Find Cheap Flights from Melbourne to San Francisco – Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Melbourne to San Francisco:

• Earliest: departs at 10:55 and lands at 01:17
• Latest: departs at 12:45 and lands at 03:07.

The flight takes about 14h 22m.

Four cabin classes are available on flights from Melbourne to San Francisco:

• Economy class
• Premium Economy Class
• Business Class
• First Class

Prices vary by airline.

A direct flight from Melbourne to San Francisco takes 14h 22m, covering 20,347 km.

Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

Return flights from Melbourne to San Francisco range from $1,141 to $1,845, with an average of $1,389 over the past 12 months. Anything below $1,141 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 22% above the route average of $1,389. Book 20 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average $1,215 return via Nadi (NAN), compared with $1,704 for direct.

United Airlines is the only airline operating Melbourne to San Francisco flights. 85% of its flights are on time.

Afternoon is the busiest departure period on Melbourne to San Francisco flights, with 100% leaving in that window. Morning departures account for 0%, Evening flights for 0%, and Night flights for 0%.

San Francisco Airport (SFO) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around $22 for economy cars. Top options include:
• Thrifty
• Europcar
• Dollar
• Hertz
• Fox

Flights from Melbourne to San Francisco may depart from several airports in Melbourne area, including Melbourne Avalon (AVV), Melbourne Moorabbin (MBW), Melbourne Essendon (MEB) and Melbourne (MEL). Flights usually arrive at San Francisco (SFO).

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Melbourne to San Francisco route, 15% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2 hours 39 minutes.

One-stop flights from Melbourne to San Francisco most commonly connect through:

• Nadi (NAN) – 53% of one-stop connections
• Auckland Intl (AKL) – 30% of one-stop connections
• Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) – 10% of one-stop connections
• Los Angeles (LAX) – 2% of one-stop connections

Nadi (NAN) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 28% on the Melbourne to San Francisco route. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $1,308 return on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at $1,798, a difference of $490. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

Only United Airlines operates flights between Melbourne and San Francisco.

Flying via Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 17h 53m, compared to 19h 01m via Nadi (NAN) and 19h 13m via Auckland Intl (AKL).

San Francisco is 17 hours behind Melbourne (Pacific Time vs Eastern Australia Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Some of the most popular sights in San Francisco are Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, and Chase Center. These are among the most viewed places in San Francisco on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating Melbourne to San Francisco flights:

• United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• Virgin Australia: offers free seat selection
• Asiana Airlines: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• United Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Virgin Australia: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Lufthansa: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so travellers should check the fare details before booking.