domestic · 4h 15m · 2,799 km
Portland to Chicago
3 airlines · 3 aircraft ranked
In economy, Alaska's Main Cabin (737-900ER) edges out the field with a 4.4/10.In first class, Alaska's First Class (737-900ER) edges out the field with a 2.8/10.
Quick pick
Fly Alaska. It scores higher across seat comfort and amenities.
If prices are similar, go with this one.
Fly Alaska. It has 3 more inches of legroom and a wider seat (21" vs 20").
If fares are comparable, this is the better cabin.
Select two airlines to compare head-to-head
Data verified June 2026
Find your flight
New routes and airlines added regularly. One short email when we do.
Airlines on this route
Flying with family
- Seatback screens on Alaska, United. American: bring your own device.
Route insights
- In economy, Alaska's Main Cabin (737-900ER) edges out the field with a 4.4/10.
- In first class, Alaska's First Class (737-900ER) edges out the field with a 2.8/10.
Frequently asked
Which is better in first: Alaska or American on PDX-ORD?
First Class (Alaska Airlines, 737-900ER) and First Class (American Airlines, A321neo) score virtually the same in first: 2.8 vs 2.5/10. The biggest gap is entertainment — a 11" screen vs app_only — but neither carrier pulls ahead overall.
Which is better in economy: Alaska or American on PDX-ORD?
Main Cabin (Alaska Airlines, 737-900ER) edges out Main Cabin (American Airlines, A321neo) in economy, scoring 4.4/10 vs 3.7. The deciding factor: a 10" screen vs app_only. American Airlines fights back on seat width.
Which is better in first: Alaska or United on PDX-ORD?
First Class (Alaska Airlines, 737-900ER) and United First (United Airlines, 737-900ER) score virtually the same in first: 2.8 vs 2.8/10. The biggest gap is seat width — 21"-wide seats vs 20" — but neither carrier pulls ahead overall.
Which is better in economy: Alaska or United on PDX-ORD?
Main Cabin (Alaska Airlines, 737-900ER) and Economy (United Airlines, 737-900ER) score virtually the same in economy: 4.4 vs 4.2/10. The biggest gap is power — AC + USB-C vs USB-C only — but neither carrier pulls ahead overall.
Which is better in first: American or United on PDX-ORD?
First Class (American Airlines, A321neo) and United First (United Airlines, 737-900ER) score virtually the same in first: 2.5 vs 2.8/10. The biggest gap is entertainment — a 13" screen vs app_only — but neither carrier pulls ahead overall.
Which is better in economy: American or United on PDX-ORD?
Economy (United Airlines, 737-900ER) edges out Main Cabin (American Airlines, A321neo) in economy, scoring 4.2/10 vs 3.7. The deciding factor: a 10" screen vs app_only. American Airlines fights back on seat width.
What are the best seats in Alaska First Class on PDX-ORD?
Best: Row 1 for maximum legroom. Window seats in rows 1-2 are quiet and private. Avoid: Row 4 (last row of first) may have limited meal choices due to service order. 41-inch pitch is among the best domestic first class products in the US. No seatback IFE screens; stream to personal devices via Gogo 2Ku Wi-Fi. USB-A and AC outlet under center armrest. Free for T-Mobile customers. Pre-order meals system with limited choices.
What are the best seats in Alaska Main Cabin on PDX-ORD?
Best: Exit row seats (row 15/16) offer extra legroom. Avoid: Last row (34) has limited recline and is near the lavatory. Middle seats throughout. Standard domestic economy with 31-inch pitch. USB-A and AC power at every seat. No seatback screens; entertainment streams to personal devices. Boeing Sky Interior with larger overhead bins. Exit row seats on the 737 offer extra legroom but do not recline. The row immediately before the exit also has limited recline due to clearance requirements.
What are the best seats in American First Class on PDX-ORD?
Best: Row 1A and 1L are farthest from the galley and offer the most privacy. All seats have direct aisle access in the 1-1 layout. Avoid: Row 5 is closest to the business class cabin and may experience some noise from the galley area between cabins. Only 10 suites total on this narrowbody. The 1-1 configuration is unique for a single-aisle aircraft. Sliding doors on all suites. This fleet is being phased out as the A321XLR enters service.
What are the best seats in American Main Cabin on PDX-ORD?
Best: Rows 11-16 are designated Main Cabin Extra with 35 inches of pitch. Row 11 bulkhead has the most legroom. Exit row offers additional space. Avoid: Last row (22) has limited recline and is near the rear lavatory. Middle seats (B and E) are least desirable. Half of the economy cabin (36 seats) is Main Cabin Extra with additional pitch. Seatback IFE screens with live TV in all economy seats. Only 72 economy seats total, making this a very premium-heavy narrowbody configuration. Exit row seats on the A320/A321 family offer extra legroom but do not recline. The row immediately before the exit also has limited recline due to clearance requirements.
What are the best seats in United United First on PDX-ORD?
Best: Row 1 has the most legroom as a bulkhead. 1A and 1F offer the most privacy with the wall on one side. Row 2 is the sweet spot between legroom and storage (bulkhead rows lack under-seat storage). Avoid: Row 5 seats 5A/5B do not recline; 5E/5F have roughly half the recline of other First rows. This is the biggest seat trap on the 737-900ER. Signature Interior with Collins Aerospace Pinnacle seats, 13-inch HD seatback touchscreens with Bluetooth audio, USB-A and USB-C at every seat plus AC outlet. Complimentary meal service on flights over 800 miles; snack basket on shorter flights. ViaSat Ka-band WiFi free for MileagePlus members. Starlink awaiting FAA certification for 737-900ER, expected during 2026. Majority of fleet retrofitted to Signature Interior; some older aircraft remain.
What are the best seats in United Economy on PDX-ORD?
Best: Exit row 21 has 38.8 inches of pitch — more than First Class. The 2-seat side rows 20-21 are the best economy seats on the plane. Rows 7-14 are Economy Plus with 33-34-inch pitch. Avoid: Last row (row 33) has severely limited or no recline due to the rear lavatory wall. Rows 32-33 experience galley noise and lavatory traffic. Middle seats (B, E) in any row are the tightest at 30-inch pitch. Signature Interior with 10-inch HD seatback touchscreens and Bluetooth audio. USB-A and USB-C at every seat plus shared AC outlets. ViaSat Ka-band WiFi free for MileagePlus members. 42 Economy Plus seats in rows 7-14 have 33-34-inch pitch; 117 standard Economy seats have 30-inch pitch. Three sub-variants exist (39/42/45 Economy Plus seats); Version 2 with 42 E+ is most common (~84 of ~99 aircraft).