Cheap Flights from Shanghai to San Francisco International

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Flight deals from Shanghai to San Francisco International

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from $1,515. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco International

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Shanghai to San Francisco International flights are currently cheapest in October.

Direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco International

Shanghai to San Francisco: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$1,229
Cheapest month to flyAugust
Average flight time11 hrs, 21 mins
Most popular airlineAir China
Average flights per week19

Finding cheap flights from Shanghai to San Francisco International: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Shanghai to San Francisco International is $1,229. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
11 hours and 21 minutes is the average flight time from Shanghai to San Francisco International.
Air China, United and China Eastern fly direct from Shanghai to San Francisco International.
As of May 2026, there are 19 flights per week flying from Shanghai to San Francisco International.
The cheapest month to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco International is usually August.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport on Tuesday, 25 August 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 11 hours and 21 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to San Francisco International but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to San Francisco is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.

Travelling from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): What you need to know

  • Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is Shanghai's main airport. Check out your options for booking a flight from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) taking off from here.

  • The average length of a direct Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport flight is 11 hours 25 minutes.

  • San Francisco International Airport is located in San Francisco. The city is in the UTC-8 timezone and is 16 hours behind Shanghai.

  • Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the most popular route, with 10 direct services every week. You can travel from PVG to SFO on United Airlines's 12:10pm departure.

  • To ensure you get on your flight from Shanghai to SFO, leave enough time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.

  • During popular months like February, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of an international flight when you travel during peak periods in general.

Airports in Shanghai

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

  • Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is a convenient option for travelling directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) leave from this terminal.

  • United Airlines is a well-known carrier that offers direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport departing from PVG.

  • The preferred choice for passengers flying between PVG and SFO is United.

  • With an impressive 88.89% of services arriving as planned, China Eastern is the most punctual carrier on this route.

  • Consider adding a stopover to find cheap flights from Shanghai to SFO. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG). Slip in a stop (and skip the high fares) by flying through one of these airports:

    • Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)

    • Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

    • Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)

  • PVG is around 48 kilometres from central Shanghai. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take you 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 50 minutes.

  • Looking for a convenient hotel near Shanghai Pudong International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport, these accommodation options will put you a quick hop from check-in:

  • Shanghai Pudong International Airport has a solid on-time performance, reducing the likelihood of delays. Departures from PVG touch down on schedule 82% of the time.

  • PVG is located at No.300 Qihang Road.

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)

  • Make the most of your holiday with a stopover on your flight from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport. Here's where you can connect between Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and SFO:

    • Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND)

    • Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)

    • Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

  • You can get to SHA from central Shanghai in approximately 30 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The ride on public transport takes roughly 40 minutes to travel the 14 kilometres or so.

  • Start your holiday early with an additional night away from home. Before your Shanghai to SFO flight, kick back in one of these hotels near Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport:

  • Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport has earned its reputation for punctuality. 85% of flights taking off from here arrive right on target.

  • The address for SHA is 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.

About San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Getting from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to central San Francisco

  • From San Francisco International Airport, central San Francisco is around 21 kilometres away. It takes about 25 minutes to get to the city centre by car.

  • Travelling on public transport will take you around 35 minutes.

How to find the cheapest flights from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

  • Currently, $728 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is $1,229. Remember fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.

  • Don't leave everything to the last moment. You're more likely to find cheap flights from Shanghai to SFO if you book early. Airlines often have some amazing early bird deals.

  • Cheap Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport tickets are easier to find when your dates are flexible. Try using the 'Whole month' search tool to compare fares across the month and then pick the cheapest day.

  • You don't need to check back in every day to find out if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know the moment there's a better deal on plane tickets from Shanghai to SFO.

  • Find an affordable flight from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport by using the search filters. Select your preferred duration, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.

The best time to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

  • Think about the kind of holiday you want when picking your flight dates. December is the quietest month to visit San Francisco. July is when most people book flights from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which may be perfect if you're chasing more excitement.

  • The warmest month in San Francisco is September, with temperatures ranging between 12ºC and 24ºC. Lock in your Shanghai to SFO plane ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.

  • If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport in January when temperatures are between 5ºC and 16ºC.

More about San Francisco

  • After booking your flight from Shanghai to San Francisco International Airport, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these options your base for exploring San Francisco:

  • There are so many things to see and do in this city, it can be tricky to work out where to start. Golden Gate Bridge, Painted Ladies - Alamo Square and Alcatraz Island are top attractions which should feature on any well-planned San Francisco itinerary.

Explore more of the United States

  • You've seen San Francisco, now it's time to explore other parts of the United States. Journey about 257 kilometres east to Fresno to check off its leading sights. From Forestiere Underground Gardens to Shinzen Japanese Garden and Fresno Chaffee Zoo, you've got a jam-packed schedule ahead.

  • If you're looking to explore another well-known destination in the United States, head for Sacramento, about 129 kilometres northeast of San Francisco. California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento State Historic Park and Crocker Art Museum are key highlights.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.