CHI - OAK

$119 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to Oakland

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Chicago to Oakland departing on 5/28. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Oakland

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to Oakland, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to Oakland, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$223
Typical prices: $236-$231
Southwest
Wed 9/16Wed 9/23
MDW - OAK • Non-stop
Cheapest non-stop
$271
Southwest
Thu 5/28Tue 6/2
MDW - OAK • Non-stop
Advice from real travelers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
Chicago Midway offers shorter security lines than ORD.
From OAK, Uber or Lyft are convenient transport options.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $223 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with Southwest. Average duration is 4h 35m
Direct flights
Direct flights
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Direct flights
Direct flights
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Top routes
Cheapest
Most popular
Insights
Insights
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Avoid delays
Most punctual • 72% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
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Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $241 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 6h 00m (one-way)
Insights
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Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 35% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
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Flight Deals
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Chicago to Oakland (CHI-OAK)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Chicago to Oakland that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Chicago to Oakland

Wed, Sep 16 - Wed, Sep 23
Southwest Logo
8:35 pm - 11:05 pm
MDW
-
OAK
4h 30mnonstop
Southwest Logo
7:45 pm - 5:40 am
OAK
-
MDW
7h 55m
1 stop
$223Southwest
Wed, Sep 16 - Wed, Sep 23
Southwest Logo
3:30 pm - 9:15 pm
MDW
-
OAK
7h 45m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
7:15 pm - 5:55 am
OAK
-
MDW
8h 40m
1 stop
$233Southwest
Thu, May 28 - Tue, Jun 9
Delta Logo
7:45 pm - 11:57 pm
ORD
-
OAK
6h 12m
1 stop
Delta Logo
12:33 pm - 9:57 pm
OAK
-
ORD
7h 24m
1 stop
$237Delta
Thu, May 28 - Wed, Jun 3
Delta Logo
2:00 pm - 11:57 pm
ORD
-
OAK
11h 57m
2 stops
Delta Logo
12:28 pm - 9:50 pm
OAK
-
ORD
7h 22m
1 stop
$242Delta
Thu, May 28 - Tue, Jun 2
Southwest Logo
9:50 pm - 12:25 am
MDW
-
OAK
4h 35mnonstop
Southwest Logo
6:45 pm - 4:35 am
OAK
-
MDW
7h 50m
1 stop
$246Southwest
Wed, May 20 - Tue, May 26
Southwest Logo
4:30 pm - 8:45 pm
MDW
-
OAK
6h 15m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
11:55 pm - 6:00 am
OAK
-
MDW
4h 05mnonstop
$247Southwest
Wed, May 20 - Tue, May 26
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:10 pm - 11:50 pm
ORD
-
OAK
11h 40m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:58 pm - 1:14 pm
OAK
-
ORD
20h 16m
1 stop
$257Alaska Airlines
Fri, Jun 5 - Mon, Jun 8
Delta Logo
3:47 pm - 11:57 pm
ORD
-
OAK
10h 10m
2 stops
Delta Logo
5:03 pm - 8:05 am
OAK
-
ORD
13h 02m
2 stops
$262Delta
Tue, May 12 - Sat, May 16
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:59 pm - 9:45 am
ORD
-
OAK
15h 46m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
8:15 pm - 1:14 pm
OAK
-
ORD
14h 59m
1 stop
$267Alaska Airlines
Thu, May 7 - Tue, May 12
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:59 pm - 10:17 am
ORD
-
OAK
16h 18m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:19 pm - 1:14 pm
OAK
-
ORD
15h 55m
1 stop
$274Alaska Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Chicago to Oakland flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Chicago to Oakland to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

How much is a round-trip flight from Chicago to Oakland, California?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Chicago to Oakland, California departing in September.

What is the cheapest Chicago to Oakland flight route?

Data is based on round-trip flight searches on KAYAK over the past month.

The cheapest return flight from Chicago to Oakland costs $251 on the route between Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) and Oakland (OAK). It is also the most popular route.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Chicago to Oakland?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago to Oakland, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Chicago to Oakland is September, where tickets cost $250 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are November and October, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $711 and $487 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Chicago to Oakland?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

No, with an average price for the route of $389, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Chicago to Oakland

 
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on MDW

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Gabriel Leigh

Gabriel Leigh

Expert on OAK

Gabriel is a writer and video creator. As senior content producer for Flightradar24 and Monocle’s transport correspondent, he keeps a close eye on aviation in particular. He has also written travel articles for the likes of The New York Times. Born in New York but raised around the world, he now lives in Sweden. He’s been to 75 countries, flying 2.3 million miles on 113 airlines and through 234 airports in the process.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$119
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 13% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 3% lower on average.
Flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Oakland

When to book flights from Chicago to Oakland

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Chicago to Oakland based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Chicago to Oakland

  • Are there lounges in O'Hare International Airport (ORD) where passengers can await their departures?

    There are various lounge facilities within the different terminals at the airport. The main lounge in Terminal 1 is the United Club by United airlines which has four lounges: near Gates C16, C18, B18, and B6. The other is the Delta Sky Club in Terminal 2, where United Club also has a place on the grid. There are also multiple other lounge facilities in Terminal 3, mainly occupied by American Airlines. Additionally, the Admiral Club lounges are located between Gates H6 and K6, Gate L1, and near Gate G8. Terminal 5 has some lounges in it.

  • Are there any hotels near Oakland International Airport (OAK)?

    The SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oakland Airport is among the most convenient hotels where you can book a room in the case of late arrival at the airport. It is located 1.7 miles away and has facilities such as an indoor spa.

  • Are there Pet Relief Areas in O'Hare International Airport (ORD)?

    There are several Pet Relief Areas in O'Hare International Airport (ORD). An area inside Terminal 1's lower level is accessible by taking the elevator to the lower level and proceeding to the Baggage Claim, exit through Door 1A, and you will have the area on your left. Terminal 2's location is accessible by taking the elevator to the lower level, exiting through Door 2E, and the site will also be on your left. Terminal 3 is located inside the Main Hall of the airport next to the Lotto booth found near Gate K1.

  • What flights are available from O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)?

    There are both direct and connecting flights between the destinations. Spirit Airlines is the only airline that offers direct flights between the destinations. However, they also have flights with a layover at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). Delta Airlines also makes flights with a layover at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).

  • What is the cheapest flight from Chicago to Oakland?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Chicago to Oakland was $119 for a one-way ticket and $223 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Chicago and Oakland?

    Even though you are not required to have a passport, keep in mind that an official ID is needed to board the airplane.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Chicago to Oakland?

    There are 2 airports in Chicago (Chicago Midway and Chicago O'Hare Intl.) and only 1 airport in Oakland (Oakland). The cheapest flights are generally found on the Chicago O'Hare Airport to Oakland flight route.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Chicago to Oakland?

    American Airlines, United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Air Canada offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Chicago to Oakland flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Chicago to Oakland?

    The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Chicago to Oakland flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Chicago to Oakland?

    SkyTeam is the only airline alliance operating flights between Chicago and Oakland.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Chicago to Oakland?

    There are nonstop flights from Chicago to Oakland on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Chicago to Oakland, Southwest or Alaska Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Chicago to Oakland are Southwest and Alaska Airlines. With an average price for the route of $379 and an overall rating of 8.0, Southwest is the most popular choice. Alaska Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $331 and an overall rating of 7.9.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Chicago to Oakland?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Chicago to Oakland.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Chicago to Oakland?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Oakland from Chicago is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Chicago to Oakland?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Oakland with an airline and back to Chicago with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Chicago to Oakland?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Oakland from Chicago up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Chicago to Oakland

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $221 or less one-way and $344 or less round-trip.
  • Two international airports serve the city of Chicago. Although the O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the central hub for flights around the city, the Midway International Airport (MDW) is closer to downtown Chicago of the two airports. They are located 18 miles and 12.5 miles away from the city center.
  • The BART train is the best way to get from the Oakland International Airport (OAK) to downtown Oakland. It costs around $6 for a ticket, and you can catch it at the station located at the Coliseum. It will take you 10min to complete the journey.
  • Travelers to Oakland can rely on three airports for their transportation needs: Norman Y. Mineta International Airport, Oakland International Airport (OAK), and Reid Hillview Airport. The former Oakland International (OAK) is the most convenient option for traveling to the city since it's 6 miles distance from the center of Oakland.
  • The most convenient way to move from downtown to O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is via the Blue Line, which only takes 45min to complete the journey and around $5 as a fare.
  • On the curbside of Terminal 2, you will find wheelchairs in the Oakland International Airport (OAK). If you have mobility challenges, it would be better to use the services offered in Terminal 2. It would also be better to contact your airlines before traveling for arranged assistance.

Prefer to fly direct from Chicago to Oakland?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Chicago to Oakland.
Find which airlines fly direct from Chicago to Oakland Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Chicago to Oakland

Monday

Southwest

Southwest

Tuesday

Southwest

Southwest

Wednesday

Southwest

Southwest

Thursday

Southwest

Southwest

Friday

Southwest

Southwest

Saturday

Southwest

Southwest

Sunday

Southwest

Southwest

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Oakland to Chicago

Monday

Southwest

Southwest

Tuesday

Southwest

Southwest

Wednesday

Southwest

Southwest

Thursday

Southwest

Southwest

Friday

Southwest

Southwest

Saturday

Southwest

Southwest

Sunday

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See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 4 airlines serving from Chicago to Oakland

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Chicago to Oakland. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Chicago to Oakland? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4331 reviews
8.0Comfort
7.5Entertainment
7.0Food
8.1Boarding
8.6Crew
Airline reviews

The Air hostess were very rude on my flight from Houston to Austin . Their regular communication itself felt a they are shouting at people.

4.0 Okaysangeetha, Apr 2026
AUS - SJC
Read more Southwest reviews

The Air hostess were very rude on my flight from Houston to Austin . Their regular communication itself felt a they are shouting at people.

I flew twice this week on Southwest, was delayed over 2 hours both ways. From Pittsburgh to Chicago it was due to weather but the gate agents, pilot etc were great at updating everyone. Today from Midway to Pittsburgh the plane had come from an international location, kept getting delayed, no information was given until we were delayed for the third time. It was ridiculous, whoever scheduled that plane to fly to Pittsburgh after didn’t consider a lot of things.

Boarding was easy. The seats are small and fairly uncomfortable

The problem with the seat assignments is that there were a lot of rows in the front that were empty but my row at the back was full. Just not so pleasant.

No food or entertainment, just a quick 40 minute flight. A little bumpy due to Santa Ana winds but pilot has no control over that. Good flight and landing!

Good but I prefer choose your own seat. With the new assigned seats they should board from the back I see no advantage to this new boarding. Just like every other airline

Mediocre. Boarding is now unpleasant. The employees, once friendly and nice, are now regularly speaking sternly to passengers, badgering them to do things right so they can take off on time and gate check bags because they don't have enough overhead bin space. The pretzel snack was crushed flat and broken into even smaller pieces, which happens frequently lately. Drink service was suspended before they reached my row.

The charges were ridiculous for an hour flight and the turbulence was very scary.

3 hour delay. Had to change plans and was still delayed.

The staff was very friendly, professional, and courteous. The overall flight was a great experience.

See what I wrote in the previous section. This was a terrible experience. I would like refund.. I even paid an extra $70 for an aisle seat closer to the front to ensure that I got off early enough to catch the next flight. The fact that the plane did not wait, and even left eearlier, knowing that the first flight came in late, and was moved to a terminal three train stops away is appalling. My friend that flew JetBlue, their flight was delayed and came in later and the connecting flight WAITED for them. How is it that JetBlue could do that, and Alaska could not.

The seat on the plane out was broken and would not lean back. I have back problems and sitting up straight was hard on my lower back and caused pain for over half the flight. Since I paid extra for First Class so I would not have these issues. This needs to be addressed.

No headphones provided. No gf food. Only 1 beverage cart run sAN to HNL. Rarely saw crew members

Thanks for all you do to keep us safe and on time!

The check-in crew for Alaska was rude, unhelpful, and the opposite of customer-centric. We arrived 50 minutes before our flight and were told it was too late to check baggage. When I asked what the cutoff was, the agent started speaking in codes “D50” and yelling to their manager who also spoke in codes. They then tried to speak to me using these codes and all I wanted to know was the time of the cutoff, which they would not — or could not — articulate. They booked me and my family on the next flight while smirking.

Generally Good. Outbound flight was marred by a continuously s creaming baby. Fortunately the flight was only 90 mins long it would be nice if people traveling with small childres could be centered in one part of the plane. Also, you need to adapt your servey to include a "not applicable " option for things like food and entertainment, which are not offered on shorter flights. I fily Alaska by choice as given all the cirumstances, I fel\el you do a good job.

A solidly good experience, but would’ve appreciated more communication with regards to travel delays.

I like flying Alaska Airlines. I think the staff are happy, the plane is comfortable, the entertainment reasonable, the food acceptable.

No WiFi. Terrible food. Very long walk to the gate and from the gate after landing. Gate changed without notice.

I really hate the seat assignment at the gate. I understand it is so families can sit together but it caused me and others a lot of unnecessary stress and confusion, enough for me to not fly Alaska again. The app is so awful that it did not even update my seat assignment on the boarding pass but sent me a notification of my seat... it showed in Apple Wallet but not in the Alaska app itself. That only made the stress worse. I think most people like myself prefer to know where they are seated at check in 24 hours before so they don't have to anxiously hang out at the gate the entire time. This is not a good use of your agents time either to be dealing with all of us asking where we are sitting. You should automatically assign the multiple seat purchases to be together before they check in and fill us solo travelers in those gaps as we check in.

Several missed and almost missed connections. It felt like everything was being patched together last minute without enough resources and it ended up being an extremely stressful experience that basically ruined our weekend on the west coast. What a waste.

Crew was friendly. Seats are too narrow, particularly when a big person is in the adjacent seat, but I understand this is due to smaller planes usually flight into Lincoln. I have experienced several flight delays going out and coming into Lincoln airport, I say maybe 50% or higher of the flights I've taken out of this airport have been delayed.

Great flight. Boarded efficiently. Arrived early at CLT. There was no in flight entertainment on this aircraft. Great crew.

The seat was comfortable. There was a lot of turbulence. If it weren't for that,it would have been okay.

Poor communication, flight was delayed for preventable reasons. I missed my connection.

No meal service to the back of the plane as it started late or was too slow to get it out before it was time to land.

Terrible, if possible won't be flying again anytime soon!

Efficient boarding and early departure. Very smooth flight. Early arrival in ATL. Great flight.

Smooth and easy boarding, comfortable for the entire 5 hour flight, and the seat back entertainment was great! I appreciated all the features, from location info and maps, movies, the ability to connect with Bluetooth headphones, and good selection of movies. Food was good, normal airline snacks (I didn’t purchase anything)

Awful. No counter attendants. No dinner offered due to delays.

We get stuck in the plane when landed during 45min and no communication from the crew People were listening to their phone and music out loud and nobody told them anything I definitely want stop booking spirit flight it is a disaster

Good: It was cheap and they got us to our destination safely. Not so Good: Gates experience with many, many nauseatingly (almost) threatening announcements about bags size and how much they were going to charge us if our bag was too big, even to the point of having a gate agent roaming around through the passengers eyeballing bags size and making people go check their bags in the sizers.

Terrible. The flight was randomly delayed in Chicago causing us to miss our connection and they offered us a flight the next day at 6 am and it would have taken till 345 to get to Pensacola. They didn’t cover any fees. Our bags also supposedly were on the flight to Pensacola and we tried to get them yesterday after driving 6 hours and nobody was available. Worst company ever and will never use them again. Had to pay for a rental. Spirit is claiming in climate weather for the delay but there wasn’t any weather issuesz it’s a bunch of bullshit and I am not happy

Checking in at desk in Chicago was horrible. Person was not friendly never smiled and said my flight was not paid for so I had to give another credit card. Then it ended up that I was charged twice. Then after arriving at my destination had to wait on the phone a long time to speak to a person to fix the double charge! Thank goodness the flight was perfect.

Flight was delayed for 12 h. They should stop overlooking flights.

All of our flights were canceled, though every other airline was flying out and in

it was terrible. flight was cancelled hours before the flight without a given reason and no other booking available .

Spirit Airlines has a reputation for being a terrible, cheap airline, this is why. I took a gamble on them, having never flown with them before, and the flight got cancelled. First they delayed the flight about 4 times before finally canceling it because a flight attendant didn’t show up to work that day. That’s so stupid. When I asked a ticketing agent she said that’s “company policy”. A company policy that inconveniences hundreds of passengers because a single flight attendant didn’t show is ridiculous and inefficient. I will never, ever try flying Spirit Airlines again.

Cancelled my flight and the earliest that they are willing give me for the next flight which was 3 days later on a weekday. Only accommodation they are willing to give was $30 airline credit that will expire in 1 year

Flight was canceled, huge lines to get baggage returned. Most other airlines had delays but not widespread cancellations like Spirit.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Chicago to Oakland

Information on your arrival and departure airports