SFO - CMB

$396 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Colombo

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 Colombo departing on 3/21. 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 Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport

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

Cheapest round-trip
$848
Overall average: $1,011
China Eastern
Sat 2/28Fri 3/13
SFO - CMB • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$396
Typical prices: $352-$527
Air India
Sat 3/21
SFO - CMB • 2 stops
Top airlines
China Eastern
Cheapest • from $848 (round-trip)
Singapore Airlines
Best reviews • 8.2 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
3 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 17% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
September
Cheapest • 22% price drop
December
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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We hope you love your trip to Colombo!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Colombo (SFO-CMB)

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

Sat, Feb 28 - Fri, Mar 13
China Eastern Logo
12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
SFO
-
CMB
41h 30m
1 stop
China Eastern Logo
8:20 pm - 10:00 am
CMB
-
SFO
26h 10m
1 stop
$848China Eastern
Tue, Mar 17 - Tue, Mar 24
Air India Logo
11:00 am - 4:05 pm
SFO
-
CMB
40h 35m
2 stops
Air India Logo
5:05 pm - 1:25 pm
CMB
-
SFO
32h 50m
1 stop
$850Air India
Sat, Feb 21 - Sun, Mar 8
China Eastern Logo
12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
SFO
-
CMB
41h 30m
1 stop
China Eastern Logo
8:20 pm - 10:00 am
CMB
-
SFO
26h 10m
1 stop
$853China Eastern
Thu, Feb 19 - Sat, Feb 28
China Eastern Logo
12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
SFO
-
CMB
41h 30m
1 stop
China Eastern Logo
1:05 am - 9:00 am
CMB
-
SFO
45h 25m
3 stops
$854China Eastern
Sat, Feb 21 - Sun, Mar 8
China Eastern Logo
12:00 pm - 11:40 pm
SFO
-
CMB
46h 10m
3 stops
China Eastern Logo
8:20 pm - 10:00 am
CMB
-
SFO
26h 10m
1 stop
$855China Eastern
Mon, Mar 16 - Tue, Mar 24
China Eastern Logo
1:00 pm - 11:40 pm
SFO
-
CMB
46h 10m
3 stops
China Eastern Logo
1:05 am - 10:00 am
CMB
-
SFO
45h 25m
3 stops
$856China Eastern
Tue, Feb 24 - Tue, Mar 10
Qatar Airways Logo
3:00 pm - 1:55 am
SFO
-
CMB
21h 25m
1 stop
Qatar Airways Logo
3:25 am - 1:40 pm
CMB
-
SFO
22h 45m
1 stop
$861Qatar Airways
Sat, Feb 28 - Thu, Mar 12
China Eastern Logo
12:00 pm - 11:40 pm
SFO
-
CMB
46h 10m
2 stops
China Eastern Logo
1:05 am - 10:00 am
CMB
-
SFO
45h 25m
3 stops
$862China Eastern
Mon, Feb 23 - Sun, Mar 15
China Eastern Logo
12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
SFO
-
CMB
41h 30m
1 stop
China Eastern Logo
8:20 pm - 10:00 am
CMB
-
SFO
26h 10m
1 stop
$863China Eastern
Tue, Feb 24 - Tue, Mar 10
Qatar Airways Logo
3:00 pm - 2:45 am
SFO
-
CMB
22h 15m
1 stop
Qatar Airways Logo
10:15 am - 1:40 pm
CMB
-
SFO
39h 55m
1 stop
$864Qatar Airways
Booking Insights

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

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from San Francisco to Colombo 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 Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport, 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 Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport is September, where tickets cost $892 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and December, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,681 and $1,535 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Francisco to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

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 Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport, 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 Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 17% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 18 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonOctober
Cheapest flight$396
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 16% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 33% increase in price.
Flight from San Francisco to Colombo

When to book flights from San Francisco to Colombo

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

  • Which documents do I need for traveling from San Francisco to Colombo?

    To travel from San Francisco to Colombo, you will require a valid passport with at least six months of remaining validity. Also, you will need a visa to enter Sri Lanka. Additionally, it is advisable to carry your confirmed return flight tickets or an onward ticket to a third country.

  • Can I bring my meals on board for flights from San Francisco to Colombo?

    Yes, you can bring your own meals on board during flights. However, It is important to respect the comfort and experience of fellow travelers. As such, Singapore Airlines allows the carriage of food items on board if they are not offensive to travelers, such as food items with strong smells.

  • What are some of the cities I can drive to after arriving in Colombo?

    After arriving at CMB, you can embark on drives to the historic city of Kandy, which is approximately 72 miles east of Colombo. In addition, Galle is around 95 miles south of Colombo. Furthermore, the coastal city of Negombo is just 5 miles north of Colombo.

  • Which are some common layovers between San Francisco and Colombo?

    For flights from San Francisco to Colombo, Qatar Airways often has a layover at Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) while Emirates frequently connects through Dubai International Airport (DXB). Malaysia Airlines offers layovers at Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL). Additionally, Air Canada will have layovers at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR).

  • What is the cheapest flight from San Francisco to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport was $396 for a one-way ticket and $848 for a round-trip.

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

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

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from San Francisco to Colombo?

    When flying out of San Francisco you will be using San Francisco. You will be landing at Colombo, also known as Colombo Bandaranaike Intl.

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

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

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

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

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

    Hong Kong is the most popular layover city among KAYAK users traveling from San Francisco to Colombo.

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Francisco to Colombo are Singapore Airlines and Emirates. With an average price for the route of $1,346 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 $2,384 and an overall rating of 8.1.

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

    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 Colombo.

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

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

    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 Colombo with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline. Booking your flights between San Francisco and CMB 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 Colombo?

    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 Colombo 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 Colombo Bandaranaike Intl Airport

  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO) serves as a major hub for Alaska and United Airlines. Also, SFO serves as a top departure point for airlines like Asiana Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Cathay Pacific, among others. This leads to increased connectivity to Colombo and other layover points, improving flexible trip scheduling.
  • A first-class ticket is recommended for this over 21-hour trip from San Francisco to Colombo. Booking American Airlines first class offers enhanced comfort with spacious seating, ample legroom, and reclining options. Secondly, you will enjoy premium meals, priority boarding, and access to luxurious lounges to make the long journey more enjoyable and rejuvenating.
  • If you're traveling with kids, Qatar Airways is the perfect choice for family travel. They allow one infant item for free, such as a carrycot or stroller. Additionally, they provide creative and educational kits filled with stickers, activity books, and crayons, to ensure kids stay engaged during the flight. Children are also treated to a tasty and nutritious kid's menu.
  • For unaccompanied minor travel, we recommend Etihad Airlines. The airline allows children between 5 and 11 years to book Unaccompanied Minors (UM) service. The service is free of charge as long as the minor is booked on a regular fare and the service was booked before checking in at the departure airport.
  • Getting downtown from CMB airport is convenient using public transportation. The most popular and efficient option is to take a taxi or a ride-sharing service. Also, the Colombo Express bus is available at CMB, which takes approximately 1 hour to reach downtown. This provides a convenient and cost-effective means of transportation for travelers on a budget.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from San Francisco to Colombo

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Francisco to Colombo. 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 Colombo? 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.
8.2
Singapore AirlinesOverall score based on 1443 reviews
8.3Boarding
7.8Food
8.0Entertainment
8.0Comfort
8.6Crew
Airline reviews

Overall were very good and I was satisfied w/ all the food and services.

10.0 ExcellentDulcie, Jan 2026
HKG - SIN
Read more Singapore Airlines reviews

Overall were very good and I was satisfied w/ all the food and services.

I find it was a bit hot before take off. If there is a way to improve the airflow it would be great

No frills airline with minimal leg room and no entertainment

I wish there was a little more leg room between the seats. The recline was good and seats overall were comfortable. I also didn’t like the 2-4-2 configuration.

toilets could be cleaned more frequently, everything else was pretty good.

The flight crew was phenominal! We couldn't have asked for any better. They were experienced professionals.

Pleasant business class flight experience with good onboarding experience. Flight service team was excellent with usual book-the-chef menu available

Wish the underseat compartment don’t have a restriction, can fit a personal item such as backpack fully like most Boeing

The staff on the plane were attentive and friendly. The frustration with the cabin crew was that we were served second to special diet people. And, we were in economy section. The boarding staff was mediocre. Got scolded for requesting to sit with spouse on 14 hours long flight home. Was told they cannot break up families for us. Didn’t understand how we were denied sitting together as we are husband and wife. After many words of exchange, we were accommodated. Cleaning crew did a horrible job! Bathrooms were unsanitary or dirty from beginning of flight! Didn’t expect sparkling as its economy, but did except decent.

Crew and service excellent. 2 hour delay for takeoff. SQ app showed flight on time.

great experience. better than all other airlines flying this route.

I didn't have much experience with Cathay Pacific airlines because of delay and missed connections, the bulk of the trip was on Japan Airlines.

Flight delayed first from bad weather, then after boarding there was a problem with the plane. We had to get off and onto another plane...connections were missed and the trip took an additional 10 hours!! Pre-paid seatting was not honored due ro last minute carrier changes. Most of the trip was on Japan Airline.

Cramped, hot and the plane was grubby. Also the plane was an hour late and it took an hour to get my luggage once I got to LAX.

Flight from Hong Kong to LAX was late, the plane was grubby, overcrowded and hot. I recently flew Starlux and that was a MUCH better experience.

Crew and food were great in-flight. We had a 2 hour delay, no communication, and just got left in a limbo. The crew arrived late and they were running checkouts on the plane (which is important, but why not doing it earlier?) Cathay did nothing to about the delay, and a lot of people missed their connection flights. I had to run and got stuck at checkpoint, which made my entire trip very unpleasant. Got to my gate 5 mins prior to them closing it.

My flight was suppose to be at 7:45pm to fly but it didnt fly out until 8:55 to dallas so then all of my other flights was late and delay ihad to wait at the airport for extra 14 hours to be able to get on a different plane

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.

It was good. The planes needed to be updated though, they were dated and the entertainment systems were old. Service was amazing. The pre-booked meals were lacklustre.

Super delayed. Unnecessary. Need more competent people doing logistics to keep things moving on time. Totally unacceptable.

When we checked in at the Siem Reap Airport in Cambodia, we were only given three boarding passes and told that we would have to check in with American when we arrived in Boston. This was a source of stress for us. After we landed in Boston, we had a long passage from Terminal E to Terminal B (American Airline ticketing counter). Because the electronic ticketing kiosks for check-in would not recognize our Confirmation Code, we had to wait for an hour in a long line where only two AA reps were taking care of Special Services passengers. In many years of both business and recreational travel, I have never had this experience. I would expect more from AA being in partnership with other airlines to do a better job with this.

Our experience on the Doha to Hyderabad segment was extremely stressful due to prolonged delays and a lack of clear communication from the airline. We were traveling as a family, including children, and the uncertainty around timing and next steps caused significant distress. There was very little proactive information provided during the delay, and we were not given clear written explanations about what was happening or how long it might take. This made it difficult to manage the situation, especially while caring for children in a transit environment. In addition, one member of our party was ultimately unable to continue travel, which added to the emotional strain and disruption of the trip. Overall, the experience highlighted gaps in communication, customer care, and handling of unexpected situations. We are sharing this feedback so that future passengers, especially families, are supported with clearer communication and better assistance during irregular operations.

The seat cushions are absolutely lacking, not sure if they know the passengers are traveling for 14 hours straight, but the padding made our back and butt ache like crazy. The entertainment console had its own problems, either the headphone jack wasn't working or the power outlet via usb or ac outlet was not working. Not to mention the seat handles were not adjustable in some planes in the middle or on the aisle. Qatar/Indigo may be operating a very old fleet of planes to make as much profit as possible, but passengers may not be following them for long, should this treatment of its customers continue. Qatar/Indigo, wake up and do it right by your customers, or they may not be your customers anymore.

It would help id flight crew were not rude and showed some courtesy. They were shouting at passengers and yelling instructions as if we were school children at lunch cafeteria!!

All good. Over four hours flight if provided snacks like Qatar Airways would be better

Lobster starter in business class was not good, tough, served cold, and without butter. Movie selection was missing latest releases, did not offer older classic, high quality movies

Food was absolutely pathetic. I wasted so much food which I thought was inedible. I also loathe the inflight entertainment system which has very little content

My entire row did not have power for the full duration of a 14.5 hour flight. Could not charge any devices such as laptop or phones for the entirety of the long flight. The flight attendants tried to remedy the issue by resetting the power, but were not successful. The only other solution provided was to move me to another seat on the plane which was in the middle row. I had paid for a “preferred” seat that was a window seat. This was a downgrade being offered due to the power issue.

Nothing to complain. The staff and flight was good especially the seats which was better compared than the cloth ones on Qatar airways

I was travelling 3.5 years after. Agree Economy is no business class but the food was mediocre. Ordered a Hindu meal, the salads were bitter . The food was really below quality and had no tast from what I had in the past. Indian Railways probably have a better quality food when compared. However the kids meal was really nice and really appreciate how they were taken care of. The restrooms were dirty .

The ticket was last minute buy so no concerns about the pricing this time, but the crew in general could have been more accommodating, helpful.

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. A BIG ISSUE FOR NON-CHINESE PASSENGERS IS THE ABILITY TO CHECK IN ONLINE, by making so difficult or almost impossible there is no chance to get a seat assignment ahead of time then go to the airport and get what is left. THIS IS NOT a SKY TEAM modality.

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.

Small plane with only two lavatories at the back. You must have a good plan to use it before or after the meal, if you make a bad decision, you will end up with standing in front of the toilet for a while till the food carts empty. The good thing is even there’s a slightly delayed, the plane is still arriving on time which is superb!!

The only personel that smiled at all were the flights attendants. Desk agents, lounge people none of them had a smile or even a hello. They were like dealing with dead fish. Again flight attendants were good. All other personnel looked like they didn’t want to be there or help.

good flight. food is only so so. I actually did not eat the snack. it does not look too good on the passenger next to me.

Food no variations only beef of chicken no veggie meals

Super surprised with the entire experience. Business class is incredible. Flight attendants around the world could learn customer service from these people. Simply fabulous experience all the way around.

Flight was cancelled by air India. There was no explanation provided why the flight was cancelled. Found out that the flight was cancelled because the Iran air space was closed. Meanwhile, all other flights passing through that region were operating without issues. When asked to refund money for the tickets, being told that “ As checked, we wish to share that Flight AI 116 on 15 January 2026 from New York to Mumbai was cancelled due to Iran airspace closure, which were beyond the airline’s control. While such events can disrupt travel plans, we appreciate your understanding and patience. Our team remains committed to ensuring the safety and comfort of all passengers and takes all necessary measures to minimize any issues. However, we must inform you that compensation is not applicable under these extraordinary circumstances, in accordance with the relevant regulations.” Completed unacceptable and unprofessional behavior!

Needs lots of improvement starting from crew/staff attitude, cleanliness, better quality food & in flight amenities.

Food was below par Quality and None of the Entertainment systems were Working ..and we were unable to turn it off.. Due to the glare we couldn't even sleep for the entire duration of the flight ..

Horrible flight. No entertainment or WiFi for a 14-hour flight. No explanations either. I’ll never fly Air India again.

Several seats in business class were broken. Some would not recline, others had other problems. They need to really update the seats and AV.

Never can get flight and nof light for three days .finally travel by bus. Very bad experience.

Food not of any international or even Indian standard. We have many cuisine available but only paneer & sundry items. Improve & provide some good indian items. Entertainment website or channel out of order.

First and the foremost I was shocked to see airindia standards have come down so low . The food was horrible . They served us 3 meals for vegetarian and all the was paneer . The orange juice was not at all cold it was smelly . After you take this heavy price air India should learn from other air lines . I at one point felt like throwing up . After all this when we landed we were not given landing slip . We had to wait for 45 min at the immigration just because no one was given landing slip . To top it all we were 3 passengers and had checked in 4 check in luggage . Out of which 3 have not yet arrived . Basically status says the loaded it in our flight ( this was a direct fight ) and it never reached . We are still waiting . There is nothing great to tell about our flight . The he only good thing was the crew were very helpful .

Lay out shows 1st row and second row given after taking payment. It's a fraud

The seats were extremely uncomfortable. Air India seats used to be very comfortable . with sufficient legroom. In this aircraft there was no legroom. It is a shame that for your profit margins you are trying to pack people like cattle on these long haul flights. The food was terrible. The bread was hard like a rock. Mr CEO of Air India, why don’t you take a flight in economy from India to USA and experience the hardships first hand. It is utter disgrace

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports