₹ 12,526 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Chicago – Compare and Save

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

• Earliest: departs at 00:10 and lands at 04:35
• Latest: departs at 23:52 and lands at 04:17.

The flight takes about 4h 25m.

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

A direct flight from San Francisco to Chicago takes 4h 25m, 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 San Francisco to Chicago range from ₹ 31,403 to ₹ 51,186, with an average of ₹ 39,511 over the past 12 months. Anything below ₹ 31,403 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 40% above the ₹ 39,511 route average. Book 6 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average ₹ 27,115 return via Denver Intl (DEN), compared with ₹ 40,186 for direct.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge ₹ 3,796–₹ 9,489 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 San Francisco to Chicago flights, with 39% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 29%, Night flights for 23%, and Evening 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 ₹ 26,571 to ₹ 258,025. That means the highest observed fare was about 10x higher than the lowest one.

Two airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi on San Francisco to Chicago 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 San Francisco to Chicago are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about ₹ 13,959, which is 42% below the typical average for this route.

Since Chicago is served by multiple airports, car rental options and rates can vary depending on which one you fly into.
Near Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD) – daily rates from around ₹ 1,603:

• Routes Car & Truck Rentals
• Europcar
• Hertz
• Ace
• Dollar

Near Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) – daily rates from around ₹ 3,069:

• Hertz
• Dollar
• Budget
• Alamo
• Rent-A-Wreck

Near Chicago Greater Rockford Airport (RFD) – daily rates from around ₹ 2,635:

• Alamo
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car
• Budget
• Avis
• National

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

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 San Francisco to Chicago route, 9% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 3h 03m.

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

• San Diego (SAN) – 21% of one-stop connections
• Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) – 18% of one-stop connections
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) – 17% of one-stop connections
• Denver Intl (DEN) – 13% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 22% on flights from San Francisco to Chicago. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at ₹ 35,776 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at ₹ 45,740, a difference of ₹ 9,964.

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

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

• United Airlines
• American Airlines
• Southwest
• Aer Lingus

Flying via Salt Lake City (SLC) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 6h 32m, compared to 6h 48m via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) and 6h 54m via Kansas City (MCI).

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

Some of the most popular sights in Chicago are Millennium Park, River North, and Magnificent Mile. These are among the most viewed places in Chicago on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating San Francisco to Chicago flights:

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

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

O’Hare Airport is located within Chicago, Illinois, 17 miles northwest of the Chicago Loop. The smaller Midway International Airport is located 10 miles southwest of the center. Both airports offer easy public transport connections, so you can’t go wrong with either one.

The “L” train is an inexpensive way to get downtown from the airport. The O’Hare train station is situated on the lower level concourse of Chicago O’Hare Airport, with direct connections from Terminals 1, 2, and 3. The CTA Blue Line trains from Chicago O’Hare run 24/7, with a travel time of 40-45 minutes. If you arrive at Midway Airport, the Midway train station is a short walk east of the airport. Orange Line train services run from early in the morning until 1 am. It takes 20-25 minutes to travel by train to the downtown loop.

Getting around Chicago O’Hare Airport is easy using the Airport Transit System (ATS), which operates 24 hours a day along a 2.5-mile-long track. This service connects all four terminals, various parking facilities, the Kiss ‘N’ Fly drop off point, and the PACE bus stop. The ATS service is free and takes nine minutes to complete a round trip.

The Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel is only a short walk from the airport’s domestic terminals. Amenities include a fitness center, restaurants, conference rooms, and a barber shop. If you need to freshen up after your flight, travelers can use the showers at the hotel’s health club for a small cost.