{ "response": { "Key": "CHI-SEA", "orig": { "code": "CHI", "type": "airport", "city": "Chicago", "fullCity": "Chicago, Illinois", "airport": "Dupage County" }, "dest": { "code": "SEA", "type": "airport", "city": "Seattle", "fullCity": "Seattle, Washington", "airport": "Seattle-Tacoma Intl Airport" }, "faq": { "q0": { "question": "What is the typical flight duration from Chicago to Seattle?", "answer": "The flight from Chicago to Seattle is about 1,730 miles and typically takes 4 hours 35 minutes. The return leg to Chicago is shorter at 4 hours 7 minutes, a difference of 28 minutes due to prevailing winds.", "methodology": "Flight times and distances come from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time across all carriers on the route, computed the same way in both directions so the difference reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in method. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, so the actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer.", "toolsUsed": [ "flight_schedule" ] }, "q1": { "question": "Are there any direct flights from Chicago to Seattle?", "answer": "Yes, there are plenty of non‑stop flights from Chicago to Seattle. Five airlines — American, Alaska, Delta, United, and Southwest — operate daily non‑stop service, with over 400 weekly departures between O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW). Flights take about 4½ hours westbound, and red‑eyes are also available on American, United, and Southwest.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours. Carrier service, flight times and distances for this route come from our flight-schedule database, which draws on published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data, and observed operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We report the days of the week and the departure times each carrier operates. The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time, given both per carrier and across all carriers on the route; where a schedule does not publish an elapsed time, it is derived from the scheduled departure and arrival times converted to UTC. Outbound and return times are computed by the same method, so the difference between them is directly comparable and reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in derivation. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two specific airports named, so an actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer. Where shown, on-time departure and arrival rates and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; where a typical fare is shown, it comes from the U.S. DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), a quarterly 10% sample of tickets sold. Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg. Aircraft types are taken from the equipment each operating carrier schedules on this route, drawn from published airline timetables and airline equipment schedules in our flight-schedule database. They describe typical scheduled aircraft and can vary with seasonal or day-of-week assignments and last-minute equipment swaps.", "toolsUsed": [ "route_airlines", "flight_schedule", "redeye_flights", "route_aircraft" ] }, "q3": { "question": "What are the ground transportation options in Seattle?", "answer": "From Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), the fastest and most popular way downtown is the Link light rail, which reaches Westlake Station in about 40 minutes and avoids traffic. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft pick up on the third floor of the parking garage, while metered taxis are available on the north and south curbs of the same level. Rental cars are located at an off-site facility served by a free 24-hour shuttle. King County Metro buses also stop near the light rail station on International Boulevard. The light rail is the most used option due to its reliability and direct connection to the city center.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [ { "url": "https://www.portseattle.org/blog/smooth-sailing-guide-between-sea-airport-and-seattle-cruise-terminals", "title": "Smooth Sailing Guide between SEA Airport and the Seattle Cruise Terminals | Port of Seattle", "time_published": "2025-05-05T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://www.portseattle.org/blog/wander-while-you-wait-exploring-beyond-sea", "title": "Wander While You Wait — Exploring Beyond SEA | Port of Seattle", "time_published": "2025-08-18T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeaTac_Airport", "title": "Seattle–Tacoma International Airport - Wikipedia", "time_published": "2003-07-10T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle%E2%80%93Tacoma%20International%20Airport", "title": "Seattle–Tacoma International Airport", "time_published": "2026-04-29T19:20:41Z" }, { "url": "http://www.portseattle.org/exploremore?page=1&tid=125", "title": "Explore More List | Port of Seattle", "time_published": "2000-01-01T00:00:00Z" } ], "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed." }, "q4": { "question": "When is the cheapest time to fly from Chicago to Seattle?", "answer": "Average fares from Chicago to Seattle bottom out around $245 in late January, with January ($255), February ($260), and October ($271) the cheapest months overall. Prices climb steepest in early July, averaging $376, with July ($371) and June ($359) the most expensive months. Late fall and winter are generally the most affordable times to fly this route.", "methodology": "Seasonal fares come from Priceline's own air booking-summary archive, analysed in-house and refreshed monthly. For each day of the year we take a representative round-trip fare, a blend of the 25th-percentile and average ticket price over the route's bookings, and smooth the series into a seasonal curve; the half-month low and high and the monthly figures quoted here are averages of that curve. Thin and international routes borrow their seasonal shape from the nearest busy routes, with the price level anchored to the route's own bookings.", "toolsUsed": [ "seasonal_prices" ] }, "q5": { "question": "How far in advance should I book tickets from Chicago to Seattle?", "answer": "For Chicago to Seattle flights, book about 4 to 7 weeks before departure to lock in the best fares, which average around $219. The lowest price appears at roughly 35 days out, while waiting until the last minute can cost over $300.", "methodology": "Booking-window guidance comes from the same monthly in-house analysis of Priceline's own air booking-summary archive. We aggregate the route's bookings by how many days before departure they were made, from about 180 days out to the day of travel, smooth the curve, and highlight the stretch of lead times with the lowest average fare. Thin and international routes borrow the curve shape from the nearest busy routes, anchored to the route's own price level. It reflects current fares and is refreshed monthly.", "toolsUsed": [ "booking_timing" ] }, "q6": { "question": "Are overnight (red‑eye) flights available from Chicago to Seattle?", "answer": "Yes, overnight red‑eye flights are available from Chicago to Seattle. American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest all operate nonstop red‑eyes, with departures typically between 9:05 PM and 10:25 PM. These flights land in Seattle between roughly 11:30 PM and 1:00 AM — the earlier departures arrive the same night, while the later ones touch down in the early hours just after midnight.", "methodology": "Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg.", "toolsUsed": [ "redeye_flights" ] }, "q7": { "question": "Which airlines usually operate this route from Chicago to Seattle?", "answer": "American, Alaska, United, Southwest, and Delta all operate nonstop flights from Chicago to Seattle. American is the most frequent with 153 weekly flights, followed by Alaska at 98, United at 63, Southwest (out of Midway) at 56, and Delta at 37. Typical median fares are not provided in the schedule data for these carriers.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies come from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a typical fare is shown for a carrier, it is the median of the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours.", "toolsUsed": [ "route_airlines" ] }, "q8": { "question": "If I need a connection, what are common layover cities between Chicago and Seattle?", "answer": "Common layover cities include Denver, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and Portland. Denver and Minneapolis are large hubs with plentiful connections and efficient terminals. Salt Lake City offers a compact, easy‑to‑navigate layout. Portland keeps you close to Seattle, minimizing total travel time." }, "q9": { "question": "How reliable are on‑time departures on this route from Chicago to Seattle?", "answer": "On the Chicago to Seattle route, United and Delta lead in departure punctuality at about 80%, while Southwest lags at 69%. Cancellation rates are low overall, but American sees a slightly higher 1.4% versus 0.2–1.0% for others.", "methodology": "On-time arrival and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; a flight counts as on time when it arrives within 15 minutes of schedule. Carriers are ranked by arrival on-time rate on this route, and the carrier list itself comes from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI).", "toolsUsed": [ "flight_schedule" ] }, "q10": { "question": "Which months have the best weather for traveling to Seattle?", "answer": "July and August deliver reliably dry, sunny days, while September offers pleasant weather with fewer tourists." }, "q11": { "question": "What documents should I bring with me to the airport when flying from Chicago to Seattle?", "answer": "Bring a Real ID or passport, ensure the name matches your ticket, carry a payment method for baggage and any required health documents." }, "q12": { "question": "Which airport should I use in Seattle?", "answer": "Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the only major commercial airport serving Seattle, located about 14 miles south of downtown." }, "q13": { "question": "How do I get to Dupage County from the city center?", "answer": "To reach Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) from downtown Chicago, the fastest and most popular option is the CTA Blue Line 'L' train, which runs directly from the city center to the airport terminal in about 40–45 minutes, with a low fare. Taxis, limos, and rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are readily available and offer door-to-door convenience, though they are more expensive and subject to traffic delays. Several regional shuttle buses serve O'Hare from the suburbs and nearby states, and driving is possible with on-site parking including a main garage and economy lots. Metra commuter rail also connects to the airport via a transfer to the O'Hare Transfer Station.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [ { "url": "https://flychicago.com/ohare/tofrom/pages/default.aspx", "title": "Getting To and From O'Hare International Airport | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)", "favicon": "https://flychicago.com/_catalogs/masterpage/favicon.ico" }, { "url": "https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/map", "title": "Map | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)", "time_published": "2026-05-27T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_Chicago", "title": "Transportation in Chicago", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2026-05-15T02:56:07Z" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation%20in%20Chicago", "title": "Transportation in Chicago", "time_published": "2026-04-13T06:59:09Z" }, { "url": "https://faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/6111", "title": "Order 3330.39 - Chicago/o'hare Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) Staffing PChicago/o'hare Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) Staffing Plan (Cancelled)", "time_published": "2026-04-10T00:00:00Z" } ], "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed." }, "q14": { "question": "Are there hotels or sleeping facilities at Seattle airport?", "answer": "Seattle-Tacoma International Airport does not have on-site hotels, capsule hotels, or sleeping pods inside the terminals. However, several nearby hotels like the Seattle Airport Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott offer complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [ { "url": "https://sleepinginairports.net/guides/seattle-airport-guide.htm", "title": "Seattle Airport Guide (SEA) - Sleeping in Airports", "favicon": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/nitropack_static/oBWrHkPujHTPIaVWqdDSDhClXUyrYhhb/assets/images/optimized/rev-b853180/www.sleepinginairports.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cropped-sia-logo-180x180.png", "time_published": "2018-08-08T19:18:01Z" }, { "url": "https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/seara-residence-inn-seattle-sea-tac-airport/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0", "title": "Airport Shuttle & Near SEA | Residence Inn Seattle Sea-Tac Airport", "time_published": "2025-02-19T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Pages/default.aspx", "title": "Seattle-Tacoma International Airport | Port of Seattle", "time_published": "2026-04-18T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/seawa-seattle-airport-marriott/overview/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw0PWRBhDKARIsAPKHFGhmUt2mC-WobK99kCuOjPMPOWiTky6Ue8-pBic_4rzWZjScsYnFkwcaAtlOEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds", "title": "Hotel close to SeaTac | Seattle Airport Marriott", "time_published": "2023-08-11T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle%E2%80%93Tacoma%20International%20Airport", "title": "Seattle–Tacoma International Airport", "time_published": "2026-04-29T19:20:41Z" }, { "url": "https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/seara-residence-inn-seattle-sea-tac-airport/overview/", "title": "Hotel near Sea-Tac Airport | Residence Inn by Marriott", "time_published": "2024-10-11T00:00:00Z" } ], "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed." }, "q17": { "question": "What aircraft are typically used on flights from Chicago to Seattle?", "answer": "The most common aircraft on nonstop flights from Chicago to Seattle are Boeing 737 variants, especially the 737 MAX 8 and 737-900, flown by Southwest, Alaska, and United. Airbus A321s (both the A321-100 and the newer A321neo) also appear regularly, primarily on American and United. The exact type can vary by day and airline, but travelers can generally expect a 737 or A321 with Wi‑Fi and seatback entertainment widely available on this route.", "methodology": "Aircraft types are taken from the equipment each operating carrier schedules on this route, drawn from published airline timetables and airline equipment schedules in our flight-schedule database. They describe typical scheduled aircraft and can vary with seasonal or day-of-week assignments and last-minute equipment swaps.", "toolsUsed": [ "route_aircraft" ] }, "q18": { "question": "Which airline alliances serve flights from Chicago to Seattle?", "answer": "Nonstop flights from Chicago to Seattle are operated by American Airlines and Alaska Airlines (both oneworld), United Airlines (Star Alliance), Delta Air Lines (SkyTeam), and Southwest Airlines, which belongs to no alliance.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours.", "toolsUsed": [ "route_airlines" ] }, "q20": { "question": "What are the best airport lounge options when departing from Chicago?", "answer": "At Chicago O'Hare, departing travelers can choose from several airline-branded lounges: United operates multiple United Clubs (Terminals 1 and 2) and a Polaris Lounge (Terminal 1, Gate C18) for international first and business class passengers; American has Admirals Clubs (Terminal 3, Gates G8 and L2A) and a Flagship Lounge (Terminal 3, Gate H6/K6); and Delta offers a Sky Club in Terminal 5 near Gate M13. In Terminal 5, the Air France Lounge, LOT Business Lounge, and Wingtips Lounge serve eligible business class and elite status travelers from their respective alliances, while the Swissport Lounge (near Gate M18) accepts Priority Pass members and day passes. Amenities typically include complimentary food and drinks, Wi-Fi, and quiet workspaces, with the Polaris and Flagship lounges offering elevated dining and shower suites.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [ { "url": "https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/ServicesAmenities/services/Pages/lounges.aspx", "title": "Airline Lounges | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)", "time_published": "2026-05-29T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://www.delta.com/us/en/airports/united-states/chicago-sky-club-airport-map", "title": "Chicago O'Hare (ORD) Airport Map & Lounges | Delta Air Lines", "time_published": "2022-11-18T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://my.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america/ohare-international/ord10-swissport-lounge", "title": "Swissport Lounge ORD AIRPORT Terminal 5 O'Hare International | Priority Pass", "time_published": "2024-11-05T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://americanexpress.com/en-ca/travel/lounges/the-platinum-card/ORD", "title": "American Express Lounges at O'Hare International Airport | Amex CA", "favicon": "https://www.americanexpress.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png" }, { "url": "http://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/travel/lounges/the-platinum-card/ORD/Swissport-Lounge-Terminal-5-Concourse-M-5mTKilCqDl/", "title": "Swissport Lounge at O'Hare International Airport | Amex US", "favicon": "https://www.americanexpress.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png" } ], "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed." }, "q21": { "question": "What is the baggage allowance on this route from Chicago to Seattle?", "answer": "On Chicago–Seattle flights, Basic Economy often excludes a carry‑on and charges for all checked bags. Standard economy usually includes a carry‑on and personal item, with checked bags available for a fee. Check your airline's policy, as rules vary." }, "q22": { "question": "What cabin and seat options are typical from Chicago to Seattle?", "answer": "Flights from Chicago to Seattle typically offer Economy and standard domestic First Class with recliner seats. Flat‑bed Business class is uncommon on this route, and Premium Economy is generally not offered." }, "q23": { "question": "Are same‑day changes or standby possible on this route?", "answer": "Policies depend on the airline and fare type, with flexible and premium tickets often allowing same‑day changes or standby while basic economy typically does not." } } } }