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$144+ Cheap flights from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco (SFO)

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 9/21. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHI — SFO
Sep 10 — Sep 171
Thu 9/10
Thu 9/17
1 adult, Economy
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Find cheap flights from Chicago to San Francisco with Cheapflights

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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Chicago to San Francisco are usually found in September or October, booked 61 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Friday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco

Cheapest flights from Chicago to San Francisco
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Chicago to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on August 11, 2026.

This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/10. 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 9/1010:26 am -
1 stop11h 22m
Wed 9/167:11 pm -
2 stops27h 12m
Deal found 8/10$256
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/7. 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 9/56:00 pm -
Nonstop4h 35m
Mon 9/147:55 pm -
1 stop7h 45m
Deal found 8/7$257
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/7. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 9/53:00 pm -
1 stop8h 02m
Fri 9/1110:59 pm -
1 stop9h 38m
Deal found 8/7$257
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/7. 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.
Fri 8/286:05 am -
1 stop14h 58m
Sun 9/610:35 pm -
1 stop10h 20m
Deal found 8/7$258
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/9. 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.
Fri 9/1112:54 pm -
1 stop11h 34m
Fri 9/1811:58 pm -
1 stop10h 01m
Deal found 8/9$259
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/7. 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 9/311:50 am -
1 stop9h 36m
Thu 9/1011:58 pm -
1 stop10h 01m
Deal found 8/7$260
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/10. 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 9/96:30 am -
1 stop19h 44m
Thu 9/2411:17 am -
2 stops11h 06m
Deal found 8/10$260
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/10. 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.
Sun 9/206:25 am -
1 stop15h 23m
Fri 9/2511:58 pm -
1 stop10h 01m
Deal found 8/10$261
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/10. 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.
Sun 9/2010:26 am -
1 stop11h 22m
Fri 9/2510:05 pm -
1 stop11h 46m
Deal found 8/10$261
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/7. 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 9/51:45 pm -
2 stops7h 50m
Fri 9/117:10 pm -
1 stop7h 20m
Deal found 8/7$262
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/10. 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 10/1411:06 am -
2 stops23h 36m
Sun 10/189:00 pm -
1 stop12h 57m
Deal found 8/10$262
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/7. 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.
Mon 8/2411:50 am -
1 stop9h 13m
Tue 9/110:35 pm -
1 stop10h 20m
Deal found 8/7$263

Find flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco (SFO). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated August 11, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$256
(Kiwi.com)

One-way from

$144
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$381

Good round-trip deal

$269 or less

Good one-way deal

$236 or less
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
Search Deals
One-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 6% potential increase in price ($29 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($7 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in August 2026
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco.
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco.
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Chicago to San Francisco 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 August 11, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Chicago to San Francisco that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW Chicago Midway - SFO San Francisco

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Sat 9/5

9:59 am-5:15 pm

1 stop9h 16m

San Francisco

Fri 9/11

10:59 pm-9:07 am

1 stop8h 08m

$257

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW Chicago Midway - SFO San Francisco

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Sat 9/12

5:05 pm-9:30 pm

1 stop6h 25m

San Francisco

Sat 9/12

11:40 pm-5:50 am

Nonstop4h 10m

$267

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW Chicago Midway - SFO San Francisco

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Thu 10/15

9:25 pm-12:05 am

Nonstop4h 40m

San Francisco

Mon 10/26

8:00 pm-5:45 am

2 stops7h 45m

$272

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW Chicago Midway - SFO San Francisco

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Wed 9/9

3:10 pm-9:10 pm

2 stops8h 00m

San Francisco

Mon 9/21

7:55 pm-5:40 am

1 stop7h 45m

$282

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW Chicago Midway - SFO San Francisco

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Fri 10/2

3:45 pm-10:15 pm

2 stops8h 30m

San Francisco

Mon 10/5

8:00 pm-5:45 am

2 stops7h 45m

$288

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl - SFO San Francisco

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 11/8

6:00 am-8:44 am

Nonstop4h 44m

San Francisco

Tue 11/10

5:00 am-11:24 am

Nonstop4h 24m

$297

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW Chicago Midway - SFO San Francisco

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Tue 10/13

7:40 am-3:10 pm

1 stop9h 30m

San Francisco

Sat 10/17

11:40 pm-5:50 am

Nonstop4h 10m

$307

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW Chicago Midway - SFO San Francisco

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Thu 9/3

6:15 am-10:55 am

1 stop6h 40m

San Francisco

Sun 9/6

10:30 am-7:55 pm

1 stop7h 25m

$307

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl - SFO San Francisco

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 9/3

8:17 pm-8:46 am

1 stop14h 29m

San Francisco

Mon 9/7

11:38 am-11:59 pm

1 stop10h 21m

$319

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl - SFO San Francisco

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 10/31

7:20 am-12:41 pm

1 stop7h 21m

San Francisco

Tue 11/3

12:12 pm-11:57 pm

1 stop9h 45m

$330

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 8/10

Showing 1-10 of 46 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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Compare providers for flights from Chicago to San Francisco

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco in August.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
JustAirTicketPrice Accuracy-Trust Score*1 star
CheapOairPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
Super.comPrice Accuracy-Trust Score*3 stars
PricelinePrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Chicago-San Francisco flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Chicago-San Francisco flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Chicago-San Francisco flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Chicago-San Francisco flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for Chicago-San Francisco flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

Best time to book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Francisco 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

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

Currently, September is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco (average of $335). Flying from Chicago to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $474). 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 SFO?

Find hourly flight availability from Chicago to San Francisco. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated August 11, 2026.

It’s optimal to fly from Chicago to San Francisco in the evening. By choosing this option you can save up to 13% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight in the afternoon.

Weekly flight availability from Chicago to San Francisco

Explore weekly flight availability from Chicago to San Francisco. 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 August 11, 2026.

The most flights from CHI to SFO are scheduled on a Monday (87 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (21 on average).

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Chicago to San Francisco?

Airfare is below average for this route at the moment.
Chicago to San Francisco flights typically cost between $305 and $516 in September.
The cheapest round-trip price found within the last 5 days was $256 on Southwest (Sep 11-Sep 18).

What’s the top layover airport for flights from Chicago to San Francisco?

Share of 1-stop round-trip flights from Chicago to San Francisco chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, using the same layover each way.

Denver (DEN) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 83% of 1-stop itineraries from Chicago to San Francisco on Cheapflights.

What’s the cheapest layover airport for flights from Chicago to San Francisco?

Average round-trip fare for 1-stop flights from Chicago to San Francisco, chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, with the same layover each way.

Atlanta (ATL) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $230.

What’s the fastest layover option from Chicago to San Francisco?

Shortest average travel time for 1-stop one-way flights from Chicago to San Francisco, based on itineraries clicked by Cheapflights users over the past 12 months, grouped by layover airport.

Flights via Denver (DEN) have the shortest average one-way travel time for 1-stop routes: 8h 42m.

Which airport typically offers the quickest layover for flights from Chicago to San Francisco?

Average layover duration for 1-stop one-way flights from Chicago to San Francisco, chosen by Cheapflights users in the last 12 months, grouped by stopover airport.

Flights via Atlanta (ATL) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average layover time of 2h 59m.

How often are flights from Chicago to San Francisco delayed?

About 26% of weekly flights between Chicago and San Francisco have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 175 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for Chicago to San Francisco flights?

Historically, flights departing in the morning are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving at night tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Tuesday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Sunday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on Chicago to San Francisco flights?

Over the last year, United Airlines have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 23% of flights being delayed.

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

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Chicago to San Francisco, you should look to book at least 60 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 day to fly from Chicago to San Francisco?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Chicago to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on August 8, 2026.

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

The best insider tips for Chicago to San Francisco flights

AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your Chicago to San Francisco trip
Our travel experts
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on United Airlines and SFO

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Read more
Robert Schrader

Robert Schrader

Expert on Alaska Airlines

One of the web's original travel bloggers, Robert launched his first site Leave Your Daily Hell in 2009. Since then, he's expanded into destination niche sites (one each for Japan, Thailand and Taiwan), in addition to having written for the inflight magazines of Singapore Airlines and Korean Air. Overall, he's visited nearly 100 countries, and flies business as often as possible.

Read more
Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on ORD

An avid traveler and aviation expert who has visited 173 countries, all 50 states and seven continents, Ramsey Qubein flies nearly 400,000 miles a year. As a North Carolina-based freelance journalist for publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, USA Today and Bloomberg among others, he explores the latest trends in aviation, hospitality, cruises and business.

Read more

Reviews of airlines servicing San Francisco

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Francisco. 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. Reviews last updated August 11, 2026.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest,Alaska Airlines, andUnited Airlines from Chicago to San Francisco. Users can see the overall rating for each airline as well as how each is rated in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,221 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Sarah,Aug 2024

MDW - AUS

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,221 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,221 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Sarah,Aug 2024

MDW - AUS

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.
Alaska Airlines
7.9
Good
12,795 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,221 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Sarah,Aug 2024

MDW - AUS

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
10,103 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,221 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Sarah,Aug 2024

MDW - AUS

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.
American Airlines
7.1
Good
11,902 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,221 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Sarah,Aug 2024

MDW - AUS

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.
Frontier
5.6
Fair
2,704 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,221 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Sarah,Aug 2024

MDW - AUS

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.

Chicago to San Francisco Travel Guide

Dozens of flights are waiting to carry you from the freeways and skyscrapers of Chicago to the fishing piers and historic neighborhoods of San Francisco. A major metropolis along the California coastline, the Bay Area is famous for its maritime atmosphere and architectural marvels such as the Ferry Building Marketplace and the Legion of Honor. Browse direct flights between these two major travel hubs to find a cheap flight to match your travel schedule.

The moment you leave the Windy City behind and step onto the hilly streets San Francisco, the historic Bay Area instantly transports you to a world of cable cars and charming wharfs. Trade the trains of Chicago for the ferries and whale-watching bay cruises of this California city, and enjoy milder winter months with temperatures hovering in the 60's F. Before saying goodbye to the Golden Gate Bridge, don't forget to tour Alcatraz Island and enjoy the catch of the day at one of the bay-side seafood shacks.

The Golden Gate Bridge is just a short flight away, so what's stopping you? Try out our smart search engine to find great flight deals and start planning your San Francisco adventure.

Related info for your journey

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

    Flights times from Chicago to San Francisco usually range from four hours and 15 minutes to four and a half hours. If you have a connection in another city, total travel time may be upwards of six hours.

  • Which airlines operate flights from Chicago to San Francisco?

    American Airlines, United, Virgin America and Alaska Airlines all offer non-stop service from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and you can find direct flights from Midway International Airport through Southwest Airlines.

  • How frequent are flights between Chicago and San Francisco?

    Upwards of 20 direct flights to San Francisco leave from Chicago O'Hare per day, with planes departing every hour or so. From Midway, You can choose from around 3 flights leaving each day.

  • Which airports serve Chicago and San Francisco?

    Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the Chicago metro area as well as a major U.S. travel hub, offering daily flights to San Francisco through multiple airlines. Chicago Midway International Airport is a smaller airport that also offers a few flights to the Bay Area, though you have a smaller selection of flight times and prices. When your plane lands in San Francisco, you find yourself in San Francisco International Airport, the area's major airport located a few miles south of the central city area.

  • Which direct flight route between Chicago and San Francisco is cheapest?

    Find the lowest prices on direct flights running from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport. You can also occasionally snag a great deal taking off from Midway International Airport, so be sure to keep your options open while searching.

  • What airport do you fly into for flights to San Francisco from Chicago?

    Located just 11.0 mi from the city center, San Francisco is the airport most travelers will use when flying to San Francisco from Chicago. Booking flights from Chicago to San Francisco (SFO) should be relatively easy as there are 34 daily inbound flights from Chicago from 7 different airlines.

  • How long is the flight from Chicago to San Francisco?

    Departing from Chicago to San Francisco will take you 4h 44m. Chicago and San Francisco are separated by a distance of 1841 mi. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Chicago to San Francisco round-trip?

    Flying on Frontier is currently your cheapest option to San Francisco, with prices starting at $128. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by JetBlue and Delta, with the lowest prices starting at $159 and $205, respectively. Users have found that Frontier is 67% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

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

    $73 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from JetBlue. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Frontier and American Airlines, with prices starting from $85 and $108, respectively.

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

    Before booking your flight to San Francisco from Chicago, check out the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time: ANA (75%), Air China (74%), Austrian Airlines( 70%).

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

    While on average a flight from Chicago to San Francisco is generally $1,277, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $134. When looking at the most popular route, (Chicago O'Hare Intl - San Francisco), you can expect to pay $232 for that flight.

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

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

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

    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.

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

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

    Currently, September is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco (average of $335). Flying from Chicago to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $474). 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 San Francisco?

Book flights to San Francisco if you plan to visit one of these locations
South San Francisco
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
Walnut Creek
San Bruno
Fairfield
Emeryville
Roseville
Burlingame
Rancho Cordova
Vallejo
Cupertino
Newark
Hayward
San Ramon
Redwood City
San Carlos
Manteca
Turlock
San Lorenzo

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Alternative routes for Chicago to San Francisco

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
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Top 7 airlines flying from Chicago to San Francisco

Discover the top 7 airlines that operate flights from Chicago to San Francisco. 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 August 11, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$128Average$257FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
JetBlueCheapest$159Average$308FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$205Average$364FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
American AirlinesCheapest$217Average$408FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
Alaska AirlinesCheapest$230Average$390FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
United AirlinesCheapest$245Average$476FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$250Average$401FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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