SYD - SFO

£314 Find Cheap Flights from Sydney to San Francisco – Compare and Save

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1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
£595
Typical prices: £668-£1,046
Multiple Airlines
Sat 17/11Sat 24/11
SYD - SFO • 2 stops
Cheapest direct flights
£652
Typical prices: £754-£1,191
United Airlines
Fri 23/11Thu 6/12
SYD - SFO • Direct
Advice from real travellers
Lufthansa Premium Economy adds 50% more space and an extra checked bag.
United offers free Wi-Fi messaging on most flights; arrive early for SYD security.
Expert advice
+1
Expert advice
+1
Direct flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines and Qantas Airways. Average duration is 13h 39m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 85% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 12 weeks in advance save around 21% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 14% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top stopover airports
Cheapest • Avg £700 (return)
Shortest trip • 18h 27m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Start a new search
KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you enjoy your trip to San Francisco!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Sydney to San Francisco (SYD-SFO)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from Sydney to San Francisco

Tue, 17 Nov - Tue, 24 Nov
Multiple Airlines Logo
21:40 - 23:27SYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-SFO San Francisco
20h 47m2 stops Honolulu Los Angeles
Multiple Airlines Logo
22:31 - 19:45SFO  San Francisco-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
26h 14m2 stops Los Angeles Honolulu
£595Multiple Airlines
Fri, 19 Mar - Fri, 19 Mar
United Airlines Logo
10:20 - 20:10SYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-SFO San Francisco
27h 50m1 stop Los Angeles
United Airlines Logo
23:55 - 09:20SFO  San Francisco-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
15h 25mdirect
£617United Airlines
Thu, 1 Apr - Thu, 15 Apr
Fiji Airways Logo
14:15 - 13:40SYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-SFO San Francisco
17h 25m1 stop Nadi
Fiji Airways Logo
23:10 - 11:50SFO  San Francisco-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
19h 40m1 stop Nadi
£628Fiji Airways
Mon, 23 Nov - Sun, 6 Dec
United Airlines Logo
11:50 - 06:25SYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-SFO San Francisco
13h 35mdirect
United Airlines Logo
20:00 - 06:20SFO  San Francisco-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
15h 20mdirect
£652United Airlines
Wed, 4 Nov - Tue, 24 Nov
United Airlines Logo
11:50 - 06:25SYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-SFO San Francisco
13h 35mdirect
United Airlines Logo
23:05 - 09:20SFO  San Francisco-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
15h 15mdirect
£655United Airlines
Mon, 9 Nov - Sun, 22 Nov
United Airlines Logo
11:50 - 06:25SYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-SFO San Francisco
13h 35mdirect
United Airlines Logo
23:05 - 09:20SFO  San Francisco-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
15h 15mdirect
£656United Airlines
Mon, 1 Feb - Mon, 15 Feb
United Airlines Logo
13:20 - 08:10SYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-SFO San Francisco
13h 50mdirect
United Airlines Logo
17:42 - 09:05SFO  San Francisco-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
20h 23m1 stop Los Angeles
£657United Airlines
Wed, 4 Nov - Tue, 24 Nov
United Airlines Logo
11:50 - 06:25SYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-SFO San Francisco
13h 35mdirect
United Airlines Logo
13:50 - 09:05SFO  San Francisco-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
24h 15m1 stop Los Angeles
£658United Airlines
Mon, 23 Nov - Mon, 7 Dec
United Airlines Logo
11:20 - 14:35SYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-SFO San Francisco
22h 15m1 stop Los Angeles
United Airlines Logo
23:05 - 09:20SFO  San Francisco-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
15h 15mdirect
£660United Airlines
Mon, 9 Nov - Sun, 22 Nov
Delta Logo
10:40 - 23:21SYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-SFO San Francisco
31h 41m1 stop Los Angeles
Delta Logo
19:21 - 08:30SFO  San Francisco-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
42h 09m2 stops Salt Lake City Los Angeles
£661Delta
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for Sydney to San Francisco flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Sydney to San Francisco?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Sydney to San Francisco. It’s 4% cheaper than the average day, while Saturday is the most expensive, with prices 10% higher.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Sydney to San Francisco?

•August is the cheapest month to fly from Sydney to San Francisco at £695 return.
•July (£946) and December (£931) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 36% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from Sydney to San Francisco the cheapest?

Flights from Sydney to San Francisco are cheapest 12 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 21% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Sydney to San Francisco

 
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines

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.

Jessica Macdonald

Jessica Macdonald

Expert on Lufthansa

Currently based in Scotland after living in South Africa and the United States, Jessica has been writing travel and aviation content for more than 10 years. She regularly contributes to Travel + Leisure and TripSavvy, and has had work published by Condé Nast Traveller and The Independent. She has travelled to more than 50 countries across six continents.

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.

Robert Schrader

Robert Schrader

Expert on SYD

One of the web's original travel bloggers, Robert launched his first site, Leave Your Daily Hell, in 2009. Since then, he's expanded into destination niche sites (one each for Japan, Thailand and Taiwan), in addition to having written for the inflight magazines of Singapore Airlines and Korean Air. Overall, he's visited nearly 100 countries, and flies business as often as possible.

Key details for Sydney to San Francisco flights

Low season

October

Cheapest flight

£314
Beat the crowds with an average 14% drop in traveller numbers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 24% increase in traveller numbers.
One-way flight from Sydney to San Francisco

When to book flights from Sydney to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Sydney to San Francisco based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

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

Insights shared by verified travellers who flew the route from Sydney to San Francisco 
Verified travelerFlew with United Airlines-Sept 2026
Make sure you have your own regular plug-in headphones - not usb-c. Yes they provide them, but they tend to apmpmif the airplane engine noise. Be sure to get some movement in before your flight...its a long time to sit.
AurianneFlew with United Airlines-Sept 2024
Ensure you have 2-3 hours layover You’ll likely need unless you don’t mind missing your next flight
DonnaFlew with Qantas Airways-Dec 2023
We got off a cruise so were at the airport over 7hrs before our flight. We paid for the day pass at the Premium Club. Totally worth it! It was quiet and offered food, drinks, showers and when they closed, we were able to go to the downstairs lounge which opened at 6:30. This lounge was much larger and had a bigger selection of food and beverages. Would definitely go there again.

Your Sydney to San Francisco flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking tips.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Sydney to San Francisco?

    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.

  • Which cabin classes can I book on flights from Sydney to San Francisco?

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

    • Economy class
    • Premium Economy Class
    • Business Class

  • How long is a flight from Sydney to San Francisco?

    A direct flight from Sydney to San Francisco takes 13h 39m, covering 7,420 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Sydney to San Francisco?

    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.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Sydney to San Francisco flight?

    Return flights from Sydney to San Francisco range from £668 to £1,046, with an average of £803 over the past 12 months. Anything below £668 counts as a good deal.

  • How expensive are last-minute Sydney to San Francisco flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 14% above the £803 route average. Book 12 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How much can I save by having a stopover when flying from Sydney to San Francisco?

    On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average £700 return via Auckland Intl (AKL), compared with £915 for direct.

  • Which aircraft model is used most often on flights from Sydney to San Francisco?

    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.

  • How are flight departures from Sydney to San Francisco spread across the day?

    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%.

  • How are flight prices from Sydney to San Francisco looking right now?

    One-way fares from Sydney to San Francisco are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about £444, which is 30% below the typical average for this route.

  • Which car hire options are available at San Francisco Airport (SFO)?

    San Francisco Airport (SFO) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around £11 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Europcar
    • Thrifty
    • Dollar
    • Hertz
    • Fox

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Sydney to San Francisco?

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

  • What time of day has the fewest delays on flights from Sydney to San Francisco?

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

  • At what point is a flight considered delayed on the route from Sydney to San Francisco?

    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.

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Sydney to San Francisco pass through?

    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

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Sydney to San Francisco?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 13% on flights from Sydney to San Francisco. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at £772 return on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at £885, a difference of £113.

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

  • Which airlines fly from Sydney to San Francisco?

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

    • United Airlines
    • Qantas Airways

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different stopover airport from Sydney to San Francisco?

    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).

  • What is the time difference between Sydney and San Francisco?

    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.

  • What popular places can I visit in San Francisco?

    Some of the most popular sights in San Francisco are Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, and Moscone Center. These are among the most viewed places in San Francisco on KAYAK.

  • Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on Sydney to San Francisco flights?

    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.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Sydney to San Francisco flights?

    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.

  • What shopping options are there at Sydney Airport?

    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.

  • Are there airport hotels at Sydney Airport?

    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.

  • What lounges are available in the international terminal of Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport?

    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.

Your guide to booking Sydney to San Francisco flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly, and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Wednesday departure and avoid flying on Saturday. On this route, Wednesday flights average £772, about £113 less than Saturday fares (13% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 12 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 21% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Sydney to San Francisco trip for August. Fares historically average £695 return in that month – typically £251 less than the most expensive month, which is July (based on the last 12 months).
  • For the best chance of arriving on time, fly with Qantas Airways. Over the past three months, 85% of Qantas Airways flights from Sydney to San Francisco arrived on time, slightly above the route average of 84%. When flights on this route arrive late, they're delayed by an average of 1h 52m, so choosing an airline with strong on-time performance can make a difference if you're on a tight schedule.
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Auckland Intl Airport (AKL) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest stopover option averages £700 return on this route – about £215 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to San Francisco Airport.

    • Grand Hyatt At Sfo
  • To exchange Australian dollars for American dollars or for other foreign exchange requirements, you can make use of the currency exchange facilities in the Terminal 1 international departures area of Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD).
  • If you forgot to bring reading material for your flight, there are book stores and newsagents in International Terminal 1 of Sydney Airport. These are in the vicinity of check-in counters H and J, before you go through security. After security, you’ll find them in the vicinity of gates 10 and 39.
  • If you are travelling on business, there is a business centre in the terminal main hall of San Francisco International Airport (SFO). It has facilities for fax/copying, mobile phone rentals and internet access.

Prefer to fly direct from Sydney to San Francisco?

 
Find which airlines fly direct from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport to San Francisco Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Sydney Kingsford Smith to San Francisco

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

Qantas Airways,United Airlines

Qantas Airways,United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

Qantas Airways,United Airlines

Qantas Airways,United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

Qantas Airways,United Airlines

Qantas Airways,United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Francisco to Sydney Kingsford Smith

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

Qantas Airways,United Airlines

Qantas Airways,United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

Qantas Airways,United Airlines

Qantas Airways,United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

Qantas Airways,United Airlines

Qantas Airways,United Airlines

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from Sydney to San Francisco

Complete your trip to San Francisco with a hotel stay or car hire