Chicago to Los Angeles (ORD–LAX) — 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.
ORD–LAX is served by 5 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines lead the route. The flight covers 1,741 miles in approximately 4h 33m. 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, EK, NH, NZ, OS, OZ, SN, VA | 95 | 32Q, 739, 753, 7M8, 7M9, A21N | 4h18-4h39 | Star Alliance | AC, AZ, BR, CA, EK, NH, NZ, OS, OZ, SN, VA | |
| AA American Airlines Also: AY, BA, CZ, EI, FJ, GF, IB, JL, MH, QF, RJ | 71 | 321, 738, 7M8, A21N | 4h13-5h49 | Oneworld | AY, BA, CZ, EI, FJ, GF, IB, JL, MH, QF, RJ | |
| DL Delta Air Lines Also: AF | 21 | 738 | 4h06-4h43 | SkyTeam | AF | |
| NK Spirit Airlines | 12 | 320 | 4h26-4h30 | – | – | |
| F9 Frontier Also: Y4 | 7 | A21N | 4h40 | – | Y4 |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach Los Angeles from Chicago
| Metric | ORD→LAX | MDW→LAX | RFD→LAX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from ORD | – | 15 mi | 63 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 5 | 7 | 2 |
| Weekly flights | 675 | 28 | – |
| Flight time | 4h 33m | 4h 15m | 3h 49m |
| Departure OTP | 69% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
ORD: CDT · LAX: PDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Chicago, it's 4:00 PM in Los Angeles.
CTA Blue Line runs 24/7 from downtown Loop stations to O'Hare (45 min, $5). Pace buses serve suburbs. Ride-shares cost $35–55 from downtown depending on traffic; add 30+ minutes during rush hour on the Kennedy Expressway.Economy parking lots E/F connect via ATS people mover. Terminal 5 (international) is separate from Terminals 1–3; allow extra time for inter-terminal transfers.
LAX has no direct rail link to downtown. The closest option is the free LAX Shuttle G to the Metro C Line station at Aviation/Century Blvd (fare $1.75 to Union Station, 40–50 min). Taxis use a meter; expect $35–55 to downtown and $30–45 to Santa Monica. Ride-shares cost $20–45 depending on destination and surge pricing.Rental car facilities are a short shuttle ride from terminals. FlyAway buses run to Union Station, Van Nuys, Hollywood, and Westwood ($9.75–11.25). For LAX Connect (the new people mover to Inglewood), check if it has opened at time of travel.
Mediterranean climate. Summers are warm and dry (24–30°C) with low humidity and almost no rain. Winters are mild (10–18°C) with occasional rain from November through March. Fog ("June Gloom") is common from late May through July, blanketing mornings until noon and causing departure delays.
Santa Ana winds occur in fall and spring, sometimes grounding departures briefly. Heat waves in September–October can push temperatures above 38°C inland, though LAX itself stays cooler near the coast.
ORD–LAX Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago O'Hare to Los Angeles: Transcontinental Trunk Route
The Chicago–Los Angeles corridor is one of the longest-running and highest-frequency transcontinental routes in US aviation, linking two of the country's three largest metropolitan economies. Six carriers compete for the roughly 260 weekly departures, with United and American holding dominant shares given their hub operations at O'Hare. The route sustains both premium business traffic between the two cities' financial and entertainment industries and a large leisure segment.
Red-Eye Scheduling and Cabin Options
ORD–LAX supports a robust overnight schedule, with multiple carriers offering lie-flat business class on widebody equipment for the four-hour westbound flight. Eastbound red-eyes departing LAX arrive at O'Hare in the early morning, often before 06:00. The frequency and variety of service make this route a reliable choice for travelers seeking flexible departure times across the full 06:00–23:00 operating window.