$493 Find Cheap Flights from Sydney to San Francisco – Compare and Save

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

• Earliest: departs at 11:50 and lands at 01:29
• Latest: departs at 21:25 and lands at 11:04.

The flight takes about 13h 39m.

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

• Economy class
• Premium Economy Class
• Business Class

A direct flight from Sydney to San Francisco takes 13h 39m, covering 19,217 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 Sydney to San Francisco range from $1,270 to $1,988, with an average of $1,527 over the past 12 months. Anything below $1,270 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 14% above the $1,527 route average. Book 12 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average $1,332 return via Auckland Intl (AKL), compared with $1,740 for direct.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by United Airlines and Virgin Australia. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A350-900 variants.

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

One-way fares from Sydney to San Francisco are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $889, which is 26% below the typical average for this route.

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

• Europcar
• Thrifty
• Dollar
• Hertz
• Fox

Flights from Sydney to San Francisco usually depart from Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) and arrive at San Francisco (SFO).

Afternoon flights have the fewest delays on this route, while morning departures tend to have the most.

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 Sydney to San Francisco route, 17% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 1h 52m.

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

• Nadi (NAN) – 36% of one-stop connections
• Honolulu (HNL) – 23% of one-stop connections
• Auckland Intl (AKL) – 22% of one-stop connections
• Los Angeles (LAX) – 9% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 13% on flights from Sydney to San Francisco. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $1,467 return on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at $1,682, a difference of $215.

KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to three days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

2 airlines operate flights between Sydney and San Francisco. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• United Airlines
• Qantas Airways

Flying via Honolulu (HNL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 18h 27m, compared to 18h 32m via Auckland Intl (AKL) and 18h 44m via Nadi (NAN).

San Francisco is 18 hours behind Sydney (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 Sydney to San Francisco flights:

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

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

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

Whether you like to wander the stores to pass time before your flight or need to pick up some last-minute additions for your trip, there are many shopping possibilities at Sydney Airport. International Terminal 1 has three duty-free stores, as well as numerous other retailers offering fragrances, jewellery, clothing, handbags and more.

Sydney Airport’s International Terminal 1 closes at 23:00 each night and opens again at 03:00. If you need to stay near the airport the night before your flight (due to an early departure or connection from another part of Australia), Rydges Sydney Airport is an airport hotel located around a 4min walk from the terminal. Rooms are air conditioned and come with runway views.

For passengers with access to airline lounges, the following are available in Terminal 1: Singapore Airlines Silverkris Lounge, Air New Zealand Lounge, Emirates Airlines Lounge, The Qantas Club Lounge and American Express Lounge. If you are not eligible for an airline lounge, the pay-per-use Plaza Premium Lounge allows paid entry, starting at about A$ 42.

San Francisco Airport is well-connected with the city via public transport, so you can use the BART Rapid Rail from BART Station in the international terminal or 24-hour SamTrans Public Buses that operate different routes and stop at each terminal. The trip to the city centre should take you approximately 30 minutes. It is also a good idea to book a hotel that offers an airport shuttle service, as it will provide you with a transfer directly to your hotel.

Yes, there are well-equipped animal relief areas with drinking spots for pets set up in all terminals of San Francisco Airport and they are open 24 hours, so people who are travelling with their pets can rest assured that the airport is prepared for furry travellers.

The airport is in the process of building an onsite airport hotel, but until then, it offers Nap Rooms that can be rented by the hour, which is a great solution for travellers who are between flights. There are also hotels located close to the airport, for example Aloft San Francisco Airport and The Westin San Francisco Airport, which you can reach in a matter of minutes via the hotels' airport shuttles.

Travellers who would like to refresh after their long flights from Sydney to San Francisco have shower facilities open 24 hours at the San Francisco Airport. Apart from a 30-minute shower, you can rent a towel, cosmetics and a hairdryer. It is also possible to drop in for a manicure and pedicure or a massage at XpresSpa to relax after the flight.