$448 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Shanghai - Compare and Save

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.

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

• United Airlines
• China Eastern

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).

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 travelers should check the fare details before booking.

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

• Economy Class
• Premium Economy Class
• Business Class
• First Class

Prices vary by airline.

On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $759 round-trip via Manila Ninoy Aquino Intl (MNL), compared to $1,311 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.

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

• Incheon Intl (ICN) - 56% of one-stop connections
• Hong Kong Intl (HKG) - 21% of one-stop connections
• Taipei City Taiwan Taoyuan Intl (TPE) - 9% of one-stop connections
• Vancouver Intl (YVR) - 6% of one-stop connections

Incheon Intl (ICN) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 27% on the San Francisco to Shanghai route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $950 round-trip on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at $1,292, a difference of $342. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

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 2 hours 47 minutes.

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%.

Some of the most popular sights in Shanghai are The Bund, Nanjing Road and Shanghai Disneyland. These are among the most viewed places in Shanghai on KAYAK.

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

• Earliest: departs at 12:00 pm and lands at 1:42 am
• Latest: departs at 1:55 pm and lands at 3:37 am.

The flight takes about 13h 42m.

Last-minute fares on this route - booked within 2 weeks of departure - run 14% above the route average of $1,048. Book 20 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A nonstop flight from San Francisco to Shanghai takes 13h 42m, 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.

One-way fares from San Francisco to Shanghai are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $480, which is 25% below the typical average for this route.

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

Flying via Incheon Intl (ICN) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 17h 07m, compared with 17h 16m via Los Angeles (LAX) and 17h 21m via Vancouver Intl (YVR).

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.

Round-trip flights from San Francisco to Shanghai range from $812 to $1,378, with an average of $1,048 over the past 12 months. Anything below $812 counts as a good deal.