SFO - SAN

$83 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to San Diego

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San Francisco to San Diego departing on 29/5. 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 Diego

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to San Diego, 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 San Francisco to San Diego, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest return fare
$154
Typical prices: $364-$123
Southwest
Wed 27/5Sat 30/5
SFO - SAN • Direct
Cheapest direct flights
$154
Typical prices: $347-$136
Southwest
Sat 15/8Tue 18/8
SFO - SAN • Direct
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $154 (return)
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Direct flights
You can fly direct with Alaska Airlines, Frontier, and others. Average duration is 1h 44m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 84% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 39% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 30% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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 Diego!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to San Diego (SFO-SAN)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights from San Francisco to San Diego 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 San Francisco to San Diego

Wed, 27 May - Sat, 30 May
Southwest Logo
07:40 - 09:15
SFO
-
SAN
1h 35mdirect
Southwest Logo
07:15 - 11:50
SAN
-
SFO
4h 35m
1 stop
$154Southwest
Thu, 10 Sep - Thu, 10 Sep
Alaska Airlines Logo
17:15 - 19:02
SFO
-
SAN
1h 47mdirect
Alaska Airlines Logo
21:29 - 23:14
SAN
-
SFO
1h 45mdirect
$157Alaska Airlines
Tue, 2 Jun - Sat, 6 Jun
Alaska Airlines Logo
06:16 - 07:58
SFO
-
SAN
1h 42mdirect
Alaska Airlines Logo
20:35 - 22:23
SAN
-
SFO
1h 48mdirect
$164Alaska Airlines
Wed, 20 May - Wed, 27 May
Southwest Logo
15:55 - 17:30
SFO
-
SAN
1h 35mdirect
Southwest Logo
20:20 - 22:05
SAN
-
SFO
1h 45mdirect
$166Southwest
Tue, 19 May - Sat, 23 May
Southwest Logo
05:40 - 11:20
SFO
-
SAN
5h 40m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
17:15 - 18:55
SAN
-
SFO
1h 40mdirect
$168Southwest
Sat, 30 May - Sat, 30 May
Southwest Logo
06:00 - 07:35
SFO
-
SAN
1h 35mdirect
Southwest Logo
10:05 - 11:40
SAN
-
SFO
1h 35mdirect
$172Southwest
Wed, 27 May - Wed, 10 Jun
Southwest Logo
07:40 - 09:15
SFO
-
SAN
1h 35mdirect
Southwest Logo
06:30 - 14:15
SAN
-
SFO
7h 45m
2 stops
$175Southwest
Sat, 30 May - Sat, 30 May
United Airlines Logo
08:15 - 09:59
SFO
-
SAN
1h 44mdirect
United Airlines Logo
18:27 - 20:07
SAN
-
SFO
1h 40mdirect
$176United Airlines
Thu, 28 May - Sat, 30 May
Southwest Logo
13:25 - 15:05
SFO
-
SAN
1h 40mdirect
Southwest Logo
07:15 - 11:50
SAN
-
SFO
4h 35m
1 stop
$178Southwest
Tue, 9 Jun - Tue, 16 Jun
Frontier Logo
22:27 - 00:15
SFO
-
SAN
1h 48mdirect
Frontier Logo
10:04 - 11:43
SAN
-
SFO
25h 39m
1 stop
$180Frontier
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for San Francisco to San Diego flights

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

How much is a return flight from San Francisco to San Diego?

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

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

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

If your flying dates are flexible, you should consider flying to San Diego on a Wednesday, as we generally find the cheapest rates on that day for this route. On the other hand, Thursday is the most expensive day to fly from San Francisco to San Diego. For your return ticket, we recommend flying on a Wednesday and avoiding Thursdays for the best deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to San Diego?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to San Diego, 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 San Francisco to San Diego is July, where tickets cost $190 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are March and February, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $368 and $358 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Francisco to San Diego?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to San Diego, 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 San Francisco to San Diego, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 39% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 11 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$83
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 11% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 31% lower on average.
Flight from San Francisco to San Diego

When to book flights from San Francisco to San Diego

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Francisco to San Diego 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.

FAQs for booking flights from San Francisco to San Diego

  • What if I just want to relax? Is there a quiet room at San Francisco International Airport?

    Sometimes you just want a little solitude before getting on your flight. While waiting on your flight from San Francisco to San Diego, visit SFO’s yoga room in Terminal 2 where you can meditate, stretch, and exercise. There are also a number of lounges in the airport including the Delta Sky Club, United Club, and both the Admiral and Centurion Clubs (by American Express).

  • What restaurants are close to the San Francisco International Airport?

    Around the airport are a number of great restaurants for dining. Within a couple of miles is a sushi spot (Zen Sushi Bistro), a steakhouse (Hangar Steak), and a Benihana. If you prefer something quick, consider Wendy’s on Gateway Boulevard, Hana Hawaiian Barbecue on San Mateo Avenue, or McDonald’s on Airport Boulevard.

  • Are there hotels close to the San Diego International Airport?

    If you’re only in town 2-3 days, you might want to just stay at or around the airport. Staying close to the airport is also convenient when you have a very early morning flight. There are several hotels less than a mile from the airport, including the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Holiday Inn Express.

  • Is it easy to get around the San Diego International Airport?

    Getting around SAN is not too difficult. The airport offers a simple design which includes three terminals. Terminal 1 houses Southwest, Frontier, and Allegiant Airlines. There are also numerous restaurants here for passengers such as Ciao Gourmet Market, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Emerald Express. British Airways, jetBlue, and Alaska Airlines are all located in Terminal 2. It also offers passengers a variety of dining options from Bubbles Seafood and Wine Bar to the California Pizza Kitchen. A shuttle is easily accessible and makes it convenient to get from one terminal to the other.

  • What is the cheapest flight from San Francisco to San Diego?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to San Diego was $83 for a one-way ticket and $154 for a return.

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

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

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

    The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San Francisco to San Diego flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from San Francisco to San Diego?

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

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

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

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San Francisco to San Diego?

    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 San Francisco to San Diego.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San Diego from San Francisco 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 San Francisco to San Diego?

    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 Diego with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from San Francisco to San Diego?

    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 Diego from San Francisco 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 San Francisco to San Diego

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $77 or less one-way.
  • Enjoy non-stop flights from San Francisco to San Diego with Alaska, Southwest, or United Airlines. These flights take off throughout both the day and evening and last about an hour and a half. You will depart from San Francisco International Airport and will land at San Diego International Airport.
  • Parking at San Francisco International Airport is abundant. There is long-term parking found both in a garage and lot. Parking costs around $25 per day and includes express entry and exit. Shuttle service to airport terminals is also provided 24/7.
  • Along with food and shopping, San Francisco International Airport offers a number of cultural and educational opportunities. Learn about the history of the airport through exhibits in international terminal hall. You might also read a book in the Christian Science Reading Room (Terminal 1, near Gate 40) or watch a short film in the screening room which is also in the international terminal hall.
  • San Diego International Airport, or SAN, is conveniently located off of I-5. It is a short drive from outdoor attractions like Windansea Beach and La Jolla Caves, and than 10 minutes from Petco Park (home of the San Diego Padres) and the downtown area.
  • Getting to downtown or other communities in San Diego from the airport is quite convenient via Bus Route 992. It is only a 10-minute ride and the bus will pick you up just outside of baggage claim. If you don’t want to use public transportation, there are a number of transportation companies that provide shuttle service from the airport -- simply catch a shuttle at Transportation Plaza in either Terminal 1 or 2.

Prefer to fly direct from San Francisco to San Diego?

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

Direct departures

San Francisco to San Diego

Monday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Friday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Diego to San Francisco

Monday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Friday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top airline flying from San Francisco to San Diego

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Francisco to San Diego. 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 San Francisco to San Diego? 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.
7.9
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 12298 reviews
8.5Crew
7.0Entertainment
7.8Comfort
7.0Food
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

No headphones provided. No gf food. Only 1 beverage cart run sAN to HNL. Rarely saw crew members

8.0 ExcellentDoretta, Apr 2026
FAT - SAN
Read more Alaska Airlines reviews

No headphones provided. No gf food. Only 1 beverage cart run sAN to HNL. Rarely saw crew members

A solidly good experience, but would’ve appreciated more communication with regards to travel delays.

No issues and clear sailing. What a preferred to have sat in one of empty seats other than my assigned seat that would be my only complaint if it was to complain.

Four hour delay. Missed our event. And they offered me $75. Absolutely shameful.

I have been flying commercial for decades. I was in one of the ladder boarding groups, had my bag tagged because they thought there was not going to be enough space for it in the overhead bins. I politely asked one of the attendance if I could try to find a space- she said I could and I did. I then took the bag tag off and gave it to one of the other attendants as I was told to do by the first one. He, in a curt, anal, and disrespectful manner, told me that I needed to take my bag down from the overhead bin and check it. This was a situation I’ve never encountered before. The attendant’s attitude was confrontational and belittling in front of other onlooking passengers as if daring me to challenge him. I am a physician who takes care of patients day in and day out. Not wanting to make a scene, I calmly told him, “do what you need to do.” he took my bag down from the overhead bin, put the back tag back on it, and checked it only to make room for another bag that was also supposed to be technically checked by a following passenger. The same male attendant later came up to me and said “you shouldn’t have showed me the bag tag,” as if conveying that he was just following protocol was a justification for treating me like a kid out of line. I cared about this because it took 15 minutes from my life to then retrieve the bag at baggage claim and it also felt like really poor customer service. I understand the need for protocols. This is also a service industry, and we the passengers are the clients. We should be made to feel welcome and respected and our life in transit made as easy as it can be within reason. This attendant clearly needs to be reminded of that. Of note, an older female fellow passenger sitting next to me agreed with this assessment.

I love Alaska! We arrived on the later side without seat assignments only to find the had oversold the flight by 1. The attendants worked extra hard to find a way for our party of 7 to stay together and we made it on the flight! Loved the free WiFi also!

The he whole flight was very smooth on every aspects.

Due to plane delays on both legs of my flight home, I had to be rerouted from Santa Rosa to Las Vegas on Skywest and then to DCA on American. SkyWest airlines sat on runway in Las Vegas for 20 minutes waiting for gate to clear. My boarding pass for American that I was given by Alaska was incomplete and the Las Vegas airport lacked signage and departure boards. I barely made my flight bc it was so confusing. American Airlines has a much better wireless connection. I’ll never fly Alaska again. It clearly has problems.

I paid for wifi and it never worked... it was miserable. I couldn't access my shared files to work on the plane, it didn't work on my phone. I paid for nothing but frustration and continual refreshing, hoping it would work

The flight was excellent and very friendly and helpful staff. Will travel again and recommend to friends. Thank you

Everything you need to know for your flight from San Francisco to San Diego

Information on your arrival and departure airports