United Polaris offers lie-flat seats with Saks Fifth Avenue bedding for enhanced comfort.
United Polaris Lounges provide luxurious amenities and a restaurant for a seated meal.
Planning a trip from San Francisco to Sydney? KAYAK’s data-powered insights will help you find cheap flights. Learn the best time to fly, how early to book your ticket, and other tips to secure great prices.
When planning a flight from San Francisco to Sydney, there are several strategies that can help you save money. Generally, Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly, and April is the cheapest month.
Day Selection: Choose to fly on a Tuesday for the best rates.
Month Selection: Book your flight in April for the most affordable prices.
Booking Advance: Book your flight at least 13 days in advance to secure the best prices.
Airline Choice: Consider flying with Air New Zealand, as it generally offers the cheapest fares for this route.
Flight Type: Opt for a flight with a layover, as it's typically cheaper than a direct flight.
This feature is powered by ChatGPT: an OpenAI-developed artificial intelligence model trained with KAYAK proprietary data and third-party data not verified by KAYAK.
Low season | April |
---|---|
High season | December |
Cheapest flight | $361 |
Find which airlines fly direct from San Francisco Airport to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.
Direct departures
San Francisco to Sydney Kingsford Smith
Monday
Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, SWISS, +2 more
Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, +3 more
1
2
Tuesday
Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +5 more
Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +6 more
4
5
Wednesday
Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, SWISS, +2 more
Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, +3 more
1
2
Thursday
Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +5 more
Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +6 more
4
5
Friday
Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, SWISS, +2 more
Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, +3 more
1
2
Saturday
Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, SWISS, +2 more
Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, +3 more
1
2
Sunday
Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +5 more
Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +6 more
4
5
Direct returns
Sydney Kingsford Smith to San Francisco
Monday
Air New Zealand, Avianca, Lufthansa, +3 more
Air New Zealand, Avianca, +4 more
2
3
Tuesday
Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +6 more
Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +7 more
5
6
Wednesday
Air New Zealand, Avianca, Lufthansa, +3 more
Air New Zealand, Avianca, +4 more
2
3
Thursday
Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +6 more
Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +7 more
5
6
Friday
Air New Zealand, Avianca, Lufthansa, +3 more
Air New Zealand, Avianca, +4 more
2
3
Saturday
Air New Zealand, Avianca, Lufthansa, +3 more
Air New Zealand, Avianca, +4 more
2
3
Sunday
Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +6 more
Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +7 more
5
6
.very good and as I needed wheelchair assistance all staff excellent.. only suggestion is get rid of those plastic chairs hard to ride in and staff have trouble compared to others. Everything else very good experience. Will use Fiji Air again.
.very good and as I needed wheelchair assistance all staff excellent.. only suggestion is get rid of those plastic chairs hard to ride in and staff have trouble compared to others. Everything else very good experience. Will use Fiji Air again.
In-flight entertainment options could use a refresh, Consider a tie-up with Spotify for more current music and with IMDB or other service for newer selections/movie ratings.
See previous comments. Didn’t take this flight because my other flight was so delayed. Ending up on two other flights as a result and was more than a day late.
6 hour delay and they didnt try to make up any time during an over 10 hour flight
Very good; seat made ready for bed after meal, a plus since one airline covered the seat at the start.
Entertainment was not good. Seems like liquor should’ve been advertised only beer and wine was even though I saw others getting liquor didn’t realize I could. And the food to me could’ve been a little bit.
Food choices perhaps not the best. Only offered beer and wine, when it appeared other liquor was available. Entertainment wasn’t so good.
They charged me over a $1000 dollars to bring two surfboard bags as check baggage. Inappropriate and I would avoid flying sgain
The experience on Fiji Airways was absolutely amazing. Streamlined. All staff was amazing. Pleasant. Friendly. Extremely helpful.
Business class Seats on the A350 from Nan to YVR were wonderful. The flight crew was okay but could do with better training. Toilets were clean but ran out of paper towels towards the end of the flight. The food/menu and the wine offered really needs considerable improvement. Dinner options were either Bolani, a beef sandwich (even this could be made much better), or paneer butter masala. Unfortunately, if you are not a fan of Fijian food, there isn’t much choice. Dessert was either turmeric ice cream or fruits but unfortunately, they were out of fruit! So the only option was turmeric ice cream. I’m not certain how many passengers like turmeric but I am not one of them. They need to cater to a more diverse group of people. Perhaps they need a new chef? The movies& tv shows were mostly older so I didn’t find that interesting either. It was however, fun to view the plane’s exterior cameras as we take off and land. The best thing about this flight are the business class seats.
When I was not allowed by Alaska airlines to board due to time and difficulty pre-check the night before and kiosk did not work when I arrived at the airport and then finally told Alaska airlines is where I had to go. Not Hawaiian airlines that they had moved. That's when I was treated with the utmost disrespect by Alaska airlines agent that I was not allowed to board. And that might ticket to return was canceled and I hadn't even left yet when they gave me the option for the next flight to raise my flight price to $300 one way. I bought a $96 round trip ticket and they're trying to gouge me for $600 in addition and canceling my return flight.
Despite two calls as well as a chat on the website, Alaska would not add my TSA number to my reservation. The flight was switched from Hawaiian to Alaska which caused them to mess this up in the first place
The departure gate was changed from C1 to B18 but it was never announced at the C1 gate nor did I receive any email or text message or phone call about the gate change. I was in a window seat. In the other two seats next to me were Mr. Rotund and Ms. Rotunda, a youngish couple. Just the two of them should have booked three seats. I was smashed up against the wall and window for five hours. Overall, I'd say my flight sucked. Wouldn't you?
I couldn't get checked in 24 hours before either leg of my flight. I tried both my Alaska and Hawaiian codes on both apps.
We moved from the international terminal to a new location. I think there are still some bugs to work out . We didn’t receive check in notification and had to scramble to find it but i think it will work out
Not so good. The takeoff was aborted after reaching 100 knots due to a problem with the front tires. I do commend the pilot for a quick decision and preventing a potential disaster. We returned to the gate to put fresh tires on the front. Our flight was delayed for over 3 hours. The rest of the flight was okay. We were reimbursed by Hawaiian Airlines for only $50. Not too generous
Arrived at the gate with no seats assigned. Was told by gate agent the flight was full and we would not be on it. I asked the gate agent how could I be sold tickets when the flight was full. She replied, “Thats just how they do it.” I was able to get seats once I arrived at the gate. The flight itself was great. I’ll never purchase tickets without seat assignments from kayak or anyone again. Shame on kayak or Hawaiian airlines or all of you.
The pre-flight check in process was bad. The app didn't allow check-in online and forced me to check in at the airport. Alaska didn't have self-service kiosks for check in (only bag tagging stations), so I had to wait in line with people who were checking bags just to get my boarding pass.
The flight is supposed to be Hawaiian, but it's operated by Alaska. As such, I could not find my reservation on Hawaiian nor Alaska website. I could not check in on line. At the airports, even the kiosk could not find my reservation. I needed to wait in a long line to check in even though I have no bag to check. Good thing I got to the airport early enough.
The temperature on the plane was too cold and the food was not very good. Everything else was good.
Delayed QF59 flight once again, Qantas doesn't fail in maintaining there delayed departures and arrivals. USB points do not work nor do the power point sockets on the plane, Qantas staff admitted that on the flight. Don't expect to your charge devices. Saving grace, was the ice cream. Bottom line, if you expect to fly to HND and make it on time avoid Qantas and if you're interested in ice cream - visit 7/11.
Pretty excellent. I don’t know what the pilot could have done better with the bumping ( there was a storm) nor what happened to my ears coming down into bendigo. It doesn’t happen coming down into Sydney just the return flight. I wonder why?
Loved the staff. The economy seats could have been bigger.
Airport and crew experience was excellent. We had to queue for the runway - no one’s fault, but it did mean we were 30 minutes late leaving
Overall good experience with flight and airport wheelchair staff. Also got Indian food in the flights
I liked the service, the menu, and the comfort of the seats! Even tho we were seated by the bathrooms, the reclining seats and movie selection was very good, my husband and I didn’t mind at all
Very good as always, stand out airline. The passengers whom choose to stuff baggage that otherwise should be checked-in is a real bother but that's not the airlines doing. A real frustration that passengers just don't want to check-in luggage. This is a pet hate unfortunately.
It’s a two prop flight so I had problems with my ears on re- entering ! But otherwise fine
I love flying with Qantas. There was no onscreen entertaining on this flight, and only a snack provided (not a meal) but still better than Jetstar or Virgin (in my opinion) so still happy.
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.
The personnel were professional and friendly. The Boeing 737 Max 9 is too claustrophobic and was very warm at both airport gates, and still warm in the air.
While the staff was pleasant and helpful, the following observations are for your awareness. There was some delay on the tarmac on take off and landing. The paid lunch/food offerings were limited. Entertainment was only available on WiFi at a cost.
get E+, a must for 5 hours flight if you are tall
Liked fold flat bed. Didn’t like having no window. Didn’t like poor choice of food and being served dinner very late, hours after take off of a 7:40pm flight. Servers not friendly. Food horrible in business class.
Everything is good except the dinner and breakfast. The sandwich is very delicious. Toilet is clean, I only use one of them. Flight attendants are very nice. 👍👍
Compared with other carriers business class for an overnight was not worth the extra expense.
Easy to board. Flight was super crowded though so I didn't sleep well on that cross country red-eye flight. The aisles seem ot have gotten narrower and the seat smaller whn luggage and people are getting bigger so it would be AWESOME to have more space and breathing room in general ;)
Pilot Erika DeLong made us feel safe and at ease in a frankly scary time to be flying. Her warm smile and greeting and excellent command of the aircraft in foggy bumpy weather helped us all to calm our nerves and get us home safely.
Smooth flight. As always dinner could have been more generous. Breakfast was great.
AWFUL. I have had the experience of traveling with many airlines across the world, and hands down United Airlines is the worst. Not one flight was on time, and I don’t think I met one crew member or staff member who wasn’t rude.
Short flight so no food or entertainment. Good landing at SFO and on time. We were told no carryon luggage yet lots of people were puting bags in overhead compartments. The rules need to be made more clear. I was on the first leg of an international flight and this is the first time I could not have carryon luggage.
Not enough electronic outlets for charging in the Air Canada waiting to board area but the Most important thing….the plane was booked to only 40% capacity and my row of 2 other seats were empty. My row happened to be one of the few rows that did NOT have raising arm rests. The flight attendant made effort to seat me in a different row. I needed wheelchair assistance due to a cyst on my knee and struggled to move from seat to seat to get to the row. Those 2 empty seats tormented me the entire 15+ hour flight as I had to be upright the entire flight and was not able to elevate my knee. Lots of other passengers were laying down due to the arm rest being able to retract. It is a shame that he couldn’t be gracious and find a row that I could move to.
Poor air traffic controller staffing led to a 50%reduction on flights so we got to wait 4 hrs for our flight! Very disorganized at the gate Poor communication with customers
No Charging ports for personal electronics, which were required to use wifi entertainment.
They are a great airline, and i enjoying flying with them. However my experience with booking through Kayak was a horrible experience. With all the restrictions and glitches of website. My entire bookings by kayak was wrong. And there was no possible way of fixing anything with them, because they hand over responsibility to the airline after purchase is made. Will not be booking through Kayak again and will inform my family and friends not to as well.
I liked nothing about this flight nor the incredible lack of service and communication on this flight from the Captain to every staff member. Arrogant, entitled and lacking any kind of basic customer service
Terrible. My brother broke his leg and couldn’t board the flight and air Canada couldn’t do anything about rescheduling his flight. Poor customer service and help all around
I booked my flight ni November and was placed on standby? How does this happen. Flight was 1 1/2 hours late departure plane was switched to a smaller plane easy to tell this is a government run company they don’t care about anyone
Excellent crew, great food despite catering issues. We need more people like this.
1. The PA system was painfully loud. 2. Overhead bin #33 was missing—I find this troubling.
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