£379 Find Cheap Flights from Zurich to San Francisco – Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Zurich to San Francisco:

• Earliest: departs at 13:15 and lands at 01:30
• Latest: departs at 13:15 and lands at 01:30.

The flight takes about 12h 15m.

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

A direct flight from Zurich to San Francisco takes 12h 15m, covering 5,822 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 Zurich to San Francisco range from £597 to £772, with an average of £680 over the past 12 months. Anything below £597 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 2% above the £680 route average. Book 11 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average £471 return via Kastrup Copenhagen (CPH), compared with £697 for direct.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge £42–£75 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

The Boeing 777-300ER family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by SWISS and United Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner variants.

Afternoon is the busiest departure period on Zurich to San Francisco flights, with 100% leaving in that window. Morning departures account for 0%, Evening flights for 0%, and Night flights for 0%.

Two airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi on Zurich to San Francisco flights:

• SWISS
• United Airlines

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 Zurich to San Francisco are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about £394, which is 34% below the typical average for this route.

San Francisco Airport (SFO) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around £47 for economy cars. Top options include:

• Europcar
• Thrifty
• Dollar
• Hertz
• Fox

Flights from Zurich to San Francisco usually depart from Zurich (ZRH) and arrive at San Francisco (SFO).

Afternoon flights have the fewest delays on this route.

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 Zurich to San Francisco route, 24% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 2h 08m.

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

• Frankfurt am Main (FRA) – 52% of one-stop connections
• London Heathrow (LHR) – 18% of one-stop connections
• Kastrup Copenhagen (CPH) – 9% of one-stop connections
• Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS) – 6% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 6% on flights from Zurich to San Francisco. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at £662 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at £701, a difference of £39.

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

Only SWISS operates flights between Zurich and San Francisco.

Flying via Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 13h 53m, compared to 14h 38m via Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) and 14h 49m via Frankfurt am Main (FRA).

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

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.

Among airlines operating Zurich to San Francisco flights:

• SWISS: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• United 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:

• SWISS: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• United Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Air Canada: 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.