$811 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Johannesburg

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 Johannesburg departing on 8/23. 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 Johannesburg

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

Cheapest round-trip
$876
Typical prices: $1,176-$1,432
Virgin Atlantic
Fri 11/6Thu 11/19
SFO - JNB • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$811
Typical prices: $776-$941
Singapore Airlines
Sun 8/23
SFO - JNB • 1 stop
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $876 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.8 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 44% compared to booking last minute.
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Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Johannesburg (SFO-JNB)

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

Fri, Nov 6 - Thu, Nov 19
Virgin Atlantic Logo
4:45 pm - 8:20 am
SFO
-
JNB
29h 35m
1 stop
Virgin Atlantic Logo
9:40 pm - 2:40 pm
JNB
-
SFO
27h 00m
1 stop
$876Virgin Atlantic
Fri, Nov 6 - Thu, Nov 19
Virgin Atlantic Logo
1:05 pm - 10:05 am
SFO
-
JNB
35h 00m
2 stops
Virgin Atlantic Logo
9:40 pm - 2:40 pm
JNB
-
SFO
27h 00m
1 stop
$878Virgin Atlantic
Fri, Nov 6 - Thu, Nov 19
Virgin Atlantic Logo
10:45 pm - 10:05 am
SFO
-
JNB
25h 20m
2 stops
Virgin Atlantic Logo
9:40 pm - 6:52 pm
JNB
-
SFO
31h 12m
2 stops
$883Virgin Atlantic
Tue, Oct 27 - Mon, Nov 9
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:45 pm - 3:50 pm
SFO
-
JNB
34h 05m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:00 pm - 7:35 pm
JNB
-
SFO
36h 35m
2 stops
$1,156Multiple Airlines
Tue, Sep 29 - Tue, Nov 3
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:59 pm - 3:50 pm
SFO
-
JNB
30h 51m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:05 pm - 9:39 pm
JNB
-
SFO
43h 34m
2 stops
$1,159Multiple Airlines
Tue, Oct 27 - Mon, Nov 9
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:45 pm - 3:50 pm
SFO
-
JNB
34h 05m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:00 pm - 7:35 pm
JNB
-
SFO
36h 35m
2 stops
$1,160Multiple Airlines
Tue, Sep 8 - Tue, Sep 22
Kenya Airways Logo
10:35 pm - 10:55 am
SFO
-
JNB
51h 20m
2 stops
Kenya Airways Logo
5:00 pm - 2:52 pm
JNB
-
SFO
30h 52m
2 stops
$1,197Kenya Airways
Wed, Sep 16 - Mon, Oct 19
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:59 pm - 3:50 pm
SFO
-
JNB
30h 51m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:00 pm - 9:28 pm
JNB
-
SFO
37h 28m
2 stops
$1,210Multiple Airlines
Wed, Sep 16 - Mon, Oct 19
Singapore Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 7:20 pm
SFO
-
JNB
46h 35m
1 stop
Singapore Airlines Logo
8:25 pm - 9:50 am
JNB
-
SFO
46h 25m
1 stop
$1,213Singapore Airlines
Sun, Oct 11 - Tue, Oct 27
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:50 pm - 12:15 am
SFO
-
JNB
39h 25m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:05 pm - 1:38 pm
JNB
-
SFO
34h 33m
2 stops
$1,217Multiple Airlines
Booking Insights

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

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

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 Johannesburg departing in November.

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Johannesburg, 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 Johannesburg is May, where tickets cost $664 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are November and March, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,027 and $1,022 respectively.

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

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 Johannesburg, 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 Johannesburg, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 44% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 17 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Cheapest flight$811
Flight from San Francisco to OR Tambo Airport, Johannesburg

When to book flights from San Francisco to Johannesburg

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

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

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Johannesburg was $545 for a one-way ticket and $876 for a round-trip.

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

    A passport is required to fly from San Francisco to Johannesburg.

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

    San Francisco is served by only 1 airport and there are 2 airports in Johannesburg. You will leave San Francisco from San Francisco and you will be arriving in Johannesburg at one of these airports: Johannesburg Lanseria or Johannesburg OR Tambo.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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 Johannesburg.

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

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

    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 Johannesburg with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline.

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

    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 Johannesburg from San Francisco up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

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

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Francisco to Johannesburg. 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 Johannesburg? 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.
7.8
DeltaOverall score based on 8454 reviews
8.5Crew
7.2Food
7.8Entertainment
7.8Comfort
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

Flight delayed four separate times. I’m now one hour hours late to landing.

2.0 MediocreTravis, Jun 2026
SFO - LAX
Read more Delta reviews

Flight delayed four separate times. I’m now one hour hours late to landing.

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!

Delta’s staff is unmatched. From the gate agents, to the pilots, to the flight attendants… all top of the industry.

Our flight from SFO to MSP was right on time on 11/15/2025. No delays. As we approached MSP at about 8 pm, we circled in the air until 8:40 pm so I don't call that efficient for MSP. I think the captain should announce the delay and why. (as if we all don't know that we are just circling around the area, slowing down, speeding up, slowing down.) Thank you. Marilyn Fischer

Excellent flight, the planes were newer, they did a nice job with boarding, great service overall.

Thank you for not flipping the plane on the run way. You guys get a 5 star rating for the flight!!!

Boarding is, as it always is… horrible. Gate lice. Slow moving zones. Too many people with carry ons

New boarding doesn't make sense. Filling front first is slow.

There was plenty of overhead room but half of the passengers were told they had to check their carryon bags. My partner and I checked in as early as possible and our seats were split across the aisle.

Seating and zone. The minor I went with didn’t even seat close to me

Great staff great experience, made a 2 hour delay very bearable

Great staff, great experience, made a 2 hour delay very bearable

I was my pleasure to fly virgin on my birthday for my first solo trip ever 🫶🏼

Overall, flight was excellent but check in was very slow for Premium Economy. Economy queue was shorter but we weren't allowed to use it.

We had an unfortunate experience where we had to leave the aircraft after boarding, shortly before the scheduled takeoff time, and re-board. The reason given was that a passenger felt ill and had to cancel their plans and therefor their luggage had to be found and removed.

My only complaint is that the pocket in front of me was ripped and my things, like iPad and airline magazines, kept slipping to the floor.

Flight delayed yet again. Crew apathetic and unhelpful re affect on connecting flight.

Cabin crew on our flight showed lack of any customer service gruff and acting annoyed if you asked anything and I mean anything Example a man on the seat over dropped his beer on my husbands blanket We asked if we could switch out blankets cabin crew Said. No we don’t have any extras OK well can you take the wet one Cabin crew looked disgusted and annoyed Took it no OK or yes just a growl

Very good airline. There is still some room for improvement but overall I’m happy

Entertainment system is okay, flight attendants were ok. Leg space very narrow, I couldn’t get what I wanted to eat, dinner nor breakfast.

Excellent experience with business class area. Staff was attentive and food was amazing. Only one bathroom for business class which was logistically difficult for the staff while preparing meals. Need to offer fluids with meals. I did not get enough water to drink. But overall I rate it 5 star.

As a big guy the seats are way too small for me. Would prefer more comfortable seats on these long haul flights.

The staff at IST airport could have been more helpful. Too much wasted time and the plane from IST to KHI was just horrible. The plane was not clean and smelled bad!

This is my 2nd time with the Turkish airline. Would definitely recommend. In stability we connected to Indiago would not recommend, very cramped seating. No inflight entertainment..service was inferior.

Vegan food tasted good. Restroom could be kept cleaner. Seat tray table was a bit tilted so food tray kept sliding down a bit. Flight crew can be a little more friendly, caring and approachable. Their faces lacked smiles and tone was stern.

Flight was delayed then we had to redirect for medical emergency during which time we had no information on what is the plan. The connecting flight was also delayed.

Awful seats, poor air circulation. Smelled like poop for 3-5 mins after someone used the bathroom. Child screaming for 13 hours

We are thankful for the useful gifts provided by the airline.The entertainment and crew were also very good

Quality of service on board was very inconsistent. FA service primarily seemed robotic and they barely engaged with passengers

No extra snacks were available. Meals quality is terrible. Crew was not friendly.

Lost one piece of luggage even though I checked in 2.5 hours before the flight

It was perfect! United Airlines staff was extremely caring, super friendly and professional

United has maintenance issues and can then never recover. No operations ability and simple issues always turn into multiple hours long cascading delays. Worst airline on earth.

I paid for a confirmed upgraded aisle seat and was moved to a center seat in the back of the plane at the last minute.

Horrifying Almost 2 million miles. Bring your own food and drink. One coffee or drink every three hours. Have to order meals on app more than 24 hours ahead Tiny and dirty bathrooms

Easy of boarding, helpfully staff at check in, surprisingly comfortable seating

Lost of requested seat assignments. Lost my husband's meal choice

My service dog and I were asked to deplane just before they closed the door - clearly very last minute they couldn’t find the documentation that I have filled out many many times before that is for flying service animals. I purposely purchase 3seats (a whole row) since he is large and not all passengers want to sit next to a dog on a cross country flight. The plane departed with my husband on it!!! They made me fill out a hard copy of the same form and had to reschedule me on a later flight where they could find 3 seats together!! I’ve done this so many times before - clearly the error was on their part in a technology glitch - but really people - do better!! Very traumatic - and my husband had to wait for us when he landed ….so bad. Poor pup was confused and tired.

My flight time was changed without any notification to me which ruined my time sensitive plans so I ended up completely changing my travel plans and no reimbursement.

Boarding was orderly, pilot and flight attendants were nice, entertainment options were good, and low sodium meals were quite tasty.

Flight delayed, connection was not at gate listed and so missed, staff were rude at Heathrow, phone tree stupid and difficult, took me 21 actual hours to reach my destination. Almost lost my hotel reservation after walking in a strange city alone after midnight because they would not put me up in a hotel at sfo or heathrow. I will never fly BA again and will tell all people and Instagram followers never to fly BA.

Wish the food and overall service was better. They treat Business class passengers same as economy

Loved the boarding option from Business class lounge, experience on flight was excellent, plenty of good food choices

Check in was was and the agent was very friendly and helpful The lounge was nice...boarding was straight from the lounge Everything worked at our seats, and video entertainment was good ..food was mediocre

Airlines have to stop assuming passengers bring entertainment. Provide it like you used to in business class and above!! N

Crying baby the ENTIRE flight. Not your fault, but I paid 2700 for a premium economy ticket and it wasn't worth it. should have just stuck with coach. flight attendants very mediocre - minimal effort. Plane didn't seem very clean. Didn't have any cleansing wipes - most airlines give you this when you board. Flat screen scrolling didn't work. Toiletry case a joke - why bother at all?

Enjoyable flight, helpful crew everything was organized to accommodate passengers.

This was the second time on BA, food terrible, bathrooms gross,( granted, that was mostly due to the disgusting children urinating all over it)boarding was late and disorganized. No gate issued until last minute st Heathrow, bad system, caused undue stress. Seats were painful, that's what you get for traveling like a poor in economy, right BA? Should have been able to afford business or first class if you want to actually be able to walk upright without back pain after a trip.

The delay was not communicated via text and the person who helped with check in also didn’t inform me about the delay. I ended up missing my connection and it was a waste of 5 hours. The crew didn’t mention there would be someone at the gate informing of if I would be rebooked and there was no signage. Overall a very poor experience. The British Airways app was also very buggy, and didn’t work. I will avoid flying with British Airways when possible.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports