$318 Find Cheap Flights from San Diego to Istanbul

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 Diego to Istanbul departing on 3/3. 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

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Istanbul

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Diego to Istanbul.
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Diego to Istanbul.
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$523
Overall average: $908
Lufthansa
Thu 2/26Wed 3/11
SAN - IST • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way
$318
Multiple Airlines
Tue 3/3
SAN - SAW • 3 stops
Top airlines
Lufthansa
Cheapest • from $523 (round-trip)
Delta
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
4 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 25% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
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Insights
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Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Diego to Istanbul (SAN-IST)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from San Diego to Istanbul 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 Diego to Istanbul

Thu, Feb 26 - Wed, Mar 11
Lufthansa Logo
7:00 am - 10:45 pm
SAN
-
IST
28h 45m
2 stops
Lufthansa Logo
6:30 am - 8:53 pm
IST
-
SAN
24h 23m
2 stops
$523Lufthansa
Mon, Apr 27 - Thu, May 7
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:10 pm - 1:00 pm
SAN
-
IST
37h 50m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:45 am - 3:25 pm
IST
-
SAN
21h 40m
1 stop
$531Multiple Airlines
Mon, Apr 27 - Thu, May 7
Lufthansa Logo
5:15 pm - 2:05 am
SAN
-
IST
22h 50m
1 stop
Lufthansa Logo
3:45 am - 3:25 pm
IST
-
SAN
21h 40m
1 stop
$538Lufthansa
Mon, Apr 27 - Fri, May 8
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:10 pm - 1:00 pm
SAN
-
IST
37h 50m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:55 pm - 10:34 pm
IST
-
SAN
42h 39m
2 stops
$547Multiple Airlines
Mon, Apr 13 - Wed, Apr 22
Lufthansa Logo
2:05 pm - 2:05 am
SAN
-
IST
26h 00m
2 stops
Lufthansa Logo
1:55 pm - 12:29 am
IST
-
SAN
20h 34m
2 stops
$568Lufthansa
Thu, Mar 5 - Thu, Mar 19
Lufthansa Logo
11:03 am - 10:45 pm
SAN
-
IST
24h 42m
2 stops
Lufthansa Logo
6:30 am - 12:14 am
IST
-
SAN
27h 44m
2 stops
$570Lufthansa
Thu, Feb 26 - Wed, Mar 11
KLM Logo
2:00 pm - 12:15 am
SAN
-
SAW
23h 15m
1 stop
KLM Logo
4:00 pm - 1:05 pm
SAW
-
SAN
31h 05m
1 stop
$571KLM
Thu, Feb 26 - Wed, Mar 11
KLM Logo
10:59 am - 5:25 pm
SAN
-
SAW
19h 26m
2 stops
KLM Logo
9:00 am - 1:05 pm
SAW
-
SAN
38h 05m
1 stop
$579KLM
Thu, Feb 26 - Wed, Mar 11
KLM Logo
10:59 am - 5:25 pm
SAN
-
SAW
19h 26m
2 stops
KLM Logo
9:00 am - 10:59 pm
SAW
-
SAN
23h 59m
2 stops
$587KLM
Thu, Mar 5 - Thu, Mar 19
KLM Logo
2:00 pm - 5:25 pm
SAN
-
SAW
16h 25m
1 stop
KLM Logo
9:00 am - 10:59 pm
SAW
-
SAN
23h 59m
2 stops
$605KLM
Booking Insights

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

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from San Diego to Istanbul 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 Istanbul?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Diego to Istanbul, 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 Diego to Istanbul is April, where tickets cost $682 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are May and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,074 and $1,066 respectively.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from San Diego to Istanbul, 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 Diego to Istanbul, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 25% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 15 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Cheapest flight$318
Flight from San Diego to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport

When to book flights from San Diego to Istanbul

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Diego to Istanbul 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 Diego to Istanbul

  • Which airlines offer family-friendly flights from San Diego to Istanbul?

    If you are on a family vacation to Istanbul from San Diego, consider reserving your flight with American Airlines. One of the benefits of flying with American Airlines is the seating arrangement. The airline allows you to sit next to your child under 15. Also, American Airlines allows you to bring on board kids' convenient items, including pads, car seats, and strollers. The airline also offers in-flight entertainment, including Homer educational videos.

  • How can I catch the earliest flights from San Diego to Istanbul?

    Suppose you have an early flight the following morning; in this case, consider booking a hotel near SAN to escape the hassle of commuting amid rush hours. And the good news is that you have a wide range of options. For instance, Handlery Hotel San Diego, Hilton San Diego Airport/Harbor, and Old Town Inn are top places offering affordable accommodation services.

  • Which other Turkish Cities can I visit from Istanbul International Airport?

    Once you are at IST, you can go to several other cities because, besides being a destination for international travelers, the airport also serves as a departure for several domestic flights. You can visit these and other cities from IST; Bursa, Mugla, Ankara, Nevsehir, Alanya, Trabzon, Bodrum, and Bursa. These cities are accessible by flight, train, taxi, or rental car.

  • What is the best transport from Istanbul International Airport to Istanbul downtown?

    Take Havaist Line Bus at Sultanahmet the IST 1S to Taksim Square, taking approximately 1h 10min. You can also take the Metro from the M11 to Gayrettepe Station and change to M2, which drops you at Taksim Metro Station in about 40 minutes. Taxis are also available, but you’ll pay a little more, taking about 50 minutes.

  • What is the cheapest flight from San Diego to Istanbul?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Diego to Istanbul was $318 for a one-way ticket and $523 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between San Diego and Istanbul?

    Yes, you'll most likely have to show a valid passport before boarding the plane in San Diego and on arrival in Istanbul.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from San Diego to Istanbul?

    When flying out of San Diego you will be using San Diego. You will be landing at one of these airports: Istanbul or Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from San Diego to Istanbul?

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

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from San Diego to Istanbul?

    Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and oneworld are the airline alliances operating flights between San Diego and Istanbul, with Star Alliance being the most commonly used for this route.

  • What is the most popular layover when flying to Istanbul from San Diego?

    London is the most popular layover city among KAYAK users traveling from San Diego to Istanbul.

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

    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 Istanbul.

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

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

    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 Istanbul with an airline and back to San Diego with another airline.

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

    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 Istanbul from San Diego 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 Diego to Istanbul

  • San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the leading air transportation hub for San Diego domestic, regional, and international flights. The common airlines to expect include Qatar Airways, Delta, United Airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Emirates, JetBlue, and KLM.
  • If you are looking for sustainable flights from San Diego to Istanbul, consider flying economy class with JetBlue. The airline is one of the green and most eco-friendly flights on the route. Also, they are replacing their older aircraft with newer ones for fuel efficiency.
  • The layover cities when traveling from San Diego to Istanbul vary depending on the airline you are traveling in. The common layover cities, include Dublin, Frankfurt, Munich, London, New York, Salt Lake, Helsinki, Vancouver, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Miami.
  • Istanbul is served by 2 major airports, including Istanbul International Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW). The advantage of landing at SAW is that you'll enjoy shorter queues at the checkpoints. If you want to visit major destinations like Hagia Sophia, consider flying to IST since it's closer to this renowned site.
  • Suppose you intend to travel with your furry family from San Diego to Istanbul, consider booking a flight with United Airways. The airline not only allows your dog or cat in the cabin in a carrier, the airline, it has reasonable additional charges for the pets and also allows you to carry a small blanket for pet relief.

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

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Diego to Istanbul. 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 Diego to Istanbul? 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.
7.9
DeltaOverall score based on 8130 reviews
8.1Boarding
7.2Food
8.5Crew
7.8Entertainment
7.9Comfort
Airline reviews

Delta One is extraordinary. I fly business when somebody hires me. I just wonder why there is such a chasm between business class and the insanely inhumane and nonsensical coach. The seats are not large enough to fit even my tiny wife. We fly 10% of what we did because we don’t want to pay 5-10 k but for $400 it’s unbearable. It seems like the accountants took over and made stupid decisions. Screw in 20 extra seats and make it so unbearable that people fly 90% less. Just put the damn price up and put some proper chairs in. But business, yay.

10.0 ExcellentDr. Simon, Jan 2026
LAX - JFK
Read more Delta reviews

Delta One is extraordinary. I fly business when somebody hires me. I just wonder why there is such a chasm between business class and the insanely inhumane and nonsensical coach. The seats are not large enough to fit even my tiny wife. We fly 10% of what we did because we don’t want to pay 5-10 k but for $400 it’s unbearable. It seems like the accountants took over and made stupid decisions. Screw in 20 extra seats and make it so unbearable that people fly 90% less. Just put the damn price up and put some proper chairs in. But business, yay.

Delta’s staff is unmatched. From the gate agents, to the pilots, to the flight attendants… all top of the industry.

The flight was delayed for about 2 hrs. Other than it, it was good.

I am extremely disappointed that delta internal pilot manuals now refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “gulf of America”. You can bow down to the Orange turd on your own. I will never fly delta again

No lunch on a x-country flight scheduled for 10:50 am departure, arrived 5+ hrs later. That requires a black box label before you pay for the tickets. Worst, when I checked in online, it's specifically said that lunch was served on his flight for economy Plus passengers.

Our flight from SFO to MSP was right on time on 11/15/2025. No delays. As we approached MSP at about 8 pm, we circled in the air until 8:40 pm so I don't call that efficient for MSP. I think the captain should announce the delay and why. (as if we all don't know that we are just circling around the area, slowing down, speeding up, slowing down.) Thank you. Marilyn Fischer

Staff were friendly and happy. Delta could make sure passengers that don't have the app know of changes. Without Kayak I would not have known about the change of gate or the delay. Kayak was faster to notify me.

The flight used a B767 with a very old interior from before 2014. The entertainment system did not work at all during the flight despite attempts to reset the system. It was like they flew this route just to be competitive.

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

Flight delayed for two and half hours and then canceled altogether due to mechanical issues. No mechanic onsite to fix so had to send one from LAX.

Flight was on time, staff are friendly and helpful onboard.

Terrible last row seats many seats available but no offer to move to better seat

Delay and had to run between flight to get my connection due to this delay but besides that the overall experience was ok. I arrived with just an hour of delay.

At the airport, terrible, I do not want to even remember it. It was too humiliating for a business class passenger.

Flight was ok but lack of communication cost me to literally beg to be put on another flight as connecting flight had departed

They forgot to serve food and the crew was very unfriendly. Never experienced such a bad KLM flight. Usually fly from Toronto. New York was different.

Couldn’t get boarding pass in SLC even with help from a redcoat, so had to find a desk in AMS to get boarding pass. Technical problems so not sure why. Very inconvenient. The KLM app is not as user friendly as most apps. Also had to wait almost an hour on the tarmac for a fuel truck, which caused us to miss a connecting bus in LUX.

Over 1 Hr delay. No APU so no AC on ground. Plane was hot during boarding and then they closed the doors over 20 minutes before engine start so interior of plane was steamy hot and stuffy. Could have been helped by opening doors until ready to depart.

First of all we couldn’t check in online, then we learn at the airport we were on stand by for KLM’s mistake of overbooking. The seats were not comfy at all. Our luggage got lost.

Short flight so it was okay. Nice crew, all very pleasant and professional. We were near the back in row 27 so just as we got our drinks, we started our descent so had to drink very quickly!

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

It was a pretty standard flight... until the almost hour and a half spent on the taxi way. I get that the weather has been poor but the delay had nothing to do with the weather and more to do with a plane with several issues tying up the gate. I get that that happens from time to time but this has been EVERY flight I've been on for the past 5 years and I fly 3 to 5 times a year. This isn't just United... it's American, it's Delta. It's an issue with the entire industry. I work for UPS and packages on a cargo plane get better service than people do these days. Anymore I HATE flying.

The flight crew where really good. Better then the crew from BNE to SFO

Food should be changed in menu Many muslims travels in this airlime they need to add one Halal meal

left on time, reasonable boarding process arrived early luggage came out quickly

Some flight attendants were great others were cranky. Seats were very tight and sitting on an aisle was very hard as the carts and people walking constantly bumped shoulder and arm.

It was great with United overall except for two things. 1) It was a 5-hour flight and we were with kids, so we were asking for extra snacks. They were extremely reticent to dole them out even though there wasn't any meal and the kids were starting to hit their limit towards the end. 2) Baggage didn't arrive until 80 minutes after we landed.

I’m so sorry, I can’t remember her name, I believe it was Dimpti. She was stellar, also a mature Asian flight attendant, lots of flowers in her hair, just as amazing! But literally the crew was AWESOME . Only downside is there weren’t any charging outlets. Maybe I needed to ask a flight attendant , but it would’ve been nice to have one easily accessible.

I boarded flight UA#1318 at Sacramento International Airport going back to Houston TX. The flight was scheduled at 5:10am. I was able to check in virtually using the United Airlines app. When I entered the airport, there was no one outside assisting with checked bags as it was for Delta Airlines. Immediately upon entering, there was a LONG, EXTREMELY LONG line to the kiosks to get boarding passes. I stand in line to get boarding passes then had to move to ANOTHER EXTREMELY LONG line to get my bags checked in. While standing in this line, we noticed an agent taking customers to 3 at a time to her station to check their bags in. Lucky for me, she called me back, checked my bags for me and I was on my way. I then encountered another long line at the TSA check and to avoid I ending up having to sign up for CLEAR to bypass it. So glad, I did.,...Both of my flights were great with no issues, butthe check in progress at Bush Airport was so much smoother. Check-in at SMF airport needs to be anaylzed and corrected. Do better United, I know you can....thanks

Pushed back only to get deplaned due to a tire damaged by ground crew. They did at least go pretty fast. The bathrooms should be banned under the Geneva convention. No room to even sit straight on the toilet. The under-seat entertainment units block what little leg room there is.

The flight left late and I didn’t get a glass of bubbly upon boarding (which I’m used to when booking business class on other flights), but otherwise it was a pleasant flight with lovely, helpful crew members and I enjoyed my meal.

Couldn't fit knees, only 1 toilet working, didn't get anything to drink cause the stewards were not able to get to us

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.

The flight from SFO to YVR was delayed and my bag did not make it to my next flight from YVR to SYD. It took almost 3 days after I landed to get my bag and when I got it, it was filled with dust

Great check in process in LA and good service The check in process as well as at the gate is way better in the US versus canada 🇨🇦

All attendents were very efficient, pleasant and happy. Everything went smoothly. The seats could have been wider. There could have been more free food instead of just one small bar.

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,

It was a smooth flight both in the sky and landing!

The crew was really nice. The plane seats were kinda small even for a 5’6” / 158 lbs person.

Fare was great, seat comfort the opposite as cushion was worn out. Ok for 2 hour flight, not for 4.5 hour flight..

The issue was not with BA it was with the link yoiu sent fopr booking the flight

Loved the boarding option from Business class lounge, experience on flight was excellent, plenty of good food choices

Awful it always is unfortunately is the only way to fly direct to london

Check in was was and the agent was very friendly and helpful The lounge was nice...boarding was straight from the lounge Everything worked at our seats, and video entertainment was good ..food was mediocre

Airlines have to stop assuming passengers bring entertainment. Provide it like you used to in business class and above!! N

Need to offer Better food from LAX to London Service from London to Delhi very delayed after take off.

Great crew and food and beverage. Seating tight but not the airline's fault. Will definitely fly BA in future!

Crying baby the ENTIRE flight. Not your fault, but I paid 2700 for a premium economy ticket and it wasn't worth it. should have just stuck with coach. flight attendants very mediocre - minimal effort. Plane didn't seem very clean. Didn't have any cleansing wipes - most airlines give you this when you board. Flat screen scrolling didn't work. Toiletry case a joke - why bother at all?

Enjoyable flight, helpful crew everything was organized to accommodate passengers.

I was transferred to an American Airlines flight. The boarding was late and unorganized. The seating was extremely tight and uncomfortable. Will not use AA again.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports