$472 Find Cheap Flights from Sydney to California – Compare and Save

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Cheap Flights from Sydney to California

Cheapest return prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
Sort by: Cheapest
Los Angeles
13h 55mNonstop
from $849per person
Las Vegas
13h 55mNonstop
from $974per person
San Diego
16h 54m2 stops
from $985per person
San Jose
16h 52m2 stops
from $1,024per person
Santa Ana
17h 28m2 stops
from $1,027per person
San Francisco
13h 20mNonstop
from $1,131per person
Sacramento
16h 21m2 stops
from $1,136per person
Burbank
19h 05m4 stops
from $1,168per person
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Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Sydney to California flights

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

How much is a return flight from Sydney to California?

Flight prices are below average for this route right now.

Flights to California from Sydney usually cost between $982 and $1,329 in January.
The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $849 on Fiji Airways (20 Jan–30 Jan).

What is the cheapest Sydney to California flight route?

The cheapest ticket to California from Sydney found in the last 5 days was to Los Angeles, at $950 return. The most popular route is from Sydney (SYD) to Los Angeles (LAX), and the cheapest return airline ticket found on this route in the last 5 days was $950.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to California?

The cheapest time of day to fly to California is generally in the evening, when retur flights cost $1,298 on average. Morning departures are around 31% more expensive than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to California is generally in the afternoon, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $2,434.

Can I save money by flying with a stopover from Sydney to California?

No, with an average price for the route of $1,392, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Sydney to California?

The cheapest month for flights from Sydney to California is August, when tickets cost $1,075 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and June, when the average cost of return tickets is $1,538 and $1,345 respectively.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Sydney to California?

Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to California on a Monday and more expensive on a Friday. On your return trip to Sydney, you should consider flying back on a Wednesday, and avoid Thursdays for better deals.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Sydney to California?

To get a below-average price on a flight from Sydney to California, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 10% compared to booking last-minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 24 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$472
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 3% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly (31% more expensive on average)
Flight from Sydney to San Francisco

Flights from Sydney to California: the best tips from KAYAK users

Insights shared by verified travellers who flew the route from Sydney to California 
Verified travelerFlew with United Airlines-Sept 2026
Make sure you have your own regular plug-in headphones - not usb-c. Yes they provide them, but they tend to apmpmif the airplane engine noise. Be sure to get some movement in before your flight...its a long time to sit.
Verified travelerFlew with United Airlines-Jan 2025
Bring some extra food! Long flight, you don’t get enough and quality is mediocre. No free snacks in between meals except for mini pretzels.
AurianneFlew with United Airlines-Sept 2024
Ensure you have 2-3 hours layover You’ll likely need unless you don’t mind missing your next flight
DonnaFlew with Qantas Airways-Dec 2023
We got off a cruise so were at the airport over 7hrs before our flight. We paid for the day pass at the Premium Club. Totally worth it! It was quiet and offered food, drinks, showers and when they closed, we were able to go to the downstairs lounge which opened at 6:30. This lounge was much larger and had a bigger selection of food and beverages. Would definitely go there again.

FAQs - booking California flights

  • What visa do Australian citizens need to fly from Sydney to California?

    Australia is a participant in the ESTA visa-waiver program and there is no need for Australian visitors to obtain a visa. Although it is not considered a visa, Australians must still apply for and obtain a visa waiver through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) online before departure. The waiver is valid for 2 years and permits unrestricted multiple-entry visits during that period. The online application is generally approved within 24 hours and costs around A$ 30.

  • Which terminal at Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport can I fly to California from?

    Terminal 1 is the international terminal at Sydney Airport (SYD), and flights to the USA usually depart through Terminal 1. If you catch a domestic flight to Sydney before your flight to California, you will need to transit from one of the two domestic terminals. A complimentary shuttle links the three terminals at Sydney Airport, with a regular ring service operating 24/7.

  • What public transport is available at the Los Angeles or San Francisco airports?

    Los Angeles Airport is well connected to the bus and metro system, and there is a 24/7 FlyAway bus offering convenient transfer to downtown LA. San Francisco has a well-known and very positively reviewed BART train system that can get you quickly and conveniently to locations right across the city, including many suburban destinations.

  • What are the options for flying directly to California from Sydney?

    This depends a lot on your budget and time constraints. Direct flights can be long and tiring and are sometimes expensive but they do get the journey out of the way. On the other hand, choosing a longer route with more layovers may give you a welcome chance to break up your flying time into manageable chunks; plus, flights with more layovers, although they add to total travel time, can sometimes significantly reduce costs. Some popular routes that incorporate layovers are flying via New Zealand, Fiji or Hawaii. Longer routes that transit through Europe or the Middle East, or which fly across the USA from transit points in the East, may get very long and challenging and are probably best avoided by travellers not wanting to spend too much time in transit.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Sydney to California?

    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 Sydney to California.

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

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

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Sydney to California?

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

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

    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 from Sydney to California up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to California

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found tickets from Sydney to the following destinations at these prices or less: Los Angeles $577 one-way - $1,070 round-trip
  • Several airlines offer direct flights from Sydney to Los Angeles and San Francisco and one of these is Qantas. Qantas enjoys an excellent reputation for both comfort and safety even if it is not always the cheapest option.
  • For budget options flying directly to Los Angeles and San Francisco, both Jetstar and Virgin Airlines offer competitively priced journeys and relatively short flight times. Be careful to note your luggage allowance, however, as luggage often costs extra and should be factored into the final price when purchasing your ticket.
  • Australian citizens travelling on the ESTA can use the e-gate automatic passport control system at Los Angeles Airport (LAX) for express entry to the USA. This can be a major time-saver when transiting through this busy airport.
  • If you are flying into Los Angeles, keep an eye out for the many art spaces and rotating exhibitions hosted by the airport. Los Angeles Airport is a great space for art lovers.
  • If you are flying into San Francisco Airport (SFO) and have a domestic connection to another airport in California, or elsewhere in the USA, there is a complementary train that connects all the terminals. Look for signs directing you to the AirTrain departure stations.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying from Sydney to California

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Sydney to California? 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
Fiji AirwaysOverall score based on 259 reviews
8.0Boarding
7.4Entertainment
8.5Crew
7.5Food
8.0Comfort
Airline reviews

The flight was delayed and it was delayed on my trip from Seattle to San Francisco also, my luggage didn’t get to me 5 days later after my arrival.

2.0 MediocreAnonymous, Sept 2026
Read more Fiji Airways reviews

The flight was delayed and it was delayed on my trip from Seattle to San Francisco also, my luggage didn’t get to me 5 days later after my arrival.

Left on time , arrived on time. Staff was awesome!!!!! Great flight!!!!

A bit cramped in economy and the people in front wouldn’t put their seats up during meal service, crew did not help with that and I felt they could have done more about it.

The airline is ok, but it needs to improve it schedules.

In-flight entertainment options could use a refresh, Consider a tie-up with Spotify for more current music and with IMDB or other service for newer selections/movie ratings.

6 hour delay and they didnt try to make up any time during an over 10 hour flight

Entertainment was not good. Seems like liquor should’ve been advertised only beer and wine was even though I saw others getting liquor didn’t realize I could. And the food to me could’ve been a little bit.

Fiji Business Class was value for money. Would do again for a long haul flight.

We recently flew on FIJI AIRLINES, what a breath of fresh air! From their customer service at the ticket counter/ Baggage check to the flight attendants on the plane! When I bought the tickets they were the least expensive too! I took a picture of one of the flight attendants scoop up a very fussy baby and walk her around the plane, to give her parents a break. I would love to submit, but don’t know how. Meals were great, also complimentary beer and wine was a pleasant surprise!

check-in at sydney was a bit disorganized. one well-dressed woman appeared to be in charge, staring at others who were not ready and checking in passengers. one person at business class check-in, was sarcastic and only mentioned the gate assignment, no bother to mention the lounge access etc... the crew on board was stellar. so polite, helpful and respectful. the meals were great, endless beverages, and the a350 is spectacular with the seat/bed, amenity kit, television, bedding, headphones. first time flying fiji airways- honolulu- fiji-sydney, and sydney-fiji-los angeles, all in business class. their fares are much more affordable than other carriers. hopefully, one day, they will use a widebody aircraft from honolulu- fiji, since it is a nearly 7-hour flight and the 737-max 8, although comfortable, would be better with a widebody plane.

Premium economy seats and food we're very nice although the price could be more affordable so we can do it more often.

We got to experience Premium Economy from Sydney to Auckland and it was a great experience wiht Air New Zealand. The crew was friendly and helpful.

The Premium Economy seats were very comfortable and the food was quite tasty. I did not use the entertainment system, but I was able to charge my phone and tablet with the seatback connection.

We had difficulty checking in as United didn’t recognize the confirmation number and the agent was not helpful. We went to the United Assistance desk where the agent was able to process our reservation. We also weren’t allowed to choose seats in advance.

Air New Zealand over sold our flight and tried to bump us to yesterday. After several calls we got booked to United about 6 hrs before our original flight. No apologies!

Please add more Bollywood movies and recent movies to the entertainment.

I was not even on that flight and did not even book a ticket. Kayak did a phenomenal job

Economy was much nicer on the Air New Zealand planes.

Couldn’t request a vegan meal somehow but I noticed other people getting them

They announced food service but then never came around. We also couldn’t land so kept trying to get to runway and then had to come up and go around happened like 3 times and cause the child next to me to start throwing up

Great food and good entertainment options for the long flight.

We had bulkhead seats in a A380 in the upper deck in seats 31 D and E. Storage was very limited other than in overhead bin - which is not within reach when in seat. Yet paying same price as others in premium economy who have a lot more storage within arm’s reach. Seems very unfair.

When I originally booked this flight, I was expecting to travel on Qantas. When the itinerary changed and the long-haul segment was operated by American Airlines, we were disappointed but remained open-minded. Unfortunately, the overall service experience fell far short of expectations. This was a long-haul international flight. Getting up periodically to use the restroom or stretch is inevitable, especially on flights of this duration. However, each time we stood up, we felt as though we were inconveniencing the crew. The tone and body language often suggested that we were in the way or disrupting something simply by moving about the cabin. As a result, I avoided getting up as often as I needed to and was physically very sore upon arrival. Meal service was similarly impersonal. The options were presented in single words “beef or veggie,” “pasta or beef” without any description of what was actually being served. There was little engagement or courtesy beyond that. Even simple expressions of gratitude were often not acknowledged. I am accustomed to no-frills travel and do not expect luxury. What was disappointing was not the absence of extras, but the absence of basic warmth and professionalism. On a long-haul international flight, small moments of courtesy and humanity make a significant difference. In this case, the experience felt transactional and dismissive rather than welcoming. I hope this feedback is taken constructively, as there is a meaningful difference between efficient service and indifferent service.

Business seats not as comfortable or private as most competitors (e.g. Qantas was outstanding), and movie selection was much more limited than Qantas or United has been recently

I tried to check in online but was unable to do so. I stood in line for nearly two hours to check in. American Airlines was understaffed. When I finally got to the kiosk to check in, I was still unable to check in. No AA staff was available to help. Finally one of the airport security agents who was helping passengers became of lack of AA Staff told me: “I think the reason you can’t check in is that you are starting your name with an upper case letter when you write it. Just write it with all lower case letters.” That did allow me to check in. HOW COULD ANYONE POSSIBLY KNOW THAT IF THEY USE AN INITIAL UPPER CASE LETTER TO SPELL THEIR OWN NAME, AA WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO CHECK IN?????? Then I had to wait in line over half an hour again to drop off my baggage. Although I arrived at the airport 3 hours early, by the time I got to the gate, they had already started boarding.

Friendly staff, surprisingly good premium economy seats allowing good sleep/ snooze opportunity and very good menu.

Don’t like last minute airline change. Not able to choose seat earlier.

They actually held the plane for a few minutes and had someone at the escalators from Qantas checking to see if we were almost at the gate and radioed ahead to tell them that we were on our way. We called down to the person and gave her our names, coming as fast as we could.

First time flying in Qantas. There is zero WiFi on the flight to/from Australia. Crew was great both routes - very attentive, personalized service. Pleasant staff throughout.

The plane was new (<6mos old) and was very well appointed. Lots of places to store things/plenty of legroom/comfortable seats/great blankets and headsets. Food was very good too. And crew were all very friendly and accommodating. Great trip!

Boarding, time to take off, in flight offerings, and staff were all great. I recommend using UA for this short flight.

Uncomfortable plastic seats even in premium economy. No free wifi. Even paid wifi was spotty to nonexistent. Bad food. Much worse than economy on foreign carriers like Qantas.

Good flight. However, when booked flight with United, assumed the layover included by United in San Francisco of 1 hr and 40 minutes was sufficient . Not so and would recommend at least 2 hours or more. Needed to go through US immigration (very long lineups), then pick up bags, take all the way to another terminal, running because we did not have sufficient time. We made the flight because they held the door for us but luggage didn’t follow.

It was good but only meal served is very less. Meantime good to add rice and chicken in one of meal

I found the staff to not be very attentive at all. When paying for Business Class you expect a certain type of service and that was not found. They were almost rude even

Great. Food going from Australia to the US was better than other way around, but still needs improvement in terms of quality and quantity!!!

Crew seemed annoyed by the fact we were there. Very unpleasant

Due to a cancelled flight the day before this flight only had 44 people. Best flight ever on international route. Food getting better. Can United provide fruit ex apples and bananas for snacks? Crew fantastic.

Honestly didn’t like anything. Crew was in rush . Food was ok and there was no whiskey. Have to pay extra $ if you want to drink whiskey . They only provide wine and beer.

Compared to other international Airlines the infotainment system is need of overhaul. Doesn't have music it's got a limited selection of movies but I was impressed that an American airline was showing the documentary on John Farnham an Australian singer!

Old dirty plane but great lie flat seats in business class

The seats cushion on my seat (exit row) needs to be replaced. It felt like I was sitting on a bar rather than a seat cushion. Also, I was in the middle seat and I sat next to an oversized guy (window seat) and he took up about 25% of my space. Otherwise, the experience was good. :)

Worst experience ever, extremely disorganized airline with super rude crew for first class passengers. I have submitted feedback to AA customer care online that this was my worst experience traveling in over 30 years

The plane was late getting to Ontario by half an hour which makes it inconvenient when you have people waiting for you.

I have to sit in the middle for more than five hours because the first flight was delayed. Terrible experience. No more American Airlines.

The plane was comfortable but the crew wasn’t friendly.

I have been flying with American most of my professional career. But the airline seems tired and becoming more and more subpar with older planes than other airlines, dirtier and less comfortable seating, and less and less amenities. Their WiFi seldom works and their food is becoming more and more mediocre. How do you fly from LAX to PHL with only being offered one drink and as a platinum customer. I am exploring delta here on out for more of my flying.

American Airlines canceled the flight twice and was unable to facilitate a change of city for us after our travel plans became affected. We lost alot of money due to this and it seems like the airline was trying their best not to facilitate this. Mind you, I am a very loyal member.

Flight was a delayed a few minutes but nothing crazy, everything went extremely well

Our seats were better than i had anticipated. They provided nice pillows and blankets as well as a kit with ear plugs, sleep mask and headphones which made the long haul flight better. Their food selection and service was good. I appreciated that they came through the cabin with water a few times. We were ahead of schedule which was nice!

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