SFO - RIO

$362 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro departing on 12/3. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro.
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro.
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro (SFO-RIO)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro

Tue, Mar 3 - Tue, Mar 24
Avianca Logo
1:35 am - 6:25 amSFO-GIG
23h 50m2 stops
Avianca Logo
7:30 am - 11:40 pmGIG-SFO
20h 10m2 stops
$658Avianca
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Wed, Mar 4 - Tue, Mar 24
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:20 pm - 12:05 pmSFO-GIG
41h 45m2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:45 pm - 9:22 pmGIG-SFO
52h 37m2 stops
$660Multiple Airlines
Find Deal
Sat, Apr 11 - Tue, Apr 14
Air Canada Logo
4:15 pm - 3:05 pmSFO-GIG
42h 50m2 stops
Air Canada Logo
3:45 pm - 9:32 pmGIG-SFO
33h 47m2 stops
$672Air Canada
Find Deal
Mon, Nov 10 - Thu, Nov 13
LATAM Airlines Logo
10:30 pm - 9:40 pmSFO-GIG
42h 10m2 stops
LATAM Airlines Logo
11:30 am - 10:35 amGIG-SFO
28h 05m2 stops
$701LATAM Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, Dec 1 - Mon, Dec 8
Air Canada Logo
11:28 pm - 4:40 pmSFO-SDU
36h 12m2 stops
Air Canada Logo
1:45 pm - 9:22 pmSDU-SFO
36h 37m2 stops
$721Air Canada
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Fri, Apr 10 - Thu, Apr 16
LATAM Airlines Logo
7:30 am - 10:45 amSFO-GIG
23h 15m2 stops
LATAM Airlines Logo
5:20 pm - 11:59 amGIG-SFO
22h 39m2 stops
$727LATAM Airlines
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Mon, Nov 10 - Mon, Nov 17
Azul Logo
10:35 pm - 10:25 pmSFO-SDU
18h 50m2 stops
Azul Logo
6:20 am - 9:38 pmSDU-SFO
20h 18m2 stops
$979Azul
Find Deal
Mon, Nov 10 - Mon, Nov 17
Azul Logo
10:35 pm - 10:25 pmSFO-SDU
18h 50m2 stops
Azul Logo
6:20 am - 9:38 pmSDU-SFO
20h 18m2 stops
$1,000Azul
Find Deal
Fri, Apr 10 - Wed, Apr 15
GOL Logo
8:22 am - 10:40 amSFO-SDU
22h 18m2 stops
GOL Logo
6:00 am - 10:55 pmSDU-SFO
20h 55m2 stops
$1,070GOL
Find Deal
Sun, Apr 12 - Wed, Apr 15
GOL Logo
8:22 am - 10:40 amSFO-SDU
22h 18m2 stops
GOL Logo
6:00 am - 10:55 pmSDU-SFO
20h 55m2 stops
$1,088GOL
Find Deal

Everything you should know

Top airlines
Avianca
Cheapest • from $658 (round-trip)
Copa Airlines
Best reviews • 7.6 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Video guide: How to find cheap flights to Rio de Janeiro
Watch video
Watch video
Watch video
Watch video
When to travel
November
Cheapest • 15% price drop
December
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Cheapest round-trip
$658
Overall average: $1,113
Avianca
Tue 3/3Tue 3/24
SFO - GIG • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way
$370
Multiple Airlines
Wed 12/3
SFO - SDU • 3 stops
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KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Rio de Janeiro!
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

Find cheap flights to Rio de Janeiro
Find cheap flights to Rio de Janeiro

Planning a trip from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro? KAYAK’s data-powered insights will help you find cheap flights. Learn the best time to fly, how early to book your ticket, and other tips to secure great prices.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro?

The average price of all round-trip flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to Rio de Janeiro on a Monday and more expensive on a Friday. On your return trip to San Francisco, you should consider flying back on a Thursday, and avoid Fridays for better deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro is November, where tickets cost $876 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and January, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,386 and $1,121 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro, you should book around 1 week before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 5 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonMay
Cheapest flight$370
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 10% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 33% increase in price.
Flight from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont

When to book flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro

  • Which airlines from San Francisco to Rio De Janeiro offer environmentally sustainable flights?

    Flight passengers to Rio de Janeiro from San Francisco release about 5416 lbs of CO₂ each. Consider flying one of the eco-friendly airlines, including Avianca, Copa Airlines, LATAM Airlines, and United Airlines. Avianca Airlines has the most sustainable flights on the route with carbon emissions less by 37%. The airline uses fuel-efficient planes and sustainable fuels to ensure lower carbon emissions.

  • Which airlines flying to Rio de Janeiro from San Francisco offer single layover travel?

    There are no nonstop flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro; therefore, consider booking a flight with your preferred layover options when traveling the route. The city you have a stopover in is determined mainly by your airline. If you want a stopover flying from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro, consider flying American, Copa, GOL, Lufthansa, and United Airlines, offering single-stop flights. The airlines mostly have single layovers in Munich, Panama, Houston, and Miami.

  • Which airline should I fly to Rio de Janeiro from San Francisco with a pet?

    If you are traveling to Rio de Janeiro with a pet, consider flying American or United Airlines, which allows passengers to bring pets onboard at an additional fee. The airlines allow small dogs and cats weighing at most 20 lbs to travel in a cabin secured in a carrier. Consider American Airlines with a more significant carrier dimension than United Airlines. The dimensions of your pet carrier if flying American Airlines must be at most 19 by 13 by 9 inches.

  • Which airline is recommended for unaccompanied minors flying to Rio de Janeiro from San Francisco?

    Various airlines flying the San Francisco-Rio de Janeiro route allow children between 5 to 14 to travel unaccompanied. Consider booking American, Delta, or United Airlines, which offer extensive services to unaccompanied minors. The airlines ensure the child’s safety by assigning a cabin crew to supervise the child throughout the journey. The airlines provide assistance services to the child at the airports and during the flight, including priority check-in and boarding.

  • What is the cheapest flight from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro was $370 for a one-way ticket and $658 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between San Francisco and Rio de Janeiro?

    Yes

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro?

    We unfortunately don’t have that data for this specific route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro?

    SkyTeam, oneworld, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between San Francisco and Rio de Janeiro, with SkyTeam being the most commonly used for this route.

  • What is the most popular layover when flying to Rio de Janeiro from San Francisco?

    Panama City is the most popular layover city among KAYAK users traveling from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro, Delta or Copa Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro are Delta and Copa Airlines. With an average price for the route of $1,159 and an overall rating of 7.9, Delta is the most popular choice. Copa Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $995 and an overall rating of 7.6.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Rio de Janeiro from San Francisco is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Rio de Janeiro with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Rio de Janeiro from San Francisco up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro

  • San Francisco offers three primary international airports: San Francisco Airport (SFO), San José Airport (SJC), and Oakland Airport (OAK). Among them, SFO serves as the main airport for San Francisco, accommodating the majority of international and domestic flights to and from the city. Consequently, if you're looking for flights to Rio de Janeiro that align with your schedule, SFO would be the ideal departure airport.
  • Oakland International Airport (OAK), East of San Francisco Bay, experiences lower passenger traffic than SFO; therefore, an ideal airport if you are looking to have a smooth travel experience. The airport has shorter lines at check-in and security checkpoints.
  • Flights from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro arrive at Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport (GIG), located north of the city. The airport is the main gateway to Rio de Janeiro, also serving close-by cities, including Sao Joao De Meriti, Belford Roxo, and Nilopolis.
  • If you are reading to downtown Rio de Janeiro, consider flying into Santos Dumont airport (SDU), which is the closest to downtown Rio de Janeiro. The airport is connected to the public transport system, including buses and the metro, operating at a 10- to 15-minute from the airport to downtown Rio de Janeiro.
  • If you have extra luggage, consider flying United Airlines, as the airline has a favorable carry-on baggage allowance. United Airlines allows one piece of carry-on baggage in a cabin weighing at most 35 lbs with maximum dimensions of 22 by 14 by 9 inches.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.6
Copa AirlinesOverall score based on 1561 reviews
8.1Crew
6.8Entertainment
6.9Food
7.4Comfort
7.8Boarding
Airline reviews

Very strict carry on rules meant most of the plane had to gate check their luggage. As is often the case had things that were broken because of this, but I appreciated not being charged to gate check. Otherwise good flight and great crew once on the plane

6.0 GoodZach, Oct 2025DEN - PTY
Read more Copa Airlines reviews

Very strict carry on rules meant most of the plane had to gate check their luggage. As is often the case had things that were broken because of this, but I appreciated not being charged to gate check. Otherwise good flight and great crew once on the plane

Simply as follows:- First, there was no vegetarian option for the meal Second, only 2 washrooms for the entire economy class.

I liked the meatloaf the chicken was awful but the plane was on time and got there and the staff was nice.

They were super friendly bumped me up to exit row free of charge, All flight legs were on time

Boarding was quick & efficient; they gave boarding groups due priority; staff & air crew were very cordial and helpful, pleasant flight.

horrible service, food was an embarrassment, no charging for cellphones, stay away

Very happy with my flight. I would definitely recommend it.

Did upgrade, travel in business it was great (more room I could sleep)

Had to go through security at the gate again. Had to take off shoes and go through the whole thing again even though we have global entry. They asked us to check in items bought at duty free during our layover and since we checked our luggage at the original departure airport, they forced us to check in a small backpack. None of this ever happened with other airlines. In addition, no vegetarian food option and no snacks during a 7 hr flight. Luggage limits are unusually small. This is unacceptable. Will NEVER fly Copa again and will tell friends and family to avoid this airline.

It was ok. However, the food was quite poor since I don't eat pasta.

Latam may be the worst airline in the world, far worse than even the lowest of low cost airlines in the USA. I wasted hours trying to PAY THEM TO CHECK A BAG! Then they misled me at the terminal, sent me through the wrong security line, the list goes on and on... Just absolutely terrible in every way. Avoid at all costs.

Poor, the airline was not able to help me move flights.

The way the Pilot made all announcements, specially the way he congratulated the entire crew as the best team ever, making a comment that due to them they were able to shorter the delay to the destination. Amazing flight .

Just to drop my already labeled bag it took 50 minutes inline. Completely disappointed with Latam operation at GRU

I’m entitled to a refund per LATAM due to the mid flight itinerary change and being stuck in São Paulo for 24 hours and needing to get a hotel. The airline was dismissive and of no help.

The flight was late. Please do not delay next time.

I couldn't travel, now I can't get a refund and to change the date I have to pay an absurd fine.

Boarding was confusing with a delayed flight because there was no English translation

My biggest complaint is the comfort. I am not tall and there was no legroom. It was very uncomfortable. During my transfer in Sao Paola, the flight was slightly delayed so boarding was confusing because there were no instructions in English.

Bought a ticket that included a bag and they still charged me to check it in, latam is the worst airline.

Same as last comment. Food sucks. Quality. Not surprising most people have no clue about nourishment Clearly

We were in business class. the angled seats in that class do not have a real window view & the placement of the controls are bad. But we knew that. But the food options were mediocre. The taste was fine, but the size was for a child. It’s just really feels like United is skimping on everything. Even when we were in the Polaris lounge they did not have diet sodas. They said they were out no Coke zero no Diet Coke, etc. I do not think the portion of nuts they serve on the plane could get any smaller. Really a minimal service and offer for what you’re paying for in business.

We had to deboard 2 times due to maintenance issues. They changed the plane, and then we got deviated to LAX due to maibtenance issues on the other plane, had to sleep at LAX and los a full day.

From the first moment you interact with United Airlines, you can expect nothing less but extreme frustration. The baggage handler at the bag drop seems completely unbothered by the presence of customers waiting in line. No help was extended to load the baggage whatsoever. And if any of your bags is overweight by 0.01 pound they will make you re-distribute everything in your suitcase just to play power trip. When it was time to board no help was extended to customers to locate their seats. Moreover. It was a chaotic mess at the gate when it was unclear who should board first and everyone just bunched up, trying to get on the plane. I am sure the crew was doing their best to perform their jobs while being paid their wages however it shouldn’t be that hard to smile once or twice when you’re in the business if serving customers. It is a shame for the United States of America to have a flagship carrier of such low caliber. Our flight was also delayed by about an hour and a half due to further delays prior to our inbound flight. Being someone who has travelled for both business and leisure in Asia, Europe, and South America I have never experienced such poor quality of service.

The pilots were late and it made us 1 hour late. The meat was tough and bok choy was also tough.

Stuck on tarmac for two hours plus a 5.5 hour flight. Rude flight attendant. And no meals, not even for purchase!

I learned that seating towards the end of plane that a line forms for the restroom and people use your chair as a hand railing, bumping your seat consistently. I was seated in the aisle. I think that next time if I am towards the back row I would want to sit in the middle or window seat.

The best airline I have ever travel , really good customer service, attention and service !!

Everything was great. Only thing that could’ve made it better was buy on board options for hot food, but the snacks were decent. The flight attendants were great. I had no complaints. I was able to make it to my destination safely

Horrific. They missed my connecting flight to San Diego. I didn’t get there until Monday at 9am when I had a mandatory court settlement conference scheduled at 6am since we had parties on the east coast. This caused many issues. All because United apparently forgot to hold the doors open until my flight landed that only had a 10 minute delay. This was the last flight to Southern California. So I couldn’t even rent a car to finish the trip. United cannot be trusted when traveling on specific days and times since weather didn’t have anything to do with the delays.

The flight was flawless and we even arrived between 20 and 25 minutes early!

Always seated jammed in rear of aircraft Admirals Club food at DFW terminal D was absolute worst food experience and I pay $600/year to eat this dried out junk

Mostly good. Flight was crowded but Airline personnel were very friendly & accommodating. It would be good to have savory snacks rather than just sweet Biscoff cookies.

It was a red eye flight, so no meals were provided, but it was fine with snacks. The seats felt cramped and almost too narrow.

Very crowded flight but what can you expect these days?? Crew was accommodating.

The seats in economy were appeared to be quite thin and lack sufficient cushioning to be comfortable. Perhaps it was my seating position but the plane seemed notably load.

The entertainment package was vast and the selections were very current. Keep updating it was great.

The seat was so hard my tailbone was aching The crew was kind of a b**** because I made a joke that I didn't care if they close the door I total c*** when she was trying to f****** act like she was mad at me because I said that The flight was bumpy. Sure you didnt have control over that.

4 hours late, including over +1 hour waiting in plane to take off. Baggage left behind too.

While waiting to claim my checked luggage, I discovered the airline had lost it. After a long wait and inquiries, I discovered it was on another flight. Fortunately, the airline finally sent my luggage home.

Horrible experience. Flight cancelled. Arrived at destination 12 hs later. No one gave us an answer or any information. Very very poor service. We won’t ever travel again with Avianca

Did not fly with Pakistan International Airlines. Have never flown with Pakistan International Airlines.

Boarding, crew were excellent, food was ok and entertainment need to improve

Luggage lost and nowhere to be found, no response from either airline regarding my bag

The usb plugs for charging your phone didn’t work, the seats were coarse and hard. Not very comfortable. No inflight WiFi

The seats were uncomfortable and barely reclined at all. Very little leg room despite being business class. The crew was friendly and the food was good. Had to use my own phone for in-flight entertainment.

Boarding was excessively slow. They do it by groups in a way that it doesn’t make sense. After business class , ppl that need assistance and any other priority group they should have ppl board from the back to the front. First rows 20+. Then 15+. Then 10, etc. having ppl sitting in the back board last makes no sense. The libe backame long as soon as ppl on rows 10 or so where told to board. The line went all the way up the ramp and tunnel for 25 mins.

Seats are very tight even in Plus, no complimentary snacks or beverage

The chicken that was served in business class was cold!

I receive a service for what I pay, so it is fair.

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