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$80+ Cheap flights from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco Bay Area

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 1/25. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHI — SFO
Jan 20 — Jan 271
Tue 1/20
Tue 1/27
1 adult, Economy
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Cheap flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area

Cheapest flights from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on December 21, 2025.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/20. 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.
Thu 12/256:00 amORD - SFO
1 stop9h 13mFrontier
Mon 1/128:58 amSFO - ORD
1 stop7h 47mFrontier
Deal found 12/20$253
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/20. 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.
Thu 12/256:00 amORD - SFO
1 stop9h 13mFrontier
Thu 1/88:48 amSFO - ORD
1 stop10h 44mFrontier
Deal found 12/20$260
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/20. 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 12/256:00 amORD - SFO
1 stop9h 13mFrontier
Sat 1/1011:20 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop10h 15mFrontier
Deal found 12/20$274
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 12/247:00 amORD - SFO
1 stop19h 24mFrontier
Wed 1/74:01 pmSFO - ORD
2 stops20h 56mFrontier
Deal found 12/17$280
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/20. 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.
Thu 12/256:00 amORD - SFO
1 stop9h 13mFrontier
Sun 1/1111:35 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop10h 00mFrontier
Deal found 12/20$288
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/19. 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.
Thu 12/256:00 amORD - SFO
1 stop9h 13mFrontier
Thu 1/16:24 amSFO - ORD
1 stop15h 48mFrontier
Deal found 12/19$291
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 12/236:00 amORD - SFO
1 stop9h 13mFrontier
Thu 1/14:07 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop6h 05mFrontier
Deal found 12/18$300
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/19. 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 12/256:00 amORD - SFO
1 stop9h 13mFrontier
Wed 12/316:24 amSFO - ORD
1 stop15h 48mFrontier
Deal found 12/19$309
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/19. 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.
Thu 12/256:12 amMDW - SFO
1 stop9h 01mFrontier
Tue 1/1311:20 pmSFO - MDW
1 stop9h 11mFrontier
Deal found 12/19$312
This Expedia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/19. 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.
Thu 12/256:12 amMDW - SFO
1 stop9h 01mFrontier
Sat 1/1011:20 pmSFO - MDW
1 stop10h 11mFrontier
Deal found 12/19$333
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/19. 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.
Tue 12/232:01 pmMDW - SFO
1 stop12h 23mFrontier
Tue 1/1311:20 pmSFO - MDW
1 stop9h 11mFrontier
Deal found 12/19$342
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/19. 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.
Thu 12/256:12 amMDW - SFO
1 stop9h 01mFrontier
Fri 1/96:05 amSFO - MDW
1 stop6h 00mFrontier
Deal found 12/19$347

Find flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area

Keep the following information in mind while searching for Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area flight deals. Data was last updated December 21, 2025.

Most accurate provider

eDreams
3 stars

Most trusted provider

eDreams
3 stars

Round-trip from

$236
(Alaska Airlines)

One-way from

$91
(Priceline)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

July

Average price

$449
Provider with most accurate pricing for Chicago (CHI)-San Francisco flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Chicago (CHI)-San Francisco flights.
Search Deals
From Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco Bay Area
Search Deals
One-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco Bay Area
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 15% potential increase in price ($59 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($11 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 Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area 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 21, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area that are best for you.

Fly from

Chicago

Fly to

San Francisco Bay Area

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ChicagoOakland

MDW - OAK

MDWOAK

Chicago Midway

Sat 1/17

7:40 pm-10:35 pm

Nonstop4h 55m

Oakland

Sat 1/24

5:55 am-12:00 pm

Nonstop4h 05m

$236

ChicagoOakland

ORD - OAK

ORDOAK

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 2/14

3:54 pm-10:49 pm

1 stop8h 55m

Oakland

Wed 2/18

6:15 am-4:33 pm

1 stop8h 18m

$236

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Sat 1/10

4:05 pm-8:35 pm

1 stop6h 30m

San Francisco

Sat 1/17

5:10 am-6:30 pm

2 stops11h 20m

$241

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 3/11

3:54 pm-10:56 pm

1 stop9h 02m

San Francisco

Mon 3/16

8:42 am-11:56 pm

1 stop13h 14m

$242

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 1/29

8:00 am-2:00 pm

1 stop8h 00m

San Francisco

Mon 2/2

7:40 pm-5:10 pm

1 stop19h 30m

$242

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 1/29

3:35 pm-9:58 pm

1 stop8h 23m

San Francisco

Fri 1/30

9:00 am-11:50 pm

1 stop12h 50m

$242

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 3/9

5:29 pm-11:59 pm

1 stop8h 30m

San Francisco

Mon 3/16

7:28 pm-2:11 pm

1 stop16h 43m

$242

ChicagoSan Jose

ORD - SJC

ORDSJC

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 2/25

7:00 am-8:00 pm

1 stop15h 00m

San Jose

Thu 2/26

10:16 am-4:33 pm

1 stop28h 17m

$242

ChicagoSan Jose

ORD - SJC

ORDSJC

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 1/31

8:00 am-2:42 pm

1 stop8h 42m

San Jose

Thu 2/5

6:15 am-5:10 pm

1 stop8h 55m

$242

ChicagoSan Jose

ORD - SJC

ORDSJC

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 1/21

8:00 am-2:42 pm

1 stop8h 42m

San Jose

Sat 1/24

11:00 am-11:50 pm

1 stop10h 50m

$242

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 12/18

Showing 1-10 of 60 results
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Best time to book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Francisco Bay Area from Chicago 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 Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area?

Currently, October is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area (average of $80). Flying from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area in November is currently the most expensive (average of $207). 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 CHI to XIH?

Find hourly flight availability from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated December 21, 2025.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area at noon. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 23% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the morning.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area?

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

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area flight should consider departing on Thursday mornings when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday at noon flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Weekly flight availability from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area

Explore weekly flight availability from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area. 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 December 21, 2025.

The most flights from CHI to zzXIH are scheduled on a Saturday (72 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Thursday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (39 on average).

Reviews of airlines servicing San Francisco Bay Area

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Francisco Bay Area. 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 San Francisco Bay Area. Reviews last updated December 21, 2025.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and United Airlines from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,492 reviews

Entertainment

7.0

Food

7.1

Crew

8.5

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Georgana,Dec 2025

ORD - PDX

Very cordial grew. Thank you. However, crying baby issues and no ear plugs available.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,492 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,492 reviews

Entertainment

7.0

Food

7.1

Crew

8.5

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Georgana,Dec 2025

ORD - PDX

Very cordial grew. Thank you. However, crying baby issues and no ear plugs available.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,258 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,492 reviews

Entertainment

7.0

Food

7.1

Crew

8.5

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Georgana,Dec 2025

ORD - PDX

Very cordial grew. Thank you. However, crying baby issues and no ear plugs available.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,100 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,492 reviews

Entertainment

7.0

Food

7.1

Crew

8.5

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Georgana,Dec 2025

ORD - PDX

Very cordial grew. Thank you. However, crying baby issues and no ear plugs available.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
11,051 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,492 reviews

Entertainment

7.0

Food

7.1

Crew

8.5

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Georgana,Dec 2025

ORD - PDX

Very cordial grew. Thank you. However, crying baby issues and no ear plugs available.
Frontier
5.8
Fair
3,083 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,492 reviews

Entertainment

7.0

Food

7.1

Crew

8.5

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.8

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Georgana,Dec 2025

ORD - PDX

Very cordial grew. Thank you. However, crying baby issues and no ear plugs available.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area. 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 Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area?

    A quick flight from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area can take about 4h 55m. Southwest provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $236. Airlines will cover a distance of 1839 mi. Both multi-stop and nonstop flights can be found to your destination and back.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area one-way?

    The cheapest airlines for a one-way flight from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area are Frontier ($66), JetBlue ($73), and Spirit Airlines ($73).

  • What are the most popular routes from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area?

    When deciding which route to take from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area consider Chicago O'Hare Intl - San Francisco, Chicago Midway - San Francisco or Chicago O'Hare Intl - San Jose as they are the most popular.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area?

    Consider ANA (90%), Air China (86%) or China Southern (83%) when booking your flight. These represent the most reliable airlines when flying from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area?

    Looking for the cheapest flight from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area? While on average our users pay $1,265, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $127. The most popular route (Chicago O'Hare Intl - San Francisco), is priced around $171.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area?

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

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area 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 Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area?

    Currently, October is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area (average of $80). Flying from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area in November is currently the most expensive (average of $207). 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

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Alternative routes for Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
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Top 10 airlines flying from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area

Discover the top 10 airlines that operate flights from Chicago to San Francisco Bay Area. 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 21, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$80Average$224FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$83Average$212FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
Hawaiian AirlinesCheapest$108Average$382FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time85%
Sun Country AirCheapest$112Average$375FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time83%
SouthwestCheapest$138Average$437FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
DeltaCheapest$159Average$350FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
JetBlueCheapest$183Average$427FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Alaska AirlinesCheapest$187Average$316FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
American AirlinesCheapest$197Average$571FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$203Average$429FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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