International route
Cheap flights from Shanghai to San Francisco
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). 6,137 miles, connecting flights only.
PVG to SFO at a glance
Computed from airline schedules and the fares we track for this route. Refreshed several times a day.
- Distance
- 6,137 milesgreat-circle
- Typical flight time
- 11h 40mif flown nonstop
- Nonstop airlines
- None (connecting only)
- Nonstop flights per day
- 0connections available
- Cheapest month
- January 2027over the next six months
- Best day to fly
- Wednesday19% less than Friday
- Time difference
- 15h behindSan Francisco vs Shanghai
Shanghai to San Francisco
Round trips from $450
Per traveler, taxes and fees included. Lowest fare we found departs Wed, Jan 6.
Cheapest month: January 2027
See fares on these datesLock any fare free — pay only when you accept your last-minute deal
Or ask an agent on WhatsAppShanghai to San Francisco fares by month
Lowest round-trip economy fare per traveler in each of the next six months, taxes and fees included. Select a month to search that date.
Airlines flying Shanghai to San Francisco
No nonstop service: 16 airlines offer one-stop itineraries.
- AMAeroméxicoSkyTeamConnecting via GDL · first checked bag from $40
- ASAlaska AirlinesoneworldConnecting via PDX, SAN · first checked bag from $35
- NHANA All Nippon AirwaysStar AllianceConnecting via HND, NRT · first checked bag included
- OZAsiana AirlinesStar AllianceConnecting via ICN · first checked bag included
- CXCathay PacificoneworldConnecting via HKG · first checked bag included
- CIChina AirlinesSkyTeamConnecting via TPE · first checked bag included
- DLDelta Air LinesSkyTeamConnecting via ATL, SEA, LAX · first checked bag from $35
- BREVA AirStar AllianceConnecting via TPE · first checked bag included
- JLJapan AirlinesoneworldConnecting via HND, NRT, KIX · first checked bag included
- B6JetBlueConnecting via LAX · first checked bag from $40
- KEKorean AirSkyTeamConnecting via ICN · first checked bag included
- PRPhilippine AirlinesConnecting via MNL · first checked bag included
- UAUnited AirlinesStar AllianceConnecting via ORD, IAH, LAX · first checked bag from $40
- VBVivaLow-costConnecting via MTY, GDL · first checked bag from $45
- Y4VolarisLow-costConnecting via GDL, TIJ · first checked bag from $45
- WSWestJetConnecting via YVR · first checked bag from $35
Connecting options
Hubs where one airline can carry you on both legs, most choices first.
- Los Angeles (LAX)DLUAB63 airlines
- Guadalajara (GDL)AMVBY43 airlines
- Tokyo (HND)JLNH2 airlines
- Tokyo (NRT)JLNH2 airlines
- Seoul (ICN)KEOZ2 airlines
Which airport should I use?
ShanghaiSan Francisco has 3 airports. Fares can differ by $50 to $150 round trip between them, so check the alternatives before you book.
Tips for this route
- There is no scheduled nonstop between PVG and SFO. Every itinerary connects, most often through LAX, GDL or HND, so sort results by total travel time rather than price alone.
- January 2027 is the cheapest month to fly over the next six months, with round trips from $450; September 2026 is the most expensive at $587 and up, a difference of $137 per traveler.
- Departing on a Wednesday averages 19% less than a Friday on this route. If your dates are flexible, shift the outbound by a day or two and check the calendar view before you book.
- Book 2 to 5 months ahead for the best fares; long-haul seats sell out earliest for summer and holiday travel.
- San Francisco is 15 hours behind Shanghai. A morning departure lands in San Francisco with most of the day left; an evening flight arrives close to local dinner time.
Destination guide
San Francisco: Fog, hills and the Golden Gate
San Francisco packs cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and world-class food into 49 square miles. SFO is the main gateway; Oakland and San Jose are handy alternatives with lower fares on many routes.
Best time to visit: September and October are the warmest, clearest months. Spring (April–May) is green and mild. Summer fog ('Karl') keeps the coast cool; winter is rainy but inexpensive.
Flying the other way? San Francisco to ShanghaiFares, airlines and tips for SFO to PVG.Ready to compare live fares?
See every airline on PVG–SFO side by side with bags and seat rules spelled out.
Search Shanghai to San FranciscoShanghai to San Francisco: common questions
How long is the flight from Shanghai to San Francisco?
There are no nonstop flights, so the trip from Shanghai (PVG) to San Francisco (SFO) takes 11h 40m of flying plus a layover, usually 14h 40m or more door to door across 6,137 miles.
Which airlines fly nonstop from PVG to SFO?
No airline currently flies nonstop between Shanghai (PVG) and San Francisco (SFO). The most common connections are through LAX, GDL and HND.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco?
Over the next six months, January 2027 has the lowest round-trip fares from Shanghai (PVG) to San Francisco (SFO), starting at $450 per traveler including taxes and fees. Within any month, Wednesday departures average the lowest prices.
How far in advance should I book Shanghai to San Francisco flights?
Book 2 to 5 months ahead for the best fares; long-haul seats sell out earliest for summer and holiday travel. Air1 Tickets includes free cancellation within 24 hours of booking on every fare, so you can lock in a good price and keep looking.
What is the time difference between Shanghai and San Francisco?
San Francisco is 15 hours behind Shanghai. PVG is on Asia/Shanghai time and SFO on America/Los Angeles time. Departure and arrival times in search results are always shown in local time at each airport.
Related routes
Other popular city pairs from the same departure city and to the same destination, with the lowest round-trip fares we found.
More flights from Shanghai
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All routes- New York to San FranciscoJFK → SFOfrom $239
- Chicago to San FranciscoORD → SFOfrom $159
- Los Angeles to San FranciscoLAX → SFOfrom $63
- Seattle to San FranciscoSEA → SFOfrom $80
- Honolulu to San FranciscoHNL → SFOfrom $243
- Vancouver to San FranciscoYVR → SFOfrom $107
- London to San FranciscoLHR → SFOfrom $513
- Paris to San FranciscoCDG → SFOfrom $508