LAX - SFO

$85 Find Cheap Flights from Los Angeles 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 from Los Angeles to San Francisco departing on 16/1. 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.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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 in flight searches from Los Angeles to San Francisco, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Los Angeles to San Francisco, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco (LAX-SFO)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights from Los Angeles 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.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from Los Angeles to San Francisco

Wed, 3 Dec - Wed, 3 Dec
Alaska Airlines Logo
06:00 - 07:29LAX-SFO
1h 29mdirect
Alaska Airlines Logo
09:08 - 10:44SFO-LAX
1h 36mdirect
$169Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, 24 Feb - Wed, 25 Feb
Alaska Airlines Logo
19:55 - 21:24LAX-SFO
1h 29mdirect
Alaska Airlines Logo
17:15 - 18:57SFO-LAX
1h 42mdirect
$177Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, 4 Dec - Mon, 8 Dec
Delta Logo
19:00 - 20:24LAX-SFO
1h 24mdirect
Delta Logo
18:45 - 20:15SFO-LAX
1h 30mdirect
$178Delta
Find Deal
Thu, 4 Dec - Mon, 8 Dec
Delta Logo
13:10 - 14:36LAX-SFO
1h 26mdirect
Delta Logo
08:25 - 09:59SFO-LAX
1h 34mdirect
$180Delta
Find Deal
Fri, 12 Dec - Mon, 15 Dec
Delta Logo
19:00 - 20:24LAX-SFO
1h 24mdirect
Delta Logo
08:25 - 09:59SFO-LAX
1h 34mdirect
$186Delta
Find Deal
Tue, 30 Dec - Thu, 1 Jan
United Airlines Logo
22:50 - 00:26LAX-SFO
1h 36mdirect
United Airlines Logo
22:35 - 00:03SFO-LAX
1h 28mdirect
$190United Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, 12 Dec - Sun, 14 Dec
Delta Logo
21:20 - 22:50LAX-SFO
1h 30mdirect
Delta Logo
08:25 - 09:59SFO-LAX
1h 34mdirect
$193Delta
Find Deal
Wed, 10 Dec - Mon, 5 Jan
Southwest Logo
05:45 - 11:30LAX-SFO
5h 45m1 stop
Southwest Logo
10:40 - 17:55SFO-LAX
7h 15m1 stop
$207Southwest
Find Deal
Fri, 28 Nov - Fri, 5 Dec
United Airlines Logo
06:00 - 07:24LAX-SFO
1h 24mdirect
United Airlines Logo
17:50 - 19:21SFO-LAX
1h 31mdirect
$209United Airlines
Find Deal
Sun, 11 Jan - Wed, 14 Jan
Southwest Logo
18:50 - 20:15LAX-SFO
1h 25mdirect
Southwest Logo
10:00 - 14:30SFO-LAX
4h 30m1 stop
$215Southwest
Find Deal

Everything you should know

Our travellers' advice
AI-generated summary based on content written by KAYAK users
Bring water and snacks for shorter Alaska flights.
Consider a sweater due to varying cabin temperatures.
User tips
User tips
User tips
User tips
Top airlines
Alaska Airlines
Cheapest • from $169 (return)
Alaska Airlines
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
4 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 37% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
January
Cheapest • 24% price drop
October
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Cheapest return fare
$169
Typical prices: $123-$321
Alaska Airlines
Wed 3/12Wed 3/12
LAX - SFO • Direct
Cheapest one-way flight
$85
Typical prices: $90-$199
Frontier
Fri 16/1
LAX - SFO • Direct
Start a new search
KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to San Francisco!
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Los Angeles to San Francisco flights

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

How much is a return flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

This analysis is based on the cheapest return trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco departing in December.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

For Los Angeles to San Francisco, Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly on average and Tuesday is the most expensive. Flying from San Francisco back to Los Angeles, the best deals are generally found on Sunday, with Friday being the most expensive.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Los Angeles 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 from Los Angeles to San Francisco is January, where tickets cost $181 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are May and June, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $276 and $274 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Los Angeles 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 from Los Angeles 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 on the flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 37% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 12 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJune
Cheapest flight$85
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 15% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 3% lower on average.
Flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco

When to book flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Los Angeles 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. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

Flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travellers who flew the route from Los Angeles to San Francisco 
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska AirlinesLAX-SFOJan 2025
Bring water and snacks with shorter flights as some routes will not offer it.
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska AirlinesLAX-SFOJuly 2024
Bring a sweater, just incase other people's ac makes you cool.

FAQs for booking flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco

  • Is Wi-Fi available at airports in Los Angeles and San Francisco?

    To cater to business and leisure travelers, LAX, San Francisco International Airport, and San Jose International Airport offer free wireless internet services.

  • What kind of dining options can I find at Los Angeles International Airport?

    With over 90 food and beverage outlets, LAX has something to suit your mood and preference. Enjoy a drink at the sophisticated Petrossian Caviar & Champagne Bar, dine on upscale French-Japanese fusion cuisine at Chaya, or grab a quick burger, frozen yoghurt, or coffee.

  • I’m traveling with kids. How can I keep them entertained at LAX?

    The LAX Beach is a beach-themed play area for children aged between 2 and 8 years old. Located at the Tom Bradley International Terminal, kids can play safely and burn off some energy before getting on a flight.

  • What are the public transport options from San Francisco International Airport to the center?

    BART operates a rapid rail service from San Francisco International Airport to San Francisco and the East Bay. Get the free AirTrain from any terminal to the SFO BART Station. SamTrans runs a bus service connecting the airport with San Mateo County and parts of San Francisco. A number of routes stop at the Airport terminals including SFO and ECR. The Caltrain Commuter Rail provides a rail service between San Francisco and San Jose. Take a SamTrans bus to Caltrain’s Millbrae Station to connect.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco was $85 for a one-way ticket and $169 for a return.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

    American Airlines, Delta, Alaska Airlines, and Japan Airlines offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Los Angeles to San Francisco flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

    The Embraer 175 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Los Angeles to San Francisco flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

    oneworld is the only airline alliance operating flights between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

    There are direct flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco, Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco are Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. With an average price for the route of $232 and an overall rating of 8.0, Alaska Airlines is the most popular choice. Hawaiian Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $383 and an overall rating of 7.8.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Los Angeles 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 from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

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

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

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

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to San Francisco with an airline and back to Los Angeles with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Los Angeles 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 from Los Angeles up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $143 or less one-way and $104 or less round-trip.
  • Booking flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco? Depending on where you’re staying, you can choose from three airports to fly into to cut down on commuting time. San Francisco International Airport in located in San Mateo County, 13 miles south of the city center. This is a great choice if you’re staying in San Francisco or visiting Sonoma or Napa Valley. Oakland International Airport is 10 miles south of downtown Oakland and a good option if you’re traveling to Yosemite National Park or Lake Tahoe. Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is located in San Jose, in the heart of Silicon Valley.
  • Flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco usually depart from Los Angeles Airport. If you want to do a little last-minute shopping before your flight, LAX rivals the top malls for shopping and has over 60 retail outlets, including international brands, gift shops, and newsstands.
  • To showcase the dynamic, creative spirit of Los Angeles, LAX has transformed many of its public spaces into art spaces with exhibitions and installations for the enjoyment of travelers. The 11 exhibition sites are located in Terminals 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
  • Before getting on your flight at Los Angeles International Airport, pamper yourself with a relaxing massage to improve your circulation. Manicures, pedicures, and other spa treatments are available at the XpresSpa, located at the Tom Bradley International Terminal and the Be Relax Spa in Terminal 1.
  • If flying stresses you out, the Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUP) Program at LAX gives you an opportunity to relax before your flight. Therapy dogs in red “pet me” vests can be found on the departure level of each terminal, accompanied by helpful handlers. Children and adults alike can cuddle and pat a friendly puppy for a few minutes before departing.

Prefer to fly direct from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Find which airlines fly direct from Los Angeles Airport to San Francisco Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Los Angeles to San Francisco

Monday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

Thursday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

Friday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

Saturday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

Sunday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Francisco to Los Angeles

Monday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

Thursday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

Friday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

Saturday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

Sunday

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, +3 more

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +4 more

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 3 airlines flying from Los Angeles to San Francisco

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Los Angeles 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.
8.0
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 11217 reviews
7.8Comfort
7.0Entertainment
7.1Food
8.5Crew
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

Overall the flight was on-time and plane ride very comfortable. The free snacks not so good - only a small bag of pretzels and no milk. I wanted milk. There was not entertainment on the plane unless I wanted to download their APP. But I would consider flying with them again and be more prepared on my part with food and entertainment.

10.0 ExcellentSara, Oct 2025JFK - SFO
Read more Alaska Airlines reviews

Overall the flight was on-time and plane ride very comfortable. The free snacks not so good - only a small bag of pretzels and no milk. I wanted milk. There was not entertainment on the plane unless I wanted to download their APP. But I would consider flying with them again and be more prepared on my part with food and entertainment.

This was more with the third party booking through Kayak but my KTN for Pre-TSA, even though I entered it, wasn't assigned to my ticket when I got to the airport. I had to go through regular security. Also the Alaska app had trouble loading my ticket in the first place and I had to ask for it to be printed. Alaska Airlines was great but wanted you to know about this hiccup in the ticketing interface.

this was the THIRD time in four Alaska flights that were 2 hours late. Only one was due to weather. The intentionally posted each flight as only 1 hour and 55 minutes late so that they wouldn't have to give out vouchers. And then the flights all ended up more than 2 hours late. Makes United look like a premium carrier.

It was fine, mostly I was just happy to be on my last leg home. No in flight entertainment but that's forgivable since it was only a 2 hour flight.

Flight was cancelled, then rebooked on a flight that I was unable to get through since they had closed the gate.

This was likely the smallest, oldest plane I've been on. It didn't handle turbulence well and we were all jostled a lot more than I'm used to. At least it was a short flight.

Boarding process was poorly handled by the gate crew and the onboard crew. No effort was made to provide equal treatment to passengers with overhead bin space. Crew seemed disengaged and unfriendly.

It was a good experience! Thank you:) No sparkling mineral water… 🥲

On time, WiFi worked, reasonable legroom, helpful staff. Unfortunately there was no water for handwashing in the rear lavatory.

Miss bigger screens for movies Staff was friendly Seats comfortable Bathroom line long

I received several emails about my 3:10 flight. When I showed up to the airport at 12:30 to check my bags I was told the flight was actually at 1 pm. They grudgingly rebooked me for a flight at 5:22 to Vegas to get a connecting to LAX. I did find the gate for my original 3:10 flight but they were booked. I proceeded to receive status updates and gate change information for the 3:10 flight, even though I was apparently never supposed to be on that flight

I wasn’t able to check in early and I wasn’t able to get an aisle seat without paying $120.

The Kayak confirmation number did not work for checking in the day before. I checked in at 8.30 using my ticket number. When I arrived at the airport, I was informed that the flight was overbooked, and since I had checked in late, I did not have a seat. The Next flight was not until ten PM. I called my wife, who had been taking care of our kids all weekend, and she was upset, calling me a liar and telling me to stay in SD. It turned my weekend getaway into a nightmare! I blame the Kayak website and will not book flights using your app in the future.

Good and friendly staff. Nicely enjoyed the complimentary drink and snack.

I was very, very cold and a stranger loaned me her sweater next to me. I didn’t wanna buy a blanket just for a four hour trip when I did not need the pillow or the earphones. I don’t mind purchasing a blanket, but I only needed that not all of it accessories. Cold air pretty much blew the entire trip. Two people in front of me both bought the blanket packages. Maybe that’s the idea. The crew was exceptionally nice and passed through multiple times.. the restrooms were very clean and usually accessible.

I understand that both Hawaiian and Alaskan are in the process of merging but I could not get real-time flight info or access my boarding pass on either app

What an amazing flight. I haven’t experienced this level of service in a flight in years. This will be the only way to fly to Hawaii for me in the future.

Everything was great except having to check in at Alaska. That was a surprise and took extra time and effort. Should have been explained somewhere maybe on the HA electronic ticket.

I accidentally made this purchase and they wouldn’t refund me even though I called immediately to cancel it.

You. Changed my AIRLINE, CONFIRMATION CODE, TERMINAL. AND GATE COMM N CATION. WAS POOR AND SUBOPTITMUM AND RIDICULOUS MY AIRLINE WAS HAWAIIN. ,THEN SUDDENLY. YOU SAY IT WAS ALASKA Give me a break,,Black is not White I could not check in over the phone...all I received was Error. And info from Hawaiian air agent saying tooooo many people were trying to check in causing the problem On the other hand I am alive

Terrible. The canceled my entire flight when I requested a refund for a trip frontier canceled trip one way.

i was unable to check in the flight. refund requested

I think Frontier was very good at communication. Their app worked very well. Loading was great and the flight was nice and easy.

This airline sucks. They offer low rates then charge you for everything, the app does not work well, the seats are the most uncomfortable. Maintenance issues on the flight, and you still have to sit through their credit card commercials. People are nice enough but does not make up for overall poor experience.

Great for the price. No wifi or entertainment, but gate agents and crew were fantastic and we boarded quickly and left on time.

Decent clean onboard experience. Okay discount airline experience. Unfortunately, any customer service interactions are difficult and unhelpful. There is no service. Also, a premium seat only gets you premium boarding if you line up first. Once they start general boarding you must go to the back of the line. Not very premium

The crew was mostly okay. The flight attendant who answered our questions was curt and unhelpful unfortunately. He seemed upset and I understand having off days.

Very bad! No good service delayed my second connection flight

They canceled flight. Hard to believe there was even a plane incoming for us to get on

Cancelled flight after I arrived at airport after 75 min drive and parking. Next flight was 4 days in the future. Had to scramble and buy a much more expensive flight on another carrier.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco

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