Seattle skyline with the Space Needle and Mount Rainier, seen from Queen Anne Hill. Flights from Chicago to Seattle

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Chicago to Seattle

Search partner fares from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Seattle-Tacoma (SEA), then use the notes below on the CTA Blue Line, O'Hare checkpoints and the train to the SEA gates.

ORD to SEA · 1,716 mi · 4h 14m est.

ORD to SEA
1,716 miles
4h 14m nonstop (estimated)
6 airlines in our fare results

Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Chicago to Seattle flight insights

Average flight time

~4h 14m (estimated)

ORD → SEA

Cheapest cached price

$123

Checking live fares…

Last checked Nov 8, 2026

Planning a trip from Chicago to Seattle? The average flight time on this route is ~4h 14m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $123 (last checked Nov 8, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Chicago to Seattle at a glance

ORD to SEA is about 1,716 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 Seattle on Eazair
Origin	Chicago (ORD)
Destination	Seattle (SEA)
Average Flight Time	~4h 14m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$123
Fares Last Checked	Nov 8, 2026
Distance	1,716 miles (ORD to SEA)
Time in Seattle	2 hours behind Chicago
Airlines in our fare results	6

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

Flight deals from Chicago to Seattle

Fares on this page run from Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) to Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA). Midway (MDW), on the CTA Orange Line, is a separate Chicago airport, so check which one each fare uses. For Seattle, O'Hare's 1 Sep 2026 nonstop list names Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, though schedules change and each result shows its stops. EazAir's fare checks on this route have so far returned Delta, American and United.

Delta says it moved its O'Hare flights to Terminal 5 in October 2022. The CTA Blue Line, running 24 hours a day, reaches O'Hare station on the lower level of the parking garage, linked by Basement Level tunnels to Terminals 1, 2 and 3; for Terminal 5, carry on by the free Airport Transit System from Terminal 2. O'Hare lists Terminal 5 screening as open 24 hours, PreCheck there from 3:45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Terminal 2 from 3:15 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Sea-Tac puts Delta, United and almost all international airlines at its S and A gates, according to a SEA Underground guide dated 2 Sep 2025, though gates can change. The S concourse is reached only by train: the Blue Line links S, B and A, and SEA says one arrives every three minutes. For downtown Seattle, go from baggage claim up to the fourth floor, cross the skybridge into the parking garage and follow signs to SeaTac/Airport station on the Link light rail 1 Line.

Over its first 16 fare checks, from 2 Sep to 12 Oct 2026, EazAir asked partner sites for the cheapest one-way economy seat for one adult on ORD to SEA, flying 30 days after each check. Those 16 checks produced 12 different results; the top one was at least double the bottom one, which landed on 4 Sep. American Basic Economy includes a carry-on, but United Basic Economy does not on domestic flights. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Chicago to Seattle flights

Departure · Chicago

O'Hare International (ORD)

Central Time

Other airports near Chicago: Chicago Midway International (MDW)

Arrival · Seattle

Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)

Pacific Time

About Seattle

Areas to know in Seattle

Capitol Hill
Ballard
Fremont

Weather in Seattle

Mild, wet winters and dry, mild summers. The Pacific Northwest's rainy reputation is strongest from October through April.

Chicago to Seattle: 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 Seattle (SEA) served by Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Schedules change, so check the stops shown with each result.

Paine Field (PAE) in Everett, north of Seattle, is a separate airport with its own passenger terminal. Check that your ticket says SEA if you plan to use Sea-Tac.

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 Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)

Airline	SEA gates
Delta	S and A gates
United	S and A gates
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

From SEA's SEA Underground guide dated 2 Sep 2025, which says Delta, United and almost all international airlines use the S and A gates. Gates can change, so check your boarding pass.

SEA has one terminal with six concourses: A, B and S at the south end, and C, D and N at the north end.
The N and S concourses are not connected to the other gates, so you reach them on the SEA Underground train. SEA says a train arrives every three minutes.
The Blue Line links the S, B and A concourses, the Green Line links N, C and D, and the Yellow Line shuttles between the A and D stations only.
SEA says every security checkpoint gives access to all gates.

Getting from SEA	Where to board	Where it goes
Link light rail 1 Line	From baggage claim, go up to the fourth floor, cross the skybridge to the parking garage and follow the signs to SeaTac/Airport station. A free Train-to-Plane shuttle runs from 5 a.m. to midnight. A fare applies on the train.	Downtown Seattle, with the line running from Federal Way to Lynnwood. SEA says the ride from downtown Seattle takes 38 minutes.
Rideshare (Lyft, UberX)	3rd floor of the parking garage. Cross a skybridge, one level below ticketing and one level above baggage claim, then go down one level.	Wherever you booked.
Uber Black and other premium rides	The baggage claim level door you choose in the app.	Wherever you booked.
Taxis	3rd floor of the parking garage, at the north and south curbs.	Metered taxis have three-digit numbers and one color. Flat-rate taxis charge by zip code and have four-digit numbers and two colors.

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.

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 16 fare checks from Chicago to Seattle ran from 2 Sep to 12 Oct 2026. For the return direction, Seattle to Chicago, EazAir's first 13 checks ran from 2 Sep to 12 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 16 checks returned 12 different results. The lowest result came on 4 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)
SEA: Security screening and checkpoints (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: All aboard the SEA Underground (September 2, 2025, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: Terminal overview (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: Public transit, Link light rail (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: App-based rideshare (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: Metered and flat rate taxis (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Sound Transit: 1 Line, Lynnwood to Federal Way (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)
EazAir fare checks for ORD to SEA, 2 Sep 2026 to 12 Oct 2026; SEA to ORD, 2 Sep 2026 to 12 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which Chicago airport does this page search?

It searches O'Hare (ORD). Chicago Midway (MDW) is a separate airport served by the CTA Orange Line, so check which Chicago airport each fare uses before you pay.

How do I reach Terminal 5 at O'Hare by train?

Take the CTA Blue Line to O'Hare station, follow the tunnels to Terminal 2, then ride the free Airport Transit System to Terminal 5. O'Hare says the system runs 24 hours a day.

Where do Delta and United passengers arrive at Sea-Tac?

SEA's train guide, dated 2 Sep 2025, puts Delta and United at the S and A gates. The S concourse is reached only on the SEA Underground train. Check your boarding pass, as gates can change.

Where do rideshares and taxis pick up at SEA?

SEA says Lyft and UberX pick up on the 3rd floor of the parking garage, where taxis also wait at the north and south curbs. Uber Black meets riders at the baggage claim door they choose.

Do the lowest fares on this route include a carry-on?

Delta says every passenger can bring a carry-on and a personal item free, and American Basic Economy includes a carry-on. United Basic Economy allows only a personal item on domestic flights, unless a MileagePlus exception applies.

How far apart are ORD and SEA?

ORD and SEA are about 1716 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.