What percentage of Shanghai to San Francisco flights are direct?

Across the trailing 90 days, approximately 13.9% of flights from Shanghai to San Francisco have been direct. For flights that include stopovers, the median number of stopovers is typically one. This indicates that a significant majority of travelers on this route will likely have at least one connection. Travelers prioritizing direct routes should be aware of their relative scarcity.

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

The direct flight from Shanghai to San Francisco typically takes around 11 hours and 30 minutes. This duration covers a distance of approximately 9876 kilometers. For flights with one stop, the median travel time increases significantly to about 17 hours and 55 minutes. Travelers should account for this difference when planning their journey, as connecting flights can add several hours to the total travel time.

How often do cheap flights from Shanghai to San Francisco come up?

Historically, cheap flights from Shanghai to San Francisco have appeared frequently. This route is classified as one with frequent deal availability, based on data from the trailing 30 days. Travelers interested in finding more economical fares on this route can typically expect opportunities to arise regularly. This consistent availability makes it easier to find good value for this specific journey.

Flights From Shanghai

To San Francisco

Cheap Flights from Shanghai to San Francisco

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Deals from

Shanghai

RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to San Francisco

Prices updated 2 days ago

405 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Jul 26, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Shanghai to San Francisco

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Shanghai to San Francisco

2026-09-01 – 2026-09-08
SHA - San Francisco
90% AI deal score
CN¥6,117
CN¥4,853
Round trip
2026-09-03 – 2026-09-16
SHA - San Francisco
83% AI deal score
CN¥5,855
CN¥5,158
Round trip
2026-11-06 – 2026-11-08
SHA - San Francisco
81% AI deal score
CN¥6,147
CN¥5,591
Round trip
2026-09-16 – 2026-09-29
SHA - San Francisco
76% AI deal score
CN¥5,852
CN¥5,598
Round trip
2026-09-13 – 2026-09-18
SHA - San Francisco
79% AI deal score
CN¥6,231
CN¥5,598
Round trip
2026-09-14 – 2026-09-25
SHA - San Francisco
79% AI deal score
CN¥5,860
CN¥5,598
Round trip
2026-12-23 – 2026-12-30
SHA - San Francisco
91% AI deal score
CN¥7,744
CN¥5,598
Round trip
2026-08-21 – 2026-08-30
SHA - San Francisco
84% AI deal score
CN¥6,737
CN¥5,605
Round trip
2026-11-21 – 2026-11-28
SHA - San Francisco
80% AI deal score
CN¥5,963
CN¥5,605
Round trip
2027-01-09 – 2027-01-16
SHA - San Francisco
82% AI deal score
CN¥6,430
CN¥5,605
Round trip

Shanghai to San Francisco: Overview

Insights for flights from Shanghai to San Francisco

Flights from Shanghai to San Francisco cover a substantial distance of 9,876 kilometers, classifying this as a long-haul route. This means you should anticipate a significant travel duration, often involving connections, to reach your destination.

When looking for cheap flights from Shanghai to San Francisco, fares typically range from $684 to $1476, with a median price of $864. Right now, current fares are above the typical level for this route. Only 2% of recent fares were classified as a good price, indicating that finding exceptionally low fares can be challenging.

If you are wondering when is the cheapest time to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco, the data indicates that May is the most affordable month, with a median fare of $647. Other cost-effective options include October and September, both with median fares of $712. Planning your travel during these months could lead to savings.

For this route, most itineraries connect at least once, with only 13.9% of recent fares being direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco. When connections are involved, the median number of stopovers is 1. This means that while direct options exist, you are more likely to find itineraries that include at least one stop.

A typical journey from Shanghai to San Francisco, including connections, takes approximately 18 hours and 0 minutes. This extended travel time reflects the long-haul nature of the route and the prevalence of connecting flights. New deals for this route appear almost daily, so setting up a price alert can help you track fare changes.

How much is a round trip from Shanghai to San Francisco

Regular price: CN¥5,089 - CN¥8,266

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

The regular price range for flights from Shanghai to San Francisco is CNY 5089 to CNY 8266. The current lowest deal is CNY 4686 with China Southern Airlines for travel from Nov 9-Nov 30.

now CN¥4,686

Low CN¥5,089

High CN¥8,266

The cheapest time to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco

The cheapest month to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco is May, with a median price of $647. The most expensive month is August, with a median price of $1533. Prices are generally lower from February to November.

May

Cheapest

Flights from CN¥647

August

Most Expensive

Flights from CN¥1,533

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco

United Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Shanghai to San Francisco

Wed, Aug 12

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Vietnam Airlines

CN¥6,696

CN¥7,443

One-way

Fri, Aug 14

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Vietnam Airlines

CN¥7,724

CN¥7,470

One-way

Sat, Aug 15

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Vietnam Airlines

CN¥7,738

CN¥7,443

One-way

Wed, Aug 19

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Vietnam Airlines

CN¥7,081

CN¥7,470

One-way

Fri, Aug 21

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Vietnam Airlines

CN¥6,742

CN¥5,892

One-way

Mon, Aug 24

⌛ Last-Minute

SHA - San Francisco

Shanghai (SHA) - San Francisco (SFO)

China Southern Airlines

CN¥6,658

CN¥6,894

One-way

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

19 nights

Dec 9 - Dec 28

CN¥7,627 → CN¥5,357

30%

15 nights

Dec 15 - Dec 30

CN¥7,756 → CN¥5,506

29%

17 nights

Dec 14 - Dec 31

CN¥7,752 → CN¥5,587

28%

7 nights

Dec 23 - Dec 30

CN¥7,711 → CN¥5,560

28%

Popular Airports to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco

Shanghai - San Francisco route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Recent fares from Shanghai to San Francisco are above the typical level at $4686.

📅 Best time to fly

May is historically the cheapest month to fly

Historically, May is the cheapest month to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco, with a median price of $647.

⏱️ Flight duration

Flights typically take 18h 0m

The typical flight duration from Shanghai to San Francisco is 18h 0m, classifying this as a long-haul route.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant on this route

Only 13.9% of recent flights from Shanghai to San Francisco are direct, with connecting flights dominant.

🏆 Airline highlight

United Airlines offers direct flights

United Airlines has offered direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco recently.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently

Deals for flights from Shanghai to San Francisco appear frequently, typically within a 30-day window.

Shanghai main airports to depart from

Shanghai Pudong International (PVG)

Cheapest

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

📍 ~30 km from Shanghai (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$784

San Francisco main airports to arrive at

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

San Francisco International Airport is a good arrival choice for flights from Shanghai to San Francisco.

📍 ~20 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$784

Airports nearby San Francisco used as alternative

Oakland International (OAK)

Oakland International is a useful alternative, especially with its extensive domestic network and BART rail system connection.

📍 ~20 km from San Francisco (reachable by car or rail)

💸 Flights from ~CN¥7,557

Business & First Class Flight Deals to San Francisco

89% AI deal score

$4,727

$3,748

Save $979

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

Historically, booking flights from Shanghai to San Francisco 14-27 days in advance has yielded the lowest average prices, at around $666. Prices tend to increase for bookings made closer to the departure date, with flights booked 0-6 days out averaging $1379. Conversely, booking too far in advance, such as 28-59 days out, typically shows higher average prices of $1529. This trend suggests a sweet spot for securing more economical fares within the trailing 90 days.

Across the trailing quarter, a good price for a flight from Shanghai to San Francisco has been considered to be around $684. The median price for this route was $864, indicating that many fares are higher. Prices can go up significantly, with 75% of fares being $1476 or more. Travelers aiming for a more economical trip should target fares at or below the $684 threshold.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco have been May, with a median price of $647, and October and September, both with median prices of $712. The annual median price for this route is $864, making these months notably more affordable. Travelers looking for lower fares should consider planning their trips during these periods, based on data from the trailing 270 days.

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Shanghai to San Francisco: Overview

Insights for flights from Shanghai to San Francisco

How much is a round trip from Shanghai to San Francisco

Regular price: CN¥5,089 - CN¥8,266

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

The regular price range for flights from Shanghai to San Francisco is CNY 5089 to CNY 8266. The current lowest deal is CNY 4686 with China Southern Airlines for travel from Nov 9-Nov 30.

now CN¥4,686

Low CN¥5,089

High CN¥8,266

The cheapest time to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco

May

Cheapest

Flights from CN¥647

August

Most Expensive

Flights from CN¥1,533

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco

United Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Shanghai to San Francisco

Wed, Aug 12

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Vietnam Airlines

CN¥6,696

CN¥7,443

One-way

Fri, Aug 14

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Vietnam Airlines

CN¥7,724

CN¥7,470

One-way

Sat, Aug 15

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Vietnam Airlines

CN¥7,738

CN¥7,443

One-way

Wed, Aug 19

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Vietnam Airlines

CN¥7,081

CN¥7,470

One-way

Fri, Aug 21

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Vietnam Airlines

CN¥6,742

CN¥5,892

One-way

Mon, Aug 24

⌛ Last-Minute

SHA - San Francisco

Shanghai (SHA) - San Francisco (SFO)

China Southern Airlines

CN¥6,658

CN¥6,894

One-way

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

19 nights

Dec 9 - Dec 28

CN¥7,627 → CN¥5,357

30%

15 nights

Dec 15 - Dec 30

CN¥7,756 → CN¥5,506

29%

17 nights

Dec 14 - Dec 31

CN¥7,752 → CN¥5,587

28%

7 nights

Dec 23 - Dec 30

CN¥7,711 → CN¥5,560

28%

Popular Airports to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco