Are direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco always the best option?

Direct flights offer convenience by minimizing travel time and avoiding layovers, which can be appealing for long-haul journeys. However, flights with one or more stops are often more economical. The 'best' option depends on your priorities regarding cost versus travel time and comfort.

Can flexible travel dates help on Shanghai to San Francisco flights?

Yes, being flexible with your travel dates can significantly impact flight prices. Mid-week flights or traveling during off-peak seasons often result in lower fares compared to weekends or popular holiday periods. Adjusting your departure or return by a few days may unlock better deals.

What extra costs should I check before booking Shanghai to San Francisco flights?

Before booking, always check for potential extra costs such as baggage fees, seat selection charges, and in-flight meal costs. Some airlines may also charge for amenities like Wi-Fi or entertainment. Understanding these additional expenses helps you calculate the true total cost of your 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 7 days ago

483 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

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

Today’s best flight deals from Shanghai to San Francisco

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Shanghai to San Francisco

2026-11-02 – 2026-11-07
SHA - San Francisco
81% AI deal score
CN¥6,195
CN¥5,214
Round trip
2026-11-16 – 2026-11-22
SHA - San Francisco
77% AI deal score
CN¥5,539
CN¥5,214
Round trip
2026-11-10 – 2026-11-16
SHA - San Francisco
79% AI deal score
CN¥5,662
CN¥5,575
Round trip
2026-11-18 – 2026-11-25
SHA - San Francisco
78% AI deal score
CN¥5,541
CN¥5,621
Round trip
2026-10-29 – 2026-10-31
SHA - San Francisco
90% AI deal score
CN¥7,690
CN¥5,655
Round trip
2026-12-13 – 2026-12-30
SHA - San Francisco
78% AI deal score
CN¥6,171
CN¥5,915
Round trip
2026-11-03 – 2026-11-08
SHA - San Francisco
77% AI deal score
CN¥6,121
CN¥5,948
Round trip
2026-12-13 – 2027-01-07
SHA - San Francisco
77% AI deal score
CN¥6,060
CN¥6,001
Round trip
2026-12-13 – 2027-01-11
SHA - San Francisco
77% AI deal score
CN¥6,060
CN¥6,001
Round trip
2026-12-13 – 2027-01-04
SHA - San Francisco
78% AI deal score
CN¥6,137
CN¥6,001
Round trip

Shanghai to San Francisco: Overview

Insights for flights from Shanghai to San Francisco

For cheap flights from Shanghai to San Francisco, fares typically range from $704–$1407, with a median of $1025. Right now, current fares are below the typical level, and only 1% of recent fares were classified as a good price. Deals are infrequent, so setting a price alert can be beneficial.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco? The data indicates that October is typically the most affordable month, with a median fare of $685. Following closely, September offers a median fare of $746, and August presents a median of $847.

Most itineraries for this route connect at least once, with only 1.4% of recent fares being non-stop. For connecting flights, travelers typically experience 2 stopovers.

How long is the flight from Shanghai to San Francisco? A typical journey, including connections, takes approximately 24h 45m. For the rare direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco, the median flight time is 11h 10m.

The route from Shanghai to San Francisco covers a distance of 9876 km, classifying it as a long-haul journey.

How much is a round trip from Shanghai to San Francisco

Regular price: CN¥5,404 - CN¥7,884

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

The regular price range for this route is CNY 5404 to CNY 7884. The current lowest deal is CNY 5214 with Asiana Airlines for travel from Nov 2-Nov 7.

now CN¥5,214

Low CN¥5,404

High CN¥7,884

The cheapest time to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco

Flights from Shanghai to San Francisco are cheapest in October, with a median price of $685. The most expensive month to fly is November, with a median price of $1295. Prices are generally lower from May to December.

October

Cheapest

Flights from CN¥685

November

Most Expensive

Flights from CN¥1,295

Jan

Feb

May

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco

China Eastern Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Shanghai to San Francisco

Tue, Oct 27

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Korean Air

CN¥7,769

CN¥5,623

One-way

Thu, Oct 29

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Korean Air

CN¥7,693

CN¥6,470

One-way

Tue, Nov 3

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Korean Air

CN¥5,862

CN¥5,623

One-way

Mon, Nov 9

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

2GO

CN¥6,166

CN¥5,563

One-way

Mon, Nov 9

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

China Southern Airlines

CN¥5,433

CN¥6,997

One-way

Tue, Nov 10

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Air Canada

CN¥5,606

CN¥5,590

One-way

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

2 nights

Oct 27 - Oct 29

CN¥7,769 → CN¥5,623

28%

2 nights

Oct 30 - Nov 1

CN¥7,693 → CN¥6,197

19%

3 nights

Oct 30 - Nov 2

CN¥7,621 → CN¥6,170

19%

4 nights

Oct 29 - Nov 2

CN¥7,573 → CN¥6,323

16%

Popular Airports to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco

Shanghai - San Francisco route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are below the typical level.

Recent fares from Shanghai to San Francisco are below the typical level for this route.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in October for the best prices.

Historically, October has the lowest median price at $685, followed by September at $746.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights average 11h 10m.

The median flight duration for direct flights is 11h 10m, while connecting flights average 24h 45m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant on this route.

Only 1.4% of recent flights from Shanghai to San Francisco are direct.

🏆 Airline highlight

China Eastern Airlines offers direct flights.

China Eastern Airlines is one of the airlines that offers direct flights on this route.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals for this route are rare.

Deals for flights from Shanghai to San Francisco are historically rare.

Shanghai main airports to depart from

Shanghai Pudong International (PVG)

Cheapest

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

📍 ~33 km from city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~CN¥5,008

San Francisco main airports to arrive at

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

San Francisco International Airport is a good choice for direct access to San Francisco.

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

💸 Flights from ~CN¥4,684

Airports nearby San Francisco used as alternative

Oakland International (OAK)

Oakland International is a useful alternative, offering an extensive domestic network and BART rail access.

📍 ~18 km from San Francisco (reachable by car, but bridge traffic can impact travel time)

💸 Flights from ~CN¥7,281

Business & First Class Flight Deals to San Francisco

$1,945

Save $493

China Southern Airlines

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

To find more affordable flights, consider being flexible with your travel dates and times. Using flight comparison sites can help you compare options from various providers. Looking into different airlines, including budget carriers, may also reveal lower prices.

Booking in advance often provides more options and potentially better prices, especially for international routes. However, last-minute deals can sometimes appear, though they are less predictable. Monitoring price trends over several weeks may help you identify a good booking window.

Comparing nearby airports at both your origin and destination can sometimes lead to more affordable flight options. While it may require additional travel time to and from these airports, the potential savings on airfare can be significant. Always factor in ground transportation costs and convenience when making your decision.

Related routes

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Flights to San Francisco from other cities

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Shanghai to San Francisco: Overview

Insights for flights from Shanghai to San Francisco

Most itineraries for this route connect at least once, with only 1.4% of recent fares being non-stop. For connecting flights, travelers typically experience 2 stopovers.

The route from Shanghai to San Francisco covers a distance of 9876 km, classifying it as a long-haul journey.

How much is a round trip from Shanghai to San Francisco

Regular price: CN¥5,404 - CN¥7,884

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

The regular price range for this route is CNY 5404 to CNY 7884. The current lowest deal is CNY 5214 with Asiana Airlines for travel from Nov 2-Nov 7.

now CN¥5,214

Low CN¥5,404

High CN¥7,884

The cheapest time to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco

October

Cheapest

Flights from CN¥685

November

Most Expensive

Flights from CN¥1,295

Jan

Feb

May

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco

China Eastern Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Shanghai to San Francisco

Tue, Oct 27

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Korean Air

CN¥7,769

CN¥5,623

One-way

Thu, Oct 29

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Korean Air

CN¥7,693

CN¥6,470

One-way

Tue, Nov 3

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Korean Air

CN¥5,862

CN¥5,623

One-way

Mon, Nov 9

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

2GO

CN¥6,166

CN¥5,563

One-way

Mon, Nov 9

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

China Southern Airlines

CN¥5,433

CN¥6,997

One-way

Tue, Nov 10

⌛ Last-Minute

PVG - San Francisco

Shanghai (PVG) - San Francisco (SFO)

Air Canada

CN¥5,606

CN¥5,590

One-way

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

2 nights

Oct 27 - Oct 29

CN¥7,769 → CN¥5,623

28%

2 nights

Oct 30 - Nov 1

CN¥7,693 → CN¥6,197

19%

3 nights

Oct 30 - Nov 2

CN¥7,621 → CN¥6,170

19%

4 nights

Oct 29 - Nov 2

CN¥7,573 → CN¥6,323

16%

Popular Airports to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco