Chicago skyline at sunrise reflected in Lake Michigan. Flights from Los Angeles to Chicago

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Los Angeles to Chicago

Compare partner fares from Los Angeles International to Chicago O'Hare, with LAWA's timing advice for LAX departures and how O'Hare's terminals connect after you land.

LAX to ORD · 1,741 mi · 4h 15m est.

LAX to ORD
1,741 miles
4h 15m nonstop (estimated)
6 airlines in our fare results

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

Los Angeles to Chicago flight insights

Average flight time

4h 15m

LAX → ORD

Cheapest month

February

Based on cached fare history

Cheapest cached price

$145

Checking live fares…

Prices shown may not be current. Last checked: Oct 27, 2026.

Planning a trip from Los Angeles to Chicago? The average flight time on this route is 4h 15m. The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $145 (last checked Oct 27, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ. February is the cheapest month recorded for this route in our cached fare data.

Los Angeles to Chicago covers a straight-line distance of about 1,741 miles. Based on that distance, a nonstop flight would take approximately ~4h 18m (estimated). Actual flight time varies by airline, aircraft and routing.

Los Angeles to Chicago at a glance

LAX to ORD 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 Los Angeles to Chicago on Eazair
Origin	Los Angeles (LAX)
Destination	Chicago (ORD)
Average Flight Time	4h 15m
Cheapest Month to Fly	February
Current Lowest Fare	$145
Fares Last Checked	Oct 27, 2026
Distance	1,741 miles (LAX to ORD)
Time in Chicago	2 hours ahead of Los Angeles
Airlines in our fare results	6

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

Flight deals from Los Angeles to Chicago

Results here leave Los Angeles International (LAX) for Chicago O'Hare (ORD). Delta, United, American, Frontier, Alaska and Sun Country have appeared in EazAir's fare checks for this route. O'Hare's list of nonstop destinations, dated 1 Sep 2026, shows LAX served by American, Delta, Frontier and United, but schedules change. At LAX, American uses Terminal 4, Alaska Terminal 6 and United Terminals 7 and 8; Delta checks in at Terminal 3, and Frontier at Terminal 1.

LAWA advised in July 2026 arriving two hours before a domestic flight. It also warned of detours and longer shuttle times from work at the Tom Bradley International Terminal, Terminal 4 and the future Terminal 5, and suggested TSA PreCheck for faster screening. LAX lists nightly lane restrictions on westbound Century Boulevard until 13 Nov 2026. Ride apps can drop you at your terminal on the upper Departures level, and FlyAway buses come from Union Station and Van Nuys.

O'Hare's free Airport Transit System train runs 24 hours, every 3 to 5 minutes at busy times, between Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5 and the Multi-Modal Facility for rental cars and Economy Parking Lot F. Between 11:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., passengers changing between Terminal 5 and Terminals 1 or 3 can stay airside on the Terminal Transfer Bus, about every 15 minutes, with a same-day boarding pass. Outside those hours, they ride the train landside and clear security again. Delta says it uses Terminal 5.

From 13 Sep to 15 Oct 2026, EazAir made its first 9 fare checks for LAX to ORD, each for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days later. The 9 checks gave 8 different results; the highest was at least double the lowest, and the lowest came on 16 Sep. Of the six airlines, Alaska, American and Delta include a carry-on in their lowest fares. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Los Angeles to Chicago flights

Departure · 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)

Arrival · Chicago

O'Hare International (ORD)

Central Time

Other airports near Chicago: Chicago Midway International (MDW)

About Chicago

Areas to know in Chicago

Wicker Park
The Loop
Lincoln Park

Weather in Chicago

Summers are warm and humid, winters are cold with lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan. Spring and fall bring the mildest sightseeing weather.

Los Angeles to Chicago: 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.

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

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.

Leaving from 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.

Metro C and K Line trains stop at the LAX/Metro Transit Center. LA Metro says a free shuttle runs from Bus Bays 1 and 2 there to all LAX terminals.
FlyAway buses run from Union Station and Van Nuys to the LAX terminals, 7 days a week.
LAX says ride apps can drop you directly at your terminal on the upper Departures level.
LAWA advised in July 2026 arriving two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.
LAWA warned of detours and longer shuttle times from construction, and suggested TSA PreCheck and Global Entry for faster screening.
LAX lists nightly lane restrictions on westbound Century Boulevard until 13 Nov 2026.

Arriving at Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)

Delta says it uses Terminal 5 at O'Hare. For other airlines, check your boarding pass or airline app.

Delta says it moved its O'Hare flights to Terminal 5 in October 2022.
The Airport Transit System train runs 24 hours, every 3 to 5 minutes at busy times, and links Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5 with the Multi-Modal Facility for rental cars, Economy Parking Lot F, Pace buses and Metra.
From 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., a Terminal Transfer Bus runs about every 15 minutes inside security between Terminal 5 and Terminals 1 and 3, for connecting passengers with a same-day boarding pass.
At other times, passengers connecting between Terminal 5 and Terminals 1, 2 and 3 leave security, ride the Airport Transit System and are screened again.

Getting from O'Hare	Where to board	Where it goes
CTA Blue Line	Station on the lower level of the parking garage. From Terminals 1, 2 and 3, follow the Trains to City signs through the Basement Level tunnels. From Terminal 5, ride the free Airport Transit System to Terminal 2 first. Runs 24 hours. Rides starting at O'Hare cost more than a standard CTA fare.	Downtown Chicago in 40 to 45 minutes, according to CTA.
Rideshare	Upper level at Terminal 2 (orange poles 2A to 2G, with an indoor waiting area between vestibules 2A and 2D) and Terminal 3 (green poles 3G to 3K). O'Hare lists no Terminal 5 pickup, so check your app.	Wherever you booked.
Taxis	Stands on the lower-level curb outside baggage claim at each terminal.	Your destination.
Pace Routes 250 and 330	Multi-Modal Facility, bus bays 8 and 9. Ride the Airport Transit System from the terminals.	Route 250 to the Des Plaines Metra station and downtown Evanston. Route 330, on weekdays and Saturdays, to Archer Ave and Harlem Ave in Summit.
Metra North Central Service	O'Hare Transfer station, behind the Multi-Modal Facility at its northeast corner. Ride the Airport Transit System to the Multi-Modal Facility. Weekday trains. Buy tickets from the conductor.	Union Station in downtown Chicago, or north to Antioch.

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.
Sun Country base fare	Not included. The base fare includes a personal item.	Not included.	Costs extra to choose, or a seat is assigned at check-in.	A change fee and any fare difference may apply. Sun Country says to cancel the original reservation before departure to change the ticket.

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 9 fare checks from Los Angeles to Chicago ran from 13 Sep to 15 Oct 2026. For the return direction, Chicago to Los Angeles, EazAir's first 19 checks ran from 10 Sep to 17 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 9 checks returned 8 different results. The lowest result came on 16 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

LAX: Airline list (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
LAX: Airline location map (as of 1 Jul 2026, 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: 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's new O'Hare home (11 Oct 2022, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: Airport Transit System and terminal transfers (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: ATS service update (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: Public transit (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: Taxis and rideshare (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
CTA: Airports (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
CTA: Fares (fare chart effective 20 Feb 2023, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Midway: Public transit (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: Domestic nonstop destinations (as of 1 Sep 2026, 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)
Sun Country Stories: Your first Sun Country flight? Here's what to expect from booking to boarding (Jul 10, 2025, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Sun Country: Contract of Carriage (Updated October 15, 2025, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
EazAir fare checks for LAX to ORD, 13 Sep 2026 to 15 Oct 2026; ORD to LAX, 10 Sep 2026 to 17 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

How early should I arrive at LAX for a flight to Chicago?

LAWA advised in July 2026 arriving two hours before a domestic flight, and warned of detours and longer shuttle times from construction at Terminal 4 and the future Terminal 5.

Which LAX terminal do I leave from?

LAX lists American at Terminal 4, Alaska at Terminal 6 and United at Terminals 7 and 8. Delta checks in at Terminal 3, and Frontier at Terminal 1. For Sun Country, check your boarding pass.

How do I change terminals at O'Hare?

Ride the free Airport Transit System, which runs 24 hours. From 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., connecting passengers with a same-day boarding pass can use the Terminal Transfer Bus inside security between Terminal 5 and Terminals 1 and 3.

How do I get from O'Hare to downtown Chicago?

The CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours from the lower level of the parking garage and takes 40 to 45 minutes to downtown, according to CTA. From Terminal 5, ride the Airport Transit System to Terminal 2 first.

Do the lowest Los Angeles to Chicago 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, Frontier without a bundle and the Sun Country base fare allow a personal item only.

How far is Los Angeles from Chicago?

LAX and ORD 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.