Compare 9 loyalty programs for San Francisco to Chicago award flights, with economy seats from 8,087 points.
San Francisco to Chicago is a medium-haul domestic route with nonstop award seats on United Airlines and American Airlines. Award pricing spans nine programs, and the cheapest economy award is 8,087 points through Lufthansa Miles & More, on a United Airlines nonstop. Domestic cash fares can rival awards, so check the cash price first and redeem when the award price is low. This page re-checks all nine programs on SFO–ORD daily.
Best one-way award prices per airline over the next 12 months.
| Airline | Economy | Premium economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 United AirlinesUA | 8,087Lowest | 100,000pts | 30,000Lowest | 30,000pts |
 DeltaDL | 10,500pts | 94,600Lowest | 60,000pts | 51,400pts |
 JetBlueB6 | 11,200pts | Not available | 70,000pts | Not available |
 American AirlinesAA | 12,500pts | Not available | 40,000pts | 25,000Lowest |
 Alaska AirlinesAS | 12,500pts | Not available | 57,500pts | 25,000Lowest |
When award seats between San Francisco and Chicago price cheapest over the next year.
| Month | Cheapest award (points) |
|---|---|
| Nov 2026 | 11,100 |
| Dec 2026 | 8,087 |
| Jan 2027 | No award data |
| Feb 2027 | No award data |
| Mar 2027 | 8,087 |
| Apr 2027 | 12,500 |
| May 2027 | No award data |
| 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 |
5 airlines with award seats between San Francisco and Chicago, nonstop or connecting.
American AirlinesAAAlaska AirlinesASJetBlueB6DeltaDLUnited AirlinesUAWhat to know before booking San Francisco to Chicago with points.
~1,840 miles; ~4h10 nonstop (approximate). Chicago is 2 hours ahead of San Francisco. Data covers November 2026–October 2027, with calendar prices for four months. Across well-covered months, December 2026 is the cheapest (8,087 points), ahead of November 2026 (11,100) and April 2027 (12,500).
San Francisco to Chicago is served by American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue and 2 more, offering multiple options for award travelers. Compare 9 loyalty programs to find the best value for your points. Award prices start from 8,087 points in economy. Use our search tool to check real-time award availability on this route.
At about 1,840 miles from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), a nonstop runs roughly 4h10, give or take with the winds. The nonstop award space in the data is split between United Airlines and American Airlines. Aircraft logged on those nonstops include the Airbus A321, Airbus A321neo, and Boeing 737-800. Nonstops account for about 19% of the award options in the data.
For San Francisco–Chicago, the cash fare is the benchmark an award has to beat. The economy floor is a partner booking on a United Airlines nonstop, with no connection to trade off against the points. Its $319 in taxes and fees is the catch, well above the route's typical economy taxes; more points and less cash can come out ahead. If the cash price is modest, buying the ticket is often the better trade. Before moving bank points anywhere, confirm the seat is bookable, since transfers are one-way.
Lufthansa Miles & More takes economy at 8,087 points on a United Airlines nonstop. United MileagePlus is cheapest in business class at 30,000 points. Alaska Atmos Rewards wins first class at 25,000 points on an American Airlines nonstop. Of the other six, American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, and Air France-KLM Flying Blue are worth a look too. With the winner changing twice as you move up, decide where you'll sit before deciding where to move points.
Nonstop award space on San Francisco–Chicago spans two alliances: United Airlines (Star Alliance) and American Airlines (oneworld). That means partner programs in both alliances have a way onto a nonstop. For connecting options, the better-priced awards in the data connect in Los Angeles and Santa Ana. The lowest first-class award here is a oneworld partner booking: the American Airlines nonstop through Alaska Atmos Rewards.
For San Francisco departures, San Jose (SJC) costs more, at 15,000 points in economy against the 8,087-point floor, so it's a second choice rather than a first. Pricing the round trip? Chicago to San Francisco is tracked separately, and awards can price differently each way.
Alternative corridors travelers consider alongside San Francisco to Chicago.
From 4,000 ptsBusiness 18,500 pts
From 4,900 ptsBusiness 21,000 pts
From 5,000 ptsBusiness 19,300 pts
From 5,000 ptsBusiness 23,000 pts
From 5,200 ptsBusiness 24,600 pts
From 8,000 ptsBusiness 43,600 pts
Common questions travelers ask about the San Francisco to Chicago route.
