NYC - SFO

£83 Find Cheap Flights from New York 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 New York to San Francisco departing on 19/5. 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 Francisco

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

Cheapest return fare
£169
Overall average: £286
United Airlines
Fri 24/4Tue 28/4
EWR - SFO • Direct
Cheapest direct flights
£169
Typical prices: £224-£385
United Airlines
Fri 24/4Sat 2/5
EWR - SFO • Direct
Advice from real travellers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts and KAYAK users. AI can make mistakes.
Delta's Comfort Plus offers extra legroom and free Wi-Fi.
Bring food for Alaska flights; JFK's options are limited.
Expert advice
Expert advice
+1
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Expert advice
Expert advice
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Top airlines
Cheapest • from £169 (return)
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Direct flights
You can fly direct with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and others. Average duration is 6h 36m
Direct flights
Direct flights
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Direct flights
Direct flights
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Top routes
Cheapest • 47% average savings
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 84% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Top stopover airports
Cheapest • Avg £206 (return)
Shortest trip • 11h 41m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 44% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 18% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
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Good to know
Good to know
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Flight Deals
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Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from New York to San Francisco (NYC-SFO)

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

Fri, 24 Apr - Tue, 28 Apr
United Airlines Logo
07:05 - 10:25
EWR
-
SFO
6h 20mdirect
United Airlines Logo
23:05 - 07:50
SFO
-
EWR
5h 45mdirect
£169United Airlines
Fri, 8 May - Sun, 10 May
Frontier Logo
13:00 - 19:34
JFK
-
SFO
9h 34m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
22:15 - 11:39
SFO
-
JFK
10h 24m
1 stop
£182Frontier
Tue, 21 Apr - Tue, 28 Apr
Southwest Logo
14:15 - 22:10
LGA
-
SFO
10h 55m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
22:40 - 09:30
SFO
-
LGA
7h 50m
1 stop
£184Southwest
Tue, 28 Apr - Tue, 5 May
Alaska Airlines Logo
16:31 - 23:01
EWR
-
SFO
9h 30m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:25 - 23:29
SFO
-
EWR
10h 04m
1 stop
£184Alaska Airlines
Fri, 24 Apr - Wed, 29 Apr
Southwest Logo
16:30 - 23:05
LGA
-
SFO
9h 35m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
22:40 - 09:50
SFO
-
LGA
8h 10m
1 stop
£184Southwest
Thu, 16 Apr - Sat, 2 May
American Airlines Logo
17:06 - 23:09
LGA
-
SFO
9h 03m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
07:00 - 18:09
SFO
-
LGA
8h 09m
1 stop
£185American Airlines
Wed, 22 Apr - Wed, 29 Apr
Alaska Airlines Logo
07:59 - 11:25
EWR
-
SFO
6h 26mdirect
Alaska Airlines Logo
09:00 - 23:29
SFO
-
EWR
11h 29m
1 stop
£187Alaska Airlines
Sat, 25 Apr - Tue, 28 Apr
Alaska Airlines Logo
17:28 - 21:09
JFK
-
SFO
6h 41mdirect
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:25 - 22:59
SFO
-
JFK
9h 34m
1 stop
£187Alaska Airlines
Wed, 22 Apr - Sat, 25 Apr
Multiple Airlines Logo
05:59 - 17:34
EWR
-
SFO
14h 35m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
18:57 - 06:39
SFO
-
EWR
8h 42m
1 stop
£188Multiple Airlines
Thu, 16 Apr - Sat, 2 May
American Airlines Logo
06:29 - 09:56
JFK
-
SFO
6h 27mdirect
American Airlines Logo
15:17 - 23:59
SFO
-
JFK
5h 42mdirect
£194American Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK’s insights & trends for New York to San Francisco flights

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

How much is a return flight from New York to San Francisco?

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

What is the cheapest New York to San Francisco flight route?

Data is based on round-trip flight searches on KAYAK over the past month.

The cheapest return flight from New York to San Francisco costs £247 on the route between New York John F Kennedy Intl Airport (JFK) and San Francisco (SFO). Over the past month, this route was, on average, 47% cheaper than other New York-San Francisco routes. It is also the most popular route.

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

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

When flying from New York to San Francisco, you should consider leaving on a Wednesday and avoid Saturdays if you are looking for the best rates. For your return to New York, you’ll find the best rates on Thursdays and the most expensive ones on Tuesdays.

What is the cheapest month to fly from New York to San Francisco?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from New York 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 New York to San Francisco is January, where tickets cost £244 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and June, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is £365 and £331 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a stopover from New York 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 1 stop stopover the cheapest option at £269 on average.

How far in advance should I book a flight from New York 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 New York 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 New York to San Francisco, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 44% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 9 weeks before departure.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from New York to San Francisco

 
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on Delta, United Airlines and EWR

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or out at sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Expert on SFO

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.

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on JFK

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, The Points Guy, and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Good to know - Cheap tickets from New York to San Francisco

Low seasonJanuary
Best time to beat the crowds (19% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (21% more expensive on average)

When to book flights from New York to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from New York 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.

Flights from New York to San Francisco: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travellers who flew the route from New York to San Francisco 
BeverlyFlew with JetBlue
JFK
-
SFO
Dec 2025
Wear support socks which helps when you sit for a long time.
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
EWR
-
SFO
Dec 2025
Bring your own food and in flight activity since they don’t supply any.
LuisFlew with Delta
JFK
-
SFO
Mar 2025
It’s a long flight, come prepared to either watch movies, read or sleep.
JulieFlew with Alaska Airlines
JFK
-
SFO
Oct 2024
Leave early. JFK can be messy. I couldn’t find healthy food choices so eat before you arrive.
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
JFK
-
SFO
Jun 2024
SFO is one of the most convenient and pleasant airports. When flying Alaska Air make sure to bring your food and a larger water bottle that usual (you get only two drink services (one small cup each) for a 6 hour flight.
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
JFK
-
SFO
May 2024
The airport food was limited and expensive. Best to bring a sandwich from outside…

FAQs for booking flights from New York to San Francisco

  • Is public transportation available from San Francisco Airport to the city?

    BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) operates 3 to 4 trains per hour from all of the terminals at San Francisco airport, and the trip to downtown San Francisco takes about 30 minutes. The fare for the trip is around $10.

  • Can I get a Lyft from San Francisco Airport?

    Yes, you can. Upon landing and collecting any bags, open the app to request your ride, noting your designated pick-up zone for your terminal. The cost of the trip will be between $30-$40.

  • What is the fastest way for me to get to Newark airport for my flight from New York to San Francisco?

    AirTrain is a simple way to get to and from Newark Liberty International Airport. The AirTrain system connects with all major bus and rail lines, meaning you can get to Newark Airport from almost anywhere in the New York and New Jersey areas with ease.

  • What is the absolute fastest way to get from Manhattan to New York John F. Kennedy International?

    Gotham Air offers helicopter service from Manhattan to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport for only $99 per person for first-time users. They even serve hors d’oeuvres created by Chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery and drinks on afternoon flights for the six-minute trip.

  • What is the cheapest flight from New York to San Francisco?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from New York to San Francisco was £83 for a one-way ticket and £169 for a return.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from New York to San Francisco?

    When flying out of New York you will be using one of these airports: Newark or New York John F Kennedy Intl. You will be landing at San Francisco.

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

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

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

    The Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the New York to San Francisco flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from New York to San Francisco?

    SkyTeam, and oneworld are the airline alliances operating flights between New York and San Francisco, with SkyTeam being the most commonly used for this route.

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

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

  • Which is the best airline for flights from New York to San Francisco, Alaska Airlines or Frontier?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from New York to San Francisco are Alaska Airlines and Frontier. With an average price for the route of £262 and an overall rating of 7.9, Alaska Airlines is the most popular choice. Frontier is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of £206 and an overall rating of 5.7.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from New York 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 New York to San Francisco.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San Francisco from New York 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 New York 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 New York with another airline.

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

  • Looking for a cheap flight from New York to San Francisco? 25% of our users found flights on this route for £139 or less one-way and £274 or less round-trip.
  • If you would prefer to stay a little closer to the airport in San Francisco to stay more centralized for access to the entire bay area, a good choice is La Quinta Inn & Suites San Francisco Airport West, which is located just outside the entrance to the airport. The hotel features free Wifi, parking, and breakfast. The hotel is air-conditioned, has a pool, and is centered perfectly between downtown San Francisco, the south bay area, and the coast.
  • San Francisco is well-known for its very unpredictable weather. If you did not pack just the right coat before your flight from New York to San Francisco, stop in at Lacoste in Terminal B between the entrances for the B and C gates at New York LaGuardia Airport to get the perfect jacket for the trip.
  • Travelers that would like a little mood boost before flights from New York to San Francisco would do well to stop in at the Happy Clam at Newark International Airport. The Happy Clam puts a unique spin on classic Italian dishes and is a notch above the regular grab-and-go airport food you so often find in terminal buildings.
  • If your flight from New York to San Francisco is at the crack of dawn, why not start your vacation one night early by staying at Aloft New York LaGuardia Airport, located right at the entrance to New York LaGuardia Airport? This sleek and modern hotel offers free WiFi and free shuttles to the airport.
  • San Francisco is known to be a food lover’s dream. Why not get into a culinary state of mind before your flight from New York to San Francisco by stopping in at Deep Blue on the Fly, located in the marketplace in Terminal 5 of John F. Kennedy Intl. Airport? Deep Blue puts a sophisticated spin on classic Asian favorites and offers a full menu of sushi rolls and wraps.

Prefer to fly direct from New York to San Francisco?

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

Direct departures

New York to San Francisco

Monday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

Friday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Francisco to New York

Monday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

Friday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,American Airlines, +2 more

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top airlines flying from New York to San Francisco

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from New York 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 New York 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.
7.9
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 12052 reviews
8.5Crew
7.0Entertainment
7.8Comfort
7.1Food
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

Representatives both at the gate and on the plane have zero interest in helping you! It’s really unfortunate…

4.0 OkayAnonymous, Feb 2026
LAS - SFO
Read more Alaska Airlines reviews

Representatives both at the gate and on the plane have zero interest in helping you! It’s really unfortunate…

I was in economy class and there was plenty of leg room. New interior which was nice and they served various kinds of chips and sodas on the red eye. You couldn't get a bottle of water but they instead served it in a medium paper cup from a reinforced structured paper container, environmental friendly.

Great experience, staff and crew were very professional, friendly and helpful!

I fell asleep and missed my flight and they rescheduled me no problem. Staff was professional and the plane was clean. I was very happy with my experience.

Alaska used to be a top notch airline. With it's growth it is now in line with the big airlines. Not bad, not great.

Overall it was fine, however one of my two checked bags did not arrive and I was told it was left in Palm Springs. I don't understand how one of the two bags made it through fine but the other got lost .

The seats are very small. I’m 5’ 3”, so don’t think I should notice. The food selection was non existent and very disappointing. 5 hour flight plus TSA, etc. I would have appreciated a small salad, crudités. Something fresher not just chips.

Was notified the departure would be late. Later on it was suddenly on time. Traffic by LAX was horrendous, and I missed the flight.

you sent me to some shitty "Airfaireassist" thing that did a bait and switch on the faire. Won't be using Kayak ever again

Every thing is on time, boarding, landing nice and smooth. But No tv? No food for 6 hours flight?

Our flight was canceled. I will never use Kayak nor Frontier for travel again. The entire experience was a headache.

Terrible. The canceled my entire flight when I requested a refund for a trip frontier canceled trip one way.

i was unable to check in the flight. refund requested

I think Frontier was very good at communication. Their app worked very well. Loading was great and the flight was nice and easy.

Great for the price. No wifi or entertainment, but gate agents and crew were fantastic and we boarded quickly and left on time.

The worst. They don’t follow procedure for boarding per group. Flight got delayed for no understandably reasons, they changed our destination from PR to Miami, left us inside a plane for more than 8 hours, then cancelled flight in Miami leaving us stranded. Poorly managed re-accommodation for a new flight and overnight stay so I have to spend in a new ticket and my own hotel room to been able to get to my office next day. Lost 2 days of work and as a doctor, patients loosing their appointments. to other flights and besides

Decent clean onboard experience. Okay discount airline experience. Unfortunately, any customer service interactions are difficult and unhelpful. There is no service. Also, a premium seat only gets you premium boarding if you line up first. Once they start general boarding you must go to the back of the line. Not very premium

I was 2 hr arrive in the airport and 45 min in the line . After take to my turn . The agent tell me I’m later . I can not board . So my vacation was going to the floor . Just for their bad customer service agent in the airline

The crew was mostly okay. The flight attendant who answered our questions was curt and unhelpful unfortunately. He seemed upset and I understand having off days.

Very bad! No good service delayed my second connection flight

Everything you need to know for your flight from New York to San Francisco

Information on your arrival and departure airports