SFO - HEL

$349 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Helsinki

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 Helsinki departing on 9/15. 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

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Helsinki

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Helsinki.
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Helsinki.
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Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Helsinki (SFO-HEL)

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

Sun, Aug 17 - Tue, Sep 2
American Airlines Logo
1:20 pm - 2:15 pmSFO-HEL
14h 55m1 stop
American Airlines Logo
4:00 pm - 11:07 pmHEL-SFO
17h 07m1 stop
$559American Airlines
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Wed, Oct 22 - Mon, Oct 27
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
7:40 pm - 11:35 pmSFO-HEL
17h 55m2 stops
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
4:05 pm - 4:10 pmHEL-SFO
33h 05m2 stops
$561Scandinavian Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, Oct 22 - Mon, Oct 27
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
7:40 pm - 11:35 pmSFO-HEL
17h 55m2 stops
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
4:05 pm - 4:10 pmHEL-SFO
33h 05m2 stops
$562Scandinavian Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, Aug 27 - Wed, Sep 3
American Airlines Logo
10:16 am - 2:15 pmSFO-HEL
17h 59m1 stop
American Airlines Logo
12:35 pm - 11:15 pmHEL-SFO
20h 40m1 stop
$569American Airlines
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Wed, Nov 5 - Wed, Nov 12
Finnair Logo
10:25 am - 1:55 pmSFO-HEL
17h 30m1 stop
Finnair Logo
12:30 pm - 6:29 pmHEL-SFO
15h 59m1 stop
$571Finnair
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Wed, Nov 19 - Wed, Dec 3
American Airlines Logo
7:30 am - 10:45 amSFO-HEL
17h 15m1 stop
American Airlines Logo
12:30 pm - 10:29 pmHEL-SFO
19h 59m2 stops
$573American Airlines
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Wed, Nov 5 - Wed, Nov 12
United Airlines Logo
1:25 pm - 6:40 pmSFO-HEL
19h 15m2 stops
United Airlines Logo
6:50 am - 8:10 pmHEL-SFO
23h 20m1 stop
$594United Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, Nov 18 - Mon, Dec 8
United Airlines Logo
1:30 pm - 6:40 pmSFO-HEL
19h 10m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
1:55 pm - 3:55 pmHEL-SFO
36h 00m1 stop
$609United Airlines
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Wed, Sep 17 - Mon, Sep 22
Lufthansa Logo
2:40 pm - 12:15 amSFO-HEL
23h 35m1 stop
Lufthansa Logo
1:35 pm - 12:40 pmHEL-SFO
33h 05m1 stop
$612Lufthansa
Find Deal
Wed, Sep 17 - Mon, Sep 22
Lufthansa Logo
2:40 pm - 12:15 amSFO-HEL
23h 35m1 stop
Lufthansa Logo
1:35 pm - 12:40 pmHEL-SFO
33h 05m1 stop
$613Lufthansa
Find Deal
Useful Info

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

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from San Francisco to Helsinki 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 Helsinki?

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

For San Francisco to Helsinki, Sunday is the cheapest day to fly on average and Saturday is the most expensive. Flying from Helsinki back to San Francisco, the best deals are generally found on Wednesday, with Sunday being the most expensive.

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Helsinki, 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 Helsinki is November, where tickets cost $590 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and April, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,179 and $1,172 respectively.

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

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 Helsinki, 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 Helsinki, you should book around 2 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 17 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonMarch
High seasonJuly
Cheapest flight$349
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 20% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 27% increase in price.
Flight from San Francisco to Helsinki

When to book flights from San Francisco to Helsinki

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

  • Will I need a visa to fly from San Francisco to Helsinki?

    Since Finland is part of the Schengen area, US residents do not need to apply for a visa before traveling to Helsinki. As long as you have a Schengen visa you can stay in the country visa-free for as long as 90 days. The only requirement will be a valid passport with at least six months left and two blank pages for each stamp. There is also a currency restriction of 10,000 € for entry and exit.

  • Can I get a train from Helsinki Airport to the city center?

    Yes, there is a train service that connects Helsinki Airport to the city center. You can get it from the airport train station, located on the arrivals level between Terminal 1 and 2. You should know that the train service runs from 4:00 am to midnight so not reliable for any arrivals past midnight. The bus and taxi offer a more reliable option as they run 24/7 although a taxi is significantly more expensive relative to the train and bus.

  • How can I fly between San Francisco and Helsinki?

    At the moment, there aren’t any airline carriers offering direct connections between San Francisco and Helsinki. Most flights involve one or two stops on the way with the fastest option being about 1h 35min. The layover options on the route vary depending on the airline with British Airways having their layovers in London while KLM has its layover scheduled for Amsterdam.

  • Which airline should I book with to enjoy the lounges at San Francisco Airport?

    The airport has multiple lounges where you can hang out while waiting to board your flight to Helsinki. These lounges offer comfortable seating along with complimentary food and drinks for travelers to enjoy. You can get access to these lounges by booking with the affiliated airline. For instance, out of the international carriers serving this route only Air France and KLM have a joint lounge which is open to travelers flying with either of the two airlines.

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

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Helsinki was $349 for a one-way ticket and $559 for a round-trip.

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

    Yes, you’ll need a passport to travel to Helsinki from San Francisco.

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

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

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

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

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Francisco to Helsinki are Delta and Finnair. With an average price for the route of $981 and an overall rating of 8.0, Delta is the most popular choice. Finnair is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $876 and an overall rating of 7.6.

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

    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 Helsinki.

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

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

    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 Helsinki with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline. Booking your flights between San Francisco and HEL 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 Helsinki?

    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 Helsinki 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 Helsinki

  • You can choose to fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) instead of San Francisco (SFO) if you’re looking to avoid the long queues and busy nature of SFO. The airport is less than thirty miles away from San Francisco and also offers connections to Helsinki.
  • British Airways has onboard Wi-Fi available for its passengers. This would be a good airline option to consider if you plan on taking advantage of the long flight to get some office work done or even catch up with your favorite TV show.
  • Lufthansa has an unaccompanied minor service that makes it possible for you to book a ticket for your child to travel alone. This service ensures the safety of your child throughout the entire trip including any transfers.
  • Different airlines have different seat classes available for this route. For instance, an Economy ticket with Lufthansa allows you a carry-on and checked bag while KLM only allows a carry-on with any checked bags incurring an additional cost.
  • While there are multiple options to get to San Francisco Airport from downtown, a taxi is the quickest one if you’re running out of time. It is also very convenient if you have a lot of luggage as it will pick you up at any point and drop you off at the airport terminal.

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

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Francisco to Helsinki. 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 Helsinki? 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
FinnairOverall score based on 1312 reviews
7.6Boarding
8.1Crew
6.9Entertainment
7.5Comfort
6.7Food
Airline reviews

Wish that everyone would board the back of the plane first. Also let kids on first. The gate wasn’t open at arrival and we waited 45 minutes to takeoff. They made up for time in the air.

8.0 ExcellentSandrine, Jul 2025JFK - DCA
Read more Finnair reviews

Wish that everyone would board the back of the plane first. Also let kids on first. The gate wasn’t open at arrival and we waited 45 minutes to takeoff. They made up for time in the air.

This was an absolutely exceptional flight. The flight attendants were extremely attentive and very friendly. They seemed to go out of their way to make us comfortable and to make sure that we had everything we needed., We were in business and were very happy with the size and the details for our pods. We would definitely recommend Finnair and will definitely be flying with them again.

We had an excellent trip with Finnair. This was our first time and we’re very pleased. The only issue was with the boarding - it was a little bit confusing and needs a little bit of streamlining.

Crew very lovely. Arrived an hour late due to bad weather. We were given new tickets to an other flight but it could have been organised better, so we did not have to run through the whole airport to.

Flight delayed over an hour. They said they would hold our connection but then did not.

Major problems checking in at Alaska counter. They could not find our booking code because it came from Finnair.

Do not use KAYAK or Finair for future travel. Unless you purchase the tickets directly from the airline, you were going to have a difficult time checking in. Kayak canceled my flights twice and ended up causing great difficulty in me getting back from Europe because they double sold my tickets between American Airlines and Finair. The event caused significant delays and led to me having to rebook my flights.

The staff were all particularly great. The plane was clean and fresh. The bassinet worked great. It was all very nice.

Boarding uncomfortable. Stewardess said I would have to check my carry on as there was no room in the overhead bins. Another passenger helped me find a spot.

Any flight that lands safely is a good flight. However our leg from Helsinki was delayed 1 hour with no explanation. The delay would not allow us to make our connection to Cincinnati. I was informed by American Airlines that our Cincinnati flight was rescheduled for the following day. I immediately made a non refundable hotel reservation in Dallas. Upon exiting the plane at Dallas I was given a hotel voucher. Nice, but I can't get a refund on the hotel I booked. A little communication would have been helpful. Food on Finnair is below quality of Korean Air.

Everything was great. Only thing that could’ve made it better was buy on board options for hot food, but the snacks were decent. The flight attendants were great. I had no complaints. I was able to make it to my destination safely

Horrific. They missed my connecting flight to San Diego. I didn’t get there until Monday at 9am when I had a mandatory court settlement conference scheduled at 6am since we had parties on the east coast. This caused many issues. All because United apparently forgot to hold the doors open until my flight landed that only had a 10 minute delay. This was the last flight to Southern California. So I couldn’t even rent a car to finish the trip. United cannot be trusted when traveling on specific days and times since weather didn’t have anything to do with the delays.

Very comfortable (upgraded to business class). The audio on my screen didn’t work, but I managed to play the audio through my phone while watching the screen.

Flight was late as pilot crew had to land at different airport in their previous flight. Passengers boarded and had to wait for pilots inside plane. Series of incomplete and unnecessary announcements by an annoying voice, rather than complete, informative announcements.

Breakfast was not loaded at SFO due to catering company change. Seems like a major airline at a major hub would have thought of something else or warned passengers to pick up food before boarding a 3 hour flight.

Boarding seemed to be organized bedlam. For what ever reason, preboarding took longer than 20 minutes. Made the plane 20 minutes late taking off. Luckily we arrived on time. Flight crew seemed very friendly. Only slight turbulence.

They hired a new catering company the same day of my flight. They botched the job by not delivering the right carts and after THREE HOURS waiting, the flight crew timed out (flight was 19 hours long and FAA rules state crew can’t work more than 14 hours long). So they CANCELED OUR FLIGHT!! Worst experience ever. Avoid UAL at all costs.

The personnel were professional and friendly. The Boeing 737 Max 9 is too claustrophobic and was very warm at both airport gates, and still warm in the air.

While the staff was pleasant and helpful, the following observations are for your awareness. There was some delay on the tarmac on take off and landing. The paid lunch/food offerings were limited. Entertainment was only available on WiFi at a cost.

get E+, a must for 5 hours flight if you are tall

I paid for the seat with more leg room but on the day of my departure my seat was changed. I brought it to the airline costumer service and he was able to change it back. The person sitting next to me had the same exact issue.

Great experience. Typically do klm to Amsterdam but may start taking this flight in future - greatxexperience.

The food was wonderful! The blankets and pillows were a nice touch and the staff were very accommodating, making frequent rounds to offer food, drink, etc. We were also told in advance when to expect meals to arrive, which is thoughtful. I liked the early notification about the lack of headphones as well, although unfortunately I'm not sure we received on for the first leg of the trip, which would have been nice to prepare for. The seats are a bit tight, and the bright monitors on the wall were on during an overnight trip, making it difficult to sleep for those close to them. .

Boarding required going up and down the stairs with your carryon bags which wasn’t an issue for us but would be quite challenging for elderly people, or anyone with mobility issues.

The check in not ok! Demanding that we check our carry ons on check in! When there was plenty of available space inside the plane! And the staff at check- in was rude and not helpful and I was traveling with my autistic son and his service dog! Boarding was easy since we were priority boarding! The crew was ok expect from one guy flight attendant that was actually great!

Crew was unresponsive to request for a soda. Food was horrible and I’d venture to guess many others thought so as well by the amount that they trashed. Made me sick to my stomach and ended up in bed the remainder of the day once we arrived. Screaming child for 3/4 of the almost 8 hour flight. Crew had no headphones whatsoever for free or purchase. Seating way too tight and we upgraded our seats. I do not see us ever flying this airline again.

Standard short hop flight. No food, no entertainment. Just get in, get something to drink, and try to be as comfortable as you can for an hour.

Travelling coach, comfort is all in one's perspective. Movie choices were great. Food was OK. Flight crew were pleasant. Tip: If they come through asking if you want tea or coffee, do not ask for water. They get miffed. So use the call button after they pass through.

Cancelled my flight. Only option had a layover in Italy. No compensation for the 4 extra hours of travel time. The travel agency, cheapflightfares, blamed Scandinavian airlines and said there was nothing they could do. Scandinavian airlines said since it was booked through a travel agency there was nothing they could do. The entire thing was incredibly frustrating. Never booking through kayak or with Scandinavian again.

The seats were really cramped. The high backs on the chairs made you feel claustrophobic.

AA re-routed flight from HNL to LAX due to delay. My group of 3 with reserved seats in row 9 was broken up, with one assigned to a middle seat, another in the last row of the plane. Not happy. No explanation to the delay. No apologies. No compensation. Would have been nice to be offered an Admiral Club admission or a voucher for the extra 3 hours of layover in LAX. Could not hear the boarding gate announcements in LAX. Adjacent gate was boarding at the same time. Loud speakers were competing against each other. Barely made my boarding group.

Almost a 6 hour flight and the only food option is a cheese plate… and chips. Also how is it there are no options for texting on American. I’ll be going back to delta and united.

Bad food, small seats that didn’t recline. I thought I was buying a quantas ticket so I feel like I got scammed

The chair cushions may need an upgrade. I have been noticing they are so worn out, thin so you’d sit in a dip 😄. Other than that, all was an enjoyable trip. Thanks AA!

Cramped seats. FAA should make airlines have more legroom, for even short people complain

Flight was full, and would have preferred an aisle seat, but due to getting a late ticket ,the seat I had was adequate. The flight crew were very help full and hard working. Food and drink were excellent for the 11hr flight. Overall I was pleased with flight, and would recommend British Airways again.

Eventless. It was a good flight and good crew. Can’t complaint.

Very helpful ground crew after an earlier flight delay and being rebooked on a different flight.

British Airways staff are very polite and willing to help.

The plane was late and then sat on the runway for almost 45 minutes before taking off.

Cheapest airlines I have ever been on. I got downgraded and never got on united. I got rerouted through Vancouver onto jetwesf

Very small and uncomfortable seats, Hard to hear entertainment system sound. Horrible food. Staff doesn't care much about the passengers. 2nd time they didn't give me my vegetarian meal. They asked me regular food with meat. The airline and staff was from United airlines.

Checkin took along timen only.few angents available at.checkin desk. Customer support over phone no existence

At baggage claim, I was given the wrong printed ticket. The ticket belonged to another passenger for a different flight — to Zurich instead of Frankfurt (layover). I was even allowed to pass security, and when I asked the Lufthansa employee if I was on the correct flight, and why it was changed. The employee said everything was correct and I should board. When I got on the plane, there was someone in my seat, and the crew on the plane finally realized that I was on the wrong plane. When I got off the plane, nobody was willing to help, and the security refused to provide my original printed ticket. That was until I showed them that I took a photo of the ticket; once they realized I had photographic evidence, they were suddenly ready to help me. The Lufthansa employee began communicating with other airlines and found a flight that would take me to my destination via Polish Airlines. I was required to once again go through security, re-check my bag, and once again pay for my checked bag and weight overage fees. This experience was incredibly stressful and very frustrating, as you can imagine. A Lufthansa employee told me I would be eligible for a refund. Please tell me what steps I need to take in order to make that happen. Thank you!

Good service … bus transfer upon arrival from plane to terminal: atrocious!!!

helpful and friendly. The Lufthanza people I dealt with before my holiday were so unhelpful by comparison.

My flight was late from US to Frankfurt so I missed my connecting flight flight and I had to wait for long to catch the next flight which was very tiring. Otherwise everyone was very nice.

Everything went really well. Snacks could be better and there was no tea/coffee service after dinner. Crew was helpful and friendly.

Lufthansa charged me $280 to take skiiis when in the US the boot bag and skiis are one check-in bag. This was not advertised and a real shock at the airport. They only took the boot bag as a check-in item. The seats have been squeezed together like any economy airline and legroom is not as good as it used to be. Otherwise, the flight was fine and staff was helpful for making my connection.

Professional crew and staff, very organized boarding and on time flights, baggage handling. Indian vegetarian meals were good, though could improve by offering Indian bread (naan/paratha/roti) as well. Very helpful pre flight emails with details of onboard experience 👍 Above average selection of movies. Consider offering more movies with subtitles and ratings indicators (e.g., IMDB scores).

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