Los Angeles to Chicago (LAX–ORD) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
LAX–ORD is served by 7 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines lead the route. The flight covers 1,741 miles in approximately 4h 16m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines Also: AC, AZ, BR, CA, NZ, OS, OZ, SN, VA | 78 | 32Q, 739, 753, 7M9, A21N | 3h54-4h20 | Star Alliance | AC, AZ, BR, CA, NZ, OS, OZ, SN, VA | |
| AA American Airlines Also: AY, BA, EI, FJ, GF, IB, MH, QF, QR, RJ | 70 | 321, 738, A21N, B38M | 3h37-4h45 | Oneworld | AY, BA, EI, FJ, GF, IB, MH, QF, QR, RJ | |
| DL Delta Air Lines | 21 | 738 | 3h32-4h10 | SkyTeam | – | |
| F9 Frontier | 7 | 32Q | 4h20 | – | – | |
| NK Spirit Airlines | 5 | 320 | 4h | – | – | |
| CX Cathay Pacific | 2 | 74N | 3h55 | Oneworld | – | |
| OO SkyWest Airlines | 0 | – | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach Chicago from Los Angeles
| Metric | LAX→ORD | LGB→ORD | SNA→ORD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from LAX | – | 17 mi | 36 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 7 | 2 | 13 |
| Weekly flights | 586 | – | 131 |
| Flight time | 4h 16m | 4h 10m | 3h 41m |
| Departure OTP | 74% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
LAX: PDT · ORD: CDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Los Angeles, it's 8:00 PM in Chicago.
FlyAway bus runs from Van Nuys and Union Station ($9.75, 30–50 min depending on traffic). LA Metro C Line connects to Aviation/LAX station; a free shuttle covers the last mile to terminals. Ride-shares cost $20–50 from downtown. Long-term parking lots A/B are walkable; remote Lot E requires a shuttle.
CTA Blue Line runs 24/7 from O'Hare to downtown Chicago (45 min, $5). Taxis use a flat-rate zone system; downtown is around $40–45 plus tip. Ride-shares are typically $30–50.The Airport Transit System (ATS) connects all terminals and parking. Metra commuter rail does not serve O'Hare directly; transfer downtown via Blue Line.
Continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid (25–32°C) with afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are cold (−10 to −2°C) with heavy snowfall that regularly delays flights December through March.
Spring and fall are mild but unpredictable. Pack layers. Lake Michigan moderates temperatures near the lakefront, but O'Hare sits inland and runs colder.
LAX–ORD Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles to Chicago O'Hare: Transcontinental Corridor
LAX–ORD is one of the US's core transcontinental routes, spanning 1,745 miles between the nation's second-largest city and the Midwest's dominant hub. Five airlines serve roughly 269 weekly frequencies. United and American both have hub presence at ORD and significant LAX operations, making this one of the few transcontinental segments with genuine multi-hub competition. Block time runs 4 hours eastbound, shorter westbound with jet stream assistance.
Red-Eye Pattern and Operational Context
LAX–ORD supports a well-established red-eye operation, with late-night departures from Los Angeles arriving in Chicago in the early morning hours. These flights are valued by business travelers capitalizing on the 2-hour time zone shift to arrive with a full Chicago workday ahead. LAX's ground congestion and Southern California TRACON restrictions are the primary delay drivers, with O'Hare's winter weather adding arrival-end exposure in the colder months.