SFO - CNS

$1,193 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Cairns - Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$1,193
Typical prices: $1,277-$1,919
Air Canada
Wed 3/28Sun 4/1
SFO - CNS • 2 stops
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between San Francisco and Cairns. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
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Avoid delays
United Airlines
Most punctual • 84% on-time
Afternoon
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
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When to travel
June
Cheapest • 51% price drop
January
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Nadi (NAN)
Cheapest • Avg $798 (round-trip)
Brisbane (BNE)
Shortest trip • 18h 27m (one-way)
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We hope you love your trip to Cairns!

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Cairns (SFO-CNS)

 

Cheap flights from San Francisco to Cairns with top airlines, updated regularly. Compare round-trip, one-way, direct and last-minute deals.

Sun, Mar 28 - Thu, Apr 1
Air Canada Logo
6:30 am - 2:55 pmSFO  San Francisco-CNS Cairns
39h 25m2 stops Vancouver Intl Sydney Kingsford Smith
Air Canada Logo
6:00 am - 1:47 pmCNS  Cairns-SFO San Francisco
24h 47m2 stops Brisbane Vancouver Intl
$1,193Air Canada
Sun, Mar 28 - Thu, Apr 1
Air Canada Logo
6:30 am - 2:55 pmSFO  San Francisco-CNS Cairns
39h 25m2 stops Vancouver Intl Sydney Kingsford Smith
Air Canada Logo
6:00 am - 1:47 pmCNS  Cairns-SFO San Francisco
24h 47m2 stops Brisbane Vancouver Intl
$1,271Air Canada
Sun, Feb 7 - Wed, Feb 17
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:40 am - 8:30 amSFO  San Francisco-CNS Cairns
52h 50m3 stops Singapore Changi Denpasar Bali Ngurah Rai Melbourne
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 1:45 pmCNS  Cairns-SFO San Francisco
20h 00m1 stop Tokyo Narita
$1,314Multiple Airlines
Sun, Feb 7 - Sat, Feb 20
Air Canada Logo
6:50 pm - 2:55 pmSFO  San Francisco-CNS Cairns
26h 05m2 stops Vancouver Intl Sydney Kingsford Smith
Air Canada Logo
3:45 pm - 10:32 amCNS  Cairns-SFO San Francisco
36h 47m2 stops Sydney Kingsford Smith Vancouver Intl
$1,316Air Canada
Sat, Feb 6 - Tue, Feb 23
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:40 pm - 2:00 pmSFO  San Francisco-CNS Cairns
29h 20m2 stops Vancouver Intl Brisbane
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:05 pm - 3:31 pmCNS  Cairns-SFO San Francisco
39h 26m2 stops Sydney Kingsford Smith Vancouver Intl
$1,321Multiple Airlines
Fri, Feb 5 - Wed, Feb 17
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:40 am - 8:30 amSFO  San Francisco-CNS Cairns
52h 50m3 stops Singapore Changi Denpasar Bali Ngurah Rai Melbourne
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 1:45 pmCNS  Cairns-SFO San Francisco
20h 00m1 stop Tokyo Narita
$1,347Multiple Airlines
Thu, Feb 4 - Wed, Feb 17
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:40 am - 8:30 amSFO  San Francisco-CNS Cairns
52h 50m3 stops Singapore Changi Denpasar Bali Ngurah Rai Melbourne
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 1:45 pmCNS  Cairns-SFO San Francisco
20h 00m1 stop Tokyo Narita
$1,349Multiple Airlines
Sat, Feb 6 - Wed, Feb 17
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:40 am - 5:45 amSFO  San Francisco-CNS Cairns
50h 05m2 stops Singapore Changi Denpasar Bali Ngurah Rai
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 1:45 pmCNS  Cairns-SFO San Francisco
20h 00m1 stop Tokyo Narita
$1,355Multiple Airlines
Wed, Feb 10 - Mon, Feb 22
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:40 am - 5:45 amSFO  San Francisco-CNS Cairns
50h 05m2 stops Singapore Changi Denpasar Bali Ngurah Rai
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 1:45 pmCNS  Cairns-SFO San Francisco
20h 00m1 stop Tokyo Narita
$1,363Multiple Airlines
Mon, Feb 8 - Mon, Feb 22
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:40 am - 5:45 amSFO  San Francisco-CNS Cairns
50h 05m2 stops Singapore Changi Denpasar Bali Ngurah Rai
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 1:45 pmCNS  Cairns-SFO San Francisco
20h 00m1 stop Tokyo Narita
$1,363Multiple Airlines

Price, demand and travel trends for San Francisco to Cairns flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

How much is a round-trip flight from San Francisco to Cairns?

Round-trip flights from San Francisco to Cairns typically range from $1,277 to $1,919. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $1,193, on Air Canada.

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Key details for San Francisco to Cairns flights

Low season

September

Cheapest flight

$1,193
Beat the crowds with an average 80% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 37% increase in travelers.
Round-trip flight from San Francisco to Cairns

When to book flights from San Francisco to Cairns

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Francisco to Cairns based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price

Your San Francisco to Cairns flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • What cabin classes can I book on flights from San Francisco to Cairns?

    Two cabin classes are available on flights from San Francisco to Cairns:

    • Economy Class
    • Business Class

  • How long is a flight from San Francisco to Cairns?

    A nonstop flight from San Francisco to Cairns takes 00m, covering 7,019 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from San Francisco to Cairns?

    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.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a San Francisco to Cairns flight?

    Round-trip flights from San Francisco to Cairns range from $1,277 to $1,919, with an average of $1,621 over the past 12 months. Anything below $1,277 counts as a good deal.

  • How does on-time performance compare across airlines flying from San Francisco to Cairns?

    United Airlines is the only airline operating San Francisco to Cairns flights. 84% of its flights are on time.

  • Have flight prices from San Francisco to Cairns changed much recently?

    Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route varied from about $1,193 to $2,175. That means the highest observed fare was about 82% higher than the lowest one.

  • What car rental options are available at Cairns Airport (CNS)?

    Cairns Airport (CNS) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $12 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Bargain Car Rentals
    • East Coast Car Rentals
    • Simba Car Hire
    • Europcar
    • Ace Rental Cars

  • Which airports can I use when flying from San Francisco to Cairns?

    Flights from San Francisco to Cairns usually depart from San Francisco (SFO) and arrive at Cairns (CNS).

  • What time of day has the fewest delays on flights from San Francisco to Cairns?

    Afternoon flights have the fewest delays on this route.

  • At what point is a flight considered delayed from San Francisco to Cairns?

    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 Cairns route, 16% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 3h 25m.

  • Which airports do connecting flights from San Francisco to Cairns pass through?

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

    • Brisbane (BNE) - 33% of one-stop connections
    • Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) - 33% of one-stop connections
    • Nadi (NAN) - 17% of one-stop connections
    • Auckland Intl (AKL) - 8% of one-stop connections

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from San Francisco to Cairns?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 79% on flights from San Francisco to Cairns. Saturday is the cheapest departure day at $1,037 round-trip on average, while Tuesday is the most expensive at $4,721, a difference of $3,684.

    Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport from San Francisco to Cairns?

    Flying via Brisbane (BNE) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 18h 27m, compared with 18h 49m via Auckland Intl (AKL) and 19h 09m via Nadi (NAN).

  • What is the time difference between San Francisco and Cairns?

    Cairns is 17 hours ahead of San Francisco (Eastern Australia Time vs Pacific Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • What popular places can I visit in Cairns?

    Some of the most popular sights in Cairns are Cairns Convention Centre and Reef Hotel Casino. These are among the most viewed places in Cairns on KAYAK.

Your guide to booking San Francisco to Cairns flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Saturday departure and avoid flying on Tuesday. On this route, Saturday flights average $1,037, about $3,684 less than Tuesday fares (78% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your San Francisco to Cairns trip for June. Fares historically average $799 round-trip in that month - typically $3,922 less than the most expensive month, which is March (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Cairns Airport.

    • Cairns Sheridan Hotel
    • Floriana Boutique Hotel
    • Kookas Bed & Breakfast

More options for your flight from San Francisco to Cairns

Complete your trip to Cairns with a hotel stay or car rental

Car rentals in Cairns
Hotels in Cairns
Vacations in Cairns