SFO - CPT

$760 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Cape Town

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 Cape Town departing on 5/16. 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 Cape Town

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

Cheapest round-trip
$1,067
Overall average: $1,780
Singapore Airlines
Tue 8/11Tue 8/25
SFO - CPT • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way
$658
Typical prices: $766-$1,445
Multiple Airlines
Sat 5/16
SFO - CPT • 3 stops
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $1,120 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
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Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between San Francisco and Cape Town. You'll need at least 1 connection.
Insights
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Insights
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $1,128 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 21h 48m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 20% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 20% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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Good to know
Good to know
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Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Cape Town (SFO-CPT)

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

Tue, Aug 11 - Tue, Aug 25
Singapore Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 9:25 am
SFO
-
CPT
36h 40m
2 stops
Singapore Airlines Logo
10:40 am - 9:50 am
CPT
-
SFO
32h 10m
2 stops
$1,067Singapore Airlines
Tue, Aug 11 - Tue, Aug 25
Singapore Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 9:25 am
SFO
-
CPT
36h 40m
2 stops
Singapore Airlines Logo
10:40 am - 9:50 am
CPT
-
SFO
32h 10m
2 stops
$1,071Singapore Airlines
Mon, Sep 7 - Mon, Sep 21
Singapore Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 9:25 am
SFO
-
CPT
36h 40m
2 stops
Singapore Airlines Logo
10:40 am - 9:50 am
CPT
-
SFO
32h 10m
2 stops
$1,088Singapore Airlines
Mon, Aug 10 - Mon, Aug 24
Singapore Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 9:25 am
SFO
-
CPT
36h 40m
2 stops
Singapore Airlines Logo
10:40 am - 9:50 am
CPT
-
SFO
32h 10m
2 stops
$1,109Singapore Airlines
Wed, May 6 - Sun, Jun 7
Kenya Airways Logo
4:00 pm - 1:00 pm
SFO
-
CPT
60h 00m
2 stops
Kenya Airways Logo
2:25 pm - 9:14 pm
CPT
-
SFO
39h 49m
3 stops
$1,120Kenya Airways
Tue, May 5 - Tue, May 19
Turkish Airlines Logo
6:45 pm - 11:50 am
SFO
-
CPT
32h 05m
1 stop
Turkish Airlines Logo
4:35 pm - 4:40 pm
CPT
-
SFO
33h 05m
1 stop
$1,123Turkish Airlines
Tue, Aug 11 - Tue, Aug 18
Singapore Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 9:25 am
SFO
-
CPT
36h 40m
2 stops
Singapore Airlines Logo
10:40 am - 9:50 am
CPT
-
SFO
32h 10m
2 stops
$1,130Singapore Airlines
Thu, May 7 - Sun, May 17
Kenya Airways Logo
11:55 pm - 1:35 pm
SFO
-
CPT
52h 40m
3 stops
Kenya Airways Logo
2:25 pm - 12:39 am
CPT
-
SFO
43h 14m
3 stops
$1,132Kenya Airways
Wed, Sep 9 - Wed, Sep 23
Turkish Airlines Logo
6:45 pm - 11:50 am
SFO
-
CPT
32h 05m
1 stop
Turkish Airlines Logo
4:35 pm - 4:40 pm
CPT
-
SFO
33h 05m
1 stop
$1,150Turkish Airlines
Mon, Apr 27 - Thu, May 7
Turkish Airlines Logo
6:45 pm - 11:50 am
SFO
-
CPT
32h 05m
1 stop
Turkish Airlines Logo
4:35 pm - 10:50 am
CPT
-
SFO
27h 15m
1 stop
$1,151Turkish Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for San Francisco to Cape Town flights

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

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Cape Town?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Cape Town, 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 Cape Town is March, where tickets cost $1,274 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and December, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,891 and $1,807 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Francisco to Cape Town?

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 Cape Town, 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 Cape Town, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 20% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 23 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJuly
Cheapest flight$658
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 8% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 12% increase in price.
Flight from San Francisco to Cape Town

When to book flights from San Francisco to Cape Town

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Francisco to Cape Town 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 Cape Town

  • Is it necessary for me to obtain a visa before my flight from San Francisco to Cape Town?

    For those travelers that are taking a vacation in Cape Town, there is no need to get a visa to travel to this country so long as you're not going to stay there for more than 90 days. Do you check to make sure that your passport is valid for at least 30 days beyond your date of arrival in South Africa.

  • What are some good transportation choices to get from the Cape Town International Airport (CPT) into Cape Town?

    There is a bus Line A01 operated by My Citi that can take you from the airport to the downtown area in about 30 minutes. If you prefer to travel by taxi, you should expect to travel for about 17min.

  • Does the Cape Town International Airport offer any shower facilities to help get cleaned up after a long flight from San Francisco?

    There are showers available in the Bidvest Lounge location that you will find on the third level of the International Terminal on the Airside.

  • What type of hotel choices are available at the Cape Town International Airport they have a location close to the terminal buildings?

    There are two hotels that have a location either right at the airport or just a short walk from the terminal buildings. The Road Lodge Cape Town International Airport sits right on the airport grounds and is a short walk from the terminal buildings. The Hotel Verde Cape Town Airport is about 1300 feet from the terminal and when passengers want to get to this hotel without walking, there is a free airport shuttle.

  • What is the cheapest flight from San Francisco to Cape Town?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Cape Town was $760 for a one-way ticket and $1,120 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between San Francisco and Cape Town?

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

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from San Francisco to Cape Town?

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

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from San Francisco to Cape Town?

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

  • What is the most popular layover when flying to Cape Town from San Francisco?

    Istanbul is the most popular layover city among KAYAK users traveling from San Francisco to Cape Town.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from San Francisco to Cape Town, Singapore Airlines or Emirates?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Francisco to Cape Town are Singapore Airlines and Emirates. With an average price for the route of $1,416 and an overall rating of 8.2, Singapore Airlines is the most popular choice. Emirates is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $1,514 and an overall rating of 8.1.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San Francisco to Cape Town?

    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 Cape Town.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Cape Town 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 Cape Town?

    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 Cape Town with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline. Booking your flights between San Francisco and CPT can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

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

    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 Cape Town 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 Cape Town

  • One of the most convenient ways to get from the downtown San Francisco area to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) before a flight that does not involve driving your car is to take the Yellow or Red Line BART train that makes the trip from Civic Center in downtown San Francisco to the airport in around 30min.
  • If someone plans on dropping you off at San Francisco International Airport before a flight, a very convenient option is to do so at the Kiss and Fly drop-off point that sits right at the rental car center adjacent to the airport property. Once drivers and passengers have said get their goodbyes, travelers can ride aboard the Blue Line AirTrain to all of the terminal buildings at the airport.
  • Passengers that plan on driving their own car to the San Francisco International Airport should consider booking their parking online with ParkRight@SFO. Some of the advantages of using the service are that you can book your parking up to you 2 hours before your arrival time, you can choose any parking area on the airport property, plus you get sent a QR code that means contactless entry and exit from the parking lots.
  • If you plan on taking a service animal for a pet with you from the San Francisco International Airport, it is good to know that this airport offers seven different pet relief areas with two outdoor locations marked with painted paw prints to show travelers where these pet relief areas sit.
  • If you are going to ride your bicycle to the San Francisco International Airport before a flight, you can do so for up to 14 days. Passengers will find bike lock-up locations outside the International Terminal, the Westfield Garage, the Rental Car Center, and at the valet parking location in the Domestic Garage on Level Four.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from San Francisco to Cape Town

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Francisco to Cape Town. 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 Cape Town? 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 8296 reviews
7.9Comfort
7.2Food
7.8Entertainment
8.5Crew
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

I was in first class and literally the men behind me were so aggressively loud I moved myself to economy. This has become so common on Delta - people using audio without headphones, and men on 12am / late night flights drinking and yelling to talk to each other which prevents anyone around them from resting. Pretty crazy to have to move from first to economy (poorer service, less comfort...). Wild wild. Looking into other airlines.

2.0 MediocreIsabella, Mar 2026
SJC - SLC
Read more Delta reviews

I was in first class and literally the men behind me were so aggressively loud I moved myself to economy. This has become so common on Delta - people using audio without headphones, and men on 12am / late night flights drinking and yelling to talk to each other which prevents anyone around them from resting. Pretty crazy to have to move from first to economy (poorer service, less comfort...). Wild wild. Looking into other airlines.

Flight was delayed by 3-hours and their fix was… complimentary pretzels.

The crew, and fellow passengers, were super gracious and kind. There seemed to be plenty of bin space even though the plane was full. It’s nice to get a glass of wine with dinner in Premiere seating, and there was a lot of food.

Everything I mentioned earlier - the airbus was more comfortable indeed and the experience was further enhanced.

The plane was an older model, so it wasn’t as comfortable as others. The flight attendants were not helpful during onboarding. It was a full flight so there was chaos finding space for baggage.

Awesome! On time flight, early arrival, and a complimentary upgrade!

It was nt delta. It was aeromexo. Service was awful. They served a very small drink and NO snack for a 3hr and 35min flight. Then for the first 30 min of the flight is was talk and talk over head interruption the movie/ show i picked to watch.

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.

The 777’s economy seat’s legroom was more tolerable than expected. I appreciate the reclining mechanism which slides the seat forward to minimize cannibalizing the space behind. The food was terrible: very salty.

Seats are uncomfortable. This has been a trend in the industry for decades. Trying to fit more seats on each plane to increase profits at the expense of the passenger.

Staff were good. My seat was in need of repair, but for a short flight was not problematic. Usual basic snack and drink setup that you'll find on any US carrier. Over, a decent, basic flight.

Flight delayed for more than 16 hrs and no effort was spent to provide an alternate

We had turbulence ever 1/2 hr or so and the captains announcements were SOOOO LOUD

it was a very short flight so my expectations were low.

Entertainment kept turning itself off. Gave up on watching a movie.

Very disappointing given gate agent behavior. Filed a formal complaint with United.

Terrible. No customer service, no food, no drinks on a 6 hour premier economy booking.

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

IAH to Istanbul was outstanding across the board. The flight from Istanbul to Male was good, not great.

the cabin was kept too hot. couldn't sleep as a result

It was an amazing experience. Flight crew's service, hospitality, and the food were phenomenal. I don't think I'd want to try any other airline company after this. I would definitely recommend to friends and family. Thank you Turkish Airlines !

Business Class pods are horrible. If you're petite, you might be able to sleep on the uncomfortable seat and bed. Crew and food are fantastic.

I have travelled many times on Turkish, but they always board at least 30-40 minutes past the stated time. If informed properly, passengers can choose to spend more time in the .lounge instead of standing around by the gate waiting to board. The new lounge at DFW was a big disappointment. The aircraft itself was a shock. In the past I have flown this sector with regular business class seating configuration of 1-2-1, The 2-3-2 seating is very disappointing after paying such high prices for tickets. The DFW to Istanbul segment was slightly better, but the Istanbul to Delhi segment was no better than premium economy. I will try to travel more on airlines which give business class passengers more value for their money.

Good overall. Seat spacing a bit tight between IST and ISB.

Excellent staff despite some trying passenger situations. Very impressed with their good attitudes and kindness.

Crew were unfriendly, touch screen for movies didn't work very well, seats were tight and uncomfortable

After arriving in Istanbul, the transit information on the electronic board showed a tight departure time, and the gate changed in the middle, making it difficult to make it on time.

Typically good service onboard but baggage delay in airport was significant

Dloght delayed by 2.5 hrs . Common theme in my last four american floghts

They are rarely on time! Very hard to plan your travels when flights or connections keep getting delayed.

My seat was assigned last row behind restrooms No legroom’s I’m very Pettit Still was not comfortable Food choice was excellent

The worst Airline ever. They centered my second flight and leave me in NY. They don’t have any representatives at the airport and they don’t respond to calls. Basically I got stuck. I will never purchase through there again.

The chicken wrap was tiny ($13 for what looked like a 1/3 of a normal wrap?) and disgusting.

Mediocre would be best description. Food bland. Seat biz class uncomfortable to sleep. Crew never dimmed lights completely in an overnight flight to Europe. Would avoid AA if possible.

Small plane, poor meal choices for first class, bad terminal and boarding experience at LAX

Massimo, flight attendant was very authentic, attentive - wonderful. Food/wrap was just okay.

Experience was great. The best part is the free Wi-Fi connection which helps me to work on the flight

The flight was fine. It's the satellite terminal that supports American eagle flights is what sucks. There is only one food option and everything there is way overpriced. I mean I know it's airport pricing, but it's even crazier than that. I bought a sandwich in a plastic container for $18.

They had us seating down for one hour just waiting on the plane

Flying with BA is always a good experience—even in economy class. It is better if in business and first class. Timely, breeze through security and timely connections

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?

Everything you need to know for your flight from San Francisco to Cape Town

Information on your arrival and departure airports