SFO

R11 168 Find Cheap Flights to San Francisco

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight to San Francisco departing on 5/6. 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.
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KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to San Francisco

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to San Francisco
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to San Francisco
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Cheap Flight Deals to San Francisco

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights to San Francisco 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.

Recent return flight deals to San Francisco

KAYAK's recommended return flight deals from the most popular airlines that fly to San Francisco.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Choose your dates
SWISS Logo
19:35 - 16:10JNB-SFO
29h 35m1 stop
SWISS Logo
19:30 - 9:20SFO-JNB
28h 50m1 stop
R17 857SWISS
Find Deal
Thu, May 8 - Sat, May 24
SWISS Logo
8:40 - 16:10CPT-SFO
40h 30m1 stop
SWISS Logo
19:30 - 13:25SFO-CPT
32h 55m2 stops
R17 989SWISS
Find Deal
Sun, May 18 - Sun, May 25
Turkish Airlines Logo
17:55 - 16:40JNB-SFO
31h 45m1 stop
Turkish Airlines Logo
18:45 - 10:35SFO-JNB
30h 50m1 stop
R18 008Turkish Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, Jun 9 - Mon, Jul 7
Turkish Airlines Logo
17:55 - 16:40JNB-SFO
31h 45m1 stop
Turkish Airlines Logo
12:40 - 10:35SFO-JNB
36h 55m1 stop
R18 273Turkish Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, Jun 9 - Mon, Jul 7
United Airlines Logo
20:00 - 17:45CPT-SFO
30h 45m2 stops
United Airlines Logo
13:10 - 9:30SFO-CPT
35h 20m1 stop
R18 481United Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, May 6 - Wed, May 14
United Airlines Logo
20:00 - 17:45CPT-SFO
30h 45m2 stops
United Airlines Logo
15:55 - 9:30SFO-CPT
32h 35m2 stops
R18 632United Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, May 6 - Wed, May 14
Virgin Atlantic Logo
20:40 - 20:15JNB-SFO
32h 35m2 stops
Virgin Atlantic Logo
16:35 - 10:20SFO-JNB
32h 45m2 stops
R18 802Virgin Atlantic
Find Deal
Thu, May 8 - Sat, May 24
Virgin Atlantic Logo
20:40 - 19:30JNB-SFO
31h 50m1 stop
Virgin Atlantic Logo
21:20 - 10:20SFO-JNB
28h 00m1 stop
R19 085Virgin Atlantic
Find Deal
Mon, May 5 - Wed, May 14
British Airways Logo
19:25 - 17:15JNB-SFO
30h 50m1 stop
British Airways Logo
19:30 - 9:25SFO-JNB
28h 55m1 stop
R20 049British Airways
Find Deal
Thu, May 8 - Sat, May 17
British Airways Logo
19:25 - 13:50JNB-SFO
27h 25m1 stop
British Airways Logo
11:26 - 7:00SFO-JNB
34h 34m2 stops
R20 502British Airways
Find Deal
Thu, May 8 - Mon, May 12

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to San Francisco

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights to San Francisco to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest day to fly to San Francisco?

The average price of all round-trip flights to San Francisco clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.
Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to San Francisco is Wednesday where round-trip tickets can be as cheap as R20 071. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Saturday, where round-trip prices are R21 948 on average.

What is the cheapest month to fly to San Francisco?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights to San Francisco, 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 to San Francisco is February, where tickets cost R18 122 on average for return flights. On the other hand, the most expensive months are August and July, where the average cost of tickets from South Africa is R24 981 and R23 998 respectively. For one-way flights, the best month to travel is February with an average price of R18 122.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to San Francisco?

The average price for all round-trip flights to San Francisco depending on the time of departure, clicked by users on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.
The cheapest time of day to fly to San Francisco is generally in the evening, when round-trip flights cost R956 on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to San Francisco is generally in the morning, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is R1 310.

How far in advance should I book a flight to San Francisco?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights to San Francisco, 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, you should book around 2 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 22 weeks before departure.

Good to know – Book Cheap San Francisco Plane Tickets

Low season

January

High season

December

Cheapest flight

R11 168
Best time to beat the crowds (3% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 2% lower on average.
Flight from Johannesburg to San Francisco

When to book flights to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to San Francisco based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns with a duration up to 40 days. The information is for flights to San Francisco based on your location. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs - booking San Francisco flights

  • How far is San Francisco Airport from central San Francisco?

    Central San Francisco is 19 km away from San Francisco Airport.

  • What is the name of San Francisco’s airport?

    All flights to San Francisco land at San Francisco Airport. The airport code is SFO,and it can also be referred to as San Francisco or San Francisco Intl.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights to San Francisco?

    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 to San Francisco.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket to San Francisco?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San Francisco is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights to San Francisco?

    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 San Francisco with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight to San Francisco?

    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 San Francisco up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding cheap flights to San Francisco

  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest San Francisco flight deals.

Prefer to fly direct to San Francisco?

Find which airlines fly direct to San Francisco Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

South Africa to San Francisco

Monday

AIR PREMIA, ANA, Aer Lingus, +78 more

AIR PREMIA, ANA, +79 more

Tuesday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, +80 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +81 more

Wednesday

AIR PREMIA, ANA, Aer Lingus, +79 more

AIR PREMIA, ANA, +80 more

Thursday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, +80 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +81 more

Friday

AIR PREMIA, ANA, Aer Lingus, +78 more

AIR PREMIA, ANA, +79 more

Saturday

AIR PREMIA, ANA, Aer Lingus, +81 more

AIR PREMIA, ANA, +82 more

Sunday

AIR PREMIA, ANA, Aer Lingus, +80 more

AIR PREMIA, ANA, +81 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Francisco to South Africa

Monday

AIR PREMIA, ANA, Aer Lingus, +78 more

AIR PREMIA, ANA, +79 more

Tuesday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, +80 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +81 more

Wednesday

AIR PREMIA, ANA, Aer Lingus, +79 more

AIR PREMIA, ANA, +80 more

Thursday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, +80 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +81 more

Friday

AIR PREMIA, ANA, Aer Lingus, +78 more

AIR PREMIA, ANA, +79 more

Saturday

AIR PREMIA, ANA, Aer Lingus, +81 more

AIR PREMIA, ANA, +82 more

Sunday

AIR PREMIA, ANA, Aer Lingus, +80 more

AIR PREMIA, ANA, +81 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Top 5 airlines flying to San Francisco

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying to San Francisco. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline from South Africa to San Francisco. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with to San Francisco? 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.
7,4
Qatar AirwaysOverall score based on 3553 reviews
7,4Entertainment
7,5Boarding
7,3Food
7,9Crew
7,4Comfort
Airline reviews

All the crew members were too slow and rude. Most of the times the registers were empty, while hundreds of customers were waiting in line, and it was impossible to get a supervisor. Despite being in line on time, I missed my freight, plus a some customers who were ahead and behind me.

2,0 MediocreAnonymous, Feb 2025TUS - LAX
Read more Qatar Airways reviews

All the crew members were too slow and rude. Most of the times the registers were empty, while hundreds of customers were waiting in line, and it was impossible to get a supervisor. Despite being in line on time, I missed my freight, plus a some customers who were ahead and behind me.

Seats very small and unable to pre purchase internet or seat upgrades

I recently travelled with Qatar Airways from Doha to Dulles in the QSuite, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. The QSuite truly feels like a First-Class experience, with its luxurious design, privacy, and comfort. The cabin crew, especially the lady in charge of the cabin, was remarkable—professional, attentive, and genuinely kind. The food was excellent, and the comfort of the seat was absolutely first-class, making the journey smooth and enjoyable. While the in-flight experience was outstanding, I have a few points of feedback. Firstly, the content available in the in-flight entertainment system could be expanded and upgraded to include a more diverse and updated collection. This would elevate the entertainment experience to match the premium standards of the QSuite. Secondly, regarding the Wi-Fi service: while QSuite passengers receive one hour of complimentary Wi-Fi, any additional usage requires a fee of USD 10. Considering the premium pricing of QSuite, it would be more fitting to include unlimited Wi-Fi as part of the experience, further enhancing the luxury offered to passengers. Lastly, I must highlight an issue with luggage handling. Unfortunately, my luggage did not make it through the transit, which was disappointing. While the ground crew assured me that it would be delivered to my home on the same day as it was arriving on the next flight, this promise was not fulfilled, and the delay added unnecessary inconvenience to an otherwise excellent experience. Overall, the QSuite experience was exceptional, but addressing these areas would further solidify Qatar Airways’ position as a leader in luxury air travel.

Seating is terrible, having seats so crammed is unacceptable for a 15-hour journey. I cannot stress enough how uncomfortable it is to sit in such an aircraft. Leg space is roomier in a domestic aircraft. I have not experienced this kind of crammy seating in domestic flights either in the US or other international airlines overseas.

Do not overbook flights and kick out confirmed ticketed passengers :-(

Wasn’t allowed to continue with the purchased tickets because I hadn’t been able to go on the first scheduled leg.

Do I need to repeat my complaints about my lost carry on bag?

Noice cancelling headphones would be better since it’s a crowded plane And kids behaviors are unavoidable

More facilities to transport to the gates......felt too much walking distance

Just happy I flew Qatar Airways awesome no wonder they are #1 in the world right now! The food was just delicious, very courteous, professional crew.

The gate was too far away for the connecting flight

Generally good. The aisles have gotten narrower which can slow down boarding. Flight crew was great! Healthier complimentary snacks would be appreciated. Due to earthquake in San Francisco we had to circle in air space for a bit but then had a smooth landing. I laud the flight crew for their patience ;)

headphone jack didnt work for the first flight and not much variety

The agents was very rude and they charged me $50 for a carry-on bag saying that it was too big and then I saw someone going on a plane with the same size bag as me

For the most part united was a good experience, how ever when they came by with the snacks and water, they completely passed by my wife and I. As we were in separate rows. On a 5 hr flight we were not offered water

Fantastic crew. Flight was delayed at last minute but we were given updates every 20 minutes and the crew was so friendly and considerate. I miss the touch screens on the back of the seats, wish they would bring that back though.

Beijing PEK to SFO. I had an economy seat on this flight. The seat comfort was acceptable. My main complaint is with the FA’s lack of personality and absence from servicing the plane, specifically restroom care (I wish I could share a pic of the restroom that I captured) and care of travelers—drink cart/availability of drinks. I'm amazed at the level of service on other International travel where a passenger is most often appreciated.

Awful. Worst airline I have ever been on. Crew were among the rudest people I have ever dealt with. United staff members were rude and disrespectful. My flight was delayed, causing me to miss a connecting flight. I understand things happen, but when staff start lying about what actually happened, that is when I have an issue. Just be honest, really it isn’t that hard. I’m being very honest with this review and I don’t find this difficult what so ever. In fact, because of United Airlines, my Christmas holiday was off to a really rocky start. As someone who has traveled across the world, it has only been United that I have had a truly awful experience.

Good flight. On time. Boarding and seating was easy. Crew were really friendly, yet professional. Bathroom (by cockpit) was small but serviceable. Some the seats were showing some notable wear & tear, but were comfy. Very happy UA customer. TY! 🤛🏽💗

We were delayed 3x and because I didn’t purchase my tickets directly from United Airlines I was told I Have to take care of it myself so I called Underpricer and they helped me but before I changed my flights I took the risk of sticking by what my tickets were and was lucky to have gotten on the original all flight with only 15 mins before take off. not sure if I will do this again

I did not fly by vergin atlantic from bangalore to vasco da gama

Your flight delayed at Heathrow n I almost missed my mother funeral.you idiots. I had to waste 10 hours in different airports. Thank your stars I'm not suing you.

Miami airport needs more thorough signage. It was a long walk from my transport point to the check in desk,

Flight took off an hour late. Had to stay on the tarmac for half an hour after landing. Both annoying.

We had an unfortunate experience where we had to leave the aircraft after boarding, shortly before the scheduled takeoff time, and re-board. The reason given was that a passenger felt ill and had to cancel their plans and therefor their luggage had to be found and removed.

We’ve used VA before many times the experience is always been good they have lovely staff and the food is always delicious.

Everything about the flight was amazing from check in to boarding entertainment was okay food we didn’t try.

Seats were old and dirty, for a long haul flight you expect to be able to recline and for the av to work properly. Choice for vegans was fruit….

The Virgin Atlantic crew was very good. However, the equipment was OK, the seats were OK, but her bags did not arrive with me. Two bags showed up a day later and I’m still waiting for my third back.

The crew was very good. However, the equipment was a bit dated. Some of the electronics were not working. To top it, three bags didn’t arrive with me. Two of them were delivered a day later. I’m still waiting for the third bag, I was so looking forward to this virgin Atlantic flight, but, I am disappointed.

The check in process at Istanbul airport caused my family a great deal of stress and disappointment due to the following factors: 1) WE HAD TO PAY US$330 for check on bags, despite holding Economy tickets that Turkish airlines website clearly states that flights from Istanbul to Miami had a 2 checked bags allowance. 2) Airport staff not only lacked empathy for senior travelers (75 yrs old and 71 yrs old), but were also rude as well. The supervisor at check it offered "if you don't pay for the bags, you can just remain and sleep at the airport for however long you wish. What a terrible way to treat customers !!! 3) We were bumped from agent to agent to agent FIVE times, showing everyone the communication we received telling us we had the 2 bags entitlement. Two elderly people lugging 4 suitcase around and around the Turkish terminal. Again, what a sad way to treat customers !!! 4) We need a case opened to get a refund for the amount we paid. Something is amiss, screams unethical, and sounds unscrupulous......At First , we were told we must pay for 4 bags. All of a sudden, it became 2 bags, and finally all 4 bags were checked on with payments demanded for 2. Why did it vary from agent to agent???? 5) OVERALL, A TERRIBLE AND SUSPICIOUSLLY UNSCRUPULOUS EXPERIENCE FLYING WITH TURKISH AIRLINES. WE ARE TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED AND SAD THAT OUR VISIT TO A BEAUTIFUL CITY ENDED IN SUCH A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE

I recently flew with Turkish Airlines, and I can confidently say it was one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had. From the moment I boarded, the crew was incredibly attentive, warm, and professional. They went above and beyond to ensure everyone was comfortable and well taken care of throughout the flight. The highlight, however, was the food! I’ve flown with many airlines, but Turkish Airlines sets the bar incredibly high when it comes to in-flight dining. Every meal was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The variety of dishes, even on a long-haul flight, was impressive. It felt like dining at a high-end restaurant at 35,000 feet! The seats were comfortable, the entertainment options were great, and the overall atmosphere made the journey enjoyable. Turkish Airlines truly excels in combining luxury and hospitality. I wouldn’t hesitate to fly with them again—highly recommend!

One of the best flights I have been on in a while.

Here's a sample answer: "Honestly, I was really impressed with Turkish Airlines, but if I had to suggest one area for improvement, it would be: - *More efficient boarding process*: I noticed that boarding took a bit longer than expected, which might be frustrating for passengers with tight connections.

Not worth pay business class and get service economy class

In this long haul flight, flight attendants never stopped moving and giving excellent service. Very impressive. Very comfortable seats and excellent food

In sharp contrast to the modern glitzy airport, boarding facilities were primitive. Passengers had to board buses and walk up steep stairs in bitter cold with carry-on baggages. I found no reason why aerobridge was not provided.

Service and food were decent, seats are a bit too narrow. Leg room is normal. Bathroom should be cleaned more frequently. WiFi is cumbersome and should be simplified.

they have cancell the flight with no reasons, My parents were in the cold weather in the airport for 24 hours they did not give any hotel and food. I hate Turkish Airline, this is our last time that we ha ve chosen Turkish Airline.

Same as before boarding process and lack of crew experience in the process

The seats in row 31 are terrible and small and uncomfortable. Don't ever sit there. The window seat is so close to the curve of the plane is so annoying. I paid extra for this seat and I hated all 10 hours in it.

Food was terrible , crew were excellent , IFE was dire . Overall comfortable seat and cabin. Nothing special .

If my tv wasn’t broken and I wasn’t in a seat that didn’t allow for sleeping

Delayed flight due to lack of crew caused me to miss my connection

Please make sure the number of seats matches the number of overhead bins and passengers don't carry on more than one bag.

Seating is tight if you don’t upgrade. Food was decent. Boarding and unboarding was efficient. Smooth flight. Could make upgrades more affordable

Boarding was chaotic. Glad we were group 5 and still had cabin storage available when we boarded. I was expecting crew would get our carryons at the gate since theyclaimed it was a full flight.

Boarding crew is unfriendly as i was asked to handover carryon luggage too upto final destination Bangalore I was not prepared for that and i had to travel without my diabetic and hypertension medicines

American Airlines seemed to run a 'dry' flight. No alcohol was offered at any point with meals. Breakfast was a bit tasteless. The 'hot pocket' whatever that is, was horrid breadish pastry with very little filling. Decaf coffee was horrid. Seats didn't seem as wide or spacious as usual, especually for a ten hour flight.

They did not provide free WiFi, It could be purchased for, I think, around $25, This seemed excessive.

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