NYC - SFO

£128 Find Cheap Flights from New York to San Francisco – Compare and Save

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 25/8. 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

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return fare
£238
Typical prices: £190-£257
Frontier
Sat 5/9Sat 5/9
LGA - SFO • 1 stop
Cheapest direct flights
£255
Typical prices: £214-£399
JetBlue
Sat 31/10Sat 31/10
JFK - SFO • Direct
Advice from real travellers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts and KAYAK users. AI can make mistakes.
Delta Comfort Plus adds legroom and free Wi-Fi on domestic New York-San Francisco flights.
United Economy Plus adds legroom, while Priority Boarding helps secure bin space.
Expert advice
Expert advice
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Top airlines
Cheapest • from £238 (return)
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Airline reviews
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Direct flights
You can fly direct with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and others. Average duration is 6h 22m
Direct flights
Direct flights
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Direct flights
Direct flights
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Top routes
Cheapest • 36% average savings
Most popular
Insights
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Avoid delays
Most punctual • 83% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
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Top stopover airports
Cheapest • Avg £202 (return)
Shortest trip • 11h 41m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 40% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
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Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 26% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
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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

Sat, 5 Sep - Sat, 5 Sep
Frontier Logo
06:13 - 19:03
LGA
-
SFO
15h 50m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
22:35 - 16:00
SFO
-
LGA
14h 25m
1 stop
£238Frontier
Sat, 29 Aug - Sat, 5 Sep
Frontier Logo
06:13 - 19:03
LGA
-
SFO
15h 50m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
22:35 - 16:00
SFO
-
LGA
14h 25m
1 stop
£238Frontier
Tue, 10 Nov - Tue, 10 Nov
Alaska Airlines Logo
16:00 - 21:56
JFK
-
SFO
8h 56m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
23:00 - 07:46
SFO
-
JFK
5h 46mdirect
£238Alaska Airlines
Sat, 5 Sep - Sat, 19 Sep
Frontier Logo
06:13 - 19:03
LGA
-
SFO
15h 50m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
22:05 - 16:00
SFO
-
LGA
14h 55m
1 stop
£238Frontier
Thu, 10 Sep - Fri, 11 Sep
Alaska Airlines Logo
18:59 - 22:19
JFK
-
SFO
6h 20mdirect
Alaska Airlines Logo
07:08 - 22:59
SFO
-
JFK
12h 51m
1 stop
£242Alaska Airlines
Sat, 5 Sep - Sat, 19 Sep
Alaska Airlines Logo
16:29 - 19:45
JFK
-
SFO
6h 16mdirect
Alaska Airlines Logo
18:58 - 06:01
SFO
-
JFK
8h 03m
1 stop
£249Alaska Airlines
Tue, 1 Dec - Fri, 4 Dec
Delta Logo
17:20 - 20:58
JFK
-
SFO
6h 38mdirect
Delta Logo
21:40 - 06:04
SFO
-
JFK
5h 24mdirect
£259Delta
Thu, 3 Sep - Fri, 11 Sep
Delta Logo
20:55 - 00:36
JFK
-
SFO
6h 41mdirect
Delta Logo
16:05 - 00:35
SFO
-
JFK
5h 30mdirect
£259Delta
Sat, 29 Aug - Sat, 5 Sep
American Airlines Logo
21:30 - 00:59
JFK
-
SFO
6h 29mdirect
American Airlines Logo
12:23 - 23:58
SFO
-
JFK
8h 35m
1 stop
£268American Airlines
Sat, 5 Sep - Sat, 19 Sep
American Airlines Logo
21:30 - 00:59
JFK
-
SFO
6h 29mdirect
American Airlines Logo
15:10 - 23:59
SFO
-
JFK
5h 49mdirect
£278American 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 September.

Flight prices are below average for this route right now.

Flights to San Francisco from New York usually cost between £257 and £450 in September.
The lowest price found in the past 5 days was £238 on Frontier (5 Sept–5 Sept).

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 £229 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, 36% cheaper than other New York-San Francisco routes. The most popular route is between Newark Airport (EWR) and San Francisco (SFO).

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 Friday and avoid Wednesdays if you are looking for the best rates. For your return to New York, you’ll find the best rates on Saturdays and the most expensive ones on Sundays.

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 £242 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is £426 and £397 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 £347 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 40% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 12 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 season

January

Cheapest flight

£128
Best time to beat the crowds (26% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (11% more expensive on average)
Flight from Newark Liberty Airport to San Francisco

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 
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
JFK
-
SFO
Jun 2026
Expect to leave for JFK 3 hrs prior to flight if traveling by car from Upper West Side. You will want to arrive 1.5 H prior to departure
MitchellFlew with United Airlines
EWR
-
SFO
Apr 2026
security access line for Premier access was very reasonable, process was less than 10-15 minutes. Leave time for dropping off a rental car - is a bit of a walk and then AirTrain transfer due to the current construction - so allow time for less stress. take advantage of the tables in the boarding area for charging devices or doing work.
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 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from New York to San Francisco was £128 for a one-way ticket and £238 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, Alaska Airlines, and Delta 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.

  • 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 £169 or less one-way and £583 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 12754 reviews
7.8Comfort
8.1Boarding
8.5Crew
7.0Food
7.0Entertainment
Airline reviews

Alaska Airlines cancelled my flight the night before and then waited hours to let me know that they rebooked me on a flight 2 days later

2.0 MediocreAnonymous, Jul 2026
JFK - SFO
Read more Alaska Airlines reviews

Alaska Airlines cancelled my flight the night before and then waited hours to let me know that they rebooked me on a flight 2 days later

The check-in crew for Alaska was rude, unhelpful, and the opposite of customer-centric. We arrived 50 minutes before our flight and were told it was too late to check baggage. When I asked what the cutoff was, the agent started speaking in codes “D50” and yelling to their manager who also spoke in codes. They then tried to speak to me using these codes and all I wanted to know was the time of the cutoff, which they would not — or could not — articulate. They booked me and my family on the next flight while smirking.

I don’t think Alaska coordinates with Kayak. I did not get a “check-in” email inviting me to check in 24 hours in advance. Had to wait 20+ minutes to get a wheel chair.

Overall the flight was on-time and plane ride very comfortable. The free snacks not so good - only a small bag of pretzels and no milk. I wanted milk. There was not entertainment on the plane unless I wanted to download their APP. But I would consider flying with them again and be more prepared on my part with food and entertainment.

Miss bigger screens for movies Staff was friendly Seats comfortable Bathroom line long

If there were movies it would have made the flight much easier.

I had a negative experience, the flight delay was very long, I didn't like it

The seats in first class are very dated and quite uncomfortable. I don’t need lie-flat seats for a 6 hour flight, but more recline is really necessary.

Flight was delayed. Crew was not helpful in the plane.

This was my first trip in years with Alaska. I don’t think I’ll do it again. The planes are old and tired looking. The seats are small with zero legroom. The JFK terminal is one of the worst I’ve been in. On this flight the pilot had to abort the landing and circle the Bay before trying again. I think I’ll stick with the usual suspects …

Everything was good except checking bags . I had paid for two bags but it didn’t show so we had to do it again while people waited and we were struggling to get to our flight

Flight delayed 4 times on a non-stop from BOS to SFO. Then when landed in SFO had to wait for 30 mins for a gate AT 3:30AM.

The security line at JFK was one of the longest I’ve ever experienced - probably 45 minutes. I don’t know if JetBlue has control over it, but it detracted from the overall experience. Entertainment had good options, but the volume control was a bit small to tap on and the screen had a fair amount of interference blips. Clearer picture would have been better.

Whole experience was poor. Delayed 2 hours. Lied about the delays. Was all jet blues fault and tried to blame on air traffic control. Sent out other let trips and wouldn't allow people to switch aircraft.

Kayak sucked. You gave me a confirmation number that was not useable by the jet blue system. Nor did you send any check in emails. I’ll not be using your site again. Nice work.

Flight emergency landed in Chicago due to “Odor” in back of plane . Had to buy ANOTHER TICKET to get to Boston cash out of my own pocket . Then they would notchange my return flight time without a 400. Charge!!!! Insulting.

we were an hour delayed after boarding and given no reason. Headsets cost money. Also there were openrows with no one setting in them but we were told we were not allowed to swtich.

Very pleasant flight attendants. Gate crew rather loud chatting with each other.

Communication with the customer and stay is important. Staff off with a minor inconvenience but it worked out of course. Also this was a very old Mint Class plane. They snuck this one in on us. The updated aircraft are much better.

Service for food to our seat was a bit slow. Snack choices were just pretzels or baked chips. My seat cushion was not attached. Other than Barbie, video choice were not very good or current.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports