SFO - CTU

$405 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Chengdu - Compare and Save

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 Chengdu departing on 9/13. 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

Save 20% 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.

Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$771
Typical prices: $821-$921
Cathay Pacific
Mon 10/19Wed 1/20
SFO - CTU • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$405
Typical prices: $551-$590
China Eastern
Sun 9/13
SFO - CTU • 2 stops
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $771 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.6 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between San Francisco and Chengdu. You'll need at least 1 connection.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $1,027 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 18h 50m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 38% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Chengdu!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Chengdu (SFO-CTU)

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

Mon, Oct 19 - Wed, Jan 20
Cathay Pacific Logo
12:20 am - 9:55 pm-
30h 35m
Cathay Pacific Logo
2:30 pm - 9:00 pm-
22h 30m
$771Cathay Pacific
Sun, Sep 13 - Mon, Sep 21
Cathay Pacific Logo
1:20 am - 12:35 pm-
20h 15m
Cathay Pacific Logo
8:10 am - 10:40 pm-
29h 30m
$772Cathay Pacific
Thu, Aug 27 - Tue, Sep 15
China Southern Logo
12:35 am - 10:40 am-
43h 05m
China Southern Logo
5:00 pm - 8:40 pm-
18h 40m
$773China Southern
Mon, Sep 7 - Mon, Sep 28
China Southern Logo
12:35 am - 3:40 pm-
24h 05m
China Southern Logo
3:00 pm - 8:40 pm-
20h 40m
$775China Southern
Wed, Sep 9 - Tue, Sep 29
Air China Logo
1:00 pm - 12:55 am-
20h 55m
Air China Logo
2:55 pm - 10:30 am-
34h 35m
$807Air China
Wed, Sep 23 - Tue, Oct 13
Air China Logo
1:00 pm - 11:55 pm-
19h 55m
Air China Logo
9:15 pm - 10:30 am-
28h 15m
$812Air China
Mon, Sep 14 - Mon, Sep 21
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 9:55 pm-
24h 55m
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:10 am - 10:40 pm-
29h 30m
$842Multiple Airlines
Mon, Sep 14 - Mon, Sep 21
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:37 pm - 11:45 am-
27h 08m
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:00 pm - 8:40 pm-
20h 40m
$843Multiple Airlines
Sat, Sep 19 - Mon, Oct 12
China Eastern Logo
12:00 pm - 1:20 am-
22h 20m
China Eastern Logo
6:55 am - 9:05 am-
17h 10m
$882China Eastern
Sat, Sep 19 - Sun, Oct 11
China Eastern Logo
12:00 pm - 12:15 pm-
33h 15m
China Eastern Logo
1:30 pm - 9:05 am-
34h 35m
$931China Eastern
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for San Francisco to Chengdu flights

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

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

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from San Francisco to Chengdu departing in August.

Flight prices are below average for this route right now.

Flights to Chengdu from San Francisco usually cost between $800 and $864 in August.
The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $771 on China Southern (Aug 27-Sep 5).

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Chengdu?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Chengdu, 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 Chengdu is January, where tickets cost $824 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are July and June, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $3,183 and $2,036 respectively.

Good to know

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$405
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 22% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 14% lower on average.
Flight from San Francisco to Chengdu

When to book flights from San Francisco to Chengdu

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

  • What services does EVA Air offer for economy passengers on flights from San Francisco to Chengdu?

    EVA Air offers the following services for economy passengers including inflight Wi-Fi for all cabin classes, inflight entertainment with a wide range of video, music, and gaming options, creative new meal choices, available for purchase, and access to charging points.

  • How do I go from Chengdu Airport (CTU) to the city center?

    You can take airport buses No. 1 or 3, depending on where your destination is located in the city center. These buses run regularly and are relatively inexpensive. Additionally, Metro Line 18 connects Chengdu Tianfu Airport with the city center. Alternatively, from Terminal 1 or 2, you can take line 10 and transfer to line 3 to get to the city center. You can also take a taxi from the airport to the city center, although the fare may vary depending on the route and time of day.

  • What seat options does Japan Airlines provide on flights from San Francisco to Chengdu?

    Japan Airlines provides seat selection options for its passengers on flights from San Francisco to Chengdu. Passengers traveling in First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy Class, or Economy Class on Japan Airlines can select their seats in advance. Seat selection is usually available 24 hours before flight departure for flights operated by Japan Airlines (JAL).

  • What is the luggage allowance on Asiana Airlines on flights from San Francisco to Chengdu?

    The luggage allowance on Asiana Airlines varies depending on the class of travel. Economy class passengers are generally allowed 1 or 2 pieces of checked baggage, each weighing up to 50 lbs, although the exact policy may depend on the fare purchased. Passengers are generally allowed 1 or 2 pieces of carry-on baggage, each weighing up to 22 lbs, depending on the travel class.

  • What is the cheapest flight from San Francisco to Chengdu?

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Chengdu was $405 for a one-way ticket and $771 for a round-trip.

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

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

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

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

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from San Francisco to Chengdu?

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

  • Which is the best airline for flights from San Francisco to Chengdu, Cathay Pacific or China Southern?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Francisco to Chengdu are Cathay Pacific and China Southern. With an average price for the route of $995 and an overall rating of 7.6, Cathay Pacific is the most popular choice. China Southern is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $1,009 and an overall rating of 7.4.

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

    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 Chengdu.

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

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

    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 Chengdu with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline. Booking your flights between San Francisco and CTU 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 Chengdu?

    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 Chengdu 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 Chengdu

  • Asiana Airlines offers the following services to passengers with reduced mobility on flights from San Francisco to Chengdu. These include wheelchair assistance, a motorized wheelchair if necessary, and special Needs Access facilities and services at airports. It is important to note that passengers with reduced mobility are advised to inform the airline of their needs at least 48 hours before departure.
  • Lufthansa is taking various actions to reduce carbon emissions, including using sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) that save at least 80% of carbon emissions compared to conventional kerosene including for flights from San Francisco to Chengdu.
  • Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) are both known for being family-friendly airlines and offer services to families with kids on flights from San Francisco to Chengdu. These include special airport support services for families with children, such as strollers and priority boarding.
  • Flights to Chengdu departing from San Francisco Airport (SFO) typically depart from the International Terminal (Terminal G), but it's always best to check with the airline or review the flight itinerary for specific terminal information.
  • US citizens generally need a visa to travel to China including Chengdu. Travelers must obtain a visa prior to arrival and have a passport with at least six months of validity remaining. The requirements and procedures for Chinese visa applications by foreign citizens in the US, include providing a photocopy of a green card, visa, I20, or I94 to prove legal residence.

Reviews of the top 4 airlines serving from San Francisco to Chengdu

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Francisco to Chengdu. 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 Chengdu? 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.
7.6
Cathay PacificOverall score based on 1436 reviews
8.1Crew
7.7Entertainment
7.6Comfort
7.3Food
7.9Boarding
Airline reviews

Very attentive crews Flight was very smooth and safe Only little disappointment was the slight delay of departure (~30 minutes ) which rarely happen with CX flights

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, May 2026
Read more Cathay Pacific reviews

Very attentive crews Flight was very smooth and safe Only little disappointment was the slight delay of departure (~30 minutes ) which rarely happen with CX flights

Not at all satisfactory. I had stomach upsets after taking food. Quality of Asian vegetarian meal was awful. Further there was no snacks/ fruits/ biscuits available as in between snacks.. only peanuts and pitzels.. except courteous staff rest of my experience was far from satisfactory

Staff was very courteous. Plane was clean and quite spacious even in the last rows. Veg food could have been better.

The flight from Hong Kong to Hyderabad didn’t have any power points to charge my mobile. Given we are no longer allowed to use power banks, giving customers the ability to charge even on short flights is critical part of the overall experience.

when i ask for help all the crew members had a look like why are you calling me? very terse and rude.

There were delays at boarding and landing. These events resulted in a tight transfer time in HK. Poor signage for transfers. Finally, lost luggage at final destination.

Horrible airline. Missed my baggage and don’t want to reimburse for the basis items. Pathetic customer service

Bathroom was not cleaned as often as other airlines does. It was gross for a less than full flight capacity.

While I was in great pain, the seat was sufficiently comfortable to allow me to rest and not be in so much pain.

Flight crew was especially thoughtful and attentive, made sure our seats were comfortable so we could rest on the long flight

We were taking the flight MU 8649 from Shanghai to Osaka and the original boarding gate was 20 and we didn’t receive any notification or broadcast about gate changes, and by the time we missed the original boarding time we check thr electric board and realized the gate was changed to 208 Also the flight was delayed by almost an hour and the crew member didn’t provide any explanation, after we finally boarded the aircraft was very hot, the crew member told me the air conditioning was not working and tried to calm passages down by offering iced water, all of us sat in the aircraft for another 40 mins before it finally took off

Seats not comfortable. We had requested vegan meal and it wasn’t given.

I was denied boarding at the Brisbane airport and it seems like I won’t get any refunds from the airline

Wow very impressed by the quality and attentiveness of service of China Southern. Lived the blankets! Will definitely fly with them again. Despite language barriers, a few attendants know enough English to understand our rudimentary Mandarin and respond to basic questions. Although they don’t explain the beverage and meal service on the website or ticketing documents, they offered regular beverage cart and snacks during the beginning hours and end hours of the long, transoceanic flight. A full meal at the beginning and end of the flight as well, and a midflight small sandwich (dinner roll sized) but we weren’t hungry and didn’t try that one. The expectation is that every sleeps during the middle of the flight. We were on a “redeye” departure from LAX with a morning arrival in China, so I don’t know if this service pattern is the same for other flights. The domestic flight we took from Guangzhou to Harbin offered conventional refreshments and meals like a US flight service. Note that they didn’t offer diet sodas. If you like to stay hydrated, I recommend bringing plenty of your own. It is served in small cups like any other drink. You can ask for a bottle but they’re tiny - about 6 ounces.

China Southern was not the problem. I booked my flight through Kayak and also received a booking reference and alert details regarding departure time and gate numbers… however Kayak NEVER actually booked my flight! We were stranded at the airport without a flight for a long awaited holiday!

The airport didn‘t give me the ticket. I called customer service to ask for a refund but they kept giving me a perfunctory response and refused to refund me.

It was okay. Boarding the staff made you feel rushed like we were late or something

No wheelchair service at all ( I did request that service and also purchased the priority assistant bundle) , what a waste of money

We bought the business class tickets. The check-in staff and onboard crew were excellent, providing commendable service throughout. However, it was disappointing to find that China Southern Airlines does not have a lounge at SFO. Instead, passengers were provided with a $35 per person food voucher, which fell short of expectations. Furthermore, the quality of the onboard food left much to be desired, marking a significant decline compared to our previous flight experience in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

The food was perfect. The boarding process is a bit long. Given the late boarding time, I felt very tired by the time I was seated.

Weren’t even given earphones to use the entertainment system

Overall, excellent: check-in, boarding, service, and food. The Business Class seating is a little less private and spacious than the world's premier airlines, but still very good for a long haul flight.

cannot get seat information for LAX to IAH when check in in XI,AN

It's terrible that we can't do online check in because we didn't buy the tickets directly from Air china. It was not explained until I contacted Chatdeal and we could not sit together.

Food and service are good. Bathroom was lack of lotions and cleaning. That should be improved.

Food & service very good next I will pick up again

Everything was not satisfactory - the flight was delayed, staffs were ok but they didn't speak English well. I am from east Asia (not Chinese) and they didn't care enough to remember that I wasn't Chinese but persistently spoke chinese to me. The flight announcement in english wasn't clear to understand.

I wish I had been able to choose a vegetarian meal. Crew friendly and helpful. Seat was ok. All quite efficient and pleasant. Would recommend for inner China travel for sure.

The flight is not bad, but the Business Lounge is not big enough for the quantity of people they accept and there is a limited options for food and beverages.

We bought premium Economy, thinking it would be more comfortable, but the seat is so narrow ,that my legs and feet are swollen , I can't wear shoes !

It was just fine. The sirlines did live up fully to my expectation.

While boarding at PVG, there was a ticket checking by the gate, then there was another ticket checking right at the bottom of the escalator, which created quite a dangerous congestion. Don't understand why the duplication?

I was traveling alone with an infant, so the crew was incredibly helpful. Both the international and subsequent domestic flights were impeccable.

The flight was delayed by 2 hours, although to their credit they delayed my connecting flight so people could reach it. Also their site is a nightmare to navigate on a phone. Everything else was good.

CTU-KMG-CNX with 1.5 hr connection at KMG. Doable but just barely bc immigration exit from China is at the last flight leg, here: KMG to CNX. We hauled out of the domestic terminal to reenter at the international departures (luggage checked thru to CNX thankfully). Immigration had only two agents, even though KMG gets a HUGE number of foreigners. It took forever for such a shot line. Then security also took a while, so I just just made the connection. Recommend if you exit China with domestic international transfer, plan for 2+ hrs to avoid a heart attack. Airline personnel don’t suffer if you miss the flight, you do. Plan accordingly.

China Eastern as a member of Sky Alliance airlines should have the same standards overall of their partners, Besides the seats comforts everything else is bellow the standard for a business class travelers.

2 parts to the journey. First leg covered in a newer plane with decent staff + POOR FOOD QUALITY but the second half didn’t leave a positive impression at all as the plane itself was an older built and the crew didn’t serve properly. Language is an issue with China Eastern flights as always, but unmotivated crew just makes it even bad.

Excellent! I had read some negative reviews but I found out that it was not all was not true! The staff was courteous and helpful. The flight take off and landing was nice & easy. The food was good! I asked for a second and I got it easily and without an attitude! All was wonderful!

Again, I was presented with birthday pastries two times as a celebrated my birthday on both legs of my trip. I will keep flying to China using China Eastern airlines. As they made this trip a special one thank you.

A lot of value considering the cheap ticket prices. All meals served were Chinese food. Would fly them again considering the ticket was half the price of any others

Everything you need to know for your flight from San Francisco to Chengdu

Information on your arrival and departure airports