Compare 4 loyalty programs for Chicago to San Francisco award flights, with economy seats from 12,500 points.
Chicago to San Francisco is a medium-haul domestic route, and nonstop award space shows up on United Airlines. It's priced by four programs, and economy starts at 12,500 points via American AAdvantage. More programs mean more ways to overpay, since the same seat can cost very different amounts depending on the program. This page compares every way to book ORD–SFO on points.
Best one-way award prices per airline over the next 12 months.
| Airline | Economy | Premium economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 American AirlinesAA | 12,500Lowest | Not available | 38,000Lowest | 25,000Lowest |
 Alaska AirlinesAS | 12,500Lowest | Not available | 46,000pts | 25,000Lowest |
 United AirlinesUA | 15,000pts | 100,000Lowest | 66,600pts | 56,000pts |
 JetBlueB6 | 30,000pts | Not available | 70,000pts | Not available |
When award seats between Chicago and San Francisco price cheapest over the next year.
| Month | Cheapest award (points) |
|---|---|
| Nov 2026 | 12,500 |
| Dec 2026 | 12,500 |
| Jan 2027 | 12,500 |
| Feb 2027 | 25,000 |
| Mar 2027 | No award data |
| Apr 2027 | No award data |
| May 2027 | 25,000 |
| Jun 2027 | No award data |
| Jul 2027 | No award data |
| Aug 2027 | No award data |
| Sep 2027 | No award data |
| Oct 2027 | No award data |
4 airlines with award seats between Chicago and San Francisco, nonstop or connecting.
American AirlinesAAAlaska AirlinesASJetBlueB6United AirlinesUAWhat to know before booking Chicago to San Francisco with points.
About 1,840 miles, roughly 4h10 nonstop. San Francisco is 2 hours behind Chicago. The data runs November 2026–October 2027, with calendar prices for five months. Across well-covered months, November 2026–January 2027 are among the cheapest, at 12,500 points.
Chicago to San Francisco is served by American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue and 1 more, offering multiple options for award travelers. Compare 4 loyalty programs to find the best value for your points. Award prices start from 12,500 points in economy. Use our search tool to check real-time award availability on this route.
Flying Chicago to San Francisco covers about 1,840 miles, linking O'Hare International Airport (ORD) with San Francisco International Airport (SFO); a nonstop takes roughly 4h10, with winds moving it either way. Nonstop award space in the data comes from a single airline: United Airlines. The Airbus A321neo shows up on those nonstop award segments. About 17% of the award options in the data are nonstop.
Chicago–San Francisco is a domestic route, so the first question is whether to spend points at all. The economy floor connects once; an economy nonstop on United Airlines costs more. Mind the airport change in New York: you land at LaGuardia (LGA) and leave from John F. Kennedy (JFK), so allow time for the transfer. The cheapest economy seat adds about $6 in taxes and fees, in line with the route's typical economy taxes. Run the miles-or-cash math each time: a cheap fare usually beats spending points.
American AAdvantage wins economy at 12,500 points, business class at 38,000, and first class at 25,000. Also in the mix: United MileagePlus, Alaska Atmos Rewards, and Qantas Frequent Flyer. A transfer bonus to another program can still undercut American AAdvantage, so recheck before moving points.
The data has one nonstop award carrier on Chicago–San Francisco: United Airlines. Its Star Alliance membership means alliance partners can sell that seat too, not only United MileagePlus. Beyond the nonstop, the cheaper connecting awards in the data change planes in Santa Ana, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. American AAdvantage sets the economy floor as a oneworld partner, selling Alaska Airlines seats on the long-haul leg at its own rates.
Arriving in the San Francisco area, San Jose (SJC) starts at 15,000 points in economy, close to the route's 12,500-point economy floor and worth pricing when SFO space is thin. The return, San Francisco to Chicago, has its own page, since award pricing can differ by direction.
Alternative corridors travelers consider alongside Chicago to San Francisco.
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Common questions travelers ask about the Chicago to San Francisco route.
