SAN - ORD

$159 Find Cheap Flights from San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Airport - Compare and Save

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San Diego to O'Hare Intl departing on 10/18. 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

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$286
Typical prices: $188-$360
Frontier, Alaska Airlines
Fri 9/4Mon 9/7
SAN - ORD • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$287
Typical prices: $197-$344
United Airlines
Fri 10/9Wed 10/14
SAN - ORD • Non-stop
Advice from real travelers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts and KAYAK users. AI can make mistakes.
United Economy Plus adds up to 6 inches more legroom than standard economy.
AA Main Cabin Extra adds early boarding and drinks; Wi-Fi includes 20 free minutes.
Expert advice
Expert advice
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Top airlines
Cheapest • from $287 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines. Average duration is 4h 23m
Direct flights
Direct flights
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Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 93% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
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Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $250 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 8h 01m (one-way)
Insights
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When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 48% compared to booking last minute.
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When to travel
Cheapest • 18% price drop
Most popular
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Diego to O'Hare Intl (SAN-ORD)

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

Fri, Sep 4 - Mon, Sep 7
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:25 am - 1:36 pm
SAN
-
ORD
29h 11m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:01 am - 8:32 am
ORD
-
SAN
4h 31mnonstop
$286Multiple Airlines
Fri, Oct 9 - Wed, Oct 14
United Airlines Logo
4:55 pm - 10:59 pm
SAN
-
ORD
4h 04mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
8:16 pm - 10:41 pm
ORD
-
SAN
4h 25mnonstop
$287United Airlines
Fri, Sep 11 - Sun, Sep 13
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:25 am - 10:01 am
SAN
-
ORD
25h 36m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:17 pm - 11:00 pm
ORD
-
SAN
4h 43mnonstop
$288Multiple Airlines
Sat, Aug 22 - Mon, Aug 24
Frontier Logo
3:45 pm - 1:36 pm
SAN
-
ORD
19h 51m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
2:41 pm - 9:05 am
ORD
-
SAN
20h 24m
1 stop
$289Frontier
Wed, Aug 5 - Sat, Aug 8
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:03 pm - 5:37 am
SAN
-
ORD
12h 34m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:20 am - 8:54 am
ORD
-
SAN
4h 34mnonstop
$290Multiple Airlines
Tue, Aug 11 - Thu, Aug 13
United Airlines Logo
10:40 pm - 4:43 am
SAN
-
ORD
4h 03mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
7:05 am - 9:32 am
ORD
-
SAN
4h 27mnonstop
$291United Airlines
Thu, Aug 20 - Sun, Aug 23
Frontier Logo
6:25 am - 7:02 pm
SAN
-
ORD
10h 37m
2 stops
Frontier Logo
8:11 pm - 8:14 pm
ORD
-
SAN
26h 03m
1 stop
$292Frontier
Fri, Sep 18 - Sun, Sep 20
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:45 pm - 11:59 pm
SAN
-
ORD
4h 14mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:50 am - 12:25 pm
ORD
-
SAN
7h 35m
1 stop
$293Multiple Airlines
Wed, Aug 26 - Tue, Sep 1
Alaska Airlines Logo
1:03 pm - 7:21 pm
SAN
-
ORD
4h 18mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 1:19 pm
ORD
-
SAN
9h 19m
1 stop
$294Alaska Airlines
Tue, Sep 1 - Wed, Sep 2
Frontier Logo
3:45 pm - 7:53 am
SAN
-
ORD
14h 08m
2 stops
Frontier Logo
2:41 pm - 11:51 pm
ORD
-
SAN
11h 10m
1 stop
$295Frontier
Booking Insights

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

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

How much is a round-trip flight from San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport departing in September.

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

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

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

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport, 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 San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport is January, where tickets cost $247 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $369 and $361 respectively.

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

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 $374, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport, 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 San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 48% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 7 weeks before departure.

Expert advice

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

 
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
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on American Airlines

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines and ORD

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.

Brandon Schultz

Brandon Schultz

Expert on SAN

Brandon Schultz is an award-winning food and travel writer based in New York City. His work has appeared in Forbes, AAA, Thrillist, Travel + Leisure, and The Daily Meal, among many others, and he is the author of 6 books, including 3 cookbooks.

Good to know

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$159
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 20% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 22% increase in price.
Flight from San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Airport

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

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Diego to O'Hare Intl 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.

Flights from San Diego to O'Hare Intl: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from San Diego to O'Hare Intl 
CupcakeFlew with Alaska Airlines
SAN
-
ORD
Apr 2026
Please bring a water bottle for hydration during the flight.
RodFlew with United Airlines
SAN
-
ORD
Sep 2024
Yes! Don’t reserve a flight with less than 1 1/2 hour connection time or you have a good possibility of missing your connection.

FAQs for booking San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Airport flights

  • What are the transfer options between terminals at Chicago O’Hare Airport?

    ORD, Chicago’s primary hub, is organized into four terminals (Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5). You can get across all terminals with either airport shuttles or the ATS train. ORD terminals are linked to Parking Lot 5 by shuttle buses, whereas the Main Parking Garage, the Hilton Hotel, Shuttle Centre on Level 1, and the domestic terminals (Terminals 1, 2, and 3) are linked by the Pedestrian Tunnel Level.

  • Are pets allowed in Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)?

    If you can’t bear to go on your trip to ORD without your pet companion, ORD is welcoming to four-legged companions. The airport features six pet relief zones: the multi-modal facility and the lower levels of Terminals 1, 2, and 5 are your outdoor alternatives, while the Indoor alternatives are available in the Rotunda Area, Terminal 3. ORD's pet policy, like most airports, requires all dogs to be kenneled while in the airport.

  • Which facilities are in San Diego International Airport for passengers traveling with youngsters?

    Lactating moms with flight tickets from San Diego to Chicago O’Hare Airport can take advantage of the three nursing rooms located after security in Terminals 1 and 2, which feature amenities like soothing lighting, cozy lighting, electrical outlets, and washing stations. Older kids will appreciate behind-the-scenes tours of the airport and the walled-off breeding area for the nearly extinct California Least Tern.

  • Where can I park at San Diego International Airport (SAN)?

    Arrive at Chicago O’Hare Airport stress-free with the knowledge that your car will be taken care of at San Diego Airport. Short-term parking is conveniently accessible from the Terminal 1 Parking Lot and Terminal 2 Parking Plaza. Long-term parking is cheaper than short-term and is found at the Long-term Lot on Harbor Drive. Passengers will have to board an airport shuttle bus to the airport premises. Access the airport’s Economy Lot off Pacific Highway for the most pocket-friendly pricing.

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

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport was $159 for a one-way ticket and $286 for a round-trip.

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

    No, a passport isn't needed to fly from San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Airport. However, local authorities might ask for an official ID.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Airport?

    San Diego and Chicago O'Hare Airport are both served by 1 main airport. You will leave San Diego from San Diego and will be arriving at Chicago O'Hare Intl.

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

    American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, and Delta offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Airport flight route.

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

    The Boeing 737-800 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Airport flight route.

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

    Star Alliance, and oneworld are the airline alliances operating flights between San Diego and Chicago O'Hare Airport, with Star Alliance being the most commonly used for this route.

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

    There are nonstop flights from San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Airport on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from San Diego to Chicago, Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Diego to Chicago are Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. With an average price for the route of $321 and an overall rating of 7.9, Alaska Airlines is the most popular choice. Hawaiian Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $181 and an overall rating of 7.8.

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

    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 San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Airport.

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

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

    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 Chicago O'Hare Airport with an airline and back to San Diego with another airline. Booking your flights between San Diego and ORD 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 San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Airport?

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

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $193 or less one-way and $350 or less round-trip.
  • Passengers looking for directions or information about San Diego International Airport (SAN) can go to the information center housed in the Baggage Claim of both Terminals. Alternatively, you may approach one of the airport’s personnel wearing green polo shirts found throughout the terminals.
  • Flights with a single stop from San Diego to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) are eco-friendlier and cheaper than direct and double-stop flights. Roughly 798 kg of carbon is released per person on this trip. You can book a flight with either Frontier or Spirit Airlines if you wish to fly more sustainably. The airlines emit 52% and 47% less carbon, respectively.
  • The bus from downtown to SAN is the most convenient transit option. The journey by Metropolitan Transit System bus takes around 15 minutes from the city center to the airport, stopping at Terminals 1 and 2. Other travel options include airport shuttles and taxis.
  • The Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel, opposite Terminal 2 of ORD, is accessible via the Pedestrian Tunnel Level and is a good alternative to retreat after your flight from San Diego.
  • To rejuvenate after a long day of traveling, retreat to either the Swissport Lounge between Gates M8 and M7, Terminal 5, or the United Club in Concourse C. The lounges have rejuvenating showers and beverages.

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

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

Direct departures

San Diego to Chicago O'Hare Intl

Monday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

Friday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Chicago O'Hare Intl to San Diego

Monday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

Friday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +1 more

See more direct flights

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

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Diego to Chicago. 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 San Diego to O'Hare Intl? 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.
7.9
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 12671 reviews
8.1Boarding
7.0Food
7.8Comfort
7.0Entertainment
8.5Crew
Airline reviews

Only issue is that when you board last they make you check your carry on due to lack of space. Did not care for that.

8.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Jul 2026
SAN - ORD
Read more Alaska Airlines reviews

Only issue is that when you board last they make you check your carry on due to lack of space. Did not care for that.

Great with American Poor with Alaska airlines. 3 hrs isn’t enough to transfer bags from one gate to another 5-6 gates away in the same terminal. Bags essential for cruise were unavailable Flights delayed cascading the problem. (Alaska Airlines responsibility). Very poor execution of operations that should be the simplest aspect of travel.

My flight was several times rescheduled and then finally canceled.

Worst first/business class I have ever flown after 75 years on planes. Barely acceptable seats, terrible food, uninterested attendants, unavailable WiFi. I’ll never fly this airline again.

Dropping off of the checked bags took way longer than it should have. The agent for the pre-tagged and ready to drop off line was gone and didn't come back for about 15 minutes. The other bag check lines were barely moving. Agents were standing around and not much was getting done. Everything else about the flight was great.

Check in online didn't accept my confirmation number so i could only check in with assistance at the airport and ended up with s creepy middle seat.

It was the most expensive Alaska Airlines ticket I’ve ever purchased. I had a middle seat with no legroom or space compared to any other middle seat I’ve hadThere was a silver box under the seat that took up 70% of my legroom on the most narrow 737 max the crew flat out would not help they would not help with bags they would not help with garbage there was no coffee,It was definitely not one of my better experiences on Alaska.

Broke the wheels of my luggage. Should be more gentle with other peoples belongings. Very upset about needing a new suitcase before Christmas.

There was no coffee on the flight. I was very surprised. I know it is a small thing, but they seemed to have run out of other drinks.

If Alaska Air is going to partner with other airlines, then it has to make the transition to the connecting flight better, especially if Alaska Air is the one that is running late. When I realized our 30 minutes of lateness due to weather was going to make getting to my connecting flight home more difficult ,I would have expected more from the crew than blank stares and "sorry". My son and I had 20 minutes to get from Gate E to the end of Gate K in the Chicago airport. My 50+ year-old body had to sprint and yell to get through the throngs and have any chance of arriving to the gate on time. In addition, the seats I had chosen when I purchased the connecting flight were changed so that my son and I placed in the last rows next to the bathrooms and were separated. There needs to be better communication between the airlines if one is going to be late. The thought of not making it home on time (we still had an 1.5 hour drive to get there) was stressful and unnecessary.

The Kayak confirmation number did not work for checking in the day before. I checked in at 8.30 using my ticket number. When I arrived at the airport, I was informed that the flight was overbooked, and since I had checked in late, I did not have a seat. The Next flight was not until ten PM. I called my wife, who had been taking care of our kids all weekend, and she was upset, calling me a liar and telling me to stay in SD. It turned my weekend getaway into a nightmare! I blame the Kayak website and will not book flights using your app in the future.

comfortable but the food is horrible. I have flown Hawaiian several times now and no matter what they say the food is its the same squashed bread with melted goop inside. Tastes fake and isnt what they represent, its quite nasty. What happend to real food? And there is NO entertainment!! so not sure why they are asking for a review on that.

3 hour wait on customer service after flight was cancelled. Was bumped to a flight where I wouldnt have gotten to my destination for another 2 days. Had to fully refund flight and book a new one the following morning. Paid twice the amount for the flight than I had originally booked. Very disappointed I was not offered any sort of discount or points for all of the frustration, in fact the airline profited twice as much off of me by cancelling my flight and and changing my entire trip.

I accidentally made this purchase and they wouldn’t refund me even though I called immediately to cancel it.

The flight was delayed and they didn’t have a pilot for the flight. Seemed very unorganized and took way longer than expected.

The worst flight experience I've ever had. Our flight was delayed 14 whole hours because the flight crew never showed up. We had to wait in a two hour line to get our new boarding passes, we were told we had no other option but to fly at 10pm (we didn't depart until 11:45pm). Everyone had to contact their hotels and car rental places, workplaces, etc. since we lost an entire day's worth of travel. The crew showed up at 10:15, which was past the time we were supposed to board. They were laughing and being completely smug when they boarded, and they took another hour to board us onto our flight. The flight crew never came to check in on us, we were quickly given one drink and sandwich and they turned off the lights and were negligent the rest of the trip. My mom asked three attendants for a seat belt extender, they never brought one. I was dehydrated and never received another drink. They were very rude and unfriendly, we had been up since 4am the morning of our flight and didn't land in our destination until 2am the next day (5am local time). This was unacceptable service and treatment, these flights are not cheap and we were inconvenienced out of an entire day of travel. This was 100% avoidable and was the fault of Hawaiian Airlines, and their crews inability to show up to work on time.

I was unable to get a check im and get a boarding pass. I tried at the desk of the flight operator Alaska, was told to go to Hawaiian and almost had to go back to Alaskan. In the end inwas told to go thru security and directly to the gate without checking in. It would have been more helpful to have the details rather than walking all over the terminals trying to check in.

We were delayed at the SD gate for close to an hour before we were allowed to depart for SJ. Reason given was inadequate ground crew to move the plane from the gate.

Your crew shortage delayed departure by an hour resulting in us missing an event we had scheduled for that afternoon outside of Fresno.

On time. Alaska upgraded seat comfort with memory foam seat covers with head rests

Crew was great (professional, attentive, prompt). Snacks for 4 hrs flight is deplorable.

It was a pretty standard flight... until the almost hour and a half spent on the taxi way. I get that the weather has been poor but the delay had nothing to do with the weather and more to do with a plane with several issues tying up the gate. I get that that happens from time to time but this has been EVERY flight I've been on for the past 5 years and I fly 3 to 5 times a year. This isn't just United... it's American, it's Delta. It's an issue with the entire industry. I work for UPS and packages on a cargo plane get better service than people do these days. Anymore I HATE flying.

While the staff was pleasant and helpful, the following observations are for your awareness. There was some delay on the tarmac on take off and landing. The paid lunch/food offerings were limited. Entertainment was only available on WiFi at a cost.

The first flight was better in terms of the aircraft.

As usual, United scheduling is completely misleading. A 54-minute layover at O’Hare is too short to make a lot of connections, especially since the flight landed “on time” but had to wait on the taxiway 15 minutes for a gate to open up. Then it takes another 10 minutes to exit the plane before one can run to another concourse to catch a connecting flight.

when you can say you don't remember being at any point upset during a flight, the airline is winning .

I had a great flight. Everything went smoothly and the flight arrived early.

United WiFi is consistently unusable (it can take 10 mins to load a single web page). If you need Wifi to do work, be prepared to lose half a day of productivity.

The Palm Springs to Chicago O’Hare was on Time and Palm Springs airport is easier navigate. As our connection was only an approximately 50 minutes, we asked staff for insights for the Chicago airport in terms of transferring into the other terminal from which our flight left, and they were unhelpful. However, the United App was very helpful in terms of notifications and even providing directions. The Chicago to Detroit flight was significantly delayed which we all know does happen. However, there were very few updates or notifications as to why this was happening when we would actually arrive. It took nearly 30 minutes for bags to make it to baggage claim. We arrived nearly 1 hour late on a 40 minute flight.

Wifi did not work. Cut off on and off every 10 min

The flight from LA to Chicago was smooth and service was very good overall.

The chicken wrap was tiny ($13 for what looked like a 1/3 of a normal wrap?) and disgusting.

We flew in first class. The crew did not offer drinks before the flight took off, but they treated us well during the flight. The food was excellent. There was actually too much food served, but it was nice to have all the options.

Was not able to watch most shows on the entertainment site. They would not load

The plane was late and then sat on the runway for almost 45 minutes before taking off.

Had to wait on pilot and crew to depart and had to wait to arrive at the gate because they only had 2 crews working. Delays, delays....Planes just keep getting smaller and tighter and they nickle and dime for everything. When will an airline actually wake up and make flying more enjoyable?

It was nice being on a flight that had working wifi. The boarding was quick - why don’t all airlines have small boarding groups window to aisle? Makes so much sense!!! I was disappointed to be the first person stopped to have to gate check my carryon. Especially when there was plenty of overhead space at the back! But I get it…keeps it moving. Crew was nice.

The flight encountered a delay exceeding 4 hours. The food voucher issued was valued at $12, insufficient to cover our meal expenses. Consequently, I was unable to take my medication, leading to a drop in blood sugar levels and exacerbating my anxiety.

The flight was uneventful. What was a problem was I was delayed getting home one entire day because the flight from Sacramento was delayed. That made getting to my connecting flight impossible. I had to stay another night at the hotel and incur that expense as a result.

American must only test their seats on aliens. Or their goal is to become expensive Spirit.

Flight was scheduled at 9:40pm. Got delayed to 10 am, the next day. crazy

The bag check, flight check-in, and onboard experience convinced my wife and me that we will actively go out of our way to avoid flying Frontier Airlines in the future. At bag check, we were informed that check-in could only be completed via the Frontier mobile app. Unfortunately, the app was extremely frustrating—sending us through repetitive, confusing loops that repeatedly forced us to decline add-on services with nearly every click. While most airline apps upsell, this one felt intentionally exhausting. As the process dragged on, we became genuinely concerned that my phone battery would die before check-in could be completed. We approached the bag check staff—who were standing together talking—and explained both our frustration and our predicament. They laughed. Later, my wife described the interaction as “gaslighting,” which felt accurate. We were then informed it would cost $25 per person simply to have our boarding passes printed. From that point forward, the tone of the experience was consistently hostile. The bag check employees were condescending and combative, behaving more like bullies than customer service staff. Unfortunately, that same attitude continued onboard. One flight attendant argued with me when I attempted to stow my backpack in the overhead bin. I explained that we had each paid $75 to check our bags specifically so we would not need to use carry-on space and could have adequate legroom. She demanded to see my ticket, pointed out that it said “no carry-on”—which I acknowledged—and I reiterated that this was precisely why we paid to check our bags. Her response was, “I don’t make the rules.” She then walked away, but not before asking if I “truly wanted to fly back to Chicago today?”—an unnecessary and unmistakable threat. It is also worth noting that despite booking our tickets together in the same transaction, we were not seated together. Upon our return to Chicago—where we could once again sit together—we compared onboard experiences. We both remarked on how unhappy the flight attendants appeared and how each of us was separately asked whether we would like to purchase a beverage. We declined. At no point was water mentioned as an option, leaving us with the clear impression that even water came at a cost—or that complimentary water, if available at all, was deliberately left unmentioned. Overall, the experience was shocking and deeply disappointing, but it was also a profound learning experience—one we will not forget and will not repeat. -Steve

Good for a budget airline! It was easy to get on, staff was really nice. Can’t say anything about the food or entertainment because it wasn’t available, which is fine.

This company socks. It's fraud. They canceled our flight yesterday, and today we were late because of a really long line at the check in bag. At the rebook station, there was ton of people. The workers were all rude. I am gonna make a report to FTC.

Too many extra fees, uncomfortable, little leg room. Will not recommend this airline.

Severe turbulence. Captain never came on to reassure passengers after things settled down.

We were delayed three times ,and that destroyed my plans, and reservations

The crew was delayed because they came on another flight that was delayed due to weather 10pm flight left at 1.30 am The airline made no effort to align alternate crew

We had an awful experience getting our bags checked in. Frontier’s check in on the app manipulated us into buying the business package because that was the only option available for a checked bag which included two checked bags per person which we did not need. Upon arriving to the airport, we stood in line for what seemed like forever at the baggage check in and there was no one available at the counter. We were first in line and we were afraid we were going to miss our flight due to the baggage attendant being late. After realizing there were a lot of other people waiting at the baggage check in and no one available. I reached out to Frontier and could not get any customer service so I had to call the airport to page the baggage attendant to send someone to the counter to check in our bags before we were able to go through security , I finally spoke to the attendant at the counter and explained to her that we had to pay for two checked bags person a total of six bags when we only had a total of three bags between three people she said to reach out to Frontier and they would issue a refund for the three bags that we paid for and did not need. I reached out to Frontier which I was not able to reach anybody by phone so I had to go through their automated chat feature, which sent me around in circles until I finally reached a representative to assist me. I explained to them what happened and they explained that they were not able to assist me. I continued to push the issue with them as this was very frustrating and they finally put in a customer service ticket where we were issued a flight credit and we were so disappointed because after this experience, we NEVER want to fly Frontier again, and we do not want a credit that we will not use. Frontier charged us almost $500 for us to check three bags which is absolutely absurd! The customer service agents were not able to offer anything else other than a flight credit and I do not feel like my frustrations were truly heard , we will never use Frontier Airlines again ! Truly Theft by Manipulation! They should be ashamed!

Flying Frontier was a nightmare. From the booking through Kayak, checking in, departing and arriving, I will never recommend Kayak or Frontier.

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