HomeSearch by dateVacation packagesHotelsFlight dealsCar rentalTravel tips & news
Chicago

$126+ Cheap flights from Salinas, CA, CA 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 1/9. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — CHI
Jan 17 — Jan 241
Sat 1/17
Sat 1/24
1 adult, Economy
We work with more than 300 partners to bring you better travel deals

Find cheap flights from Salinas to Chicago with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go

Enter your travel information like dates, passengers, trip type (one-way or round trip), and preferred cabin class then click “Find deals”

2. Select your favorite providers

We find the providers serving your travel needs. Choose up to four travel providers to compare side-by-side for flights, hotels, or car rentals.

3. Compare prices and book

Review each provider’s pricing and select the best option for you! Book through your favorite provider’s website for a seamless experience.

Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Salinas to Chicago are usually found in February or September, booked 71 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Saturday and return on a Thursday

Cheap flight deals from Salinas to Chicago

Cheapest flights from Salinas to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Salinas to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on December 18, 2025.

This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/15. 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 Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 12/296:24 amSFO - ORD
1 stop15h 48mFrontier
Thu 1/17:00 amORD - SFO
1 stop19h 24mFrontier
Deal found 12/15$295
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/17. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/316:24 amSFO - ORD
1 stop15h 48mFrontier
Sun 1/410:49 pmORD - SFO
2 stops27h 03mFrontier
Deal found 12/17$312
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/17. 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.
Tue 12/308:16 pmSFO - MDW
1 stop11h 05mFrontier
Sun 1/410:50 pmMDW - SFO
1 stop27h 34mFrontier
Deal found 12/17$319
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/17. 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 American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/2510:49 pmSFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 18mAmerican Airlines
Fri 1/95:00 amORD - SFO
1 stop7h 05mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 12/17$322
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/18. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/249:30 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop16h 19mFrontier
Sun 1/410:49 pmORD - SFO
1 stop10h 59mFrontier
Deal found 12/18$337
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/16. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 12/2811:01 amSFO - ORD
1 stop6h 19mSun Country Air
Wed 12/3111:45 amORD - SFO
1 stop7h 27mSun Country Air
Deal found 12/16$357
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/18. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 12/309:30 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop30h 35mMultiple Airlines
Sun 1/410:49 pmORD - SFO
1 stop10h 59mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 12/18$358
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/17. 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.
Thu 12/255:30 amSFO - ORD
1 stop7h 55mSouthwest
Fri 1/94:25 pmORD - SFO
1 stop7h 25mSouthwest
Deal found 12/17$359
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/16. 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.
Mon 12/296:24 amSFO - ORD
1 stop15h 48mFrontier
Mon 1/57:00 amORD - SFO
1 stop19h 24mFrontier
Deal found 12/16$364
This Expedia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/16. 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 Expedia is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 12/286:24 amSFO - MDW
1 stop13h 26mFrontier
Fri 1/96:10 amMDW - SFO
1 stop9h 08mFrontier
Deal found 12/16$377
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/17. 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.
Thu 12/251:35 pmSFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 30mUnited Airlines
Fri 1/27:05 amORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 53mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/17$377
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/15. 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.
Thu 12/2511:20 pmSFO - MDW
1 stop12h 01mFrontier
Sun 1/410:50 pmMDW - SFO
1 stop27h 34mFrontier
Deal found 12/15$413

Find flight deals from Salinas to Chicago

Keep the following information in mind while searching for Salinas to Chicago flight deals. Data was last updated December 18, 2025.

Most accurate provider

eDreams
3 stars

Most trusted provider

eDreams
3 stars

Round-trip from

$263
(Southwest)

One-way from

$126
(Priceline)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$458
Provider with most accurate pricing for San Francisco-Chicago (CHI) flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for San Francisco-Chicago (CHI) flights.
Search Deals
From Salinas to Chicago (CHI)
Search Deals
One-way flight from Salinas to Chicago (CHI)
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 14% potential increase in price ($58 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($10 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in December 2025
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Salinas 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 December 18, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Salinas to Chicago that are best for you.

Fly from

Salinas

Fly to

Chicago

Route

Depart

Return

Price

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 3/17

11:34 am-11:56 pm

1 stop10h 22m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 3/24

2:05 pm-7:19 pm

1 stop7h 14m

$266

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 2/24

8:11 am-11:59 pm

1 stop13h 48m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 2/25

3:07 pm-8:46 am

2 stops19h 39m

$268

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - MDW

SFOMDW

San Francisco

Sat 1/17

5:10 am-6:30 pm

2 stops11h 20m

Chicago Midway

Mon 1/19

8:15 am-11:15 am

Nonstop5h 00m

$269

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Fri 2/20

6:05 am-9:52 pm

2 stops13h 47m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 2/21

8:52 am-1:48 pm

1 stop6h 56m

$275

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - MDW

SFOMDW

San Francisco

Tue 2/3

8:15 am-4:35 pm

1 stop6h 20m

Chicago Midway

Wed 2/11

10:00 am-5:05 pm

2 stops9h 05m

$276

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 3/17

11:57 am-8:24 pm

1 stop6h 27m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 3/24

7:20 am-4:10 pm

2 stops10h 50m

$276

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Fri 1/23

7:00 am-5:10 pm

1 stop8h 10m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 1/26

2:06 pm-11:03 pm

2 stops10h 57m

$276

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Fri 2/20

5:03 pm-11:26 pm

Nonstop4h 23m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 2/22

6:25 am-9:30 am

Nonstop5h 05m

$279

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Fri 1/23

1:35 pm-8:05 pm

Nonstop4h 30m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 1/26

2:40 pm-5:36 pm

Nonstop4h 56m

$279

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - MDW

SFOMDW

San Francisco

Thu 1/29

12:30 pm-9:50 pm

1 stop7h 20m

Chicago Midway

Sat 1/31

8:15 am-11:15 am

Nonstop5h 00m

$279

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 12/17

Showing 1-10 of 60 results
1
2
3
...
6

Best time to book a flight from Salinas to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from Salinas 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 Salinas to Chicago

How far ahead should I book a flight from Salinas to Chicago?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Salinas to Chicago. Price data was last updated on December 12, 2025.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Salinas to Chicago, you should look to book at least 71 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

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

Currently, December is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Salinas to Chicago (average of $107). Flying from Salinas to Chicago in November is currently the most expensive (average of $210). 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 S9N to CHI?

Find hourly flight availability from Salinas 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 December 18, 2025.

It’s optimal to fly from Salinas to Chicago in the afternoon. By choosing this option you can save up to 24% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight in the evening.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Salinas to Chicago?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Salinas to Chicago. Price data was last updated on December 16, 2024.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Salinas to Chicago flight should consider departing on Wednesday afternoons when fares are most often at their lowest. Wednesday evenings flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

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 December 18, 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and United Airlines from Salinas to Chicago to help guide your decision. You can also see how each airline stacks up in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,475 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.0

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Art,Dec 2025

SAN - OGG

It was a five hour flight and my seat did not recline. I have had three back surgeries and I’m solid bone for my L3 vertebrae all the way to my tailbone. My body has never hurt so much. There was no TV on this flight and only a small can of soda was free.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,475 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,475 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.0

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Art,Dec 2025

SAN - OGG

It was a five hour flight and my seat did not recline. I have had three back surgeries and I’m solid bone for my L3 vertebrae all the way to my tailbone. My body has never hurt so much. There was no TV on this flight and only a small can of soda was free.
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,249 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,475 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.0

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Art,Dec 2025

SAN - OGG

It was a five hour flight and my seat did not recline. I have had three back surgeries and I’m solid bone for my L3 vertebrae all the way to my tailbone. My body has never hurt so much. There was no TV on this flight and only a small can of soda was free.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,091 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,475 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.0

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Art,Dec 2025

SAN - OGG

It was a five hour flight and my seat did not recline. I have had three back surgeries and I’m solid bone for my L3 vertebrae all the way to my tailbone. My body has never hurt so much. There was no TV on this flight and only a small can of soda was free.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
11,054 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,475 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.0

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Art,Dec 2025

SAN - OGG

It was a five hour flight and my seat did not recline. I have had three back surgeries and I’m solid bone for my L3 vertebrae all the way to my tailbone. My body has never hurt so much. There was no TV on this flight and only a small can of soda was free.
Frontier
5.8
Fair
3,082 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,475 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.0

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Art,Dec 2025

SAN - OGG

It was a five hour flight and my seat did not recline. I have had three back surgeries and I’m solid bone for my L3 vertebrae all the way to my tailbone. My body has never hurt so much. There was no TV on this flight and only a small can of soda was free.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Salinas to Chicago. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • How long is the flight from Salinas to Chicago?

    Airlines like Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and Delta fly from Salinas to Chicago in about 10h 22m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 3h 25m. The distance between Salinas and Chicago is about 1841 mi. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

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

    For one-way options, check prices for Frontier. According to our data, you can fly for as low as $71. Users have also found prices from $98 and $98 on Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines, respectively.

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

    While some choose either San Francisco - Chicago Midway or San Francisco - Chicago Greater Rockford, San Francisco - Chicago O'Hare Intl is the most popular route from Salinas to Chicago.

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

    Before booking your flight to Chicago from Salinas, check out the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time: Fiji Airways (100%), Royal Jordanian (92%), China Southern( 91%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Salinas to Chicago?

    Looking for the cheapest flight from Salinas to Chicago? While on average our users pay $1,106, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $126. The most popular route (San Francisco - Chicago O'Hare Intl), is priced around $165.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Salinas 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 Salinas to Chicago?

    Currently, December is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Salinas to Chicago (average of $107). Flying from Salinas to Chicago in November is currently the most expensive (average of $210). 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 Chicago?

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

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Alternative routes for Salinas to Chicago

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
Los Angeles to O'Hare Intl flights
San Francisco to O'Hare Intl flights
Los Angeles to Midway flights
Ontario to O'Hare Intl flights
San Diego to O'Hare Intl flights
Santa Ana to O'Hare Intl flights
Las Vegas to O'Hare Intl flights
San Francisco to Midway flights
Sacramento to O'Hare Intl flights
San Jose to O'Hare Intl flights
Los Angeles to St. Louis flights
Burbank to O'Hare Intl flights
Las Vegas to Midway flights
San Francisco to St. Louis flights
San Diego to Midway flights
Sacramento to Midway flights
Palm Springs to O'Hare Intl flights
Ontario to Midway flights
Oakland to O'Hare Intl flights
Santa Ana to Midway flights
San Jose to Midway flights
Fresno to O'Hare Intl flights
Reno to O'Hare Intl flights
Ontario to St. Louis flights
San Diego to St. Louis flights
Oakland to Midway flights
Sacramento to St. Louis flights
Las Vegas to St. Louis flights
Burbank to Midway flights
Long Beach to O'Hare Intl flights
Burbank to St. Louis flights
Santa Barbara to O'Hare Intl flights
Santa Ana to St. Louis flights
Los Angeles to Moline flights
San Jose to St. Louis flights
Monterey to O'Hare Intl flights
Los Angeles to Rockford flights
Bakersfield to O'Hare Intl flights
Reno to Midway flights
Fresno to Midway flights
Palm Springs to Midway flights
Los Angeles to Peoria flights
San Luis Obispo to O'Hare Intl flights
Santa Ana to Peoria flights
Long Beach to Midway flights
Long Beach to St. Louis flights
Ontario to Peoria flights
Reno to St. Louis flights
Santa Barbara to St. Louis flights
San Francisco to Peoria flights

Top 8 airlines flying from Salinas to Chicago

Discover the top 8 airlines that operate flights from Salinas 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 December 18, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$98Average$249FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$108Average$226FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
Hawaiian AirlinesCheapest$108Average$288FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time85%
DeltaCheapest$128Average$347FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$133Average$466FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
Alaska AirlinesCheapest$170Average$389FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
SouthwestCheapest$185Average$424FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
American AirlinesCheapest$197Average$373FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

100% Free

Cheapflights is completely free to use, so you can start saving the moment you arrive.

Book with Flexibility

Our users can plan ahead with confidence and find flights with no change fees

Travel Smart

Millions of people come to us for their flight needs every year. We help make travel planning easy by providing useful insights and data-driven graphs that can inform your decisions.