Cheap Flights from San Francisco International to Cairns from $2,328

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Flight deals from San Francisco International to Cairns

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from San Francisco International to Cairns? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Cairns.$2,328 per passenger.Departing Tue, 2 Jun, returning Sun, 21 Jun.Return flight with Qantas.Outbound indirect flight with Qantas, departs from San Francisco International on Tue, 2 Jun, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Qantas, departs from Cairns on Sun, 21 Jun, arriving in San Francisco International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $2,328, select.

Cairns.$2,625 per passenger.Departing Fri, 15 May, returning Wed, 27 May.Return flight with Qantas.Outbound indirect flight with Qantas, departs from San Francisco International on Fri, 15 May, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Qantas, departs from Cairns on Wed, 27 May, arriving in San Francisco International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $2,625, select.

Cairns.$2,676 per passenger.Departing Sat, 28 Feb, returning Sat, 7 Mar.Return flight with Alaska Airlines and Qantas.Outbound indirect flight with Alaska Airlines, departs from San Francisco International on Sat, 28 Feb, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Qantas, departs from Cairns on Sat, 7 Mar, arriving in San Francisco International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $2,676, select.

Cairns.$2,828 per passenger.Departing Mon, 29 Jun, returning Mon, 20 Jul.Return flight with Qantas.Outbound indirect flight with Qantas, departs from San Francisco International on Mon, 29 Jun, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Qantas, departs from Cairns on Mon, 20 Jul, arriving in San Francisco International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $2,828, select.

Cairns.$3,112 per passenger.Departing Tue, 31 Mar, returning Tue, 14 Apr.Return flight with Singapore Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Singapore Airlines, departs from San Francisco International on Tue, 31 Mar, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Singapore Airlines, departs from Cairns on Tue, 14 Apr, arriving in San Francisco International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $3,112, select.

Cairns.$4,272 per passenger.Departing Wed, 11 Feb, returning Sat, 21 Feb.Return flight with Alaska Airlines and Qantas.Outbound indirect flight with Alaska Airlines, departs from San Francisco International on Wed, 11 Feb, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Qantas, departs from Cairns on Sat, 21 Feb, arriving in San Francisco International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $4,272, select.

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

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

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San Francisco International to Cairns: Alternative routes

Compare routes from San Francisco International to Cairns below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier than Cairns.

San Francisco to Cairns: Flight information

The things to know before you go.

Cheapest flight found	$2,328
Cheapest month to fly	June

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

How much are return flights from San Francisco International to Cairns?

The best price we found for a return flight from San Francisco International to Cairns is $2,328. 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.

Which airlines fly direct from San Francisco International to Cairns?

Currently, there are no airlines that fly direct from San Francisco International to Cairns. But we found flights with one or more stops from $2,328.

How many flights are there a week from San Francisco International to Cairns?

As of January 2026, there are no flights flying from San Francisco International to Cairns.

When is the cheapest time to fly from San Francisco International to Cairns?

The cheapest month to fly from San Francisco International to Cairns is usually June.

Which upcoming date is cheapest to fly from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport on?

After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.

Can I get a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport?

No airlines currently offer direct flights between San Francisco International Airport and Cairns Airport. Most routes have one or more stops.

How can I find the best flight deal to Cairns?

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 Cairns 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.

When is the best time to book flights to Cairns?

We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Cairns is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.

Which is the cheapest airline to fly from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns with?

Currently, Qantas offers the cheapest flight tickets to Cairns.

Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Cairns Airport (CNS): what you need to know

The timezone in Cairns is UTC+10, which is 17 hours ahead of San Francisco.
To ensure you get on your SFO to CNS flight, leave plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
You'll likely experience longer lines in popular months like August. Arriving up to four hours in advance for an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a wise move.
Consider adding a stopover when booking your ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' to break up your trip, or perhaps see a new city along the way. Check out these options between SFO and CNS:
- Brisbane Airport
- Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport
- Auckland Airport

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

Right now, $1,148 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport flight. The best price for a return ticket is $2,328. Remember that fares may change due to demand when booking.
To score cheap tickets from SFO to CNS, book in advance. Airlines tend to offer lower prices when flights are first released.
Finding cheap flights from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport is easier if you're flexible with your travel plans. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the best prices across the month and score a great deal.
Stay on top of deals for cheap flights from SFO to CNS by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a new low fare is offered.
Lock in the perfect flight for you with the help of the filters. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by airline, departure and arrival times, and number of stops.

Handy information about San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

When it comes to San Francisco International Airport's on-time performance, 77.36% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
San Francisco International Airport is about 21 kilometres from central San Francisco. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic.
Expect a trip time of around 45 minutes when using public transport.
Searching for a handy hotel close to SFO? If you're catching an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure lounge:

Arriving at Cairns Airport (CNS)

The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport flight. Stay at one of these accommodation options near CNS instead:
Pick up a Cairns Airport rental car and discover Cairns and beyond with your own wheels. Simba car hire, Bargain Car Rentals and East Coast are top outlets you can book with here.
Reserving your ride from Cairns Airport around two weeks in advance can help you get the lowest rate.

Getting from Cairns Airport (CNS) to central Cairns

From Cairns Airport, Cairns is approximately 6 kilometres away. It takes around 10 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It typically takes 1 hour 25 minutes when travelling by public transport.

When to fly to Cairns Airport (CNS)

July is the busiest month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport. To steer clear of the crowds, head to Cairns in February.
Book your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport for January if you want to explore Cairns during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures of between 23ºC and 31ºC.
If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from SFO to CNS in August. Temperatures average between 16ºC and 25ºC then.

Explore more of Australia

Cairns has plenty going for it, but there are so many other corners of Australia just waiting to be discovered. About 290 kilometres south of Cairns, a visit to Townsville will fill your itinerary to the brim. Don't miss top attractions like The Strand Beach, Castle Hill and Big Mama Sailing- Magnetic Island & Townsville.
Bowen is another must-experience destination in Australia and is around 434 kilometres south-east of Cairns. No journey is complete without dropping by Holbourne Island National Park, The Big Mango and Grays Bay.