SFO - RDU

$158 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Raleigh

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 Raleigh departing on 5/17. 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 Raleigh

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

Cheapest round-trip
$335
Typical prices: $551-$339
Frontier
Thu 5/21Mon 6/8
SFO - RDU • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$349
Typical prices: $525-$374
United Airlines
Fri 7/17Mon 7/20
SFO - RDU • Non-stop
Advice from real travelers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts and KAYAK users. AI can make mistakes.
RDU offers convenient transport options like GoTriangle.
For a smooth departure, use SFO's curbside check-in.
Expert advice
Expert advice
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Expert advice
Expert advice
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Top airlines
Cheapest • from $335 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 5h 19m
Direct flights
Direct flights
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Direct flights
Direct flights
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Avoid delays
Most punctual • 93% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $252 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 7h 00m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 31% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 12% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
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We hope you love your trip to Raleigh!
Flight Deals
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Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Raleigh (SFO-RDU)

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

Thu, May 21 - Mon, Jun 8
Frontier Logo
11:59 pm - 12:13 pm
SFO
-
RDU
9h 14m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
12:33 pm - 7:57 pm
RDU
-
SFO
10h 24m
1 stop
$335Frontier
Wed, May 20 - Mon, May 25
Frontier Logo
6:00 am - 11:31 am
SFO
-
RDU
26h 31m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
6:15 am - 9:04 pm
RDU
-
SFO
17h 49m
2 stops
$336Frontier
Mon, Jun 29 - Fri, Jul 3
United Airlines Logo
12:45 am - 12:02 pm
SFO
-
RDU
8h 17m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
9:50 am - 12:32 pm
RDU
-
SFO
5h 42mnonstop
$339United Airlines
Mon, May 25 - Wed, May 27
Frontier Logo
8:44 pm - 11:59 am
SFO
-
RDU
12h 15m
2 stops
Frontier Logo
12:26 pm - 12:23 am
RDU
-
SFO
14h 57m
1 stop
$340Frontier
Wed, Jun 10 - Tue, Jun 16
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:27 pm - 8:23 pm
SFO
-
RDU
18h 56m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:54 pm - 10:28 am
RDU
-
SFO
24h 34m
2 stops
$341Multiple Airlines
Tue, Jun 23 - Fri, Jul 3
Frontier Logo
12:38 pm - 11:31 am
SFO
-
RDU
19h 53m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
12:10 pm - 7:26 pm
RDU
-
SFO
10h 16m
1 stop
$342Frontier
Mon, Jul 6 - Sat, Aug 8
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:22 pm - 9:08 pm
SFO
-
RDU
19h 46m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:15 am - 4:32 pm
RDU
-
SFO
13h 17m
2 stops
$343Multiple Airlines
Tue, Jun 2 - Tue, Jun 9
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:16 am - 4:45 pm
SFO
-
RDU
7h 29m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
5:45 pm - 11:49 am
RDU
-
SFO
21h 04m
1 stop
$346Alaska Airlines
Sat, May 16 - Tue, May 19
Frontier Logo
10:15 pm - 12:02 pm
SFO
-
RDU
10h 47m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
12:59 pm - 7:34 pm
RDU
-
SFO
9h 35m
1 stop
$347Frontier
Wed, Jun 17 - Sat, Jul 4
Frontier Logo
12:38 pm - 11:59 am
SFO
-
RDU
20h 21m
2 stops
Frontier Logo
11:47 am - 7:26 pm
RDU
-
SFO
10h 39m
1 stop
$348Frontier
Booking Insights

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

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

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 Raleigh departing in May.

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

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

If you are looking for a flight deal from San Francisco to Raleigh, look for departures on Wednesdays and avoid leaving on a Monday, as it's usually the priciest day. When flying back from Raleigh, Thursday is the cheapest day to fly and Monday is the most expensive.

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Raleigh, 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 Raleigh is July, where tickets cost $389 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and March, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $499 and $481 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from San Francisco to Raleigh?

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 $452, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

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

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 Raleigh, 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 Raleigh, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 31% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 26 weeks before departure.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from San Francisco to Raleigh

 
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
Jessica Macdonald

Jessica Macdonald

Expert on RDU

Currently based in Scotland after living in South Africa and the United States, Jessica has been writing travel and aviation content for more than 10 years. She regularly contributes to Travel + Leisure and TripSavvy, and has had work published by Condé Nast Traveller and The Independent. She has traveled to more than 50 countries across six continents.

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$158
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 3% drop in price.
Flight from San Francisco to Raleigh

When to book flights from San Francisco to Raleigh

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

Flights from San Francisco to Raleigh: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from San Francisco to Raleigh 
HartajFlew with United Airlines
SFO
-
RDU
Apr 2026
My main tip is to allow a bit of extra time at SFO, since the airport is currently undergoing renovations. It is nothing unmanageable, but giving yourself a little buffer can help avoid delays.
MitchellFlew with United Airlines
SFO
-
RDU
Jan 2026
United had a direct flight to RDU - worked out well just need to manage food timing as arriving in RDU after 9 PM, very limited availability for healthy food. rental car transfer at RDU went very smoothly

FAQs for booking flights from San Francisco to Raleigh

  • Where can I withdraw cash at SFO?

    If you want to withdraw cash at SFO, there are various ATMs you can use. In Boarding Area A, there are ATMs near gate A10 and on its Departure level. On the other hand, in Boarding Area G, ATMs are found near gate G91 and the area’s food court.

  • Are there any special services offered at RDU?

    At RDU, you can enjoy elite spa services by XpresSpa near gate C3 in Terminal 2 or Na’Sah’s Nail & Spa near gate A7 in Terminal 1. At either of these spas, you can rest assured of getting rejuvenating services.

  • Where can I charge my phone at RDU?

    If you want to charge your phone at RDU before leaving the airport, you should head to the seats in the gates and baggage claim area of Terminal 1 or at seating clusters with tables in Terminal 2. This is because these areas feature power outlets.

  • Does RDU have any dining options?

    At RDU, you can get quality food, given that the airport offers several dining options. In Terminal 1, you can dine in restaurants such as ACC American Café, Char-Grill, La Tapenade, and Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina. In Terminal 2, you can dine at 42nd St. Oyster Bar, Bruegger’s Bagels, BurgerFi, and La Farm Bakery Café.

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

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Raleigh was $158 for a one-way ticket and $335 for a round-trip.

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

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

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

    On your way to Raleigh, you’ll fly out from San Francisco. You’ll be landing at Raleigh-Durham.

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

    JetBlue, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the San Francisco to Raleigh flight route.

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

    The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San Francisco to Raleigh flight route.

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

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

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

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

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Francisco to Raleigh are Delta and Southwest. With an average price for the route of $364 and an overall rating of 7.9, Delta is the most popular choice. Southwest is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $429 and an overall rating of 7.9.

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

    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 Raleigh.

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

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

    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 Raleigh with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline. Booking your flights between San Francisco and RDU 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 Raleigh?

    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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $281 or less one-way and $460 or less round-trip.
  • In case you’re traveling with an infant while at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), you can privately breastfeed him/her, given that the airport has several nursing rooms. In Terminals 1 and 3, they are on the Airside, while in Terminal 2, they are available on both the Airside and Landside.
  • If you’re traveling with older children to Raleigh, you should consider visiting the children’s play areas at SFO. Located in Boarding Area B in Terminal 1, Boarding Areas D and F in Terminal 2, and Boarding Area E in Terminal 3, these kid-play areas feature interactive exploration areas and a variety of toys.
  • SFO is home to various lounges you can relax in while waiting for your flight to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). If you’re an American Express Card holder, you can chill at the airport’s Centurion Lounge, near gate 74 in Terminal 3. If you book a Delta Airlines flight to RDU, you can relax at the airline’s Delta Sky Club in Terminal 1’s Concourse C. On the other hand, if you’re set to travel aboard a United Airlines flight, you can comfortably wait for your flight at the airline’s United Club located in the Domestic Terminal.
  • If you would like to pray or meditate once you land at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, you will be able to do so. This is because the airport features a prayer room as well as a meditation room. The prayer room is near the Baggage Claim Area in Terminal 1, whereas the meditation room is a short distance from the ticketing lobby in Terminal 2. Both accept guests of all faiths.
  • To journey from RDU to Raleigh’s city center, you can board a bus, shuttle, or taxi. If you want to travel affordably, you should board a bus or a shuttle. On the contrary, if you want to travel from the airport to the city’s center swiftly, you should board a taxi.

Prefer to fly direct from San Francisco to Raleigh?

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

Direct departures

San Francisco to Raleigh-Durham

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Raleigh-Durham to San Francisco

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

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

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Francisco to Raleigh. 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 Raleigh? 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.
7.9
SouthwestOverall score based on 4305 reviews
7.0Food
8.1Boarding
8.0Comfort
7.5Entertainment
8.6Crew
Airline reviews

The entire experience from boarding to landing was amazing! The crew were very friendly. Will definitely be back.

10.0 Excellentlarry, Apr 2026
LGB - PHX
Read more Southwest reviews

The entire experience from boarding to landing was amazing! The crew were very friendly. Will definitely be back.

Delayed flight, lack of information, boarding process is a mess as is the carryon luggage causing issues when leaving the plane….just a poor experience.

Comfortable. Easy. No problems. Just wish they had gf options for snacks.

The crew was very kind and made going to Hawaii relaxing and fun to look forward to! Thank you Southwest for a pleasant flight!

Terrible. Even though there’s assigned seating now, they are still the slowest boarding airline of anyone.

Plane was late. Zero service for 2+ hour flight and it was not that bumpy.

It was good from LAX to Phoenix, But the connection in Phoenix to Tulsa was not that great. The staff on both flights were great. The choice of free entertainment was ok nothing to brag about. The 45 min delay because of some electrical issue wasn't great from Phoenix to Tulsa. We sat there with hardly any air, The seat I had was between windows so the side of the plane pushed in on you. My being a bigger man it then made the seating area uncomfortable. The seats on the plane had no power to connect to recharge your phone or anything. I would recommend that they should look into a slot or clamp to hold your phone to enjoy while watching the entertainment choices hands-free. Also make it possible to raise the inner seat by the window be able to raise the arm rest up to make more room for larger people to set more comfortably. I would also say other then that stop price gouging the airfare or nickel and diming everything. Not fair for people having to fly for emergencies and be paying for higher prices due to the season or holidays. Your making your money either way and the cost of flying is still going to be the same regardless if there's 100 people or 200 people.

Southwest was greaat! The most expensive but the least upsetting for those we were flying to see.

Boarding was easy. The seats are small and fairly uncomfortable

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.

WiFi didn’t work. Flight delayed 3 hours Crew members were illiterate Seat lean back did not work.

The plan was delayed and left DC 90 minutes late. However, it showed a 20 minute delay on the delta app, then a 12 min delay. It turned out to be an hour delay. I found out where the plane was with flightaware. Stop keeping customers in the dark about what is going on.

While they turned off most cabin lights to allow people to sleep, I was bothered by how bright the side lights still were. It was still quite bright for me in a window seat, when I wish I could have slept!

Generally on time departures and arrivals, clean planes, sky miles membership provides great benefits (complimentary upgrades, etc).

N Everything was perfect from boarding to assistance to baggage in Tampa

Loved the crew! Sucks that we went from 1 hour and 8 minute layover to a 3 hour layover. But weather sucks like that.

Fast, lovely scenery, great info on the Delta flight screen about landmarks we were flying over. Great landing!

Long flight but comfortable and not freezing as I have experienced on Hawaiian flights to the islands. They gave us blankets just in case. Nice touch.

I took seat 15A in anticipation of window seat, there is no window.

Flight late, the waited for a long time for “personal” to arrive at gate to dock the plane in Rochester. So annoying. This flight was expected, why aren’t personel available for the jet bridge?

No screens or meal options. Freezing cold. Dirty seats. Left late.

Outstanding service, efficient & friendly crew, flight was safe, comfortable & on time

It was a red-eye, but the flight felt surprisingly quick. The seats were very comfortable, and that made resting much easier. I also want to thank the gentleman seated next to me, who graciously moved so my mom could sit beside me. We slept almost the entire way. The cabin crew was respectful in not disturbing us, while also being courteous and professional throughout. Thank you, United.

Boarding was again a "free for all". We were boarding group 4, and almost the entire plane was able to board before us. It's a shame that someone who follows the rules, gets the short end of the stick. Not fair.

It was perfect! I've never flown with United before, but I definitely will in the future

They delayed the flight from 9:00 to 11:55 At 11:45 they canceled the flight. I paid a premium price for the tickets with poor service

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.

Had to wait for a gate for a long time, then waited on the run way for a long time before leaving. The actual flights part was good.

The staff was nice. I appreciated that I was able to take an earlier flight, even though it was last minute. The boarding process felt rather chaotic.

Overall a good experience, however Wifi was not working on the flight.

Delayed flight. Missed connection, AA put us on a later connecting flight. The connection flight was delayed 4 times and we had to deplane. Didnt get home until 3am, when I was supposed to be home at 8:30p. Zero compensation offered from American. I would not fly them again.

No gate in Rome. Had stairs. Got separated from my wife in a wheel chair. Customs was a zoo. If AA doesnt have landing rights, it should be advertised.

The captain announced to the cabin there would be a delay because they observed a "cut" on a tire during precheck that needed to be cleared by maintenance. We were delayed during this inspection and allowed to proceed after maintenance "measured the cut and decided it was acceptable". My complaint is not about the delay or due diligence. I wish the captain had been more generic when making his announcement. I was a nervous wreck all the way to Charlotte worried that we would have a blowout when landing!

The SFO Lounge crew were amazing. The bartender Faris was great. Thanks!

Flight was delayed and they gave up my seat on my connection, even when I could still make the flight

Flight was delayed. No urgency by American Airlines team to assist those with connecting flights. It was basically you are on your own to run through the terminals to try and make your connection. Thanks, Mary

I have never been assaulted they way I was today in Charlotte - shame on American

They didn’t offer a water, even after I asked

The crew acted like they had never done this and kept barking passive aggressive orders at people. + the security line + the delay + sitting on the tarmac for 2 hours + none of the apps or signage updating with correct times

Remind customers of the need to have passport or new ID for boarding.

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.

Everyone seemed to be in zone 1 for boarding. Maybe break it up a little. Otherwise, smooth flight.

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.

Finally a Frontier on time and efficient. I've had problems before with your airline, but this time everything went fine.

Frontier is terrible. Paid for exit row, not given exit row, refused to refund fee.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports