DiegoChicago

SAN - ORD

SANORD

San Diego

Tue 10/21

5:19 pm-11:59 pm

Nonstop4h 40m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 10/29

9:20 am-11:45 am

Nonstop4h 25m

$171

San DiegoChicago

SAN - ORD

SANORD

San Diego

Wed 9/17

5:01 pm-11:14 pm

Nonstop4h 13m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 9/21

7:15 am-9:35 am

Nonstop4h 20m

$184

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 7/2

Showing 1-10 of 60 results
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Best time to book a flight from California to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from California with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from California to Chicago

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from California to Chicago?

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from California to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from California to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $321). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from CA to CHI?

Find hourly flight availability from California to Chicago. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated July 3, 2025.

Regardless of the time of day you decide to fly, the ticket price will remain around the same. Book flights from California to Chicago as you normally would.

Weekly flight availability from California to Chicago

Explore weekly flight availability from California to Chicago. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated July 3, 2025.

The most flights from USCA to CHI are scheduled on a Thursday (140 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (34 on average).

Reviews of airlines servicing Chicago

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Chicago. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Chicago. Reviews last updated July 3, 2025.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and Delta from California to Chicago by reading reviews from past customers. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
8.0
Very good

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from California to Chicago. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.
  • Which eco-friendly carrier companies operate flights between California and Chicago?

    When planning on an environmentally friendly flight from California to Chicago, think about choosing Spirit Airlines, Frontier, or Sun Country Air. These airlines are dedicated to lowering their absurdly high fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions through the use of fuel optimization techniques. These businesses are also committed to swapping out their older, more complicated engines with newer, lighter, and quieter designs.

  • What kind of research could be done to find a company that travels ecologically between California and Chicago?

    Be sure to research more information about the numerous environmental initiatives being carried out by key airline companies that fly from California to Chicago before booking your ticket. You can evaluate the carriers' sustainable development commitments by looking at their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reports. When preparing their ESG reports, airlines often assess both their operational processes and their transit infrastructure. See what the various airlines that operate flights from California to Chicago are doing to uphold their promise by reading the IATA publication, Environmental Assessment for Airports and Ground Service Providers (IEnVA).

  • How might one travel sustainably from California to Chicago?

    You might be able to travel from California to Chicago in an environmentally friendly manner if you just bring the stuff you'll actually need. Making the plane lighter might drastically cut the amount of carbon it releases into the atmosphere. Taking an economy flight is another choice for traveling sustainably, more so if you want to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide created by each seat on the aircraft.

  • What airports serve California to Chicago flights?

    Airports that serve flights from California to Chicago all depend on the location that you choose to leave from. California has multiple airports you can use such as Los Angeles International Airport, San Jose International Airport and Ontario Airport. Just as there are plenty of choices from California there are also choices from Chicago as well. Chicago O’Hare International Airport is a popular choice but there is also Chicago Midway Airport available for flights from California to Chicago.

  • Which airlines fly directly from California to Chicago?

    The airlines that fly directly from California to Chicago depend on the location that you choose. For Flights from Los Angeles to O’Hare typically Spirit Airlines and United Airlines have flights available for you. While if you choose to fly from San Jose International Airport to Chicago Midway Airport typically Southwest Airlines and Delta Airlines have an array of flights to choose from. All the airlines and prices will vary on the dates chosen and locations picked for flights from California to Chicago.

  • What are the stopover options between California to Chicago?

    Typical flights from California to Chicago are nonstop flights but there are some locations that may give you one stopover to possibly two. When flying from Los Angeles International Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, you will not have stopovers and the flight will range near 4h 6m. If you do have a stopover it is usually located at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for a total of 5h 41m. When flying from Ontario to Chicago Midway you will have a total of two stops at both Los Angeles International Airport and Minneapolis?Saint Paul International Airport for a total time of 8h 32m.

  • Do I need a passport or visa to fly from California to Chicago?

    If you are a US Citizen then you will not need to have a visa when flying from California to Chicago due to it being a domestic flight and unnecessary for you to have a visa. You will be required to have photo identification whether that be in the form of a passport or a valid driver’s license it varies from airline but it is required if you are to board the airplane.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from California to Chicago one-way?

    $46 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Spirit Airlines. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Frontier and American Airlines, with prices starting from $61 and $86, respectively.

  • What are the most popular routes from California to Chicago?

  • What are the most reliable airlines from California to Chicago?

    The top 3 most reliable airlines when flying from California to Chicago are Austrian Airlines (98%), Spirit Airlines (98%) and Air China (90%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from California to Chicago?

    On average you can expect to pay $1,122 for a flight from California to Chicago. The cheapest flight overall is $77 while the most popular route, (Los Angeles - Chicago O'Hare Intl) is currently priced at $113.

  • Can I find deals for flights from California to Chicago that include hotel bookings?

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

  • How can I find direct flights from California to Chicago?

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

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from California to Chicago?

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

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from California to Chicago?

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from California to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from California to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $321). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near California?

Book flights to California if you plan to visit one of these locations
Merrillville
Lansing
Benton Harbor
Porter
Hammond
Valparaiso
Chesterton

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Alternative routes for California to Chicago

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.

Top 10 airlines flying from California to Chicago

Discover the top 10 airlines that operate flights from California to Chicago. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated July 3, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Allegiant AirCheapest$54Average$121FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time88%
FrontierCheapest$60Average$222FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$67Average$222FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
Hawaiian AirlinesCheapest$108Average$284FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time85%
DeltaCheapest$128Average$388FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
Sun Country AirCheapest$130Average$330FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time83%
United AirlinesCheapest$133Average$404FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
Alaska AirlinesCheapest$138Average$391FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
SouthwestCheapest$157Average$431FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
American AirlinesCheapest$181Average$388FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

Helpful tips for your next trip to Chicago

Get useful tips and recommendations to enhance your travel experience on your next trip to Chicago. Learn about must-visit attractions, local customs, transportation options, weather conditions, and other valuable tips to make your trip more enjoyable and hassle-free.
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is a good choice to begin your flight journey if you wish to connect from California to Chicago via an airport that actively values ecological sustainability. Plans are underway to eliminate single-use plastics from the airport's operations.
  • You might want to think about selecting Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) as your endpoint if you wish to travel sustainably from California to Chicago. MDW has started using solar power generating measures to reduce its water consumption levels in Chicago as part of its continuing commitment to preserving the environment.
  • Consider using buses and other forms of public transit to go from MDW to different parts of Chicago as they are more environmentally friendly than private cars or taxis because they emit less CO2.

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