SFO - DTW

$151 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Detroit

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 Detroit departing on 5/15. 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 Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Detroit, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Detroit, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$316
Overall average: $486
Multiple Airlines
Thu 6/4Sun 6/7
SFO - DTW • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$323
Typical prices: $374-$561
United Airlines
Thu 4/23Mon 4/27
SFO - DTW • Non-stop
Advice from real travelers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
SFO's curbside check-in eases travel with children.
DTW's airport ambassadors enhance arrival experience.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Frontier
Cheapest • from $317 (round-trip)
Southwest
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
Every day
You can fly direct with Delta and United Airlines. Average duration is 4h 36m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Top layover airports
Las Vegas (LAS)
Cheapest • Avg $268 (round-trip)
St. Louis (STL)
Shortest trip • 6h 20m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
4 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 38% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
May
Cheapest • 15% price drop
June
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 Detroit!
Flight Deals
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Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Detroit (SFO-DTW)

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

Thu, Jun 4 - Sun, Jun 7
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:43 am - 5:35 am
SFO
-
DTW
17h 52m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:07 pm - 6:25 pm
DTW
-
SFO
25h 18m
1 stop
$316Multiple Airlines
Thu, Jul 16 - Tue, Jul 21
Frontier Logo
11:59 pm - 4:53 pm
SFO
-
DTW
13h 54m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
5:40 pm - 11:04 pm
DTW
-
SFO
8h 24m
1 stop
$317Frontier
Sat, Apr 11 - Fri, Apr 17
Frontier Logo
8:25 pm - 10:58 am
SFO
-
DTW
35h 33m
2 stops
Frontier Logo
10:27 pm - 11:25 pm
DTW
-
SFO
27h 58m
1 stop
$318Frontier
Sat, Apr 18 - Sun, Apr 26
United Airlines Logo
8:20 am - 6:18 pm
SFO
-
DTW
6h 58m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
7:10 am - 9:30 am
DTW
-
SFO
5h 20mnonstop
$319United Airlines
Tue, Apr 7 - Fri, Apr 10
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:34 pm - 11:12 am
SFO
-
DTW
13h 38m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:54 am - 8:15 pm
DTW
-
SFO
11h 21m
1 stop
$320Multiple Airlines
Thu, May 21 - Sun, May 24
Frontier Logo
6:00 am - 8:59 pm
SFO
-
DTW
11h 59m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
12:16 pm - 12:26 am
DTW
-
SFO
15h 10m
1 stop
$321Frontier
Thu, Apr 16 - Sun, Apr 19
Frontier Logo
6:41 pm - 9:10 am
SFO
-
DTW
11h 29m
2 stops
Frontier Logo
10:27 pm - 12:27 am
DTW
-
SFO
29h 00m
1 stop
$322Frontier
Tue, Mar 31 - Sat, Apr 4
Frontier Logo
9:04 pm - 3:27 pm
SFO
-
DTW
15h 23m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
11:54 am - 12:23 am
DTW
-
SFO
15h 29m
1 stop
$323Frontier
Tue, Mar 31 - Thu, Apr 2
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:32 pm - 11:12 am
SFO
-
DTW
12h 40m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:54 am - 12:23 am
DTW
-
SFO
15h 29m
1 stop
$324Multiple Airlines
Wed, Aug 26 - Wed, Sep 2
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:05 pm
SFO
-
DTW
10h 05m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:40 pm - 11:04 pm
DTW
-
SFO
8h 24m
1 stop
$325Multiple Airlines
Booking Insights

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

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

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from San Francisco to Detroit?

The average price of all round-trip flights from San Francisco to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

If your flying dates are flexible, you should consider flying to Detroit on a Wednesday, as we generally find the cheapest rates on that day for this route. On the other hand, Sunday is the most expensive day to fly from San Francisco to Detroit. For your return ticket, we recommend flying on a Thursday and avoiding Mondays for the best deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County 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 Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County 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 Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is May, where tickets cost $419 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are November and December, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $579 and $549 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from San Francisco to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

No, with an average price for the route of $498, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Francisco to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County 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 Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County 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 Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 38% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 20 weeks before departure.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from San Francisco to Detroit

 
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on DTW

An avid traveler and aviation expert who has visited 173 countries, all 50 states and seven continents, Ramsey Qubein flies nearly 400,000 miles a year. As a North Carolina-based freelance journalist for publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, USA Today and Bloomberg among others, he explores the latest trends in aviation, hospitality, cruises and business.

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Expert on SFO

Blane Bachelor is a journalist and editor specializing in travel and aviation who writes regularly for top global outlets. Born and raised in Florida, Blane has worked and lived in four countries, including the Netherlands, where she’s currently based with her family. Her favorite way to get to know a new destination is by running or riding a bike around town – or hearing a spooky ghost story about local history. She will always choose the window seat.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$151
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 1% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 2% lower on average.
Flight from San Francisco to Detroit

When to book flights from San Francisco to Detroit

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

  • What type of flights are there from San Francisco to Detroit?

    There are both direct and connecting flight flying between San Francisco and Detroit. JetBlue and Frontier Airlines provide connecting flights, whereas Delta Air Lines provides direct flights between the destinations. The layovers are at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Denver International Airport (DEN).

  • What are the parking options at San Francisco International Airport (SFO)?

    There are a couple of parking options in San Francisco International Airport (SFO). They include the long-term parking garage, the International Garages A and G, and the Domestic Garage. When flying from the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), you can park your car in any of these garages that will convenience you the most.

  • What hotel can you spend the night in when around San Francisco International Airport (SFO)?

    The Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel located 2.1 miles from the airport is among the hotels from which you can choose to spend the night if you have an early morning flight from the airport. The Millwood hotel is also a good option for travelers since it is located only 3.2 miles away.

  • What are the lounges available in San Francisco International Airport (SFO)?

    There are a couple of lounges which passengers can use to refresh themselves as they get through the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The KLM Lounge located near Gate A1 in Terminal 1 is among the available lounges. Other lounges include the American Airlines Admirals Club located near Gate B13 of Terminal 1, The Centurion Lounge near Gate F2 in Terminal 3, and the Delta Sky Club also in Terminal 1 near Gate C3.

  • What is the cheapest flight from San Francisco to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport was $151 for a one-way ticket and $316 for a round-trip.

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

    Even though you are not required to have a passport, keep in mind that an official ID is needed to board the airplane.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from San Francisco to Detroit?

    All the following airlines offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the San Francisco to Detroit flight route: Delta, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, United Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines.

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

    The Boeing 737-900 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San Francisco to Detroit flight route.

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

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

  • On which days can I fly direct from San Francisco to Detroit?

    There are nonstop flights from San Francisco to Detroit on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from San Francisco to Detroit, Southwest or Delta?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Francisco to Detroit are Southwest and Delta. With an average price for the route of $434 and an overall rating of 8.0, Southwest is the most popular choice. Delta is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $554 and an overall rating of 7.9.

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

    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 Detroit.

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

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

    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 Detroit with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline. Booking your flights between San Francisco and DTW 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 Detroit?

    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 Detroit 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 Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $219 or less one-way and $375 or less round-trip.
  • There are a couple of lounges that you will find in the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). These lounges include the Lufthansa Business Lounge in the Evans Terminal, the Delta Sky Club in the McNamara Terminal near Gates A18, A68, A43 and A38. Passengers can use these lounges for refreshment purposes while traveling through the airport.
  • There are a couple of hotels you can spend the night in if you have a late arrival into Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). There is the Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport Hotel, which is located within the airport, and there is also the Delta Hotels by Marriott located 1.8 miles away.
  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has several pet relief areas that are convenient for passengers. There are three main locations in Terminal 1, which features two indoor locations and one outdoor location. Terminal 2 features one post-security station, while Terminal 3 has two locations, one outdoor and the other indoors.
  • The Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) has pet relief areas, such as the McNamara Terminal outdoor relief area, which is situated near the international arrivals area, while the indoor facility is directly adjacent to Gate A34. The North Terminal's pre-security options are located near the departures level curb and the indoor facility is directly across from Gate D16.
  • Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) has a couple of nursing rooms for lactating mothers, such as those near Gates C2, A63, A53, A25, and A15 in the McNamara Terminal, and Gates D8, D15, and D24 in the Evans Terminal.

Prefer to fly direct from San Francisco to Detroit?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from San Francisco to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County.
Find which airlines fly direct from San Francisco Airport to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

San Francisco to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Monday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

Tuesday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

Wednesday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

Thursday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

Friday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

Saturday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

Sunday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County to San Francisco

Monday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

Tuesday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

Wednesday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

Thursday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

Friday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

Saturday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

Sunday

Delta,United Airlines

Delta,United Airlines

See more direct flights

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

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Francisco to Detroit. 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 Detroit? 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.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4317 reviews
8.1Boarding
8.6Crew
8.0Comfort
7.0Food
7.5Entertainment
Airline reviews

The problem with the seat assignments is that there were a lot of rows in the front that were empty but my row at the back was full. Just not so pleasant.

8.0 ExcellentTobin, Mar 2026
SJC - BUR
Read more Southwest reviews

The problem with the seat assignments is that there were a lot of rows in the front that were empty but my row at the back was full. Just not so pleasant.

Good but I prefer choose your own seat. With the new assigned seats they should board from the back I see no advantage to this new boarding. Just like every other airline

Flight boarded late after announcing on time boarding. Flight arrived only a little late despite late departure. Had trouble connecting to WiFi

The Southwest experience has definitely taken a dive from its early days. You can no longer deferentiate from other airlines. Air travel is too expensive. Southwest is no longer budget friendly. They have lost me as a loyal customer.

The charges were ridiculous for an hour flight and the turbulence was very scary.

The seats are now more narrow. I paid for front row the seats in the front are even more narrow than before.

The wifi on the plane is great. The only issue that I have is that I prefer an aisle seat and on my trips this week, I was either in the middle or window. If we can work to secure aisle seating, I will be thrilled. Nice trip.

Great flight but super high price. Glad it was a business trip and not personal

3 hour delay. Had to change plans and was still delayed.

We got exit row seats both flights. Everything was running on time

Extremely disappointed with Delta. They canceled flight last minute and then I rebooked the other flights and with which were delayed as well

The flight was flying with 30% capacity. The flight my seat from preferred seating to back of the seat. Even though i can understand that this was to balance the flight weight. The flight attendance decided to do the serving near my seat and in the middle , their noices woke me up from sleep , when i realized that the service has ended and when they were going back asked for a coffee, for which they answered they have completed teh service in my location. That really upset me as they woke me up and also rejected the coffee i asked. I ended up landing with a headache, thanks to the crew that screwed up my travel

The flight went very well, but the flight attendants didn't serve and food or drinks other than 1st class due to rough air but to be honest it wasn't that bumpy and I felt that they could've at least offered water and coffee perhaps. Also serving 1st class only is a bad look. I've been in 1st class many times and I would've felt that if the turbulence was too rough for the main cabin, it would be too rough for 1st class too.

Flight was delayed due to crew being not on time

Boarding was efficient and smooth. Departure time was on time. Arrival to Detroit was early. Average food . Average crew service Very average cabin comfort. Nothing spectacular one way ir another, except for the excellent on time performance.

Flight was delayed. No information on why it was delayed. After we boarded the flight, , the crew made announcement that the captain hs not arrived and he will take 15 mins more to arrive. Passengers were just sitting patiently for the captain to arrive and start, Terrible experience.

This was my first time flying Delta ever and I had a great experience!

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!

Very convenient considering that is a non-stop flight, but the Aeromexico still has old model planes, so the entertainment was very poor and the space for carry-on luggage was very limited.

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

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

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

left on time, reasonable boarding process arrived early luggage came out quickly

Pushed back only to get deplaned due to a tire damaged by ground crew. They did at least go pretty fast. The bathrooms should be banned under the Geneva convention. No room to even sit straight on the toilet. The under-seat entertainment units block what little leg room there is.

United airlines has the best customer experience from booking to arrival. I always fly United airlines. The mileage program is excellent

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.

The flight was really crowded. Flight attendants were just ok.

Flight was canceled. Most upsetting was message from Kayak, stating that the flight was canceled and click with Kayak for details regarding rebook, refund details. THERE'S NO INFORMATION PROVIDED BY KAYAK EXCEPT THAT FLIGHT IS CANCELED. AND NOW THIS SURVEY TO FIND OUT HOW WAS THE FLIGHT !!!!!!!

The flight never took off and we spent 7 hours at the airport

It was ok. It was expensive to check 2 bags ($75.00 per bag), and then it took a long time to wait for shuttle to take us from one terminal to the terminal where the plane was taking off at LAX. And all of this for a flight where we had to pay for any food or drink that was not water.

When I wanted to check in 3 hours prior to boarding time, the employees mentioned “a little over an hour delay” so I waited for an hour then I went to go look for food in the terminal and most people from that flight were in the same area looking for food. Finally I decided after food to check to see if it’s anytime closer and now it’s 2 mins until boarding closes?! What are you kidding me? I didn’t receive anything via sms about boarding now nor via email or on the intercom. I luckily made it through, barely, and then there’s no room for my carry on mind you I’m in the very first row so I had to place my purse in one further row back and my carry on sections down. Not sure who pays for better seats to get your stuff placed all over the plane but that was the worst experience I’ve ever had flying with anyone.

This airline sucks. They offer low rates then charge you for everything, the app does not work well, the seats are the most uncomfortable. Maintenance issues on the flight, and you still have to sit through their credit card commercials. People are nice enough but does not make up for overall poor experience.

Both legs of the flight were changed. The day of the flight and length of the trip.

Cancelled flight after I arrived at airport after 75 min drive and parking. Next flight was 4 days in the future. Had to scramble and buy a much more expensive flight on another carrier.

I liked the turn-style feature at gate 209B at LAX. Very efficient process. The gate staff also made several, clearly directed announcements so I felt very informed.

The seats were awful, hard plastic covered in sheet vinyl. The airline tries to scam you into paying extra to get seat together when the flight wasn’t full. They were going to separate a family with young children but my wife who had a row to herself gave up her seat so the young mom could be with her young boys. I’m never giving this airline my money again.

It was a short flight so no food or entertainment….

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports