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Cheap Flights from San Francisco to New Zealand

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
Auckland
Aucklandnonstop$925
Christchurch
Christchurch1 stop$790
Queenstown
Queenstown1 stop$1,108
Wellington
Wellington2 stops$1,080
Nelson
Nelson1 stop$1,186
Dunedin
Dunedin1 stop$1,170
Palmerston North
Palmerston North2 stops$1,799
New Plymouth
New Plymouth2 stops$3,750
Hamilton
Hamilton2 stops$1,459
Gisborne
Gisborne2 stops$2,073
Auckland
Aucklandnonstop$925
Christchurch
Christchurch1 stop$790
Queenstown
Queenstown1 stop$1,108
Wellington
Wellington2 stops$1,080
Nelson
Nelson1 stop$1,186
Dunedin
Dunedin1 stop$1,170
Palmerston North
Palmerston North2 stops$1,799
New Plymouth
New Plymouth2 stops$3,750
Hamilton
Hamilton2 stops$1,459
Gisborne
Gisborne2 stops$2,073

Price, demand and travel trends for San Francisco to New Zealand flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

Are flights from San Francisco to New Zealand cheaper or more expensive than last year?

Fares from San Francisco to New Zealand are running about the same as they were around this time last year, averaging $1,267 round-trip.

What are the cheapest fares from San Francisco to New Zealand right now?

Here are the cheapest round-trip fares from San Francisco to New Zealand on KAYAK in the last week:

• Christchurch (CHC) from $790
• Auckland Intl (AKL) from $922
• Wellington (WLG) from $1,080
• Queenstown Intl (ZQN) from $1,108
• Dunedin (DUD) from $1,170

What’s the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to New Zealand?

September is the cheapest time of year to fly, with average fares of $1,138. Prices are highest in December, when average flight costs increase to around $1,735.

When is the best time to book flights from San Francisco to New Zealand?

Book your flights 25 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data collected over the past 12 months shows that booking in this window can save you around 33% compared to booking last-minute (within 2 weeks of departure).

Which airport in New Zealand is the cheapest to fly to from San Francisco?

Based on KAYAK data from the past 12 months, the cheapest airports to fly into New Zealand are:

• Auckland Intl (AKL) from $1,298
• New Plymouth (NPL) from $1,380
• Christchurch (CHC) from $1,499

What’s the cheapest day to fly from San Francisco to New Zealand?

Monday tends to be the cheapest day to fly from San Francisco to New Zealand, while Thursday is the most expensive. Fares run about 18% higher that day, based on the past 12 months of KAYAK data.

What's the cheapest time of day to fly from San Francisco to New Zealand?

Data from the past 12 months shows it's cheapest to fly to New Zealand during the morning with average prices of $1,224. The evening is the most expensive time to fly, with average prices of $1,509.

Key details for San Francisco to New Zealand flights

Low season

August

Cheapest flight

$475
Beat the crowds with an average 59% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 176% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from San Francisco to Auckland

Your San Francisco to New Zealand flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • Is now a good time to book a flight from San Francisco to New Zealand?

    Yes. Fares from San Francisco to New Zealand are low right now. As a rule of thumb, a round-trip under $1,057 (cheaper than most fares this year) is a good deal, so if you spot one at or below that, it's a good time to book.

  • How much should I budget for a flight from San Francisco to New Zealand?

    Over the past 12 months, round-trip fares from San Francisco to New Zealand have ranged from $1,057 to $1,801.

  • What are the main airports serving New Zealand?

    New Zealand has 11 airports. The three busiest are Auckland Intl (AKL) (72% of arrivals), Christchurch (CHC) (13%) and Queenstown Intl (ZQN) (9%).

  • What airlines fly nonstop from San Francisco to New Zealand?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, 2 airlines offer nonstop flights on this route:

    • United Airlines
    • Air New Zealand

  • Where in New Zealand can I fly nonstop from San Francisco?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, you can fly nonstop from San Francisco to two destinations: Auckland and Christchurch.

  • Is it cheaper to fly with a layover from San Francisco to New Zealand?

    Yes. Nonstop flights from San Francisco to New Zealand average $1,441 over the past 12 months, but flights with a layover can cost less. The most affordable connecting airports are:

    • Nadi (NAN) from $999
    • Hong Kong Intl (HKG) from $1,059
    • Vancouver Intl (YVR) from $1,281

  • How long is a flight from San Francisco to New Zealand?

    Nonstop flights take 13h 15m on average. The fastest scheduled flight takes 12h 55m, from San Francisco (SFO) to Auckland Intl (AKL).

  • How often are flights from San Francisco to New Zealand delayed and what's the average delay?

    13% of flights on this route are delayed by at least 15 minutes. The average delay is 2h 10m.

  • Which cabin classes are available on flights from San Francisco to New Zealand?

    On flights from San Francisco to New Zealand you can book Economy Class, Premium Economy Class, Business Class or First Class.

  • What are some popular landmarks in New Zealand?

    KAYAK travelers' favorite landmarks in New Zealand include:

    • Sparks Arena
    • New Zealand Maritime Museum
    • Sky Tower
    • Skycity Auckland

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from San Francisco to New Zealand?

    The earliest nonstop flight from San Francisco to New Zealand departs at 7:50 pm and the latest departs at 11:25 pm. Nonstop flights take about 13h 15m.

  • How do I get from Auckland International Airport to the city center?

    The public bus and train offer transportation from the airport to the heart of the city. Catch the Airport Link shuttle to the train station to take the rail anywhere in Auckland. It picks up passengers outside of the international terminal. The bus also goes from the airport to Auckland. It picks up at the same spot as the Airport Link Shuttle.

  • Can I exchange currency at the New Zealand airports?

    At many of the New Zealand airports, including Auckland and Wellington Airport, you can exchange your US dollars for the NZ dollar and vice versa. The easiest way to do it is at one of the Travelex (or currency exchange) stores. At Wellington, the Travelex is by the food court, and in Auckland, you'll find this service on the ground floor by the check-in area. There are also self-service ATM machines around both airports.

  • What airport in New Zealand should I fly into?

    There are numerous beautiful islands that you can visit during your vacation to New Zealand. If you're visiting the South Island or Glacier Country, you should fly to Hokitika Airport (HKK). The North Island, home to many seaside resorts, is closest to Auckland Airport. If you're visiting the Bay of Islands, you should fly to Kerikeri Airport (KKE).

  • Where is long-term parking at the San Francisco Airport?

    You'll have the option of parking your vehicle in either the long-term parking garage or the outdoor lot. If you are driving yourself to the airport, be sure to allow for time to take the shuttle from the parking structure to the airport. Parking can be reached via Highway 101 and South Bruno Avenue.

  • Can I rent a car at the airport in New Zealand?

    Car rental agencies have offices at the largest airports in New Zealand, including Auckland, Wellington Airport (WLG), Queenstown Airport (ZQN) and Christchurch Airport (CHC). Smaller airports, such as Hokitika, Dunedin, and Nelson Airport, also have car rental suppliers at the facilities. You'll recognize many of the car rental brands as most have subsidiaries in the United States.

Your guide to booking San Francisco to New Zealand flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If you can plan ahead, the sweet spot for booking your flight is 25 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data shows fares in this window are around 33% lower than last-minute bookings (made within 2 weeks of departure). Not ready to commit? Set a Price Alert and we'll let you know when prices change.
  • If your travel dates are flexible, book your trip for September when flights are typically cheapest and avoid December when prices are at their highest.
  • Flying on Monday is usually the cheapest. Flights on Thursday cost about 18% more on average, so being flexible with your travel dates could help you save.
  • If you're looking to save, Auckland Intl (AKL) is the cheapest airport to fly into from San Francisco. If you have onward travel, don't forget to factor in the cost of your journey by train, bus or domestic flight.
  • Start your trip in Auckland, which is the most popular destination in New Zealand. From there, it's easy to continue on to other popular destinations such as Queenstown, Christchurch and Rotorua.
  • If you want the shortest trip, choose the San Francisco to New Zealand nonstop route. If you'd rather save money, the route via Nadi (NAN) is usually the cheapest.
  • There are several airports in New Zealand. The largest of these is Auckland International Airport (AKL) on the North Island of New Zealand.
  • While you're waiting on your flight to leave San Francisco Airport (SFO), you can visit the SFO Museum where you can watch videos or look at artwork and photography.
  • The San Francisco Airport has numerous lounges where you can relax or grab a bite to eat before your departure. This includes airlines that fly to New Zealand, such as Alaska and United Airlines.
  • Flights from San Francisco (SFO) to anywhere in New Zealand will require at least one plane change. Your layover could be in the United States at Los Angeles Airport or in another country, such as Sydney, Australia or Nadi, Fiji.
  • Most travelers prefer using SFO to other airports in the area due to its accessibility. A one-way train ride to SFO should cost approximately $9.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from San Francisco to New Zealand

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from San Francisco to New Zealand? 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
Fiji AirwaysOverall score based on 259 reviews
7.5Food
8.5Crew
7.4Entertainment
8.0Boarding
8.0Comfort
Airline reviews

Very friendly cabin crew and great comfortable in-flight experience. Check-in experience at SFO can improve if a separate web check-in/bag drop line can be added.

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Aug 2026
Read more Fiji Airways reviews

Very friendly cabin crew and great comfortable in-flight experience. Check-in experience at SFO can improve if a separate web check-in/bag drop line can be added.

The only thing plus on this flight was the crew. They made me feel welcome and took care of me on the flights. The biggest issue is that business class always boards first on all airlines. There needs to be separate doors for business and premium class to enter. I had to wait over 40 minutes for economy to be boarded. I didn’t pay 5000 dollars to wait. The other issue not enough food choices , no sandwiches or snacks in between - what the hell. I would never travel this airline again.

Boarding had poor communication. Passengers didn't get clear directions to prepare for Boarding. The plane was an older model which had some issues with operating the seats (the staff was great). Due to age the seat cushions were compressed and less comfortable than expected.

Fiji Airways always goes above and beyond. If anything I'd say the food was less enjoyable than in the past. But that in no way lessened the experience with the cabin crew or the excellent attentiveness and service they provided throughout the entire trip!

Everything was great . Arrived on time was smooth plane was clean. Crew/Staff was friendly and helpful.

Fiji Airways was amazing, will definately be lfying them again. The "Fijian hospitality" is not a catch phrase, it is genuine. the only things that could be improved is the entertainment. Not a great choice of movies, and the TV shows only have about 5 or so episodes, and often of a random season.

Very good; seat made ready for bed after meal, a plus since one airline covered the seat at the start.

The experience on Fiji Airways was absolutely amazing. Streamlined. All staff was amazing. Pleasant. Friendly. Extremely helpful.

The experience was lovely in every respect. The crews were delightful.

Wider seats would be nice. Love the wine selection. Crew is superb. Need more movie / TV selections.

Great airline service by the staff. I highly recommend it

The food was not as good as Air New Zealand. The veg pasta was pass-able but the veg cibotta sandwich was dry, hard and not up to par. The coach staff were attentive and accommodating.

Overall the plane was good and the crew great. The big disappointment was the skycouch. Maybe it would be good if you were a parent with 2 small kids travelling but as a couple it's hopeless. It's impossible for 2 adults to lie down so one ends up sitting. We split our time with one lying and the other sitting. We both got more sleep sitting upright. We will never book one again and don't recommend it to anyone.

Not entirely positive. It’s frustrating that everything is done through the united app. One of our flight attendants on our trip from San Francisco to MSP continually had trouble hearing people so she flipped her hair into people’s faces

Our original flight was cancelled from SFO to AKL on 6/16/25. So we had to stay overnight at a hotel after a 12-hour layover plus 3-hour delay before the cancellation. Then had to fly to LA and then to AKL the following day losing an entire day of our vacation in NZ, that we can never get back.

Everything very good except the sofa couch not as comfortable as expected.

New Zealand crew were attentive. We were not informed that we needed transit document to pass through New Zealand. A checkin employee helped with this for which we were thankful.

There was a snafu with confirming seats at check which left us in limbo for the second leg of our trip. I believe the ANZ app is not well integrated with the systems at the terminal resulting in this disconcerting error.

The pilot tried to make up for lost time due to delays that were out of her control. She communicated the issues openly and clearly and made every effort to do what she could to alleviate issues.

The only thing that was less than excellent was the food server at dinner. (I had the chicken.) It wasn't that it was poorly heated or in difficult-to-open containers; it was just that it had a very peculiar taste. And I use that to describe not just the main course but the dessert as well. Very odd flavours for what seemed to be a mainstream item. I did like that the airline offered us a free glass of wine. The breakfast omelette wasn't bad, although it was quite bland.

PREMIUM ECONOMY - excellent !Brilliant new plane. Excellent tv catalogue. Good food. Good communication and service from all friend Australian crew. Good communication from captain. Best travel experience in years.

I'd like to see AA's flight safety record clearly and prominently posted online.

Poor! This flight was delayed 14 hours. There was no assistance in helping customers find other routes to their destination, nor any other kind of support. It was a chaotic experience. I'm not likely to fly with AA going forward.

Loved the staff. The economy seats could have been bigger.

The food was terrible. And the flight attendants were very rude. One flight attendant wouldn’t help a passenger lift their carry-on. Another flight attendant wouldn’t give a man an extra blanket. And they walked by not even looking at the passengers to see if they needed a glass of water.

I have flown Qantas multiple times in the past it seemed this flight the plane had less seat room or the seats were way less comfortable than before. Everything else was about the same. Thanks

I disliked the fact that they forced people to put up their seats during meal service

Headphone jacks worked poorly, seat recline was broken. Planes were rundown.

Delayed and missed connection, was not re-booked like other travelers so ended up being stuck for several hours due to no one handling my booking.

After flying Quantas (Prem Econ - SYD-SFO) which was Spectacular, we boarded AA flight SFO/PHL.. Prem Econ was NOT available on this flight so we were stuck in Econ - even though we paid $2600 EACH/ONE WAY for this ticket. I even had to BUY extra legroom seats - this AT LEAST should have been included on the AA flight. There were no screens in seatbacks, forcing passengers to use phones for entertainment. No water bottles were provided - only cups of water. The Quantas flight was FAR superior to the AA flight - even though we purchased Prem Econ for the FULL trip....

Better management of the boarding process. Is there any way you could forward all the window seats first? That's the Way Reno Air used to do it, and they had the fastest boarding in the industry!

overall a very good travel experience - left on time, arrived early. Mostly a smooth flight. Polaris seats were excellent, very good service and nice food with options.

Flight was over two hours late, but they notified us early in the morning. They ended up changing planes the food on board that was extremely mediocre and we were in premier class.

Food was very bad Crew was not so welcoming. Chairs was so uncomfortable

The business class had to wait to board last. Unacceptable

The air hostess was excellent. I have taken so many flight domestic and international, this is the first time the air hostess was so caring. She was a delight

We paid extra to check our bags ($90*2=$180) but our luggage remained in Frankfurt. VERY DISAPPOINTED as we were promised that our luggage would go to our destination. We had to pay 90€ to take a taxi back to the airport in Split the next day to get our bags so we would not miss our next step on our trip. We think we should be reimbursed for our checked bags. How can we coordinate this?

This was an auto-rebook due to being delayed from an earlier UA connecting flight. The boarding was fine, but they sat me in a middle seat when my original booking was a window seat. Overall, the flight was fine as it still got me to my final destination.

Sitting in coach even in the larger leg space is extremely uncomfortable and the staff pay no attention.

The pilot was late so we didn’t take off til almost 2 hours late.

Announcements were unintelligible. Entertainment system was non-existent. Ground crew kept changing story for flight delay.

Amazing and light experience, boarding on time, crew is super nice, clean salon and special thanks for movies availability. Provided by United Airlines

737-8 Max is an awful design. Toilets in the rear are inaccessible for most of the flight due to service carts.

Food was bad, and they used plastic for everything. For the amount we spent, it felt cheap and as if they were doing us a favor. They need to focus on true user delight, like other airlines such as Emirates, Cathay Pacific, and KLM do, and go above and beyond in terms of cabin facilities and passenger amenities (Earbuds, pillows, blankets were just cheap and completely useless)

No TV on the flight. The charging outlet was not working. No food, even a sandwich. The served orange was poor quality.

I was charge a baggage checking fee $68!! I volunteered to check my duffle bag which usually goes under my seat!

Very rude gate attendants in San Francisco who didn’t let me bring my little carry on (smaller than usual size) and after boarding I realized that there still were a lot of overhead compartment space (like a full section available in some spots). That made me lose 30 minutes at my destination at 1am and it could have broken something fragile that I had in it

The flight from SFO to YVR was delayed and my bag did not make it to my next flight from YVR to SYD. It took almost 3 days after I landed to get my bag and when I got it, it was filled with dust

All attendents were very efficient, pleasant and happy. Everything went smoothly. The seats could have been wider. There could have been more free food instead of just one small bar.

They rescheduled me and I had no issues with the new flight

More options for your flight from San Francisco to New Zealand

Complete your trip to New Zealand with a hotel stay or car rental