Los Angeles seen from the hills, with the city skyline in the distance. Flights from Chicago to Los Angeles

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Chicago to Los Angeles

Search partner fares from Chicago O'Hare to Los Angeles International, and see which LAX terminal your airline uses and how taxis and ride apps work there.

ORD to LAX · 1,741 mi · 4h 18m est.

ORD to LAX
1,741 miles
4h 18m nonstop (estimated)
6 airlines in our fare results

Photo: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Chicago to Los Angeles flight insights

Average flight time

~4h 18m (estimated)

ORD → LAX

Cheapest cached price

$129

Checking live fares…

Last checked Nov 7, 2026

Planning a trip from Chicago to Los Angeles? The average flight time on this route is ~4h 18m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $129 (last checked Nov 7, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Chicago to Los Angeles at a glance

ORD to LAX is about 1,741 miles in a straight line. The curved line is an illustration; the route your airline flies may differ.

Route Quick Facts

Quick facts for flights from Chicago to Los Angeles on Eazair
Origin	Chicago (ORD)
Destination	Los Angeles (LAX)
Average Flight Time	~4h 18m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$129
Fares Last Checked	Nov 7, 2026
Distance	1,741 miles (ORD to LAX)
Time in Los Angeles	2 hours behind Chicago
Airlines in our fare results	6

Local time in Los Angeles is 2 hours behind Chicago. Chicago is on Central Time, Los Angeles on Pacific Time.

Flight deals from Chicago to Los Angeles

This page compares fares from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Los Angeles International (LAX). Frontier, United, American, Alaska and Delta have appeared in EazAir's fare checks for this route. O'Hare's nonstop list, dated 1 Sep 2026, names American, Delta, Frontier and United for LAX, and schedules change. Hollywood Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), Ontario International (ONT) and John Wayne (SNA) are separate airports, so check the code on every result.

Delta's O'Hare departures use Terminal 5, according to Delta, and its checkpoint, CP10, is listed as open 24 hours. Terminal 1's CP2 offers TSA PreCheck from 4 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Terminal 3's CP7A from 3:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. O'Hare warns that day-to-day activity can change checkpoint hours and suggests asking your airline about operations on your flight date. The CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours to the airport.

Terminals at LAX vary by carrier: American is in Terminal 4, Alaska in Terminal 6 and United in Terminals 7 and 8, Delta checks in at Terminal 3 for gates there or in Terminal 2, and Frontier flyers check in at Terminal 1 before a bus to Terminal B. Taxis and ride apps pick up at LAX-it, a lot beside Terminal 1, which a free shuttle serves around the clock. FlyAway buses head to Union Station and Van Nuys, and LAX says SkyLink is still in final testing.

EazAir's first 19 fare checks for ORD to LAX ran from 10 Sep to 17 Oct 2026; each sought the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days later. The checks returned 11 different results, the highest at least double the lowest, and the lowest on 27 Sep. Alaska Saver, American Basic Economy and Delta Main Basic include a carry-on; United Basic Economy and Frontier without a bundle do not. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Chicago to Los Angeles flights

Departure · Chicago

O'Hare International (ORD)

Central Time

Other airports near Chicago: Chicago Midway International (MDW)

Arrival · Los Angeles

Los Angeles International (LAX)

Pacific Time

Other airports near Los Angeles: Long Beach (LGB), John Wayne (SNA), Ontario International (ONT), Hollywood Burbank (BUR)

About Los Angeles

Areas to know in Los Angeles

Santa Monica
Downtown LA
Silver Lake

Weather in Los Angeles

A Mediterranean climate: mild and generally dry year-round, with slightly cooler, wetter weather in the winter months.

Chicago to Los Angeles: airport and fare guide

Checked on 17 Oct 2026 against the airport, airline and transit pages listed under Sources. Airports and airlines change these details, so confirm them with your airline before you fly.

Chicago O'Hare International's nonstop list (as of 1 Sep 2026) shows Los Angeles (LAX) served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines and United Airlines. Schedules change, so check the stops shown with each result.

Hollywood Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), Ontario International (ONT) and John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA) are separate Southern California airports, so check the airport code on every result.

Chicago Midway (MDW) is a separate airport, served by the CTA Orange Line. Check which Chicago airport each fare uses.

Leaving from Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)

The CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours to O'Hare station, which links to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 by Basement Level tunnels. For Terminal 5, ride the free Airport Transit System from Terminal 2.
Pace Routes 250 and 330 and Metra North Central Service weekday trains stop at the Multi-Modal Facility, which the Airport Transit System links to every terminal.
O'Hare lists the Terminal 5 checkpoint (CP10) as open 24 hours, with TSA PreCheck from 3:45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Terminal 2's checkpoint (CP5) is listed from 3:15 a.m. to 11 p.m., with PreCheck from 3:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In Terminal 1, CP1 is listed from 3:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and CP2, with TSA PreCheck, from 4 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. In Terminal 3, CP7A is listed from 3:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with PreCheck from 3:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
O'Hare says checkpoint hours may be affected by day-to-day airport activities, and recommends checking with your airline about operations on the date of your flight.

Arriving at Los Angeles International (LAX)

Airline	LAX terminal
Frontier	Terminal 1 (Frontier passengers are bused to Terminal B)
Delta	Check-in at Terminal 3; gates in Terminal 3 or Terminal 2
American	Terminal 4
Alaska	Terminal 6
United	Terminals 7 and 8
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

LAX's airline location map is dated 1 Jul 2026. Terminal 5 closed for rebuilding in October 2025, when JetBlue moved to Terminal 1 and American to Terminal 4.

Terminal 5 closed for rebuilding in October 2025. LAWA expects the new Terminal 5 just before the 2028 Olympics.
Taxis and ride apps pick up at LAX-it, a lot next to Terminal 1, reached on foot or by a free shuttle from outside baggage claim on the first level of each terminal.
The SkyLink people mover is not open yet. LAWA calls it forthcoming and gives no opening date.
LAWA warned in July 2026 of detours and longer shuttle times from work at the Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B), Terminal 4 and the future Terminal 5.

Getting from LAX	Where to board	Where it goes
LAX-it (taxis and rideshare)	A pickup lot next to Terminal 1. Walk there along the signed path, or take the free LAX-it shuttle from outside baggage claim on the first level of each terminal, at the green LAX-it bus stop signs. LAX says it runs 24 hours.	Wherever you booked.
SkyLink people mover	Not open yet. LAWA calls it forthcoming and gives no opening date. LAWA says it will run 24 hours a day and be free for ticketed passengers.	Not running yet.
Metro C and K Lines	A free shuttle links every terminal with the LAX/Metro Transit Center, where it uses Bus Bays 1 and 2.	The Metro rail network.
FlyAway bus	Blue FlyAway columns on the Lower/Arrivals level in front of each terminal, 7 days a week.	Union Station and Van Nuys.

What the lowest fares include

Fare	Carry-on	Checked bag	Seat	Changes
Delta Main Basic	Delta says every passenger can bring one carry-on and one personal item free.	Delta charges for checked bags on domestic flights unless you qualify for a waiver, such as Medallion status or an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express card.	Assigned after check-in. You may be able to buy a seat ahead of time for a fee.	Refunds are not allowed after the 24-hour risk-free cancellation window. Delta says a change or cancellation may be possible for a fee, with any value left as an eCredit.
American Basic Economy	Included, plus a personal item.	Not included, except for some AAdvantage status members and eligible cardmembers.	A free seat is assigned at check-in, or you can pay to choose one.	Generally not allowed. American describes a 24-hour window and some credit options on its Basic Economy page.
United Basic Economy	Not included on domestic flights. One personal item only, unless you are a MileagePlus Premier member, travel with one, or hold a qualifying MileagePlus card.	Not included; check United's bag fee calculator.	Assigned by United before boarding.	Changes may not be allowed. Refund if cancelled within 24 hours of booking, under United's 24-hour policy; after that, partial travel credit.
Alaska Saver	Included, plus a personal item.	Same allowance as Alaska's Main fare.	Assigned at check-in or at the gate. Parties are not guaranteed to sit together.	No changes except eligible same-day changes for a fee. Cancelling within 24 hours of booking follows Alaska's 24-hour policy; cancelling at least 14 days before departure gives a 50 percent credit.
Frontier, without a bundle	Not included. One personal item only.	Not included. Prices vary by travel date and when you buy.	Costs extra, or a seat is assigned after check-in.	Not covered here. Check Frontier's rules before you book.

Based on the airlines' own pages, checked on 17 Oct 2026. Fees are left out because they change often. Check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

How EazAir measured fares on this route

EazAir's first 19 fare checks from Chicago to Los Angeles ran from 10 Sep to 17 Oct 2026. For the return direction, Los Angeles to Chicago, EazAir's first 9 checks ran from 13 Sep to 15 Oct 2026. Each check asked partner travel sites for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days after the check. Results can include connecting flights. The highest result was at least double the lowest. The 19 checks returned 11 different results. The lowest result came on 27 Sep. That is a small sample, so it shows that prices move, not when they are lowest. Search your own dates for current prices.

Sources

Delta: Delta's new O'Hare home (11 Oct 2022, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: Public transit (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
CTA: Airports (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: ATS service update (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: TSA checkpoints (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: Domestic nonstop destinations (as of 1 Sep 2026, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Hollywood Burbank Airport (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Long Beach Airport (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Ontario International Airport (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
John Wayne Airport, Orange County (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
LAX: Airline list (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
LAX: Airline location map (as of 1 Jul 2026, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
LAWA: Terminal 5 closure (20 Oct 2025, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
LAX: Terminal 1 (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Los Angeles airport map (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
LAX: LAX-it (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
LAX: SkyLink (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
LAX: Traffic and ground transportation (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
LAX: FlyAway bus (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
LAWA: Summer travel tips (1 Jul 2026, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
LA Metro: LAX (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Delta Main Basic (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Fares and discounts (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Carry-on baggage (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Bags (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
American Airlines: Basic Economy (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
United: Basic Economy FAQ (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Alaska Airlines: Saver fare (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Frontier: What is included in my fare (last modified 25 Mar 2026, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Frontier: Bag options (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Frontier: Bundles (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
EazAir fare checks for ORD to LAX, 10 Sep 2026 to 17 Oct 2026; LAX to ORD, 13 Sep 2026 to 15 Oct 2026
LAWA: SkyLink (no date shown, accessed 26 Oct 2026)

Frequently asked questions

Which LAX terminal does my airline use?

LAX lists Frontier at Terminal 1, American at Terminal 4, Alaska at Terminal 6 and United at Terminals 7 and 8. Delta checks in at Terminal 3, with gates in Terminal 3 or Terminal 2.

Where do I catch a taxi or rideshare at LAX?

At LAX-it, a lot next to Terminal 1. Walk the signed path, which LAX says takes 8 minutes from Terminal 1, or take the free LAX-it shuttle from outside baggage claim at each terminal.

Is the LAX SkyLink train running?

Not yet. LAX says SkyLink is in final testing and gives no opening date. Once open, LAX says it will be free and run 24 hours.

Does this page include other Los Angeles area airports?

No. It searches LAX only. Hollywood Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), Ontario International (ONT) and John Wayne Airport (SNA) are separate airports.

Do the lowest Chicago to Los Angeles fares include a carry-on?

Alaska Saver, American Basic Economy and Delta Main Basic include a carry-on and a personal item. United Basic Economy on domestic flights and Frontier without a bundle allow a personal item only.

How far is Chicago from Los Angeles?

ORD and LAX are about 1741 miles apart in a straight line. Flight times vary by airline, direction and routing, so check the scheduled time shown with each result.

Airline bag fees

Baggage allowances differ significantly between fare classes (Basic/Light vs. Standard/Flex) and can change over time. Always verify the exact allowance for your specific fare with the airline before you fly.

Checked bag fees from each airline's own website
Airline	Carry-on, basic economy	1st checked bag	2nd checked bag	Source
American Airlines	Included	$45	$55	aa.com, Sep 24, 2026
United Airlines	Not included	$40	$50	united.com, Sep 24, 2026
Delta Air Lines	Included	$45	$55	delta.com, Sep 24, 2026
Southwest Airlines	Included	$45	$55	southwest.com, Oct 27, 2026
JetBlue	Included	$45	$59	jetblue.com, Sep 24, 2026
Alaska Airlines	Included	$45	$55	alaskaair.com, Sep 24, 2026
Frontier Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	flyfrontier.com, Sep 24, 2026
Sun Country Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	suncountry.com, Sep 24, 2026

Domestic US fees per bag, each way, when paid online in advance. "Varies" means the airline prices bags by route and date.

Travel tips

Arrive early for domestic flights

TSA generally recommends arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic departure, more at larger hub airports during peak travel periods.

Pack a mixed carry-on

Keep a change of clothes, chargers, and any essentials in your carry-on rather than only your checked bag, in case of a delay or a bag that doesn't arrive with you.

Ease jet lag on longer routes

On longer cross-country flights, adjusting your sleep schedule a day or two before departure and staying hydrated in flight can reduce jet lag on arrival.

Screenshot your confirmation

Save a screenshot or PDF of your booking confirmation and boarding pass before you travel, in case you lose signal or battery at the airport.

Check in online when it opens

Most airlines open online check-in 24 hours before departure. Checking in early can help with seat selection and, on some airlines, boarding group assignment.