United's Polaris Lounges offer showers, daybeds, and dining for premium passengers.
Basic Economy on United allows a personal item but no carry-on bags.

Most accurate provider | eDreams 3 stars |
|---|---|
Most trusted provider | eDreams 3 stars |
Round-trip from | $243 (Delta) |
One-way from | $128 (Southwest) |
Popular in | December |
Cheapest in | July |
Average price | $369 |
Good round-trip deal | $296 or less |
Good one-way deal | $166 or less |
Fly from
Fly to
Route
Depart
Return
Price
ChicagoSan Francisco
ORD - SFO
ORDSFO
Chicago O'Hare Intl
Tue 4/28
3:52 pm-11:48 pm
1 stop9h 56m
San Francisco
Wed 5/13
7:50 am-6:46 pm
1 stop8h 56m
ChicagoSan Francisco
ORD - SFO
ORDSFO
Chicago O'Hare Intl
Wed 2/4
9:00 am-2:02 pm
1 stop7h 02m
San Francisco
Sat 2/7
9:16 am-11:37 pm
1 stop12h 21m
ChicagoSan Francisco
ORD - SFO
ORDSFO
Chicago O'Hare Intl
Tue 2/3
3:44 pm-10:47 pm
1 stop9h 03m
San Francisco
Sat 2/7
11:41 am-11:37 pm
1 stop9h 56m
ChicagoSan Francisco
ORD - SFO
ORDSFO
Chicago O'Hare Intl
Tue 4/14
8:50 am-1:39 pm
1 stop6h 49m
San Francisco
Fri 4/24
10:35 pm-8:34 am
1 stop7h 59m
ChicagoSan Francisco
ORD - SFO
ORDSFO
Chicago O'Hare Intl
Tue 3/24
7:05 pm-11:51 pm
1 stop6h 46m
San Francisco
Mon 3/30
10:40 pm-9:10 am
1 stop8h 30m
ChicagoSan Francisco
ORD - SFO
ORDSFO
Chicago O'Hare Intl
Mon 3/9
3:07 pm-11:59 pm
1 stop10h 52m
San Francisco
Tue 3/17
6:40 am-11:59 pm
1 stop15h 19m
ChicagoSan Francisco
MDW - SFO
MDWSFO
Chicago Midway
Tue 2/17
8:15 am-11:15 am
Nonstop5h 00m
San Francisco
Sat 2/21
6:55 am-12:55 pm
Nonstop4h 00m
ChicagoSan Francisco
MDW - SFO
MDWSFO
Chicago Midway
Wed 3/18
12:47 pm-7:10 pm
1 stop8h 23m
San Francisco
Wed 3/25
10:40 pm-8:53 am
1 stop8h 13m
ChicagoSan Francisco
MDW - SFO
MDWSFO
Chicago Midway
Tue 2/3
1:51 pm-8:59 pm
1 stop9h 08m
San Francisco
Wed 2/4
8:00 am-5:29 pm
1 stop7h 29m
ChicagoSan Francisco
MDW - SFO
MDWSFO
Chicago Midway
Wed 2/11
6:00 am-12:55 pm
1 stop8h 55m
San Francisco
Wed 2/11
10:54 pm-8:54 am
1 stop8h 00m
| Provider | Price Accuracy | Trust Score* |
|---|---|---|
| Price Accuracy2 stars | Trust Score*3 stars | |
| Price Accuracy3 stars | Trust Score*1 star | |
| Price Accuracy3 stars | Trust Score*3 stars | |
| Price Accuracy- | Trust Score*1 star | |
| Price Accuracy3 stars | Trust Score*2 stars | |
| Price Accuracy3 stars | Trust Score*3 stars | |
| Price Accuracy1 star | Trust Score*3 stars |
To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Chicago to San Francisco, you should look to book at least 83 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.
Currently, October is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco (average of $80). Flying from Chicago to San Francisco 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.
It’s optimal to fly from Chicago to San Francisco in the evening. By choosing this option you can save up to 19% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight in the afternoon.
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 most flights from CHI to SFO are scheduled on a Thursday (57 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (34 on average).
Denver (DEN) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 50% of 1-stop itineraries from Chicago to San Francisco on Cheapflights.
Atlanta (ATL) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $177.
Flights via Seattle (SEA) have the shortest average one-way travel time for 1-stop routes: 9h 08m.
Flights via Seattle (SEA) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average layover time of 1h 40m.
About 19% of weekly flights between Chicago and San Francisco have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 169 minutes.
Historically, flights departing in the morning are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the evening tend to experience delays more often.
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.
Over the last year, United Airlines have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 17% of flights being delayed.
Crew
Entertainment
Overall
Food
Comfort
Boarding
Reviews
Anonymous,Jan 2026
STS - LAX
Crew
Entertainment
Overall
Food
Comfort
Boarding
Reviews
Anonymous,Jan 2026
STS - LAX
Crew
Entertainment
Overall
Food
Comfort
Boarding
Reviews
Anonymous,Jan 2026
STS - LAX
Crew
Entertainment
Overall
Food
Comfort
Boarding
Reviews
Anonymous,Jan 2026
STS - LAX
Crew
Entertainment
Overall
Food
Comfort
Boarding
Reviews
Anonymous,Jan 2026
STS - LAX
Crew
Entertainment
Overall
Food
Comfort
Boarding
Reviews
Anonymous,Jan 2026
STS - LAX
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.
| Airline | Cheapest | Average | Flexibility | On-time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest$90 | Average$238 | FlexibilityNo cancel fee | On-time62% | |
| Cheapest$108 | Average$217 | FlexibilityNo cancel fee | On-time85% | |
| Cheapest$128 | Average$314 | FlexibilityNo cancel fee | On-timeN/A | |
| Cheapest$138 | Average$389 | FlexibilityNo cancel fee | On-time63% | |
| Cheapest$183 | Average$427 | FlexibilityNo cancel fee | On-time62% | |
| Cheapest$187 | Average$275 | FlexibilityNo cancel fee | On-time75% | |
| Cheapest$197 | Average$311 | FlexibilityNo cancel fee | On-time71% | |
| Cheapest$205 | Average$395 | FlexibilityNo cancel fee | On-time69% |