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San Francisco → Chicago flights

SFO–ORD fares have a median of $73 across recent snapshots, though prices occasionally jump toward $141 — book when you see fares near the low end.

Fares cluster near $73 — but a few spikes hit $141

Key takeaways

Median fare sits at $73, and that's also the observed low — a strong recurring price point
Bottom quartile (p25) is $73 too, meaning at least a quarter of snapshots matched the cheapest fare seen
Top quartile jumps to $109, and the high hit $141, so spikes do happen
Spread of 93% between low and high — wide enough that timing matters more than usual
Sample is just 12 days of snapshots, so treat patterns as directional, not definitive

30-day price trend

SFO → ORD · cheapest cached fare per day · last 13 days · ↓ 32%

$73 low$141 high

See full numbers and stats on the SFO → ORD price history page.

The full picture

The data shows a sharp split between a recurring low fare and occasional price spikes. With a median of $73 that matches the observed low and the p25 mark, it's clear that a meaningful chunk of snapshots landed right at the cheapest price point available. But the p75 of $109 and a high of $141 show that fares can nearly double when availability tightens or search timing is less favorable — a 93% spread from low to high is substantial for a domestic transcon route.

With only 12 days of snapshots, we can't map this to a precise booking calendar or claim the price softens at a specific point in the horizon. What we can say is that the $73 fare appears frequently enough to be a realistic target — it's not a one-off fluke, since it anchors both the median and the 25th percentile. If you're checking fares and see something close to $73, that's consistent with the best pricing this route has shown recently. Seeing something above $109 suggests you're in the upper range of what's been observed, and waiting or rechecking may be worthwhile if your dates are flexible.

No dominant carrier was identifiable in this dataset, so we can't speak to airline-specific patterns or whether certain carriers consistently undercut others on this route. The caveat here is real: a 12-day sample is thin for drawing firm conclusions about weekly cycles or optimal booking windows, and the wide spread means outcomes can vary a lot depending on exactly when you search. Treat the $73 figure as a strong reference point, not a guarantee.

Ready to look at fares?

Search SFO → ORD on Aviasales →See the price history →

Related travel pages

AI-authored from this route's 30-day price index. Article last regenerated Oct 10, 2026. Fares shift continuously — confirm at booking.