$693 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Melbourne – Compare and Save

If you’re getting a ride to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), you can avoid the traffic of the terminal drop-off zones and head instead to the Kiss & Fly area, which can be found in the Rental Car Precinct (on North McDonnell Road). From here, you can take the free AirTrain (which operates 24h a day) to your terminal. You should arrive in just a few minutes.

Luxury on-site accommodation is available at the Grand Hyatt at San Francisco Airport, which offers soundproof rooms to all guests. The hotel can be found at the entrance to the airport, and you will have easy access to all terminals via the AirTrain’s Red Line. If you’re not in need of luxury, there are plenty of budget hotels within 2 km of San Francisco Airport.

Most flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Melbourne (MEL) come with a stop or two along the way. These stops depend greatly on which airline you choose to fly with. For example, Singapore Airline flights come with a layover at Singapore’s Changi Airport (SIN), while Cathay Pacific flights come with a stop at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). If you fly with Hawaiian Airlines, you can enjoy a stop in Honolulu, after which you will generally also stop in either Sydney (SYD) or Brisbane (BNE).

Among airlines operating San Francisco to Melbourne Airport flights:

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

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

Only United Airlines operates flights between San Francisco and Melbourne Airport.

Flights from San Francisco to Melbourne Airport usually depart from San Francisco (SFO) and arrive at Melbourne (MEL).

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
• ANA: 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.

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

• Economy class
• Premium Economy Class
• First Class

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average $1,381 return via Manila Ninoy Aquino Intl (MNL), compared with $2,126 for direct.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A320-100/200 variants.

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

• Nadi (NAN) – 67% of one-stop connections
• Auckland Intl (AKL) – 17% of one-stop connections
• Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) – 6% of one-stop connections
• Los Angeles Los Angeles (LAX) – 5% of one-stop connections

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

On the San Francisco to Melbourne Airport route, being flexible with your departure day can save you up to 23%. Sunday is the cheapest day at $1,650 return on average, while Thursday is the most expensive at $2,142 – a $492 difference. Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

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

Some of the most popular sights in Melbourne Airport are Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Crown Casino, and Marvel Stadium. These are among the most viewed places in Melbourne Airport on KAYAK.

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

• Earliest: departs at 23:20 and lands at 15:15
• Latest: departs at 23:35 and lands at 15:30.

The flight takes about 15h 55m.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 10% above the route average of $1,820. Book 15 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A direct flight from San Francisco to Melbourne Airport takes 15h 55m, covering 20,350 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.

One-way fares from San Francisco to Melbourne Airport are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $863, which is 19% below the typical average for this route.

Flying via Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 17h 48m, compared to 18h 48m via Nadi (NAN) and 19h 02m via Auckland Intl (AKL).

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

Melbourne Airport (MEL) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around $19 for economy cars. Top options include:
• Bargain Car Rentals
• East Coast Car Rentals
• EverythingFleet
• Ace Rental Cars
• Alpha

Return flights from San Francisco to Melbourne Airport range from $1,429 to $2,415, with an average of $1,820 over the past 12 months. Anything below $1,429 counts as a good deal.