$142 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to Los Angeles – Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Chicago to Los Angeles:

• Earliest: departs at 05:00 and lands at 09:38
• Latest: departs at 23:55 and lands at 04:33.

The flight takes about 4h 38m.

Only Economy class is available on flights from Chicago to Los Angeles.

A direct flight from Chicago to Los Angeles takes 4h 38m, covering 4,541 km.

No. A passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID, or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

Return flights from Chicago to Los Angeles range from $323 to $608, with an average of $453 over the past 12 months. Anything below $323 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 32% above the route average of $453. Book 6 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average $273 return via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX), compared with $462 for direct.

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

• United Airlines: 85% on time
• Delta: 81% on time
• Southwest: 79% on time

On average, flights on this route are punctual 80% of the time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $40–$143 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 Los Angeles flights, with 40% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 32%, Evening flights for 21%, and Night flights for 7%.

Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, return flight prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $282 to $2,278. That means the highest observed fare was about 8x higher than the lowest one.

Three airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi on Chicago to Los Angeles flights:

• American Airlines
• Delta
• 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 Los Angeles are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $157, which is 49% below the typical average for this route.

Los Angeles Airport (LAX) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around $5 for economy cars. Top options include:
• Ace
• Thrifty
• Dollar
• Hertz
• Alamo

Flights from Chicago to Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles (LAX).

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

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 Los Angeles route, 20% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2 hours 52 minutes.

One-stop flights from Chicago to Los Angeles most commonly connect through:

• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) – 23% of one-stop connections
• Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) – 19% of one-stop connections
• Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) – 13% of one-stop connections
• Denver Intl (DEN) – 11% of one-stop connections

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 18% on the Chicago to Los Angeles route. Thursday is the cheapest departure day at $438 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $530, a difference of $93. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

5 airlines operate flights between Chicago and Los Angeles. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• United Airlines
• American Airlines
• Southwest
• Delta
• Frontier

Flying via Kansas City (MCI) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 5h 50m, compared to 6h 36m via Salt Lake City (SLC) and 7h 12m via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD).

Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles are Venice Beach, Dodger Stadium, and Crypto.com Arena. These are among the most viewed places in Los Angeles on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating Chicago to Los Angeles flights:

• American Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• Frontier: offers free seat selection
• Delta: 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
• Frontier: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

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

If you are traveling with a pet or service animal, take note of the different animal relief areas that are located in Los Angeles International Airport. There is currently one located in an indoor room in every terminal, as well as 3 outdoor areas that are located in the pre-security zones of the airport.

The Four Points by Sheraton is a casual choice located just over half a mile from Los Angeles International Airport and an 8-minute drive to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The Sheraton Gateway is a 4-star hotel that is a 2-minute drive from the airport and a 10-minute drive from the popular Venice Beach.

Chicago Midway International Airport is located approximately 11 miles from Chicago’s city center. When driving between these two destinations, it should take approximately 20 minutes. However, if there is heavy traffic, this trip can take upwards of 45 minutes. Public transportation takes approximately an hour or less.

Interested in being pampered before your flight from O'Hare International Airport takes off? Pay a visit to one of the airport’s 3 different spas that are located throughout the different terminals. These spas offer a variety of massages, facials, and manicures, making it a luxurious way to start off your travels.