Cheap flights from Shanghai to San Francisco

Hongqiao
SHA
San Francisco
SFO

Flight deals from Shanghai to San Francisco

Below you can see the best deals on flights Shanghai — San Francisco for upcoming dates. Direct and connecting flights from various airlines — compare prices and choose the right ticket.

The lowest price for the next 2 months is on 15 October, from AED 1,693.

Top 10 cheap flights from Shanghai to San Francisco

About the Shanghai — San Francisco flight

Looking for cheap flights from Shanghai to San Francisco? Compare fares from different airlines, check the flight schedule and travel time — and book your Shanghai — San Francisco ticket online at the best price.

The route has direct flights — around 20 flights per week, flights are operated by United Airlines, China Eastern, a nonstop flight takes about 11 h 45 min, the distance between the cities is around 9,900 km.

Planning your trip? You may find our San Francisco travel guide, how to get from the airport into town and San Francisco weather forecast useful. To catch a low fare, use the low-price calendar and the monthly price chart on this page.

Facts about this route

from AED 1,686Min. price
DecemberCheapest
JulyPeak season
YesDirect flights
9,900 kmDistance
11 h 45 minTravel time
2Airlines
20 / wkFlights

Flight schedule from Shanghai to San Francisco

The table shows direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco on the selected date. The flight takes approximately 11 h 45 min. Regular flights are operated by United Airlines and China Eastern. Departures from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport airports, arrivals at San Francisco International Airport.

For each flight, the following details are shown: departure time (local), arrival city and airport, flight number and airline, terminal or gate, and status. Click on a flight to open its details and go to ticket search. To view flights on a different day, change the date above the table.

Today
Any time
Last update: 25 Aug 2026

Flight ticket prices by day: Shanghai — San Francisco

Below is a calendar of the lowest flight ticket prices for Shanghai — San Francisco by day. Pick a convenient date and instantly see the fare. The cheapest flights on this route start from AED 1,686 in December, and the most expensive are around AED 2,653 in July. If your travel dates are flexible, the calendar will help you find the best price for your preferred period. To view round-trip fares, switch to the "Round trip" tab above the calendar, select your departure date — and the right-hand calendar will highlight the lowest prices for return flights on each day.

 
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Prices by month

Average one-way fares from Shanghai to San Francisco by month. Tickets are usually cheapest in November (around AED 2,442) and priciest in July (about AED 3,996) — use the table and chart below to pick the best time to fly.

MonthAverage priceLevelMonthAverage priceLevelMonthAverage priceLevel
JanAED 2,664mediumMayAED 3,463highSepAED 2,664low
FebAED 2,531lowJunAED 3,730highOctAED 3,019medium
MarAED 2,709mediumJulAED 3,996highNovAED 2,442low
AprAED 3,108highAugAED 3,819highDecAED 2,575low

Some values are estimated based on seasonality.

When to fly

Weather in San Francisco: it is warmest in September (up to 24 °C on average) and coolest in January (around 14 °C). The driest month is June.

Tickets are usually cheapest in December and most expensive in July. Compare prices and weather by month in the charts below to pick the best time to fly.

Temperature · San Francisco

Dry and wet days · San Francisco

Wind speed and direction · San Francisco

We'll let you know if you need a visa

Enter your destination or
Your nationality
Destination

How to get the best deal on a Shanghai — San Francisco ticket

  • Book ahead: fares for Shanghai — San Francisco are usually lower 3–8 weeks before departure than at the last minute.
  • Play with your dates — Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday departures are often cheaper than Friday and Sunday.
  • Shanghai is served by more than one airport — compare fares and travel time to each before you book.
  • The cheapest month to fly to San Francisco is usually December — plan your trip around it if your dates are flexible.
  • Compare direct and connecting flights: nonstop is faster, while a connection is sometimes noticeably cheaper.
  • Watch the low-price calendar and the monthly price trend on this page — they make it easier to catch a good date.
  • Travelling light? Pick a cabin-baggage-only fare — tickets without checked luggage are noticeably cheaper.
  • Get to the airport in good time — about 2–3 hours before an international departure and roughly an hour before a domestic one.

Airlines

Flights on the Shanghai — San Francisco route are operated by 2 airlines; United Airlines runs the most flights (around 70% of all flights). Compare carriers, flight shares and schedules below.

  • United AirlinesUA
    5x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 956165M pax/year
    • Direct flight PVG → SFO5x/week
      Duration
      11h 45m
      Days
      MTWTFSS
    70.0%Open →
  • China EasternMU
    2x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 803116M pax/year
    • Direct flight PVG → SFO2x/week
      Duration
      11h 35m
      Days
      MTWTFSS
    30.0%Open →

Cities and airports on the Shanghai — San Francisco route

Flights Shanghai — San Francisco depart from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and arrive at San Francisco International Airport. Below are pages for the cities, countries, and airports on the route: airlines, schedules, and travel guides.

Departure

Shanghai

SHA
China
About the cityHow to get thereWeatherAll about the country China
Arrival

San Francisco

SFO
United States
About the cityHow to get thereWeatherAll about the country United States
Departure airports
Arrival airports

Interesting articles about San Francisco

See half the world from a portholeInteresting

See half the world from a porthole

Recently, we wrote about a Qatar Airways aircraft that completed the world’s longest commercial flight from Doha (Qatar) to Auckland (New Zealand) and how it was welcomed in the “new territory”. Today…

Looking Down: The Best Observation Decks in the WorldTips for Travelers

Looking Down: The Best Observation Decks in the World

To better understand a city or admire the surrounding nature, you need to climb higher. The ascent isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it for the experience and the view from the top. If you’re not afra…

Graffiti: Where to go for street artInteresting

Graffiti: Where to go for street art

Long gone are the days when graffiti was considered solely vandalism. Today, street art is a powerful and vibrant direction of contemporary art, transforming gray city walls into open-air galleries. A…

The World’s Largest CitiesInteresting

The World’s Largest Cities

If you prefer non-stop action to quiet solitude somewhere by the sea or in the mountains—this article is for you. We’ve already told you about the oldest cities in the world, and now it’s time to delv…

Free Public Transport AbroadUseful information

Free Public Transport Abroad

How to get around abroad is always a tricky question. Some simply buy a day pass and spare no expense, while others prefer to walk to avoid spending extra money on “it’s only a ten-minute walk!”. But…

Abandoned Cities: 5 Places Where Time Stood StillUseful information

Abandoned Cities: 5 Places Where Time Stood Still

Sometimes a trip needs a little adrenaline. And you don’t necessarily have to parachute, paraglide over the city (which is also very cool!) or provoke local bandits by walking alone in dark alleys. Yo…

Frequently asked questions about the Shanghai — San Francisco flight

How long is the flight from Shanghai to San Francisco?

A nonstop Shanghai — San Francisco flight takes about 11 h 45 min — the distance between the cities is around 9,900 km.

How far is it from Shanghai to San Francisco?

The distance from Shanghai to San Francisco is about 9,900 km, which a nonstop flight covers in around 11 h 45 min.

Are there direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco?

Yes, there are nonstop flights Shanghai — San Francisco — around 20 flights per week.

Which airlines fly from Shanghai to San Francisco?

Airlines operating Shanghai — San Francisco include United Airlines, China Eastern. See the full list with schedules in the "Airlines" section on this page.

Which airports do Shanghai — San Francisco flights use?

Flights from Shanghai depart from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, and arrive at San Francisco International Airport. If a city has more than one airport, check which one your ticket uses before you travel.

How much is a ticket from Shanghai to San Francisco?

The price of a Shanghai — San Francisco ticket depends on your travel date, season and demand: it is usually cheapest to fly in December, and most expensive in July. Tickets typically cost between AED 1,686 and AED 2,653. Check the current lowest fare and low-price calendar on this page.

When is the best time to book flights Shanghai — San Francisco?

Flights Shanghai — San Francisco are usually cheaper when booked in advance — a few weeks before departure and away from peak dates; the most budget-friendly month to fly is December. Compare prices by month in the price trend chart on this page.

How can I find the cheapest flights from Shanghai to San Francisco?

To catch a low fare Shanghai — San Francisco, book a few weeks in advance, keep your dates flexible, and compare airlines and connecting options. The low-price calendar and monthly price chart on this page show the cheapest days and months at a glance: the most budget-friendly month to fly is usually December.

How early should I arrive at the airport?

For international flights, plan to be at the airport about 2–3 hours before departure, and around an hour before a domestic flight. Allow extra time during busy travel seasons and at large hubs, where check-in and security lines can be longer.

Where else you can fly from Shanghai

See all
BeijingChengduGuangzhouShenzhenHong KongSeoulTokyoKunmingXianOsakaQingdaoChongqingTaipeiBangkokShenyangDalianXiamenHarbinSingaporeWuhanChangshaChangchunSanyaGuiyangUrumqiHaikouTianjinZhuhaiMacauZhengzhouShantouTaiyuanJeju CityNanningKuala LumpurFuzhouYantaiLanzhouGuilinHo Chi Minh City

Where else you can fly from San Francisco

See all
Los AngelesNew York CitySeattleSan DiegoSanta AnaLas VegasBurbankBostonVancouverPhoenixPortlandLondonDenverPalm SpringsHonoluluDallasChicagoSalt Lake CityAustinAtlantaWashington, D.C.HoustonKahuluiTaipeiMinneapolisTorontoDetroitOrlandoTokyoSpokaneParisBoiseKapaaSan Jose del CaboPuerto VallartaRedmondSeoulFrankfurt am MainCalgaryMexico City

We use cookies and services to collect user information. This is essential for the functioning of the site and for marketing purposes. You can find out more in .