ZRH - SFO

$424 Find Cheap Flights from Zurich to San Francisco

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Zurich to San Francisco departing on 9/27. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to San Francisco

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Zurich to San Francisco, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Zurich to San Francisco, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$784
Typical prices: $933-$643
Scandinavian Airlines
Wed 8/26Wed 9/9
ZRH - SFO • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$823
Typical prices: $925-$569
SWISS
Thu 9/24Mon 9/28
ZRH - SFO • Non-stop
Advice from real travelers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
SWISS's Premium Economy offers 99-cm recline for comfort.
For a smooth arrival at SFO, use BART for city access.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $784 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.5 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with SWISS and United Airlines. Average duration is 12h 02m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 85% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $648 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 14h 25m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 19% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 16% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Zurich to San Francisco (ZRH-SFO)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Zurich to San Francisco that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Zurich to San Francisco

Wed, Aug 26 - Wed, Sep 9
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
2:55 pm - 2:40 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
32h 45m
1 stop
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
4:45 pm - 11:55 am
SFO
-
ZRH
34h 10m
2 stops
$784Scandinavian Airlines
Fri, Sep 18 - Tue, Sep 29
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
8:25 pm - 11:46 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
36h 21m
2 stops
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
4:45 pm - 7:40 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
17h 55m
1 stop
$785Scandinavian Airlines
Fri, Oct 2 - Tue, Oct 13
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
8:25 pm - 11:46 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
36h 21m
2 stops
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
4:45 pm - 9:40 am
SFO
-
ZRH
31h 55m
1 stop
$786Scandinavian Airlines
Mon, May 18 - Sun, May 24
ITA Airways Logo
7:05 pm - 1:15 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
27h 10m
1 stop
ITA Airways Logo
3:15 pm - 10:05 am
SFO
-
ZRH
33h 50m
1 stop
$787ITA Airways
Tue, May 26 - Tue, Jun 9
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
8:25 pm - 2:40 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
27h 15m
1 stop
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
7:05 am - 9:40 am
SFO
-
ZRH
17h 35m
2 stops
$788Scandinavian Airlines
Fri, Oct 2 - Wed, Oct 14
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
10:25 am - 12:11 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
34h 46m
2 stops
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
4:45 pm - 11:55 am
SFO
-
ZRH
34h 10m
2 stops
$789Scandinavian Airlines
Thu, May 14 - Mon, May 25
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:00 am - 9:21 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
22h 21m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:30 pm - 3:40 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
14h 10m
1 stop
$790Multiple Airlines
Tue, May 12 - Thu, May 28
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
10:25 am - 12:32 am
ZRH
-
SFO
23h 07m
2 stops
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
4:45 pm - 7:40 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
17h 55m
1 stop
$791Scandinavian Airlines
Fri, Jun 12 - Wed, Jul 8
Condor Logo
11:20 am - 2:30 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
36h 10m
1 stop
Condor Logo
4:30 pm - 3:40 pm
SFO
-
ZRH
14h 10m
1 stop
$792Condor
Thu, Oct 1 - Wed, Oct 14
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
12:55 pm - 2:40 pm
ZRH
-
SFO
34h 45m
2 stops
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
4:45 pm - 11:55 am
SFO
-
ZRH
34h 10m
2 stops
$793Scandinavian Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Zurich to San Francisco flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Zurich to San Francisco to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

How much is a round-trip flight from Zurich to San Francisco?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Zurich to San Francisco departing in August.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Zurich to San Francisco?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Zurich to San Francisco clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

For Zurich to San Francisco, Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly on average and Friday is the most expensive. Flying from San Francisco back to Zurich, the best deals are generally found on Wednesday, with Friday being the most expensive.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Zurich to San Francisco?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Zurich to San Francisco, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Zurich to San Francisco is November, where tickets cost $691 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are July and December, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $940 and $915 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Zurich to San Francisco?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

Yes, flying with a layover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 2 stops layover the cheapest option at $813 on average.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Zurich to San Francisco?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Zurich to San Francisco, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Zurich to San Francisco, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 19% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 20 weeks before departure.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Zurich to San Francisco

 
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Emily Zemler

Emily Zemler

Expert on SWISS and ZRH

Emily is a freelance writer and book author based in London covering entertainment and travel. Her work has appeared in Los Angeles Times, Observer, and Conde Nast Traveler She has ventured to more than 40 countries and all seven continents, always in search of a great art museum. She has written extensively about hotels, luxury travel, and aviation.

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines

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.

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Expert on SFO

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.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$424
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 8% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 14% increase in price.
Flight from Zurich to San Francisco

When to book flights from Zurich to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Zurich 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.

FAQs for booking flights from Zurich to San Francisco

  • Can I bring my pet aboard United Airlines from Zurich to San Francisco?

    Yes, United Airlines allows passengers to bring their pets on flights from Zurich to San Francisco. However, specific policies and restrictions apply. United Airlines offers options for pet transportation, including allowing pets in the cabin or as checked baggage, subject to certain conditions and fees.

  • Can I pre-select seats on United Airlines from Zurich to San Francisco?

    Yes, you can pre-select seats on United Airlines when flying from Zurich to San Francisco. Seat selection is typically available during the booking process or can be done later through the Manage Reservations section on the United Airlines website. However, it's important to note that seat availability may vary depending on the fare class, ticket type, and the airline's policies.

  • Are there any visa requirements for U.S. citizens traveling from Zurich to San Francisco?

    Yes, U.S. citizens traveling from Zurich to San Francisco are required to have a valid U.S. passport. However, under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), U.S. citizens are eligible to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes without a visa for up to 90 days. However, they must obtain an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before they depart from Switzerland.

  • What are checked baggage limits for Delta Air Lines for flights from Zurich to San Francisco?

    For Delta Air Lines flights the luggage limits may vary based on the ticket type and cabin class. For checked baggage, the maximum weight allowed is 50 lbs per bag, with a maximum linear dimension of 60 in. You should always check the specific terms and conditions for the ticket type and cabin class when booking with Delta Air Lines.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Zurich to San Francisco?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Zurich to San Francisco was $424 for a one-way ticket and $784 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Zurich and San Francisco?

    A passport is required to fly from Zurich to San Francisco.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Zurich to San Francisco?

    SWISS, United Airlines, Lufthansa, and Air Canada offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Zurich to San Francisco flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Zurich to San Francisco?

    The Boeing 777-300ER is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Zurich to San Francisco flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Zurich to San Francisco?

    SkyTeam, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between Zurich and San Francisco, with SkyTeam being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Zurich to San Francisco?

    There are nonstop flights from Zurich to San Francisco on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Zurich to San Francisco, SWISS or United Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Zurich to San Francisco are SWISS and United Airlines. With an average price for the route of $822 and an overall rating of 7.5, SWISS is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $836 and an overall rating of 7.4.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Zurich to San Francisco?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Zurich to San Francisco.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Zurich to San Francisco?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San Francisco from Zurich is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Zurich to San Francisco?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to San Francisco with an airline and back to Zurich with another airline. Booking your flights between Zurich and SFO can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Zurich to San Francisco?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to San Francisco from Zurich up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

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

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $913 or less one-way and $904 or less round-trip.
  • Common layover options for American Airlines from Zurich to San Francisco include layovers at their major hub airports. One frequent option is a layover at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas. You can also have a layover at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) in Illinois.
  • Delta Air Lines offers a range of special meals for passengers on flights from Zurich to San Francisco. These include vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and kosher meals. Passengers with dietary restrictions or specific preferences can request these meals during the booking process or by contacting Delta Air Lines directly.
  • United Airlines offers a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system for passengers on flights from Zurich to San Francisco. The system includes individual seatback screens with a wide selection of movies, TV shows, and music to choose from. Passengers can enjoy the latest Hollywood releases, popular TV series, and a variety of music genres.
  • Delta Air Lines also offers a range of services to accommodate individuals with disabilities, including wheelchair assistance, priority boarding, and trained staff to provide support throughout the journey. Passengers with disabilities are encouraged to inform the airline in advance of their specific needs to ensure a smooth and comfortable travel experience.
  • United Airlines offers several upgrade options for flights from Zurich to San Francisco. Passengers can upgrade their seats to United Polaris business class, which provides a premium travel experience with enhanced comfort and amenities. Additionally, United Airlines offers Economy Plus seating, which provides extra legroom and priority boarding.

Prefer to fly direct from Zurich to San Francisco?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Zurich to San Francisco.
Find which airlines fly direct from Zurich Airport to San Francisco Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Zurich to San Francisco

Monday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Tuesday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Wednesday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Thursday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Friday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Saturday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Sunday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Francisco to Zurich

Monday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines,SWISS

United Airlines,SWISS

Wednesday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Thursday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Friday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Saturday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

Sunday

SWISS,United Airlines

SWISS,United Airlines

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 4 airlines serving from Zurich to San Francisco

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Zurich 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 Zurich 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.
7.5
SWISSOverall score based on 1924 reviews
6.8Entertainment
8.3Crew
7.4Comfort
7.1Food
7.7Boarding
Airline reviews

The seat and leg room is small on the 2 seated row. Otherwise, very good crew and service.

8.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Apr 2026
ZRH - ORD
Read more SWISS reviews

The seat and leg room is small on the 2 seated row. Otherwise, very good crew and service.

Entertainment sounds were not good. Otherwise everything else was good.

Business class seating in Swiss really is just Economy seating minus the middle passenger

No choice of food was given, and I was served leftovers, so they were returned back. the crew is unfriendly and harsh. Need to be trained on communication.

Great flight. I didn't watch the entertainment. I used my iPad the whole flight. But, staff was great, smooth flight, comfortable seat (business seat 7A) and food was really good (I'm a vegetarian).

The flight was very nice but the food selection for the people in the last rows was limited to vegetarian meals only. I think vegetarian meal should not be offered as a main selection.

Drinking water could be in more sustainable packaging than plastic bottles

They lost my luggage on December 30th. It is now January 3rd and i still don’t have it. I’ve called lost and found multiple times and they cannot provide an update. They keep saying one day and then it gets postponed again. This is ridiculous and unprofessional. It’s infringing on my vacation. I have stressed how important it is for me to have my suitcase right away. It should have been resolved within 1-2 days.

Made us gate check carry ons Then didn’t get them on the plane. Service they used didn’t deliver our carry ons for more than a day Total mess

0lane 2qs on tim3. Very bad food. No free wifi, only for texts. Entertainment poor and hard to access.

All went smoothly. That's what I want on a long flight.

I expected more, but they will nickel and dime you for everything. I did not enjoy flying with this airline.

Curious and efficient service ! First time flying with SAS and very pleased!

I wish they have given us explanations for the delays. And the rebooking process in Copenhagen was too long. I had to wait about 4 hours before they assign me a hotel. From there the handling process (accommodation, transportation and meal) was excellent.

Our trip plan from Kayak stated we were flying SAS. That was not true. The first leg was a Delta flight. We wasted 25 minutes before finding out to check in with the correct airline. Then our SAS flight for the second leg arrived 25 minutes late, and our third leg flight with SAS closed the gate knowing the flight delay was SAS’s fault, and that this flight would only be backed up 5 minutes. The final kicker was that between Delta and SAS, they lost all our checked luggage.

Since our earlier flight was delayed, we missed this flight and were rerouted on Lufthansa 2 days later.

Scandinavian Airlines is terrible. Flight was late. Lost luggage. Rude flight attendants. Terrible experience.

The flight was very cold, and the seats were rather uncomfortable. The food has been better on our other SAS experiences. Most significantly, the luggage with most of my wife's personal items and clothes didn't make the flight. Hoping for a quick resolution, but no real opportunity to speak with a Human has us concerned.

Ancient aircraft (busted armrests, poor cabin temperature with no option for passenger control). Garbage everywhere. Risible checking of safely conditions on landing. Also, late.

Feels like economy sits are getting smaller especially while eating food

Flew steerage class. Short on leg room unless you pay more. No window unless you pay more. Etc. United is trying to squeeze every cent from you. It doesn’t make for any loyalty.

Outstanding service, great food, friendly & efficient crew, safe & comfortable flight

Staff were not attentive, wifi did not work, cut my head in the bathroom due to the position of the soap on the sink, had blood running down my face, told staff, they had no expression no sympathy, didn't even say "sorry", they said "oh we will have a look at that" about 10 mins later the purser brought me a bandaid, still no sorry.... Shocking

The flight was delayed from take off because only one runway was operational in San Francisco.

Several missed and almost missed connections. It felt like everything was being patched together last minute without enough resources and it ended up being an extremely stressful experience that basically ruined our weekend on the west coast. What a waste.

Checking in united could not figure out my star alliance gold. Baggage did not get marked priority and didn't receive boarding passes. When got to SFO lounge personal fixed everything Immediately

Meals were poor and service rendered on return flight was mediocre as compared to the flight we took to Germany earlier where the attendants were more attentive, energetic, and mindful of passengers' needs. Thumbs up to crew of UA 58. Thumbs down to UA 59..

Flight left on time, arrived early, pleasant staff provided water, coffee, etc. access to bathrooms was reasonable and were well maintained. blankets were available, lots of entertainment options. LUGGAGE SERVICE WAS GREAT. I got my one checked bag quickly and was able to make a bus connection for a 2 hour bus ride saving me from waiting another 1.5 hours.

Wonderful in-seat entertainment with seatback screens and huge selection of quality movies. The ability to bluetooth connect headphones was amazing.

we did a return flight from Paris CDG to SFO. This trip was much better than the departing flight SFO to CDG. The food was better quality, the crew was nicer, and the interior of the plane seemed cleaner.

Flight was delayed by several hours and then cancelled due to weather. But Staff was very helpful getting me on a different flight. United should offer food coupons and tooth brush and paste for stranded passengers

Service was excellent. Flight was only about half full, which meant we had tons of room to stretch out. Boarding area was nice and well organized, flight attendants were super friendly and attentive and we loved the 3 snacks!

My flight was cancelled, but it was not Kayak's fault. Kayak did require me to pay for the ticket twice to two different venders who paid Lufthansa. Kayak/Lufthansa owes me for the first booking I made first was fraudulent on the part of the subcontracting ticket seller. There will be litigation over this issue under the current passenger protection laws.

flight was half full, plenty of empty seats, was able to lie down across 4 seats, food was good, arrived on time

Was never allowed on and not refunded the full amount of the ticket plus charged a $300 processing fee.

Terrible. Our flight was completely cancelled with no options to rebook until 4 days later.

Generally good. Not their fault but the design of the Boeing 747 had seating supports directly in line with my legs. So my legs always had to straddle this support which caused body misallignment. Such poor design from Boeing. There was no USB port for me to charge my phone. The screen touch control was very poor.

I like crew. They are friendly. The flight was delayed to take off for 1hr and that caused panic at Houston Airport to catch connecting flight due to security check delay. If it has reached on time I would have sufficient time in collecting bags and security check

How about changing the personal out to more friendly human beings? This team was pretty arrogant. No fun!!

Everything could have been better. What needed to be wrong with United went wrong

Everything you need to know for your flight from Zurich to San Francisco

Information on your arrival and departure airports