What percentage of San Francisco to Shanghai flights are direct?

Across the trailing 90 days, approximately 7.2% of flights from San Francisco to Shanghai have been direct. For flights that include stopovers, travelers typically experience a median of 2 stops. This indicates that the majority of journeys on this route will involve at least one connection.

How many hours is the flight from San Francisco to Shanghai?

The direct flight from San Francisco to Shanghai typically takes around 13 hours and 30 minutes, covering a distance of 9876 kilometers. For flights with one stop, the median travel time increases significantly to approximately 22 hours and 25 minutes. Travelers should account for this difference when planning their journey.

Are non-stop flights from San Francisco to Shanghai worth the extra cost?

Historically, direct flights from San Francisco to Shanghai have shown a median price of $1158, while connecting flights have a median price of $1075. This represents an approximate 8% premium for choosing a non-stop option. Direct flights constitute about 10.6% of the available options, suggesting that while they offer convenience, they typically come at a slightly higher cost based on data from the trailing 90 days.

Flights From San Francisco

To Shanghai

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

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Prices updated 5 days ago

457 airlines compared

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Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Sep 7, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from San Francisco to Shanghai

Explore current cheapest deals departing from San Francisco to Shanghai

2027-03-17 – 2027-03-31
SFO - Shanghai
89% AI deal score
$1,005
$766
Round trip
2027-03-24 – 2027-03-31
SFO - Shanghai
89% AI deal score
$987
$769
Round trip
2026-10-21 – 2026-10-28
SFO - Shanghai
75% AI deal score
$716
$773
Round trip
2026-10-14 – 2026-10-21
SFO - Shanghai
75% AI deal score
$715
$774
Round trip
2027-03-03 – 2027-03-24
SFO - Shanghai
82% AI deal score
$903
$774
Round trip
2026-11-10 – 2026-11-24
SFO - Shanghai
77% AI deal score
$787
$799
Round trip
2026-11-16 – 2026-11-23
SFO - Shanghai
78% AI deal score
$807
$800
Round trip
2026-11-02 – 2026-11-11
SFO - Shanghai
77% AI deal score
$783
$801
Round trip
2026-10-01 – 2026-10-14
SFO - Shanghai
74% AI deal score
$686
$804
Round trip
2026-09-08 – 2026-09-15
SFO - Shanghai
78% AI deal score
$904
$805
Round trip

San Francisco to Shanghai: Overview

Insights for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

Flights from San Francisco to Shanghai cover a substantial distance of 9,876 kilometers, classifying this as a long-haul journey. This significant distance means you should anticipate a longer travel time and potentially more complex itineraries.

When looking for cheap flights from San Francisco to Shanghai, fares typically range from $851–$1518, with a median price of $1205. Right now, current fares are near the typical level for this route. Approximately 9% of recent fares have been classified as a good price, indicating that finding exceptional value can be challenging but is possible.

The cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai is often in April, with a median fare of $658. Other cost-effective months include August, where the median fare is $763, and September, with a median fare of $835. Planning your trip during these months can lead to more favorable pricing.

A typical journey from San Francisco to Shanghai takes approximately 30h 30m, including connections. This extended duration is due to the long-haul nature of the route and the prevalence of connecting flights. Most itineraries on this route connect at least once, with only 7.2% of recent fares being non-stop. For connecting itineraries, the median number of stopovers is 2, which contributes to the overall travel time.

How much is a round trip from San Francisco to Shanghai

Regular price: $860 - $1,372

Prices for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai is typically between $860 and $1372. Currently, the lowest deal is $766 with Vietnam Airlines for travel from Mar 17-Mar 31.

now $766

Low $860

High $1,372

The cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai

Flights from SFO to SHA are cheapest in April, with a median price of $658. The most expensive month to fly is February, with a median price of $1457. Prices are generally lower from April to December.

April

Cheapest

Flights from $658

February

Most Expensive

Flights from $1,457

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

United Airlines

Last-minute flights going from San Francisco to Shanghai

Mon, Sep 7

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Shanghai

San Francisco (SFO) - Shanghai (PVG)

All Nippon Airways

$828

$854

One-way

Mon, Sep 7

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Shanghai

San Francisco (SFO) - Shanghai (SHA)

All Nippon Airways

$949

$881

One-way

Tue, Sep 8

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Shanghai

San Francisco (SFO) - Shanghai (PVG)

2GO

$904

$805

One-way

Wed, Sep 9

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Shanghai

San Francisco (SFO) - Shanghai (SHA)

All Nippon Airways

$924

$831

One-way

Wed, Sep 9

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Shanghai

San Francisco (SFO) - Shanghai (PVG)

All Nippon Airways

$896

$875

One-way

Thu, Sep 10

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Shanghai

San Francisco (SFO) - Shanghai (PVG)

$820

$805

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

14 nights

Mar 17 - Mar 31

$1,005 → $766

24%

7 nights

Mar 24 - Mar 31

$987 → $769

22%

10 nights

Mar 17 - Mar 27

$997 → $806

19%

6 nights

Mar 9 - Mar 15

$1,037 → $848

18%

Popular Airports to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai

San Francisco - Shanghai route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are near the typical level

Recent fares from SFO to SHA are near the typical level, with 9% considered good prices.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in April for the lowest prices

Historically, April offers the lowest median price at $658, followed by August and September.

⏱️ Flight duration

Expect a median flight time of 30h 30m

Flights from San Francisco to Shanghai typically involve connecting flights, with a median duration of 30h 30m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant on this route

Only 7.2% of recent flights are direct, with connecting flights having a median of 2 stopovers.

🏆 Airline highlight

United Airlines offers direct flights

United Airlines is one of the carriers that historically offers direct flights on this long-haul route.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent for this route

Deals for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai are frequent, appearing often within a 30-day window.

San Francisco main airports to depart from

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

San Francisco International is a convenient departure airport for flights to Shanghai.

📍 ~18 km from city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$771

Shanghai main airports to arrive at

Shanghai Hongqiao International (SHA)

Cheapest

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is a good option for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai.

📍 ~14 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$803

Airports nearby Shanghai used as alternative

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International (HGH)

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International is a major international hub with excellent high-speed rail connectivity to Shanghai.

📍 ~175 km from Shanghai (reachable by high-speed rail)

💸 Flights from ~$841

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Shanghai

Discover luxury on the budget with premium cabin class on flights from San Francisco to Shanghai.

Elite

Best Elite deals to Shanghai

Exclusive daily First Class, Business Class, and Premium Economy flight deals, refreshed every 24 hours.

From SFO

Elite

Nov 01

Shanghai, China

93% AI deal score

$5,774

$3,343

Save $2,431

Air Canada, +1

Business Class

From SFO

Elite

Nov 03

Shanghai, China

93% AI deal score

$5,987

$3,512

Save $2,475

Air Canada, +1

Business Class

From SFO

Elite

Sep 16

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,141

$3,233

Save $2,908

From SFO

Elite

Sep 16

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,141

$3,233

Save $2,908

From SFO

Elite

Sep 16

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,124

$3,233

Save $2,891

From SFO

Elite

Sep 16

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,150

$3,233

Save $2,917

From SFO

Elite

Sep 18

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,128

$3,233

Save $2,895

From SFO

Elite

Sep 18

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,128

$3,233

Save $2,895

From SFO

Elite

Sep 18

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,128

$3,233

Save $2,895

From SFO

Elite

Sep 18

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,128

$3,233

Save $2,895

From SFO

Elite

Mar 31

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$7,026

$3,369

Save $3,657

From SFO

Elite

Oct 24

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$5,567

$3,388

Save $2,179

Air Canada, +1

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Shanghai

Historically, the lowest average prices for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai have been found when booking 0-6 days before departure, with an average price of $1038. Booking 7-13 days out typically sees an average price of $1739. For those planning further ahead, booking 60+ days in advance has shown an average price of $1170. These trends are observed across a trailing 90-day period, indicating that last-minute bookings can sometimes offer the best value on this route.

Across the trailing quarter, a flight from San Francisco to Shanghai is typically considered a good deal if it costs $851 or less. The median price for this route has been observed at $1205. Prices above $1518 are generally in the more expensive range. These thresholds are based on historical data from the trailing 90 days.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai include April, with a median price of $658, and August, with a median price of $763. September also tends to be a more affordable month, showing a median price of $835. The annual median price for this route is $1205, indicating that these months offer significant savings compared to the yearly average.

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Flights to Shanghai from other cities

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San Francisco to Shanghai: Overview

Insights for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

How much is a round trip from San Francisco to Shanghai

Regular price: $860 - $1,372

Prices for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai is typically between $860 and $1372. Currently, the lowest deal is $766 with Vietnam Airlines for travel from Mar 17-Mar 31.

now $766

Low $860

High $1,372

The cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai

April

Cheapest

Flights from $658

February

Most Expensive

Flights from $1,457

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

United Airlines

Last-minute flights going from San Francisco to Shanghai

Mon, Sep 7

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Shanghai

San Francisco (SFO) - Shanghai (PVG)

All Nippon Airways

$828

$854

One-way

Mon, Sep 7

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Shanghai

San Francisco (SFO) - Shanghai (SHA)

All Nippon Airways

$949

$881

One-way

Tue, Sep 8

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Shanghai

San Francisco (SFO) - Shanghai (PVG)

2GO

$904

$805

One-way

Wed, Sep 9

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Shanghai

San Francisco (SFO) - Shanghai (SHA)

All Nippon Airways

$924

$831

One-way

Wed, Sep 9

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Shanghai

San Francisco (SFO) - Shanghai (PVG)

All Nippon Airways

$896

$875

One-way

Thu, Sep 10

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Shanghai

San Francisco (SFO) - Shanghai (PVG)

$820

$805

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

14 nights

Mar 17 - Mar 31

$1,005 → $766

24%

7 nights

Mar 24 - Mar 31

$987 → $769

22%

10 nights

Mar 17 - Mar 27

$997 → $806

19%

6 nights

Mar 9 - Mar 15

$1,037 → $848

18%

Popular Airports to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai

San Francisco - Shanghai route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are near the typical level

Recent fares from SFO to SHA are near the typical level, with 9% considered good prices.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in April for the lowest prices

Historically, April offers the lowest median price at $658, followed by August and September.

⏱️ Flight duration

Expect a median flight time of 30h 30m

Flights from San Francisco to Shanghai typically involve connecting flights, with a median duration of 30h 30m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant on this route

Only 7.2% of recent flights are direct, with connecting flights having a median of 2 stopovers.

🏆 Airline highlight

United Airlines offers direct flights

United Airlines is one of the carriers that historically offers direct flights on this long-haul route.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent for this route

Deals for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai are frequent, appearing often within a 30-day window.

San Francisco main airports to depart from

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

San Francisco International is a convenient departure airport for flights to Shanghai.

📍 ~18 km from city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$771

Shanghai main airports to arrive at

Shanghai Hongqiao International (SHA)

Cheapest

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is a good option for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai.

📍 ~14 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$803

Airports nearby Shanghai used as alternative

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International (HGH)

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International is a major international hub with excellent high-speed rail connectivity to Shanghai.

📍 ~175 km from Shanghai (reachable by high-speed rail)

💸 Flights from ~$841

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Shanghai

Discover luxury on the budget with premium cabin class on flights from San Francisco to Shanghai.

Elite

Best Elite deals to Shanghai

Exclusive daily First Class, Business Class, and Premium Economy flight deals, refreshed every 24 hours.

From SFO

Elite

Nov 01

Shanghai, China

93% AI deal score

$5,774

$3,343

Save $2,431

Air Canada, +1

Business Class

From SFO

Elite

Nov 03

Shanghai, China

93% AI deal score

$5,987

$3,512

Save $2,475

Air Canada, +1

Business Class

From SFO

Elite

Sep 16

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,141

$3,233

Save $2,908

From SFO

Elite

Sep 16

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,141

$3,233

Save $2,908

From SFO

Elite

Sep 16

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,124

$3,233

Save $2,891

From SFO

Elite

Sep 16

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,150

$3,233

Save $2,917

From SFO

Elite

Sep 18

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,128

$3,233

Save $2,895

From SFO

Elite

Sep 18

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,128

$3,233

Save $2,895

From SFO

Elite

Sep 18

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,128

$3,233

Save $2,895

From SFO

Elite

Sep 18

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$6,128

$3,233

Save $2,895

From SFO

Elite

Mar 31

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$7,026

$3,369

Save $3,657

From SFO

Elite

Oct 24

Shanghai, China

92% AI deal score

$5,567

$3,388

Save $2,179

Air Canada, +1

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Shanghai

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

Today’s best flight deals from San Francisco to Shanghai

San Francisco to Shanghai: Overview

Insights for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

How much is a round trip from San Francisco to Shanghai

The cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai

Direct flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

Last-minute flights going from San Francisco to Shanghai

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

Popular Airports to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai

San Francisco - Shanghai route insights

Recent fares are near the typical level

Fly in April for the lowest prices

Expect a median flight time of 30h 30m

Connecting flights are dominant on this route

United Airlines offers direct flights

Deals are frequent for this route

San Francisco main airports to depart from

Shanghai main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby Shanghai used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Shanghai

Best Elite deals to Shanghai

Nov 01

Nov 03

Sep 16

Sep 16

Sep 16

Sep 16

Sep 18

Sep 18

Sep 18

Sep 18

Mar 31

Oct 24

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Shanghai

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Francisco to Shanghai?

How do I know if a San Francisco to Shanghai flight is a good deal?

When is the cheapest time of year to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai?

What percentage of San Francisco to Shanghai flights are direct?

How many hours is the flight from San Francisco to Shanghai?

Are non-stop flights from San Francisco to Shanghai worth the extra cost?

Related routes

More routes from San Francisco

Flights to Shanghai from other cities

San Francisco to Shanghai: Overview

Insights for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

How much is a round trip from San Francisco to Shanghai

The cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai

Direct flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

Last-minute flights going from San Francisco to Shanghai

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

Popular Airports to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai

San Francisco - Shanghai route insights

Recent fares are near the typical level

Fly in April for the lowest prices

Expect a median flight time of 30h 30m

Connecting flights are dominant on this route

United Airlines offers direct flights

Deals are frequent for this route

San Francisco main airports to depart from

Shanghai main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby Shanghai used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Shanghai

Best Elite deals to Shanghai

Nov 01

Nov 03

Sep 16

Sep 16

Sep 16

Sep 16

Sep 18

Sep 18

Sep 18

Sep 18

Mar 31

Oct 24

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Shanghai

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Francisco to Shanghai?

How do I know if a San Francisco to Shanghai flight is a good deal?

When is the cheapest time of year to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai?