$509 Find Cheap Flights from Shanghai to San Francisco - Compare and Save

Among airlines operating Shanghai to San Francisco flights:

• 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 Shanghai and San Francisco. The airlines offering nonstop flights on this route include:

• United Airlines
• China Eastern

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

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

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

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

• Economy Class
• Premium Economy Class
• Business Class

On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $639 round-trip via Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), compared to $1,317 for nonstop.

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

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

• Incheon Intl (ICN) - 54% of one-stop connections
• Vancouver Intl (YVR) - 10% of one-stop connections
• Hong Kong Intl (HKG) - 8% of one-stop connections
• Tokyo Haneda (HND) - 8% 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 32% on the Shanghai to San Francisco route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $859 round-trip on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at $1,258, a difference of $399. 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 Shanghai to San Francisco route, 19% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2 hours 19 minutes.

Afternoon is the busiest departure period on Shanghai to San Francisco 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 San Francisco are Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square and Moscone Center. These are among the most viewed places in San Francisco on KAYAK.

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

• Earliest: departs at 12:10 pm and lands at 11:28 pm
• Latest: departs at 2:05 pm and lands at 1:23 am.

The flight takes about 11h 18m.

Last-minute fares on this route - booked within 2 weeks of departure - run 24% above the route average of $1,049. Book 18 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A nonstop flight from Shanghai to San Francisco takes 11h 18m, 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 Shanghai to San Francisco are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $521, which is 20% below the typical average for this route.

Afternoon 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 16h 40m, compared with 16h 48m via Tokyo Haneda (HND) and 16h 51m via Vancouver Intl (YVR).

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

San Francisco Airport (SFO) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $15 for economy cars. Top options include:
• Thrifty
• Europcar
• Dollar
• Hertz
• Fox

Round-trip flights from Shanghai to San Francisco range from $775 to $1,324, with an average of $1,049 over the past 12 months. Anything below $775 counts as a good deal.