₹ 13,458 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to San Francisco – Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Chicago to San Francisco:

• Earliest: departs at 00:01 and lands at 05:00
• Latest: departs at 23:00 and lands at 03:59.

The flight takes about 4h 59m.

Only Economy class is available on flights from Chicago to San Francisco.

A direct flight from Chicago to San Francisco takes 4h 59m, covering 4,805 km.

No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need another form of identification, such as a driving licence.

Return flights from Chicago to San Francisco range from ₹ 29,130 to ₹ 47,601, with an average of ₹ 36,566 over the past 12 months. Anything below ₹ 29,130 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 55% above the ₹ 36,566 route average. Book 9 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average ₹ 26,916 return via Denver Intl (DEN), compared with ₹ 36,952 for direct.

United Airlines is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while American Airlines has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Chicago to San Francisco flights are:

• United Airlines: 77% on time
• American Airlines: 68% on time
• Southwest: 57% on time

On average, flights on this route are punctual 73% of the time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge ₹ 3,791–₹ 9,476 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Chicago to San Francisco flights, with 39% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 33%, Evening flights for 19%, and Night flights for 9%.

Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, return flight prices on this route showed a wide range, from about ₹ 24,546 to ₹ 225,943. That means the highest observed fare was about 9x higher than the lowest one.

Two airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi on Chicago to San Francisco flights:

• American Airlines
• JetBlue

Pricing varies by airline and fare class. Some plans are included with the ticket or loyalty programme, while others are paid add-ons priced by flight length.

One-way fares from Chicago to San Francisco are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about ₹ 15,391, which is 38% below the typical average for this route.

San Francisco Airport (SFO) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around ₹ 1,453 for economy cars. Top options include:

• Europcar
• Thrifty
• Dollar
• Hertz
• Fox

Flights from Chicago to San Francisco may depart from several airports in Chicago area, including Chicago Midway (MDW), Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) and Chicago Greater Rockford (RFD). Flights usually arrive at San Francisco (SFO).

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route, while evening departures tend to have the most.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Chicago to San Francisco route, 27% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 2h 39m.

One-stop flights from Chicago to San Francisco most commonly connect through:

• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) – 21% of one-stop connections
• Denver Intl (DEN) – 20% of one-stop connections
• San Diego (SAN) – 19% of one-stop connections
• Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) – 10% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 34% on flights from Chicago to San Francisco. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at ₹ 33,266 return on average, while Monday is the most expensive at ₹ 50,041, a difference of ₹ 16,775.

KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to three days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

3 airlines operate flights between Chicago and San Francisco. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• United Airlines
• American Airlines
• Southwest

Flying via Salt Lake City (SLC) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 6h 31m, compared to 7h via Portland (PDX) and 7h 12m via Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW).

San Francisco is 2 hours behind Chicago (Pacific Time vs Central Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Some of the most popular sights in San Francisco are Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, and Moscone Center. These are among the most viewed places in San Francisco on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating Chicago to San Francisco flights:

• United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• American Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• Southwest: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• United Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• American Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Southwest: a cabin bag in Economy class class

Baggage allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

Yes, you can. Flights from Chicago to San Francisco are quite popular and, as such, there are a great number of non-stop flights between the two cities every week. The flight is also not overly long, as it usually takes a little less than 5 hours.

To get to O’Hare International Airport from downtown Chicago you can use the Amtrak connections available (Blue Line) or the bus (there are a great number of lines serving the airport). Alternatively you can take one of the shuttle buses operated by many hotels in the area, or else just hail a cab.

While there are no hotels located inside Chicago Midway Airport, there are a number of them located just outside, many of which include shuttle services to and from the airport in addition to comfortable rooms and a tasty breakfast spread. These include the Chicago Marriott Midway Hotel, the Courtyard Chicago Midway Airport Hotel, and the Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago Midway Airport Hotel.

If your flight to San Francisco is running late, take a chance to relax and stretch at the airport’s yoga room or work up a sweat at the Hilton Athletic Club, open even to non-guests for a small fee. You can also spend the time pampering yourself at the spa, getting a haircut at the barber shop, or enjoying some local art featured in the many displays scattered throughout the airport.