$159 Find Cheap Flights from Los Angeles to Chicago – Compare and Save

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

• Earliest: departs at 00:05 and lands at 04:17
• Latest: departs at 23:59 and lands at 04:11.

The flight takes about 4h 12m.

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

A direct flight from Los Angeles to Chicago takes 4h 12m, covering 4,541 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 Los Angeles to Chicago range from $356 to $652, with an average of $494 over the past 12 months. Anything below $356 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 34% above the $494 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 $307 return via Dallas Love Field (DAL), compared with $500 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 Los Angeles to Chicago flights are:

• United Airlines: 92% on time
• American Airlines: 85% on time
• Southwest: 82% on time

On average, flights on this route are punctual 87% of the time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $50–$142 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 Los Angeles to Chicago flights, with 43% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 23%, Night flights for 23%, and Evening flights for 11%.

Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, return flight prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $337 to $2,739. That means the highest observed fare was about 8x higher than the lowest one.

Three airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi on Los Angeles to Chicago 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 Los Angeles to Chicago are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $184, which is 42% below the typical average for this route.

Since Chicago is served by multiple airports, car hire options and rates can vary depending on which one you fly into.
Near Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD) – daily rates from around $90:

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

Near Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) – daily rates from around $119:

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

Near Chicago Greater Rockford Airport (RFD) – daily rates from around $116:

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

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

Night 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 Los Angeles to Chicago route, 13% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 2h 46m.

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

• Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) – 13% of one-stop connections
• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – 12% of one-stop connections
• Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) – 12% of one-stop connections
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) – 11% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 20% on flights from Los Angeles to Chicago. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $466 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $581, a difference of $115.

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

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

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

Flying via Salt Lake City (SLC) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 6h 22m, compared to 6h 34m via Dallas Love Field (DAL) and 6h 59m via El Paso (ELP).

Chicago is 2 hours ahead of Los Angeles (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 River North, Millennium Park, and Chicago Water Tower. These are among the most viewed places in Chicago on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating Los Angeles to Chicago flights:

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

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

A great option to get to Los Angeles Airport from all over the Los Angeles area is the FlyAway shuttle. This shuttle runs to and from a variety of points in the Los Angeles area to all terminals at the airport. The cost for this trip runs anywhere from $8 to $10, depending on the distance traveled.

Los Angeles Airport offers eleven pet relief stations, three of which are located outside the terminal for use before heading through security.

Probably the most cost-effective and usually quickest way is on the classic Chicago "L" train. Just grab the Orange Line train and make the trip to downtown Chicago in roughly 20-25 minutes.

The Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport is located right at the airport and is the only hotel located on the airport grounds. This hotel includes a walkway to the terminals that is completely enclosed, an expansive fitness center, indoor pool, sauna, full-service locker room, two restaurants, a sports bar, and room service.