£470 Find Cheap Flights from Zurich to San Francisco – Compare and Save

Among airlines operating Zurich to San Francisco flights:

• United Airlines: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

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

• SWISS
• United Airlines

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

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

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so travellers should check the fare details before booking.

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

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average £454 return via Kastrup Copenhagen (CPH), compared with £677 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 777 variants.

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

• Frankfurt am Main (FRA) – 49% of one-stop connections
• London Heathrow (LHR) – 20% of one-stop connections
• Kastrup Copenhagen (CPH) – 12% of one-stop connections
• Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS) – 5% of one-stop connections

Frankfurt am Main (FRA) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 7% on the Zurich to San Francisco route. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at £646 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at £692, a difference of £46. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

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, 23% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2 hours 14 minutes.

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%.

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.

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

• Earliest: departs at 13:10 and lands at 01:17
• Latest: departs at 13:35 and lands at 01:42.

The flight takes about 12h 07m.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 5% above the route average of £662. Book 11 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A direct flight from Zurich to San Francisco takes 12h 07m, 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.

One-way fares from Zurich to San Francisco are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about £522, which is 10% below the typical average for this route.

Afternoon flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

Flying via Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 13h 52m, compared to 14h 38m via Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) and 14h 43m via Munich Franz Josef Strauss (MUC).

San Francisco is 9 hours behind Zurich (Pacific Time vs Central European Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

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

Return flights from Zurich to San Francisco range from £564 to £759, with an average of £662 over the past 12 months. Anything below £564 counts as a good deal.

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.