International route
Cheap flights from Zurich to San Francisco
Zurich Airport (ZRH) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). 5,826 miles, 11h 55m nonstop.
ZRH to SFO at a glance
Computed from airline schedules and the fares we track for this route. Refreshed several times a day.
- Distance
- 5,826 milesgreat-circle
- Typical flight time
- 11h 55mnonstop, gate to gate
- Nonstop airlines
- UAAS2 airlinesUnited, Alaska
- Nonstop flights per day
- 2all airlines combined
- Cheapest month
- January 2027over the next six months
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday20% less than Sunday
- Time difference
- 9h behindSan Francisco vs Zurich
Zurich to San Francisco
Round trips from $389
Per traveler, taxes and fees included. Lowest fare we found departs Tue, Jan 26.
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 WhatsAppZurich 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 Zurich to San Francisco
2 airlines fly nonstop with 2 departures a day combined, plus 21 more with one stop.
- ASAlaska AirlinesoneworldNonstop · 1 flight a day · first checked bag from $35
- UAUnited AirlinesStar AllianceNonstop · 1 flight a day · first checked bag from $40
- EIAer LingusConnecting via DUB, SNN · first checked bag from $70
- AMAeroméxicoSkyTeamConnecting via MTY, GDL · first checked bag from $40
- ACAir CanadaStar AllianceConnecting via YYZ, YVR, YUL · first checked bag from $35
- AFAir FranceSkyTeamConnecting via CDG, ORY · first checked bag from $75
- AAAmerican AirlinesoneworldConnecting via DFW, ORD, PHX, LAX, DCA, JFK · first checked bag from $40
- AVAviancaStar AllianceConnecting via MDE · first checked bag from $45
- BABritish AirwaysoneworldConnecting via LHR, LGW · first checked bag from $75
- DLDelta Air LinesSkyTeamConnecting via ATL, MSP, DTW, SEA, JFK, BOS · first checked bag from $35
- AYFinnaironeworldConnecting via HEL · first checked bag from $70
- AZITA AirwaysConnecting via FCO, MXP · first checked bag from $70
- B6JetBlueConnecting via FLL, SJU · first checked bag from $40
- KLKLM Royal Dutch AirlinesSkyTeamConnecting via AMS · first checked bag from $75
- LHLufthansaStar AllianceConnecting via FRA, MUC · first checked bag from $75
- NONorse Atlantic AirwaysLow-costConnecting via LGW, OSL · first checked bag from $80
- SKSAS Scandinavian AirlinesSkyTeamConnecting via CPH, ARN, OSL · first checked bag from $70
- LXSWISSStar AllianceConnecting via GVA · first checked bag from $75
- TPTAP Air PortugalStar AllianceConnecting via LIS · first checked bag from $70
- TKTurkish AirlinesStar AllianceConnecting via IST · first checked bag from $70
- VSVirgin AtlanticSkyTeamConnecting via LHR, MAN · first checked bag from $75
- VBVivaLow-costConnecting via MTY, MEX · first checked bag from $45
- Y4VolarisLow-costConnecting via GDL, MEX · first checked bag from $45
Connecting options
Hubs where one airline can carry you on both legs, most choices first.
- New York (JFK)AADL2 airlines
- Monterrey (MTY)AMVB2 airlines
- Guadalajara (GDL)AMY42 airlines
- Mexico City (MEX)VBY42 airlines
- London (LHR)BAVS2 airlines
Which airport should I use?
ZurichSan 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
- Only United and Alaska fly this route nonstop, which keeps nonstop fares firm. A one-stop itinerary through JFK or MTY is usually cheaper if you can spare the extra three to five hours.
- January 2027 is the cheapest month to fly over the next six months, with round trips from $389; September 2026 is the most expensive at $497 and up, a difference of $108 per traveler.
- Departing on a Tuesday averages 20% less than a Sunday 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 9 hours behind Zurich. 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 ZurichFares, airlines and tips for SFO to ZRH.Ready to compare live fares?
See every airline on ZRH–SFO side by side with bags and seat rules spelled out.
Search Zurich to San FranciscoZurich to San Francisco: common questions
How long is the flight from Zurich to San Francisco?
A nonstop flight from Zurich (ZRH) to San Francisco (SFO) takes about 11h 55m gate to gate, covering 5,826 miles. Connecting itineraries add the layover, typically 2 to 5 hours more in total.
Which airlines fly nonstop from ZRH to SFO?
United Airlines and Alaska Airlines operate nonstop flights from Zurich (ZRH) to San Francisco (SFO), with 2 nonstop departures a day between them. One-stop options connect through JFK, MTY and GDL.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Zurich to San Francisco?
Over the next six months, January 2027 has the lowest round-trip fares from Zurich (ZRH) to San Francisco (SFO), starting at $389 per traveler including taxes and fees. Within any month, Tuesday departures average the lowest prices.
How far in advance should I book Zurich 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 Zurich and San Francisco?
San Francisco is 9 hours behind Zurich. ZRH is on Europe/Zurich 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 Zurich
All routesMore flights to San Francisco
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