$484 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Shanghai - Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from San Francisco to Shanghai:

• Earliest: departs at 12:00 pm and lands at 1:46 am
• Latest: departs at 1:55 pm and lands at 3:41 am.

The flight takes about 13h 46m.

Three cabin classes are available on flights from San Francisco to Shanghai:

• Economy Class
• Premium Economy Class
• Business Class

A nonstop flight from San Francisco to Shanghai takes 13h 46m, covering 6,143 miles.

Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

Round-trip flights from San Francisco to Shanghai range from $804 to $1,407, with an average of $1,086 over the past 12 months. Anything below $804 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 11% above the $1,086 route average. Book 20 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $797 round-trip via Manila Ninoy Aquino Intl (MNL), compared to $1,349 for nonstop.

There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $75–$100 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite-status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

Afternoon is the busiest departure period on San Francisco to Shanghai flights, with 100% of flights leaving in that window. Morning departures account for 0%, evening flights for 0%, and night flights for 0%.

One-way fares from San Francisco to Shanghai are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $508, which is 20% below the typical average for this route.

Flights from San Francisco to Shanghai usually depart from San Francisco (SFO) and may arrive at several airports in Shanghai area, including Shanghai Pu Dong (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao Intl (SHA).

Afternoon flights have the fewest delays on this route.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the San Francisco to Shanghai route, 15% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2h 48m.

One-stop flights from San Francisco to Shanghai most commonly connect through:

• Incheon Intl (ICN) - 61% of one-stop connections
• Hong Kong Intl (HKG) - 15% of one-stop connections
• Taipei City Taiwan Taoyuan Intl (TPE) - 10% of one-stop connections
• Vancouver Intl (YVR) - 6% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 27% on flights from San Francisco to Shanghai. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $982 round-trip on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at $1,339, a difference of $357.

KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

2 airlines operate flights between San Francisco and Shanghai. The airlines offering nonstop flights on this route include:

• United Airlines
• China Eastern

Flying via Los Angeles (LAX) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 16h 58m, compared with 17h 12m via Seattle/Tacoma Intl (SEA) and 17h 13m via Incheon Intl (ICN).

Shanghai is 15 hours ahead of San Francisco (China Time vs Pacific Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Some of the most popular sights in Shanghai are Shanghai Disneyland, French Concession and People's Square. These are among the most viewed places in Shanghai on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating San Francisco to Shanghai flights:

• China Eastern: offers free seat selection
• United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• China Eastern: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• United Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• Air China: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.