SNA - SFO

$58 Find Cheap Flights from Santa Ana to San Francisco

1 adult
1 adult, Economy

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These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Santa Ana to San Francisco.
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Santa Ana to San Francisco.
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Expert advice
Useful Info
Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Santa Ana to San Francisco

 
Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of KAYAK-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Airlines
Frontier

Frontier's Economy Bundle includes a carry-on and seat choice, ideal for budget travelers.


Opt for Premium Bundle for priority boarding and extra legroom at a reasonable price.

Read more about Frontierby Stefanie Waldek
Alaska Airlines

Alaska's 20-minute bag guarantee ensures quick baggage claim or compensation.


Alaska's Wine Flies Free program allows free wine case check-in from select airports.

United Airlines

United's Economy Plus offers up to 6 inches more legroom for added comfort.


Purchase Priority Boarding to ensure overhead bin space for your carry-on.

Airports
SNA

SNA offers quick security lines, rarely exceeding 10 minutes, making it ideal for business travelers seeking efficiency.

Read more about SNAby Esther Carlstone
SFO

For easy city access, take BART from SFO. It's affordable and connects to popular neighborhoods like the Mission and Embarcadero.

Read more about SFOby Blane Bachelor
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on Frontier and United Airlines

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Read more
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on Alaska Airlines

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Read more
Esther Carlstone

Esther Carlstone

Expert on SNA

Esther Carlstone

Esther Carlstone

Esther Carlstone is a travel and food writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in publications such as Travel + Leisure, Lonely Planet, Forbes, Tripadvisor, Insider, and more.

Read more
Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Expert on SFO

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

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.

Read more
Useful Info

Good to know

Low seasonJuly
Cheapest flight$58
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 9% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 9% increase in price.
Flight from John Wayne (Santa Ana) to San Francisco

When to book flights from Santa Ana to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Santa Ana to San Francisco 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 Santa Ana to San Francisco: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from Santa Ana to San Francisco 
RonaldFlew with Alaska AirlinesSNA-SFOApr 2025
The airport security can take a long time, the bathrooms are not always available near the gates due to construction, repairs, remodels.
CongFlew with United AirlinesSNA-SFONov 2024
Nothing really, being clothes that are easily taken off like shoes at the security will always save time
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska AirlinesSNA-SFOFeb 2024
Long Beach and SNA are convenient airports for flying out of Orange County. I wish I knew about the size of the plane which caused a fee for checking one small bag that normally was a carry on for other airlines such as SouthWest.
  • Which airline offers in-flight Wi-Fi?

    To enjoy in-flight Wi-Fi on your trip from Santa Ana to San Francisco, consider booking with United Airlines or Alaska Airlines. They offer passengers unlimited wireless internet that is good enough for web browsing, streaming, and even gaming. However, it is essential to note that passengers must pay for the Wi-Fi as the plane ticket does not cover it.

  • How do you get from SFO Airport to downtown?

    Downtown San Francisco is about 14 miles away from San Francisco International Airport. There are a few ways to get there, including the bus, taxi, rental car, or the Bay Area Rapid Transit. Of all these options, the bus and Bay Area Rapid Transit are the cheapest and arguably most reliable means. To take the Bay Area Rapid Transit, head to the station located in the international terminal. Board the yellow line towards Antioch, and you’ll be downtown in no time. You can also find the bus at the international terminal on Courtyard G.

  • Does San Francisco International Airport offer wheelchair services?

    Yes, San Francisco International Airport offers wheelchair assistance to all passengers with limited mobility. You can request one at the ticket counter or any help desk around the airport. Alternatively, you can also alert your airline during booking so that they can inform the concerned officials at the airport. This way, you will have a wheelchair reserved for you regardless of when your flight lands.

  • Are there any pet relief areas at San Francisco International Airport?

    SFO Airport has multiple pet relief areas for anyone traveling with their pet or a service animal. They can be found both inside and outside the airport terminals, so you’re never too far away from one. For travelers arriving at the airport, each terminal has a conveniently located pet relief area next to baggage claim. In the case of Terminal 1, it is located on Courtyard 2, Terminal 2, Courtyard 3, and Terminal 3, Courtyard 4. If you would rather use the outside ones, follow the painted paw prints on the curbside walkways.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Santa Ana to San Francisco

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $103 or less one-way and $154 or less round-trip.
  • John Wayne Airport (SNA) is neighbored by Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Ontario International Airport (ONT), which also offer flights to San Francisco. If you want an airport with better amenities and lounges, consider booking flights out of Los Angeles International Airport.
  • If you’re a nursing mom traveling with an infant, you should know that San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has private nursing rooms at each terminal. To get access, you can use the airport courtesy phones to request or reserve.
  • Public transport via the bus offers the cheapest way to get to SNA Airport. They can sometimes be very slow and not ideal for anyone in a rush. If you need to get to SNA Airport quickly, consider taking a cab. You can access them anywhere in Santa Ana.
  • Oakland International Airport is only a few miles away from SFO. If you want to avoid the long queues upon landing, consider booking a flight that lands at this airport.
  • If you want to enjoy the lounge facilities at SNA Airport, consider booking with American Airlines or United Airlines. Both have a lounge at the airport open to passengers flying with their respective airlines.

Prefer to fly direct from John Wayne (Santa Ana) to San Francisco?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty to San Francisco.
Find which airlines fly direct from Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty Airport to San Francisco Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty to San Francisco

Monday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +13 more

ANA, Air Canada, +14 more

Tuesday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +14 more

ANA, Air Canada, +15 more

Wednesday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +13 more

ANA, Air Canada, +14 more

Thursday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +14 more

ANA, Air Canada, +15 more

Friday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +14 more

ANA, Air Canada, +15 more

Saturday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +13 more

ANA, Air Canada, +14 more

Sunday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +13 more

ANA, Air Canada, +14 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Francisco to Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty

Monday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +12 more

ANA, Air Canada, +13 more

Tuesday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +12 more

ANA, Air Canada, +13 more

Wednesday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +11 more

ANA, Air Canada, +12 more

Thursday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +13 more

ANA, Air Canada, +14 more

Friday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +13 more

ANA, Air Canada, +14 more

Saturday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +12 more

ANA, Air Canada, +13 more

Sunday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +12 more

ANA, Air Canada, +13 more

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from Santa Ana to San Francisco

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Santa Ana to San Francisco. 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 Santa Ana to San Francisco? 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
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 10000 reviews
7.8Comfort
8.1Boarding
7.1Food
8.5Crew
7.0Entertainment
Airline reviews

Seats are so small now that it's very hard even for a medium-sized person to be comfortable!!!

8.0 ExcellentMICHAEL, Aug 2025EWR - SFO
Read more Alaska Airlines reviews

Seats are so small now that it's very hard even for a medium-sized person to be comfortable!!!

My experience would’ve been great because we were on a new plane, but they said as we boarded that the plane would be too new to have WiFi, which to me is unreasonable - newer planes should def have WiFi! It was a 5 hour flight from Anchorage to San Fran and because there was no WiFi, I had to take an unexpected half day off work, which was super annoying because I had a lot to do and we only found out a few minutes before takeoff.

I liked the crew. There was no food flight to short

2 FLIGHT DELAYS? what an inconvenience to stay @the airport HALF THE DAY😳from 1pm till boarding @ 4pm pass 😠exhausting !

Flight was delayed - we left at 11:30 pm instead of 10:30 and it was extremely inconvenient. It affected both the day of the flight and the next day

I don’t like it stuff not friendly and no one help for my mom she 82 years old lady I requested wheel chair but no one provided and no one help.

If there were movies it would have made the flight much easier.

I loved that the checking in process was seamlessly easy and user friendly. The crew was very nice and professional. Unfortunately, we were seated in the back of the plane across from the bathroom. There wasn’t much room for leg room and comfortability. Alongside, we had to listen to a baby crying up and down the aisle way for the entire plane ride. The turbulence of the plane landing was rocky. Overall, the experience with Alaska was just okay. We made it home alive so that’s always a positive.

would have been nice for flight to not be delayed by 2 hours so that we had to pay $80 to get home since BART had shut down. i thought a 10pm arrival would leave enough time to account for delays but i was wrong.

One of the best roundtrip flights I’ve ever been on. We needed assistance for my elderly mother and without fail, each and every Alaska team member was helpful, kind, and patient. Will fly Alaska again and again.

Attendants seemed un-engaged and indifferent when asked for assistance.

Overall it was a good flight. The thing I most appreciated was that you eliminated plastic cups and water bottles and stir sticks and had paper cups, wood stir sticks and cans. Plus, I saw that the airline staff were actually keeping the used paper cups separate and unfolding the used cardboard meal boxes and keeping those items separate from the trash. Good for them! This makes me want to support Alaska Airlines and fly Alaska again. Thank for taking this step in working to reduce single use plastics! Kudos!

Ok but why they need to sell the ear buds?

Your Hawaiian airlines record locator number did not work! I could not check in in advance at either Hawaiian or Alaska airlines website and had to wait on long lines to check in at the airport. This caused considerable stress and I was worried I would miss the flight and thus had to arrive even earlier than otherwise. Finally, I wanted to change my flight and could not do so because no record locator was recognized for me to make changes. This was a very poor experience. Also, I could not go in and check or change my seat assignments. I was assigned a window seat, which is my least preferred location, and which I have not flown in for years. Please advise as to what kind of customer service gesture you can provide to make up for this below par experience.

Departure was two hours late! Better than four hours late on our first flight

My experience was pleasant. It was perfect. That is enough🥰💃💖

The flight was supposed to leave at 7:30pm, but departed 10:50pm. They kept moving departure time out every half hour. It was a 45 minute flight from n Sunday night with great weather.

I could not check in ahead of time. Kayak did not give me a proper confirmation number to check in.

I loved flying Hawaiian Air! We didn’t pay to sit together, but we were able to anyway. They had usb charging ports and even outlets in some seats. They served a hot sandwich that was not very good, but we were still pleasantly surprised. The staff was very nice. The seats really made my booty hurt but maybe I’m just not used to sitting so long. Also, the AC was really cold even though I was wearing pants, a hoodie, and a light blanket.

You did not have any vegetarians options for the free meal! I do not eat any meat of any kind! I asked the flight attendant and was met with kind of a rude statement like vegetarian? No we don’t have that kind of thing! Did not make me happy but made me feel like why would I want a vegetarian meal! Otherwise a good experience!

1. when we went to check in, our 2 first class seats had been CANCELED and the flight was sold out. This was done without our prior knowledge. It was all we could do to restore one first class seat for my wife and I flew economy. 2, Our flight home was scheduled to leave at 10:30 pm. Due to tsunami warnings, the roads were closed and our flight status was uncertain as to whether it would leave as scheduled. It was announced that it would now leave at 11:20 pm and the roads were now open since the tsunami had come and gone. We made a mad dash to the airport and checked in. Delays were announced at 12:30 pm, 1:30 am, 2:30 am and at 3:30 am it was canceled. Since this was a flight due to natural (tsunami) causes, there was no compensation. We were told to return at 1:00 pm the next day and our baggage would be kept on the plane since the same plane was going to leave at 1:00 pm. We had to return to our hotel for the rest of the night. The same plane did not leave at 1:00 pm and our baggage was gone! All in all, it was a miserable performance by UA. Information was hard to obtain and no one knew what was going on and what was going to happen. Hundreds of passengers slept on the floor, chairs, etc. No food and no water was made available to the passengers. It was a situation where UA could care less what was going on. As a one million mile flyer, I had not experienced anything like this before and it was hugely disappointing!

Boarded plane and then delayed 1.5 hours while on the plane

My flight was delayed a very short period of time but they did not hold my connecting flight to San Diego, also through United. So they closed the doors before we got off our plane. They would only have to help the door open for another five to ten minutes. So I missed a court deadline for a manditory mediation settlement conference for my client. I had to get an associate to be there in person and be on the phone with him relaying what he needs to do the entire time. The court was very upset with me and so was my client. United cannot be trusted.

Really good 😊 the woman at the gate entrance was a little rude checking in our carry-on but i dont think she worked for the airline, she worked for the airport at sacramento, other than that amazing.

Boarding was mayhem. Late boarding by 15 minutes because of lack of staff (missing 1 flight attendant. We had to wait for an arrival of another plane before we could board). Flight was a little rough, but cannot blame on airlines.

United out of SFO is having issues with catering so none of our meals were loaded on the plane and no offer of compensation for our tickets purchased was offered.

A bit rush for transit. Food and entertainment are not available

The gate was too far away for the connecting flight

Generally good. The aisles have gotten narrower which can slow down boarding. Flight crew was great! Healthier complimentary snacks would be appreciated. Due to earthquake in San Francisco we had to circle in air space for a bit but then had a smooth landing. I laud the flight crew for their patience ;)

The agents was very rude and they charged me $50 for a carry-on bag saying that it was too big and then I saw someone going on a plane with the same size bag as me

Delayed flight that lead to a missed connection and a 5-hour trip became a 12-hour flight 🙄

There is no room, no gluten free options, or any free internet/entertainment. You have to bring your own tablet or smartphone because there are no screens.

Our flight was 1.5 hours delayed. There was no weather for the inbound flight, so I don't understand why. This meant a VERY late arrival and only a quick nap before my morning flight.

Amazing food, great staff, with one noticable detail missing ...but no seat entertainment in any of aircraft ...I am not a fan

Boarding gate in Honolulu was staffed with a great clerk with a soothing voice despite the flight delay of over an hour. Flight attendants in the plane were all grumpy, not pleasant looking bunch. Their sour attitude showed throughout the flight. Inly able to get a select few movies started. Most of the movie links in the “free entertainment” did not work.

I flew Business Class. Rory, one of the Cabin stewards, was attentive, explained the menu, provided appropriate drinks. was

This was a horrible experience. For a first class experience, my chair was held together by 3M tape - and I have a photo. The crew weren’t very attentive, somewhat dismissive and forgot my drink and snack, the chair reclined about 3 inches on a 6-hour cross country flight. I was also not informed that there was no lounge available in Newark airport because of renovations, so all around this was one of the worst experiences and I would actively avoid both American and Alaska Air going forward.

Boarding was very efficient. Everyone got on board and we got on our way very quickly. It was frustrating that the entertainment app was not functioning properly. I was not able to activate some of the movies offered. The crew on this flight appears to be pretty grumpy. They had no smile on their faces. I felt like they were doing us a favor for being there.

Loved the staff, boarding and drink options! Wish the comfort of the seat could have been better nevertheless

Honestly, I haven’t flown American in years, probably due to the pandemic and my being unable to travel for certain periods in the last two years, but it was a good experience to dig out or obtain a new American Airlines account after many years of traveling for business with American in the past.

Great for the price. No wifi or entertainment, but gate agents and crew were fantastic and we boarded quickly and left on time.

Decent clean onboard experience. Okay discount airline experience. Unfortunately, any customer service interactions are difficult and unhelpful. There is no service. Also, a premium seat only gets you premium boarding if you line up first. Once they start general boarding you must go to the back of the line. Not very premium

The crew was mostly okay. The flight attendant who answered our questions was curt and unhelpful unfortunately. He seemed upset and I understand having off days.

Very bad! No good service delayed my second connection flight

They canceled flight. Hard to believe there was even a plane incoming for us to get on

Cancelled flight after I arrived at airport after 75 min drive and parking. Next flight was 4 days in the future. Had to scramble and buy a much more expensive flight on another carrier.

I liked the turn-style feature at gate 209B at LAX. Very efficient process. The gate staff also made several, clearly directed announcements so I felt very informed.

Plane was down graded and I lost my uncharged exit row with more leg room. No mention or offer of refund from podium. Flight attendant was nice to explain this happens often and that I could request a refund via online form submission. I did this and have heard nothing back.

Horrendous. I do not recommend Frontier. The passengers lack manners and decency, and the flight attendants lack professionalism. If I wasn’t in a bind to fly with 48 hours notice for a job interview, I would not have selected a flight with Frontier and I never plan to fly with them in the future.

The seats were hard molded plastic covered in plastic vinyl. And the scam to charge people extra to sit together. Don’t they know we can just ask someone to trade seats. And watching the staff separate young children from parents… super classy. We had to guilt them into offering up our seats. This companies policies suck. Don’t give them your money.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Santa Ana to San Francisco

Other airlines flying from Santa Ana to San Francisco

Flights from the other most popular airlines that fly from Santa Ana to San Francisco according to KAYAK users. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability are not guaranteed.

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