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

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Seattle to Chicago

Compare partner fares from Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD), with SEA security tips and how to get from the O'Hare terminals into Chicago.

SEA to ORD · 1,716 mi · 4h 15m est.

SEA to ORD
1,716 miles
4h 15m nonstop (estimated)
4 airlines in our fare results

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

Seattle to Chicago flight insights

Average flight time

~4h 15m (estimated)

SEA → ORD

Cheapest cached price

$208

Checking live fares…

Prices shown may not be current. Last checked: Oct 22, 2026.

Planning a trip from Seattle to Chicago? The average flight time on this route is ~4h 15m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $208 (last checked Oct 22, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Seattle to Chicago covers a straight-line distance of about 1,716 miles. Based on that distance, a nonstop flight would take approximately ~4h 15m (estimated). Actual flight time varies by airline, aircraft and routing.

Seattle to Chicago at a glance

SEA to ORD 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 Seattle to Chicago on Eazair
Origin	Seattle (SEA)
Destination	Chicago (ORD)
Average Flight Time	~4h 15m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$208
Fares Last Checked	Oct 22, 2026
Distance	1,716 miles (SEA to ORD)
Time in Chicago	2 hours ahead of Seattle
Airlines in our fare results	4

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

Flight deals from Seattle to Chicago

Results here go from Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) to Chicago O'Hare International (ORD), not Midway (MDW). For Seattle, O'Hare's nonstop list as of 1 Sep 2026 shows Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, but schedules change, so check the stops on each result. Results in EazAir's fare checks here have come from United, American, Delta and Sun Country. O'Hare's airline list did not load on 17 Oct 2026; Delta says it uses Terminal 5.

At Sea-Tac, a SEA Underground guide dated 2 Sep 2025 places Delta and United at the S and A gates, and SEA says Checkpoints 1, 2 and 3 sit closest to those gates. Checkpoint 4 is listed as open 24 hours, and any checkpoint leads to all gates. SEA advises two hours before a domestic departure, noting that over a third of its daily passengers turn up before 9 a.m. Live wait times on the flySEA app are still being restored, so watch the terminal signs.

Landing at O'Hare, the CTA Blue Line station sits on the lower level of the parking garage, reached from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 by the Trains to City signs; from Terminal 5, ride the free Airport Transit System to Terminal 2 first. CTA puts the trip downtown at 40 to 45 minutes, and rides starting at O'Hare cost more than a standard fare. Rideshares meet riders on the upper level at Terminal 2, orange poles 2A to 2G, and Terminal 3, green poles 3G to 3K.

From 2 Sep to 12 Oct 2026, EazAir made its first 13 fare checks for SEA to ORD, each one looking for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult on a date 30 days out. They produced 9 different results, with the highest at least double the lowest, and the lowest result turned up on 5 Sep. Sun Country's base fare includes a personal item but not a carry-on. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Seattle to Chicago flights

Departure · Seattle

Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)

Pacific Time

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.

Seattle 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 Seattle (SEA) served by Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines 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.

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.

Leaving from 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.

Take the Link light rail 1 Line to SeaTac/Airport station. Sound Transit says the pedestrian bridge from the station is open 24 hours, and SEA runs a free Train-to-Plane shuttle from 5 a.m. to midnight.
SEA says app-based rideshares drop off at the terminal on the airport drives. If you are dropped on the baggage claim level, take the elevator or escalator up to ticketing.
SEA says Checkpoints 1, 2 and 3 are closest to the A and S gates, and lists Checkpoint 4 as open 24 hours. SEA says checkpoint hours may change.
SEA lists TSA PreCheck at Checkpoint 3 from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. CLEAR is at Checkpoint 1, which SEA lists as open from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.
SEA Spot Saver is a free security time reservation, offered at Checkpoint 4 from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. SEA says you can book up to five days before your flight, for groups of up to 10.
SEA advises arriving two hours before a domestic departure and says over a third of daily passengers arrive before 9 a.m. SEA is working to restore live wait times on the flySEA app and website, so check the signs in the terminal.

Arriving at Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)

O'Hare's airline list did not load on 17 Oct 2026. Delta says it uses Terminal 5. 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.
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 13 fare checks from Seattle to Chicago ran from 2 Sep to 12 Oct 2026. For the return direction, Chicago to Seattle, EazAir's first 16 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 13 checks returned 9 different results. The lowest result came on 5 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

SEA: Security screening and checkpoints (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: SEA Spot Saver (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: Estimated checkpoint wait times (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: All aboard the SEA Underground (September 2, 2025, 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)
Sound Transit: SeaTac/Airport Station (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)
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 SEA to ORD, 2 Sep 2026 to 12 Oct 2026; ORD to SEA, 2 Sep 2026 to 12 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which Sea-Tac checkpoint is closest to the S and A gates?

SEA says Checkpoints 1, 2 and 3 are closest to the A and S gates, and that every checkpoint gives access to all gates. Checkpoint 4 is listed as open 24 hours.

Which O'Hare terminal will I arrive at?

O'Hare's airline list did not load when this page was checked on 17 Oct 2026. Delta says it uses Terminal 5. For United, American and Sun Country, check your boarding pass or airline app.

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

The CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours from O'Hare station, and CTA puts the ride downtown at 40 to 45 minutes. Metra North Central Service weekday trains also run from O'Hare Transfer station to Union Station.

Where do taxis and rideshares wait at O'Hare?

Taxi stands are on the lower-level curb outside baggage claim at each terminal. Rideshare pickup is on the upper level at Terminals 2 and 3, and O'Hare lists no Terminal 5 pickup.

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

American Basic Economy includes one, and Delta says every passenger can bring one free. United Basic Economy includes only a personal item on domestic flights, with some MileagePlus exceptions, and the Sun Country base fare includes a personal item but not a carry-on.

How far apart are SEA and ORD?

SEA and ORD 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.