$548 Find Cheap Flights from San Diego to Australia - Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Save 21% or more on flights. Compare deals from all over the web.

Never overpay with our price tracking tools.

Filter searches by price, airline and more to find your best flights.

Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Diego to Australia

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
Sydney
Sydney2 stops$1,015
Melbourne
Melbourne2 stops$1,037
Brisbane
Brisbane2 stops$1,003
Perth
Perth2 stops$1,328
Sydney
Sydney2 stops$1,015
Melbourne
Melbourne2 stops$1,037
Brisbane
Brisbane2 stops$1,003
Perth
Perth2 stops$1,328
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for San Diego to Australia flights

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

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Diego to Australia?

The cheapest month for flights from San Diego to Australia is April, when tickets cost $1,005 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are January and December, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,359 and $1,283 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Diego to Australia?

To get a below average price on the flight from San Diego to Australia, you should book around 1 week before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 6 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low season

May

Cheapest flight

$548
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 3% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 3% increase in price.
Flight from San Diego to Sydney

FAQs - booking Australia flights

  • How can I fly from San Diego to Australia?

    It is unlikely to find direct or nonstop flight services when flying from San Diego to Australia. However, you can choose to fly with airlines offering short layover flights. Air Canada and United Airlines are some of the airlines frequently operating along this route with short layovers at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). However, if you want to save some money during your trip, you should opt for flights with longer layovers, such as Japan Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.

  • Are there nursing lounges at SAN?

    Nursing mothers flying through SAN with an infant will find at least a designated, peerless, private and serene lactation suite in terminals 1 and 2. These lactation suites are ideal for nursing, pumping milk and changing diapers as they are equipped with baby changing tables, sinks, electrical power outlets, comfortable seats and rockers.

  • What is the most suitable ground transportation mode in Australia?

    If you want the freedom to tour and explore Australia without having to use a strict schedule of buses, metro lines, trains and taxis, you should opt for car rental services. With car rental services, you can visit any attraction site at any time. Budget, Europcar, Thrifty, Hertz, Avis, and Budget are some car rental companies you will find at the arrivals terminals near the baggage claim areas at MEL, SYD and BNE airports.

  • Is there a USO lounge at SAN?

    The USO military lounge available at SAN offers its services and amenities to active duty US military and their families free of charge. These services include monitors displaying flight arrival and departures, meeting centers, children's playroom, luggage storage, showers, United through Reading and video games.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San Diego to Australia?

    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 Diego to Australia.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from San Diego to Australia?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from San Diego to Australia 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 Diego to Australia?

    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 from San Diego to Australia with an airline and back with another airline.

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

    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 from San Diego to Australia up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Australia

  • Sydney International Airport (SYD) is the main airport serving major international flights in Australia and is bound to be your arrival airport. However, you can also land at Melbourne Airport (MEL) or Brisbane Airport (BNE).
  • San Diego International Airport (SAN) has a huge parking space that passengers who wish to leave their cars at the airport can utilize. You can either use the onsite or the offsite parking lots. Note that the offsite parking lots are fairly priced compared to the onsite parking lots.
  • If you are flying from San Diego to Australia, you should ensure that you arrive at SAN at least 3 hours before your scheduled flight departure. As a result, you will have enough time to go through the security checkpoint, get your boarding pass and ticket stamped, explore the airport attractions and arrive at your boarding gate on time. Alternatively, you can check in online through your airline website to save you some time.
  • There are many carriers offering flight services from San Diego to Australia. However, all these airlines offer different services and amenities onboard. Some carriers, such as Japan Airlines, offer assorted meals and drinks, disabled services, entertainment, earplugs and travel blankets for those who would like to sleep during the trip.
  • If you want to grab something to eat while at any of the Australian airports, you can do so at one of the food concessions available within the airports. The dining areas are available on the landside and Airside of MEL, SYD and BNE, offering a variety of cuisines that you would love to explore.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from San Diego to Australia

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from San Diego to Australia? 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.
8.0
Air New ZealandOverall score based on 662 reviews
8.5Crew
7.4Entertainment
8.2Boarding
7.9Comfort
7.4Food
Airline reviews

Great airline service by the staff. I highly recommend it

10.0 ExcellentManish, Apr 2026
Read more Air New Zealand reviews

Great airline service by the staff. I highly recommend it

This flight was the second leg of a trip that began in Auckland, New Zealand. I was unable to find a way to select seats in advance. The boarding passes we were given in Auckland did not have seat assignments for the second flight. There was no way to check on it until personnel showed up at the gate in Los Angeles, immediately before boarding time. The flight was overbooked by one, and since I was traveling with my sister, we needed two seats. We waited in considerable anxiety for everyone else to board and when one person did not show up, we had to take whatever was left. At least we finally got on the flight although we were the very last to board. We were not able to sit together, of course.

The food was not as good as Air New Zealand. The veg pasta was pass-able but the veg cibotta sandwich was dry, hard and not up to par. The coach staff were attentive and accommodating.

Overall the plane was good and the crew great. The big disappointment was the skycouch. Maybe it would be good if you were a parent with 2 small kids travelling but as a couple it's hopeless. It's impossible for 2 adults to lie down so one ends up sitting. We split our time with one lying and the other sitting. We both got more sleep sitting upright. We will never book one again and don't recommend it to anyone.

Not entirely positive. It’s frustrating that everything is done through the united app. One of our flight attendants on our trip from San Francisco to MSP continually had trouble hearing people so she flipped her hair into people’s faces

Our original flight was cancelled from SFO to AKL on 6/16/25. So we had to stay overnight at a hotel after a 12-hour layover plus 3-hour delay before the cancellation. Then had to fly to LA and then to AKL the following day losing an entire day of our vacation in NZ, that we can never get back.

Everything very good except the sofa couch not as comfortable as expected.

New Zealand crew were attentive. We were not informed that we needed transit document to pass through New Zealand. A checkin employee helped with this for which we were thankful.

There was a snafu with confirming seats at check which left us in limbo for the second leg of our trip. I believe the ANZ app is not well integrated with the systems at the terminal resulting in this disconcerting error.

The pilot tried to make up for lost time due to delays that were out of her control. She communicated the issues openly and clearly and made every effort to do what she could to alleviate issues.

Very good flight. Crew was great. No issues and we even arrived early.

Loved the crew! Sucks that we went from 1 hour and 8 minute layover to a 3 hour layover. But weather sucks like that.

Delayed flight (1hour) plus a long layover after an overnight flight with no backup plane available.

Crew was excellent. Comfort seats not as nice as other kinds of planes.

Most aspects were good however if they assign boarding zones they ought to enforce them or why bother? My luggage from SAN-JFK-MAD was lost in NY so I without my main bag for two days upon arrival in Spain. They were helpful in tracking it and eventually delivered it to my hotel. The flub was because of a delay upon arrival in NYC. I had booked 2 1/2 hours between flights but we had to hold on the taxiway for an hour after landing while waiting for a clear gate which likely caused the baggage error.

Delta flight was great from the check in all the way to arrival. However, I had a very bad experience. I requested a wheelchair and the wheelchair employee that went to pick me up from the plane in Boston to bring me to the baggage claims told me I have to pay him. I was under the impression that it was a free service and I usually give tips but the person forced me to pay and since I said no because I was upset with his demand when my daughter walked in to pick me up he demanded payment from my daughter who paid him thinking maybe now it is a charged service.

There was a loud squeaky sound the whole time we were flying.

The landing was bad and the hostess came two times and i was sleeping but when she served the person that nexts to me I woke up and she didn’t even asked me if I need any drink or snacks two times!!!!

Waited 3 hours on a plane to de-ice due to manpower issues. Waited another hour and a half once we landed because of a gate issue. Missed my connections. Created. A total of 13 hours of delay.

Like most domestic flights in the US, you are basically on your own with this airline when it comes to food, so be sure to purchase meals and drinks ahead of time or expect to arrive starving and dehydrated (like I was).

The back to back mechanical delays from Denver to San Diego and then on my return flight from Denver to Great Falls it added extra time both ways

Service was professional and quick. Premium economy seat was comfortable given the class

The staff was extremely helpful and friendly at all times! They went above and beyond to get us into an earlier flight in San Diego to make our connection in SFO possible, because our original flight did actually not make it! I did so much appreciate the UA team and how they made this possible. We also didn’t have seats together on the long flight to Singapore, but they found us seats together last moment with no additional cost! Nobody sat next to us, so that we were able to sleep! Thanks to UA for improving their service and Underpricer for booking this trip! Please be careful: 1,5 hrs for transfer in San Francisco might not be enough time in the future

Over 2.5 hour maintenance delay on first morning flight with no acknowledgement, compensation or even gesture of good will. Aircraft had overnighted at airport so issue should have been addressed prior to boarding. Over 3.5 hours before first slow and deliberate beverage service.

Complimentary light meal would be appreciated. But great flight crew service on all legs

The food was terrible this time. Otherwise pleasant, quiet, on-time.

I was in first class. The outlets at my seat did not work. The plane was shabby and run down. I had prepurchsed a day subscription for internet that was not redeemable. I had to repurchase the internet for my flight and then it didn’t work anyway. Quite disappointed in what was supposed to be the launch of a great vacation.

As usual, United scheduling is completely misleading. A 54-minute layover at O’Hare is too short to make a lot of connections, especially since the flight landed “on time” but had to wait on the taxiway 15 minutes for a gate to open up. Then it takes another 10 minutes to exit the plane before one can run to another concourse to catch a connecting flight.

Flight was ok. Unfortunately it was a Boeing 737, which is a cramped / tight airplane. I prefer the Airbus as they are a more comfortable flight experience.

We were traveling as a family of 5 and they refused to seat us together. There were entire rows open, and my 13 year old daughter had to sit alone. Ridiculous!

More space for economy, and the bathroom size is only for people with size XS

Well, true to American Airlines, both of my flights were delayed. But it’s a good thing that American is so consistently incompetent because if the first flight was delayed in the second flight was on time then I might’ve had a problem..

Was not able to do a online check-in because the American Airlines system doesn't store our visa or other passport information, allowing us to have a trouble-free check-in. We were forced to have to check-in at the counter which Changes are upgrade status given that we were not able to check in much earlier.

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.

Cramped seats. FAA should make airlines have more legroom, for even short people complain

Flight was full, and would have preferred an aisle seat, but due to getting a late ticket ,the seat I had was adequate. The flight crew were very help full and hard working. Food and drink were excellent for the 11hr flight. Overall I was pleased with flight, and would recommend British Airways again.

The plane was late and then sat on the runway for almost 45 minutes before taking off.

Had to wait on pilot and crew to depart and had to wait to arrive at the gate because they only had 2 crews working. Delays, delays....Planes just keep getting smaller and tighter and they nickle and dime for everything. When will an airline actually wake up and make flying more enjoyable?

I paid for what I got which was cheap, I brought my own entertainment. I knew what to expect, so I could be prepared. If you’re flying economy, check in early like me. I have no problems with my flight, was on time, staff were friendly, and overall good experience.

The flight attendants went out of their way to help me align everything so I can catch my connection as soon as we landed

Flight was canceled for a reason they knew hours before but did not mention. Next the gate chnage from 37 to 38 at least 10 times. Ridiculous.

I liked a lot , the flight attendant so nice ,the seat very comfortable I enjoyed the flight , I will do it again with Air Canada,

Real smooth and easy, Real good leg room in coach!

Plane was old, cabin was small, overhead bins were small, seats really uncomfortable, no seat-back entertainment

I had a disappointing experience at the San Diego airport with one of your gate agents. Despite being in Zone 4 and traveling with a standard carry-on bag that has never been an issue (30 flights in Q4 alone), the tall, blonde gentleman forced me to gate-check my bag. When I politely asked if we could verify the bag’s size, he became confrontational, even threatening to deny me boarding twice. His behavior appeared erratic and unprofessional, projecting a negative attitude onto passengers, as if he was going through something mentally. Notably, there was ample overhead space once all passengers had boarded. In contrast, the tall, older Asian agent handled the situation with professionalism and calmness, making a clear effort to de-escalate. As an avid traveler, this unnecessary inconvenience set a frustrating tone for my trip to Asia.

. Crew was professional and friendly. Food could have been hotter

Terrible. They cancelled our flight the night before. Please give me a call to discuss.

My experience was pretty frustrating because the first leg of my flight on United (though booked through Air Canada) was delayed causing me to miss my connecting flight on Air Canada. This could have been an easy solve as there was a direct flight later that morning via Air Canada that they easily could have put me on which would have only gotten me to my destination 2 1/2 hours later but because United and Air Canada don’t seem to have good communication they gave me the run around both telling me to talk with the other which I did three times to no avail. I ended up taking the delayed flight and getting on a new connecting flight which ended up getting me to my destination 6 hours later and I missed the event I was planning to go to this evening.

Everything went smoothly and as expected. We were on time and one flight arrived early.

Everything you need to know for your flight from San Diego to Australia

Information on your arrival and departure airports