IST - SFO

£387 Find Cheap Flights from Istanbul to San Francisco

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Istanbul to San Francisco departing on 26/9. 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

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to San Francisco

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Istanbul to San Francisco, 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 Istanbul to San Francisco, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Flights Deals

Cheap Flights from Istanbul to San Francisco (IST-SFO)

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

Thu, 11 Sep - Wed, 24 Sep
KLM Logo
06:10 - 11:45IST-SFO
15h 35m1 stop
KLM Logo
13:45 - 01:20SFO-IST
25h 35m1 stop
£398KLM
Find Deal
Wed, 10 Dec - Thu, 22 Jan
KLM Logo
17:55 - 11:50IST-SFO
28h 55m1 stop
KLM Logo
13:55 - 16:55SFO-IST
16h 00m1 stop
£401KLM
Find Deal
Tue, 16 Dec - Thu, 8 Jan
British Airways Logo
07:35 - 15:00IST-SFO
18h 25m1 stop
British Airways Logo
10:40 - 17:30SFO-IST
19h 50m2 stops
£419British Airways
Find Deal
Sat, 13 Dec - Sun, 25 Jan
British Airways Logo
07:35 - 15:00IST-SFO
18h 25m1 stop
British Airways Logo
20:40 - 00:50SFO-IST
17h 10m1 stop
£422British Airways
Find Deal
Mon, 8 Dec - Tue, 16 Jun
United Airlines Logo
06:30 - 12:40IST-SFO
17h 10m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
13:55 - 21:20SFO-IST
21h 25m1 stop
£475United Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, 11 Dec - Sat, 24 Jan
United Airlines Logo
06:30 - 12:40IST-SFO
17h 10m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
11:00 - 18:05SFO-IST
20h 05m2 stops
£475United Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, 15 Sep - Mon, 29 Sep
Delta Logo
17:05 - 11:45IST-SFO
28h 40m1 stop
Delta Logo
00:45 - 16:05SFO-IST
29h 20m2 stops
£486Delta
Find Deal
Thu, 4 Sep - Wed, 17 Sep
Delta Logo
06:10 - 11:45IST-SFO
15h 35m1 stop
Delta Logo
13:15 - 01:20SFO-IST
26h 05m2 stops
£487Delta
Find Deal
Wed, 1 Oct - Sat, 1 Nov
Lufthansa Logo
17:55 - 12:40IST-SFO
28h 45m1 stop
Lufthansa Logo
15:40 - 22:45SFO-IST
21h 05m1 stop
£488Lufthansa
Find Deal
Sun, 7 Dec - Thu, 22 Jan
Lufthansa Logo
19:00 - 12:40IST-SFO
28h 40m1 stop
Lufthansa Logo
08:25 - 22:45SFO-IST
27h 20m2 stops
£490Lufthansa
Find Deal
Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Istanbul to San Francisco

 
Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarisation of KAYAK-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Airports
IST

Expect lengthy waits at security during busy times. Arrive early to navigate the large terminal efficiently.

Read more about ISTby Jenna Scatena
SFO

For a smooth arrival, use BART for affordable city access. The station is in the International Terminal.

Read more about SFOby Blane Bachelor
Our travel experts
Jenna Scatena

Jenna Scatena

Expert on IST

Jenna Scatena

Jenna Scatena

Journalist and Travel Writer, Jenna Scatena is an award-winning travel writer with a love for sharing stories and exploring new places, especially by Vespa. Though she's from San Francisco, she has spent a significant chunk of her vacation days over the last decade eating her way through Texas and sleeping in hotels around the world—especially in California, the Middle East, and Europe.

Read more
Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Expert on SFO

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor is a journalist and editor specialising in travel and aviation who writes regularly for top global outlets. Born and raised in Florida, Blane has worked and lived in four countries, including the Netherlands, where she’s currently based with her family. Her favourite way to get to know a new destination is by running or riding a bike around town – or hearing a spooky ghost story about local history.

Read more
Booking Insights

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

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

How much is a round-trip flight from Istanbul Airport to San Francisco?

What is the cheapest month to fly from Istanbul Airport to San Francisco?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Istanbul Airport to San Francisco, 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 Istanbul Airport to San Francisco is January, where tickets cost £480 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are July and August, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is £746 and £684 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a stopover from Istanbul Airport to San Francisco?

The average return price for all direct flights, flights with one stopover, and flights with two stopovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

Yes, flying with a stopover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 2 stops stopover the cheapest option at £427 on average.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Istanbul Airport to San Francisco, 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 Istanbul Airport to San Francisco, you should book around 2 weeks before departure, which saves you about 17% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 19 weeks before departure.


Good to know - Cheap tickets from Istanbul to San Francisco

Low seasonApril
Cheapest flight£387
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 5% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly (15% more expensive on average)
Flight from Istanbul to San Francisco

When to book flights from Istanbul to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Istanbul to San Francisco 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 Istanbul to San Francisco flights

  • What is the cheapest flight from Istanbul Airport to San Francisco?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Istanbul Airport to San Francisco was £515 for a one-way ticket and £530 for a return.

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

    The Airbus A350-900 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Istanbul to San Francisco flight route.

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

    Star Alliance is the only airline alliance operating flights between Istanbul and San Francisco.

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

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

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Istanbul to San Francisco, United Airlines or Turkish Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Istanbul to San Francisco are United Airlines and Turkish Airlines. With an average price for the route of £470 and an overall rating of 7.4, United Airlines is the most popular choice. Turkish Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of £690 and an overall rating of 7.3.

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

    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 Istanbul to San Francisco.

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

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

    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 Francisco with an airline and back to Istanbul with another airline.

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

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

Prefer to fly direct from Istanbul to San Francisco?

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

Direct departures

Istanbul to San Francisco

Monday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Tuesday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Wednesday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Thursday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Friday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Saturday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Sunday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Francisco to Istanbul

Monday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, RwandAir, +1 more

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +2 more

Tuesday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, RwandAir, +1 more

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +2 more

Wednesday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, RwandAir, +1 more

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +2 more

Thursday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, RwandAir, +1 more

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +2 more

Friday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, RwandAir, +1 more

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +2 more

Saturday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, RwandAir, +1 more

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +2 more

Sunday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, RwandAir, +1 more

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +2 more

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top airlines flying from Istanbul to San Francisco

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Istanbul to San Francisco. 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 Istanbul to San Francisco? 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.
7.4
United AirlinesOverall score based on 8896 reviews
7.7Boarding
7.1Entertainment
7.3Comfort
8.1Crew
6.6Food
Airline reviews

Our experience on United Airlines was extremely poor. The plane was extremely cold throughout our entire flight- which multiple people complained about- and we had to wait 2 hours to get a blanket which was too thin and barely helped warm us up. As well as this, none of the entertainment features were working so we had to sit through a roughly 10 hour flight with nothing to keep our attention, including the actual flight path screen. It was an extremely disappointing experience and I would hope that this gets fixed if we ever choose United Airlines again.

2.0 MediocreAnonymous, Jul 2025LHR - SFO
Read more United Airlines reviews

Our experience on United Airlines was extremely poor. The plane was extremely cold throughout our entire flight- which multiple people complained about- and we had to wait 2 hours to get a blanket which was too thin and barely helped warm us up. As well as this, none of the entertainment features were working so we had to sit through a roughly 10 hour flight with nothing to keep our attention, including the actual flight path screen. It was an extremely disappointing experience and I would hope that this gets fixed if we ever choose United Airlines again.

I really enjoyed flying with United airlines amazing experience , good customer service and great food

1.It will be better if sandwich is warm. 2.The food is too salty. 3.Breakfast needs some vegetables or fruits.

Boarded plane and then delayed 1.5 hours while on the plane

It was all good flight was on time, service was good I enjoyed a few movies and everything was smooth

My flight was delayed a very short period of time but they did not hold my connecting flight to San Diego, also through United. So they closed the doors before we got off our plane. They would only have to help the door open for another five to ten minutes. So I missed a court deadline for a manditory mediation settlement conference for my client. I had to get an associate to be there in person and be on the phone with him relaying what he needs to do the entire time. The court was very upset with me and so was my client. United cannot be trusted.

Really good 😊 the woman at the gate entrance was a little rude checking in our carry-on but i dont think she worked for the airline, she worked for the airport at sacramento, other than that amazing.

Boarding was mayhem. Late boarding by 15 minutes because of lack of staff (missing 1 flight attendant. We had to wait for an arrival of another plane before we could board). Flight was a little rough, but cannot blame on airlines.

Airbus plane, nice and polite staff, entertainment even as it was a short flight.

United out of SFO is having issues with catering so none of our meals were loaded on the plane and no offer of compensation for our tickets purchased was offered.

Took forever to board. They made announcements without the loudspeaker and since the waiting room was full of screaming kids, no one could hear what they were saying. The business class sleeper seats were designed for tall skinny people. When partially reclined there was nowhere to rest my feet because they did not reach the footrest. and when fully reclined there wasn't room at my sides for my arms. Definitely one of the worst sleeper seats I have ever had.

About an hour delay but we made it to Chicago. I feel that the smaller connecting flights are the ones that cause the delays on the bigger planes that fly international.

Amazing trip! No delays, no broken or lost luggage, and amazing food.

The food we received during the flight was excellent. The service was very friendly. Definitely the best value for the money when flying across the Atlantic.

I use a wheelchair for mobility. Both in my flight from Houston and back to Houston from Istanbul, the Turkish airline staff asked that I claim my wheelchair at the luggage area. On arrival to Istanbul, parts of the wheelchair were in disarray at that time I raised no objection however upon claiming my wheelchair in Houston parts where outright missing. In both occasions, upon arriving in Houston and arriving in Istanbul, I asked multiple times why am made to pick up my wheelchair in the baggage claim rather than at the jet bridge. Getting the wheelchair at the jet bridge minimizes the probability of loosing parts because they can be hopefully reclaimed on the spot. I was told in Houston that a manager turned down my request to claim the wheelchair at the jet bridge in Houston. This is extremely frustrating because a wheelchair is not a set of clean underwear or a toothbrush- this is the way I move. A Turkish Arline staff took my complaint at the luggage claim area in Houston but as of the writing of this review the only contact I have received from the airline is because I initiated a claim rather than her as she told me she would.

The security at the airport was excellent. The one criticism is the boarding process just before entering the plane. There were only 2 boarding lines and there were no barriers thus leading to a mass rush to enter the plane. I suggest that they board by rows, eight or ten rows at a time to prevent the mass rush to enter the plane. Otherwise, I would highly recommend Turkish Airlines

I liked everything: the work of the flight attendants, the work of the crew, the frequency on the plane and in the toilet.

The check in process at Istanbul airport caused my family a great deal of stress and disappointment due to the following factors: 1) WE HAD TO PAY US$330 for check on bags, despite holding Economy tickets that Turkish airlines website clearly states that flights from Istanbul to Miami had a 2 checked bags allowance. 2) Airport staff not only lacked empathy for senior travelers (75 yrs old and 71 yrs old), but were also rude as well. The supervisor at check it offered "if you don't pay for the bags, you can just remain and sleep at the airport for however long you wish. What a terrible way to treat customers !!! 3) We were bumped from agent to agent to agent FIVE times, showing everyone the communication we received telling us we had the 2 bags entitlement. Two elderly people lugging 4 suitcase around and around the Turkish terminal. Again, what a sad way to treat customers !!! 4) We need a case opened to get a refund for the amount we paid. Something is amiss, screams unethical, and sounds unscrupulous......At First , we were told we must pay for 4 bags. All of a sudden, it became 2 bags, and finally all 4 bags were checked on with payments demanded for 2. Why did it vary from agent to agent???? 5) OVERALL, A TERRIBLE AND SUSPICIOUSLLY UNSCRUPULOUS EXPERIENCE FLYING WITH TURKISH AIRLINES. WE ARE TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED AND SAD THAT OUR VISIT TO A BEAUTIFUL CITY ENDED IN SUCH A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE

I recently flew with Turkish Airlines, and I can confidently say it was one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had. From the moment I boarded, the crew was incredibly attentive, warm, and professional. They went above and beyond to ensure everyone was comfortable and well taken care of throughout the flight. The highlight, however, was the food! I’ve flown with many airlines, but Turkish Airlines sets the bar incredibly high when it comes to in-flight dining. Every meal was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The variety of dishes, even on a long-haul flight, was impressive. It felt like dining at a high-end restaurant at 35,000 feet! The seats were comfortable, the entertainment options were great, and the overall atmosphere made the journey enjoyable. Turkish Airlines truly excels in combining luxury and hospitality. I wouldn’t hesitate to fly with them again—highly recommend!

One of the best flights I have been on in a while.

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

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