ORD - SJO

$93 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from O'Hare Intl to San José departing on 9/2. 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

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

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to San José.
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to San José.
Travelers love KAYAK
41,299,237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

Save 22% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

Track pricesNot ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Bundle and saveSave money when you bundle your flight + hotel.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Flights Deals
Expert advice
Booking Insights
Flights Deals

Cheap Flights from O'Hare Intl to San José (ORD-SJO)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from O'Hare Intl to San José 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 O'Hare Intl to San José

Sun, Aug 17 - Sat, Aug 23
Spirit Airlines Logo
8:12 pm - 11:12 amORD-SJO
16h 00m1 stop
Spirit Airlines Logo
12:18 pm - 11:59 pmSJO-ORD
10h 41m1 stop
$210Spirit Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Aug 14 - Tue, Aug 19
Spirit Airlines Logo
5:05 am - 11:12 amORD-SJO
7h 07m1 stop
Spirit Airlines Logo
12:18 pm - 11:59 pmSJO-ORD
10h 41m1 stop
$224Spirit Airlines
Find Deal
Sun, Aug 17 - Sat, Aug 23
Spirit Airlines Logo
8:12 pm - 11:12 amORD-SJO
16h 00m1 stop
Spirit Airlines Logo
11:27 am - 11:59 pmSJO-ORD
11h 32m2 stops
$228Spirit Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Aug 14 - Tue, Aug 19
Spirit Airlines Logo
5:05 am - 11:12 amORD-SJO
7h 07m1 stop
Spirit Airlines Logo
11:27 am - 11:59 pmSJO-ORD
11h 32m2 stops
$238Spirit Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, Sep 9 - Tue, Sep 16
Spirit Airlines Logo
6:44 pm - 11:14 amORD-SJO
17h 30m1 stop
Spirit Airlines Logo
12:19 pm - 10:48 pmSJO-ORD
9h 29m1 stop
$243Spirit Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, Sep 2 - Fri, Sep 5
 Logo
6:56 am - 3:13 pmORD-SJO
9h 17m1 stop
 Logo
7:30 am - 9:58 pmSJO-ORD
13h 28m1 stop
Sun, Aug 17 - Tue, Aug 26
Spirit Airlines Logo
8:12 pm - 11:12 amORD-SJO
16h 00m1 stop
Spirit Airlines Logo
12:18 pm - 11:59 pmSJO-ORD
10h 41m1 stop
$246Spirit Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, Sep 3 - Mon, Sep 8
Spirit Airlines Logo
5:05 am - 11:12 amORD-SJO
7h 07m1 stop
Spirit Airlines Logo
12:19 pm - 10:48 pmSJO-ORD
9h 29m1 stop
$249Spirit Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, Aug 27 - Tue, Sep 2
Spirit Airlines Logo
11:36 am - 10:32 amORD-SJO
23h 56m2 stops
Spirit Airlines Logo
11:27 am - 11:59 pmSJO-ORD
11h 32m2 stops
$250Spirit Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Oct 30 - Mon, Nov 3
 Logo
6:30 am - 3:13 pmORD-SJO
9h 43m1 stop
 Logo
7:30 am - 4:12 pmSJO-ORD
8h 42m1 stop
Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from O'Hare Intl to San José

 
Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of KAYAK-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Airports
ORD

Security lines at ORD can exceed 30 minutes during peak times. Arrive early to avoid delays, especially for international flights.

Read more about ORDby Stefanie Waldek
SJO

For a smooth arrival at SJO, pre-arrange ground transportation through your hotel to avoid long waits and ensure a hassle-free transfer.

Read more about SJOby Mark Chesnut
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on ORD

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

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.

Read more
Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Expert on SJO

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut is a travel writer and public speaker with more than 30 years of experience. The 2019 winner of the NLGJA Excellence in Travel Writing Award, Mark is the author of the book “Prepare for Departure” and has covered air travel for multiple top consumer and trade media outlets.

Read more
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for O'Hare Intl to San José flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from O'Hare Intl to San José to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to San José clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

If your flying dates are flexible, you should consider flying to San José on a Monday, as we generally find the cheapest rates on that day for this route. On the other hand, Saturday is the most expensive day to fly from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José. For your return ticket, we recommend flying on a Tuesday and avoiding Sundays for the best deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to San José?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to San José, 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 O'Hare Intl Airport to San José is August, where tickets cost $443 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and March, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $763 and $692 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to San José?

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.

Yes, flying with a layover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 2 stops layover the cheapest option at $972 on average.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to San José?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to San José, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to San José, you should book around 2 weeks before departure, which saves you about 17% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 9 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonSeptember
Cheapest flight$93
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 10% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 15% increase in price.
Flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José

When to book flights from O'Hare Intl to San José

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from O'Hare Intl to San José 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 Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José flights

  • What is the luggage allowance on Aeromexico flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José?

    For flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José with Aeromexico, the maximum weight allowance is 55 pounds for all regular and Premiere fares and the maximum linear dimension limit is 62 inches. Passengers may bring one carry-on bag of up to 22 lbs plus one personal item. Fees apply for oversize and overweight luggage and will depend on the fare type and flight route.

  • How do I get from San Jose Airport (SJO) to the city center?

    The bus is the most affordable way to get to the city center. The bus stop is located just outside the airport terminal. Take the Alajuela-San Jose bus and get off at the last stop, which is in the center of San Jose. The trip takes around 45 minutes. Taxis are also available at the airport and can bring you directly to your destination in the city center.

  • What seat selection options are available on Avianca flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José?

    Avianca offers various seat selection options on flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José. Passengers can choose seats from the available standard seating options at no additional cost during the check-in process. Avianca also offers preferred seats for an additional fee. These seats are typically located in the front rows of the cabin or have extra legroom.

  • What services are offered by Copa Airlines to economy class passengers on flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San Jose?

    Copa Airlines offers a variety of services to economy class passengers on its flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José. Economy class passengers can enjoy Copa Airlines' in-flight entertainment system, which includes movies, TV shows, and music. Passengers in economy class also receive complimentary meals and drinks on all Copa Airlines flights.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to San José?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to San José was $93 for a one-way ticket and $210 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Chicago O'Hare Airport and San José?

    Yes, you'll most likely have to show a valid passport before boarding the plane in Chicago O'Hare Airport and on arrival in San José.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José?

    Only American Airlines offers inflight Wi-Fi service on the Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José?

    The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José?

    Star Alliance is the only airline alliance operating flights between Chicago O'Hare Airport and San José.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José?

    You can catch a nonstop flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José on Saturday, and Sunday.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José?

    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 O'Hare Airport to San José.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San José from Chicago O'Hare Airport 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 O'Hare Airport to San José?

    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 San José with an airline and back to Chicago O'Hare Airport with another airline. Booking your flights between Chicago O'Hare Airport and SJO can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

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

    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 San José from Chicago O'Hare Airport 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 O'Hare Intl Airport to San José

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $267 or less one-way and $561 or less round-trip.
  • US citizens require a valid visa to enter Costa Rica, including for flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to San José (SJO). The type of visa needed depends on the purpose of travel, and there are several options such as tourist visas, work visas, and student visas.
  • Spirit Airlines assists passengers who require a wheelchair to get to and from their gate or assistance in boarding and disembarking the aircraft. The airline also offers special seating options for passengers with reduced mobility on flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José, including seats with movable armrests and bulkhead seats.
  • Air Canada allows pets to travel in the cabin or as checked baggage on flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José. For pets traveling in the cabin, only dogs and cats are permitted and the pet carrier will count as one of the traveler's carry-on items. For pets traveling as checked baggage, Air Canada only accepts cats and dogs, and they must be at least 12 weeks old.
  • JetBlue offers early boarding for families with children under the age of 2 and one accompanying adult on flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José. This allows families to get settled on the plane before other passengers.
  • Frontier Airlines operates flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José with fuel-efficient aircraft equipped with advanced technology and optimized performance capabilities to reduce carbon emissions.

Prefer to fly direct from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Chicago O'Hare Intl to San José Juan Santamaria Intl.
Find which airlines fly direct from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Chicago O'Hare Intl to San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Chicago O'Hare Intl

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from O'Hare Intl to San José

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Chicago to San José. 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 O'Hare Intl to San José? 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.
7.5
Copa AirlinesOverall score based on 1493 reviews
7.4Comfort
8.1Crew
7.8Boarding
6.8Entertainment
6.8Food
Airline reviews

The flighr attandants were very rude they ignored me didnt offer me anything to drink throughoit the 4 hour flight i feel i was targeted and ignored because i was a darkskin latino man.

2.0 MediocreJohnnie, Jul 2025CTG - PTY
Read more Copa Airlines reviews

The flighr attandants were very rude they ignored me didnt offer me anything to drink throughoit the 4 hour flight i feel i was targeted and ignored because i was a darkskin latino man.

I selected first class expecting excetional service. It was mediocre at best. The food service was cold, meal choices was poor and on one leg they did provide dessert. I did enjoy the lay day seat but the movies were old and nothing current. Boarding the plane is always hot. So boarding is quite warm until your in the air. I took a small personal air fan. Update the meals and movies.

Very happy with my flight. I would definitely recommend it.

Did upgrade, travel in business it was great (more room I could sleep)

Seats not reclining, no vegetarian food option, no snacks. 7.5 hr flight should have been more comfortable. Luggage limits are unusually small. Will never fly Copa again and will tell friends and family to avoid this airline.

It was ok. However, the food was quite poor since I don't eat pasta.

Placed us in the last rear row of the plane so could not recline seats because of the rear wall, and also made it more of a tight space when the passenger in front reclined their seat. While understand seat assignments, every passenger should be afforded a reclining seat. The odor control scent from the restrooms was overwhelming strong. My wife and I could not deal with it, and she suffered a terrible headache as a result. I kept getting hit by the crew since I was on the ilse seat. No apologies, nothing. They made me feel like I was supposed to take the beating for a 3 hr flight.

There was no individual at the front check in when I arrived. I waited for at least 15 minutes and walked around asking security/janitors if they could help and they did not have a solution. So I had to take my checked bag through security and they threw away some of my items. I ended up making it to the gate only a few minutes before it closed due to my waiting for an agent at check in.

It would have been better if they don't separate families in seating. We were seated in the aile row in the middle of a family of four. It would have been better if they they seat the family of four together than separated.

No headphones given for inflight entertainment. I missed my flight from the previous day and the customer service agent tried to extort an additional $100.00 US from me for missing my flight. Really?!

It was delayed instead of departing at 9:20pm, we departed at 11pm… putting us in Columbus after 2am! It was awful. Had I known about the delay, I could have spent some time in the United Lounge… I was starving because I started my journey in Budapest… so I was exhausted and hungry. Plus I had to make new arrangements to be picked up at the airport in Columbus, instead of midnight it was 2:30 am after getting luggage and out of airport. Not feasible. I would have just stayed in Chicago for the night and gotten a morning flight.

It was great, I’m very grateful for the pilots and crew flight attendants for everything.

Evidently, my seat had the only broken TV. I couldn’t plug it in, get it to come on, or watch anything, and of course, no one could fix it while we were on the plane. The service was good and the boarding was quick

The boarding of took of late.The presentation of the food was horrable as was the tast of the food was cold and tastless.

Delay and keep changing gates. I have to run around from B to C then to E.

I was charged for my daughters bag when I am supposed to receive two free checked bags with my United Explorer card.

The schedule to Moline changed 5 times. The gate changed 6 times. That is a pathetic way to run an airline. No wonder that no one in our company flies on United Express to or from Moline. Changes happen most of the time. I learned my lesson on this trip…never again!

Flight was great. Efficient boarding. Short flight. Early arrival. Friendly flight crew. The entertainment system did not work well. Could not access it until the aircraft reached 10K feet or more. Lots of glitches.

A bit rush for transit. Food and entertainment are not available

Boarding was a little difficult. The gate area at O'Hare was very small and crowded due to multiple gates in the area. Could not hear the intercom, so had to rely on signage to see when my group was boarding and the signage was blocked by passengers standing in the gate. Flight was great and we arrived in Montreal on time.

3 hour weather delay followed by 1 hour (and counting) maintenance delay. UGH!

After we'd boarded , they canceled the flight. The crew didn't even know , we just all received text messages. Then after they deplaned us , AA was just like "too bad, go F your self, we sure ain't gonna help you"

After a two hour delay, my flight was CANCELLED! No pilot available. Such BS.

Amazing food, great staff, with one noticable detail missing ...but no seat entertainment in any of aircraft ...I am not a fan

I wish American Airlines would change the airline industry by loading the plane back to front instead of front to back. Planes would board so much more smoothly and quickly.

I have long legs, my foot was out in the aisle and when a flight attendant came walking by and I didn't notice, instead of saying "excuse me" or anything like that, she kicked my foot. Extremely rude

Excellent! The gate agents were kind enough to rebook me on an earlier flight saving me from a 6 hour layover. Even my luggage made it despite the fact that the connection was technically too narrow. The flight itself was very comfortable, roomy, and clean. Plenty of space for my carryon items with plugs to charge my phone. After a long international flight of 14 hours, this was an excellent way to end my travels!

Great experience. Flight boarded easily. Departed early. Smooth flight. Great arrival in DC--almost no taxing! Almost direct to gate from runway. Crew was terrific. Same cookies and beverages in main cabin. I did not use the entertainment system on this flight.

This particular flight wasn't very full at the back, so there were three seats available for spreading out and getting relatively comfortable

Most of the delay was due to weather which is not what was at issue here. One delay was due to a missing flashlight and in the end the flashlight was actually found on the plane. The entertainment system is very limited. Live TV options offer only a few channels that are not very appealing. Boarding and deplaning are always difficult. It just takes too much time to get on and off the plane. On the plus side, I missed my connecting flight, but was easily able to book a later flight from the app while enroute.

It was horrible. My experience with Avianca. I didn’t know it was Pakistan international Airlines but anyway, whatever it is it is bad horrible you guys need to upgrade everything in those planes. And you guys charge $130 for a carry-on did they wanna let me in with my carry-on that I travel everywhere with the luggage you guys are such a dog thank you

The incoming plane was late and no information was shared. They even announced we would board in 10 muntes 40 minutes prior to the plane arriving, and the website said until takeoff that we had taken off an hour earlier

Boarding was excessively slow. They do it by groups in a way that it doesn’t make sense. After business class , ppl that need assistance and any other priority group they should have ppl board from the back to the front. First rows 20+. Then 15+. Then 10, etc. having ppl sitting in the back board last makes no sense. The libe backame long as soon as ppl on rows 10 or so where told to board. The line went all the way up the ramp and tunnel for 25 mins.

Seats are very tight even in Plus, no complimentary snacks or beverage

The chicken that was served in business class was cold!

Late departure. When the flight arrived in Medellin the plane sat at the gate for 20 minutes waiting for a bus for us to get off the plane.

I receive a service for what I pay, so it is fair.

Terrible, We had to stay in Bogota for two days due to weather but the airline did not provide for the same day flight. Only two days later

Purchased a business class ticket and got a economy seat with center seat blocked they call it business. 3100usd ticket on a flight where economy costs 500usd The biggest scam insult have had on a regular airline. Avianca should be in the low cost category and kicked out of Star Alliance. I want the difference to be credited. Ets see what Avianca does. No reply so far. Avianca = low cost airline. Beware

There isn't much space in-between seats and even water needs to be paid for during the flight.

The flight was on time, boarding was efficient, staff was nice. Seats seem to have been upgraded on this model and were clean and tidy. I did not purchase in flight snacks.

check in at security was a hassle being scanned. Spirit employees were helpful and professional.

First time on Spirit. Definitely a streamline flight but I would fly Spirit again.

The flight was 3.5 hrs delayed. I was not notified prior to arriving to the airport via spirit app. or via boarding pass that I already had loaded on my phone. The agent that i saw at the counter didn’t mention anything about the delay either. I only saw the update after logging in to my email account.

The flight and boarding process was smooth. Wifi was unavailable and I prepaid for it. Have requested a refund

Had a issue with catching flight due to airline, was unable to board flight

Spirit is a very uncomfortable travel experience. It’s cheap but you are squeezed into the seats like canned meat.

Not great. Seats uncomfortable. Crew a little rude. Amenities like wifi and drinks way too expensive.

Late departure by 1:45min. No explanation why. During boarding inconsistent policing of their baggage rules. Before takeoff and lamdimg strange obsession with window shade and armrest positions. Don't know why they care. 15 min tarmac delay on arrival, they blamed airport congestion but we were the o lh flight waiting, it was clear it was due to poor staff planning (only one ground crew to receive airplanes and multiple arrivals) Got there but was rrally lame the whole trip.

The seat belt was lengthy enough that I did not need an extender. Courteous and helpful flight attendants.

Everything you need to know for your flight from O'Hare Intl to San José

Information on your arrival and departure airports

Not what you’re looking for? Find thousands of other hotels, flights, car rentals and package deals with KAYAK.