$488 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Beijing - Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from San Francisco to Beijing:

• Earliest: departs at 10:35 am and lands at 12:53 am
• Latest: departs at 1:00 pm and lands at 3:18 am.

The flight takes about 14h 18m.

Four cabin classes are available on flights from San Francisco to Beijing:

• Economy Class
• Premium Economy Class
• Business Class
• First Class

Prices vary by airline.

A nonstop flight from San Francisco to Beijing takes 14h 18m, covering 5,910 miles.

Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

Round-trip flights from San Francisco to Beijing range from $870 to $1,488, with an average of $1,115 over the past 12 months. Anything below $870 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route - booked within 2 weeks of departure - run 7% above the route average of $1,115. Book 24 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $636 round-trip via Manila Ninoy Aquino Intl (MNL), compared to $1,266 for nonstop.

There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $75–$100 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite-status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

Morning is the busiest departure period on San Francisco to Beijing flights, with 100% of flights leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 0%, evening flights for 0%, and night flights for 0%.

One-way fares from San Francisco to Beijing are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $504, which is 20% below the typical average for this route.

Flights from San Francisco to Beijing usually depart from San Francisco (SFO) and may arrive at several airports in Beijing area, including Beijing Capital (PEK) and Beijing Daxing Intl (PKX).

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the San Francisco to Beijing route, 24% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2 hours 16 minutes.

One-stop flights from San Francisco to Beijing most commonly connect through:

• Incheon Intl (ICN) - 41% of one-stop connections
• Hong Kong Intl (HKG) - 38% of one-stop connections
• Vancouver Intl (YVR) - 7% of one-stop connections
• Wuhan (WUH) - 4% of one-stop connections

Incheon Intl (ICN) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 18% on the San Francisco to Beijing route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $994 round-trip on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at $1,209, a difference of $215. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

2 airlines operate flights between San Francisco and Beijing. The airlines offering nonstop flights on this route include:

• United Airlines
• Air China

Flying via Los Angeles Los Angeles (LAX) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 17h 15m, compared with 17h 40m via Vancouver Intl (YVR) and 18h 07m via Incheon Intl (ICN).

Beijing is 15 hours ahead of San Francisco (China Time vs Pacific Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Some of the most popular sights in Beijing are Forbidden City, Tiananmen and Silk Street Market. These are among the most viewed places in Beijing on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating San Francisco to Beijing flights:

• United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• Air China: offers free seat selection
• Singapore Airlines: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• United Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• Air China: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• Singapore Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route and airline, so travelers should check the fare details before booking.

To be allowed entry to Beijing, you must provide your original passport with at least six months of validity beyond the expected departure date from the country. In addition, you’ll also need a visa. It is worth mentioning that the country doesn’t provide travelers with visas upon arrival, so it is up to you to ensure that you have completed the application process before leaving your home country. There is also a ¥20,000 ($2,956) currency restriction for entry and exit.

San Francisco International Airport has nine lounges. Air France and KLM have a joint lounge in Concourse A of the International Terminal, while United Airlines has two United Clubs in Terminal 3 and near Gates E4 and F11, as well as another one on Concourse G of the International Terminal. The only other airline with a lounge on the International Terminal is Virgin Atlantic with their Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, which can be found on Level 5 past Checkpoint A.

There are four ways through which you can get to the city center from PKX Airport: taxi, airport shuttle, Intercity Railway, and Airport Subway Line. The taxis are available round the clock and take about an hour from the airport to the city center. On the other hand, the shuttle bus runs from 7:30 am to 11 pm and can be accessed from the airport terminal station. The Intercity Railway and Subway Line provide the quickest mode of transport from the airport to Beijing and take about 20min.

Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) was only completed in mid-2019 and therefore has modern amenities. However, it is significantly further from the city center, standing at 40 miles away compared to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), which is only 20 miles away. Therefore, this is the preferred one of the two airports if you want to enjoy the best facilities and amenities.