£263 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Madrid – Compare and Save

Only Economy class is available on flights from San Francisco to Madrid.

A direct flight from San Francisco to Madrid takes 00m, covering 5,794 miles.

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 San Francisco to Madrid range from £485 to £861, with an average of £634 over the past 12 months. Anything below £485 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 4% above the £634 route average. Book 19 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average £469 return via Kastrup Copenhagen (CPH), compared with £741 for direct.

Iberia is the only airline operating San Francisco to Madrid flights. 81% of its flights are on time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge £48–£75 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

The Airbus A330-200 family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Iberia and British Airways. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A330 variants.

Four airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi on San Francisco to Madrid flights:

• Iberia
• British Airways
• Aer Lingus
• Finnair

Pricing varies by airline and fare class. Some plans are included with the ticket or loyalty programme, while others are paid add-ons priced by flight length.

One-way fares from San Francisco to Madrid are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about £272, which is 30% below the typical average for this route.

Flights from San Francisco to Madrid usually depart from San Francisco (SFO) and arrive at Madrid Barajas (MAD).

Evening flights have the fewest delays on this route, while afternoon 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 San Francisco to Madrid route, 19% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 3h 07m.

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

• Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS) – 39% of one-stop connections
• London Heathrow (LHR) – 9% of one-stop connections
• Frankfurt am Main (FRA) – 8% of one-stop connections
• Munich Franz Josef Strauss (MUC) – 7% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 21% on flights from San Francisco to Madrid. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at £560 return on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at £704, a difference of £144.

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

Flying via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 15h 24m, compared to 15h 35m via Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Intl (YUL) and 15h 41m via Zurich (ZRH).

Madrid is 8 hours ahead of San Francisco (Central European Time vs Pacific Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Some of the most popular sights in Madrid are Spain Building, Puerta del Sol, and Estado Santiago Bernabéu. These are among the most viewed places in Madrid on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating San Francisco to Madrid flights:

• Iberia: offers free seat selection
• American Airlines: offers free seat selection
• Aer Lingus: offers free seat selection
• Finnair: offers free seat selection
• Alaska 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:

• Iberia: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• American Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Aer Lingus: 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.

The BART is far and away the easiest and most reliable option. Bay Area Rapid Transit runs directly to and from the airport on a regular schedule. The ride takes 30min one-way from the airport to downtown, and costs about $9.65.

Madrid’s Metro (subway) system is extremely popular and easy to use. It runs about €6-7 ($7-8.00) one-way. If you’re watching your euros, the bus is only €2.5 ($3.00). As with any bus, it’s not the fastest route but it’ll get you there. Hiring a taxi is an easy and direct option, but fares vary a lot.

If you are an aviation history buff, you might already know that SFO is home to the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum. The artistic city of San Francisco doesn’t disappoint with the SFO Museum, inside the airport, which curates a variety of permanent and rotating installations from talented artists. Listen closely and follow your ears to experience live music from locals.

Let your kids roam on both sides of the Atlantic. In SFO you’ll find play areas in terminals 1, 2, and 3. They also offer a nursery in each of the terminals, should you need more privacy. In Madrid Airport there is a play area waiting, located in the main transit area near McDonald’s. All ticketed passengers with kids are welcome to use it, and there are quieter nursery rooms here too if needed.

If you’ll be landing at an odd hour, or just want some time to find your bearings before you move on with your trip, Madrid-Barajas International Airport (MAD) offers Air Rooms. Located right in the airport, you can rent a room for part of the day or overnight. Enjoy a shower, Wi-Fi, TV, mini bar and a meal before you head out to explore Madrid.