San Francisco

$391+ Cheap flights from Shanghai, China to San Francisco (SFO)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 5/9. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SHA — SFO
Apr 6 — Apr 131
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Shanghai to San Francisco are usually found in February or December, booked 73 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Friday and return on a Monday

Cheap flight deals from Shanghai to San Francisco

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Shanghai (CN2) to San Francisco (SFO). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated April 1, 2025.

Round-trip from

$752
(China Southern)

One-way from

$391
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

January

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$1,053
From Shanghai to San Francisco
One-way flight from Shanghai to San Francisco
High demand for flights, 6% potential price rise
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($39 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in April 2025

Find flight deals from Shanghai to San Francisco

Cheapest flights from Shanghai to San Francisco
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Shanghai to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on April 1, 2025.

This China Southern deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/31. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure China Southern is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 6/610:00 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop37h 40mChina Southern
Thu 8/2812:35 amSFO - PVG
1 stop18h 25mChina Southern
Deal found 3/31$752
This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/1. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure oojo is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 4/164:00 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop19h 50mPhilippine Airlines
Wed 9/1711:55 pmSFO - PVG
1 stop23h 35mPhilippine Airlines
Deal found 4/1$753
This Cathay Pacific deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/31. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cathay Pacific is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 4/11:20 pmSHA - SFO
1 stop19h 10mCathay Pacific
Tue 4/2912:20 amSFO - SHA
1 stop20h 45mCathay Pacific
Deal found 3/31$756
This Cathay Pacific deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/31. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cathay Pacific is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 5/297:05 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop18h 35mCathay Pacific
Sun 7/2012:05 amSFO - PVG
1 stop21h 05mCathay Pacific
Deal found 3/31$756
This Air China deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/1. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Air China is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 5/296:50 pmPVG - SFO
2 stops45h 08mMultiple Airlines
Mon 7/2111:05 pmSFO - PVG
2 stops44h 10mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 4/1$804
This Air China deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/31. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Air China is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 4/511:30 amSHA - SFO
2 stops28h 52mMultiple Airlines
Mon 4/216:25 pmSFO - SHA
2 stops24h 35mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 3/31$819
This Viajes Éxito deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/31. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Viajes Éxito is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 6/611:50 amSHA - SFO
2 stops27h 02mChina Southern
Thu 8/2812:35 amSFO - SHA
1 stop25h 50mChina Southern
Deal found 3/31$858
This Gurufare deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/1. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Gurufare is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 10/1311:10 amPVG - SFO
1 stop14h 30mKorean Air
Sun 10/1912:50 pmSFO - PVG
1 stop29h 50mKorean Air
Deal found 4/1$868
This Asiana Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/1. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Asiana Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 10/1511:35 amPVG - SFO
1 stop18h 55mAsiana Airlines
Wed 10/1511:30 pmSFO - PVG
1 stop19h 35mAsiana Airlines
Deal found 4/1$870
This Korean Air deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/31. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Korean Air is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 11/206:25 pmSHA - SFO
1 stop31h 05mKorean Air
Sat 1/2411:40 amSFO - SHA
1 stop37h 30mKorean Air
Deal found 3/31$880
This Justfly.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/31. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Justfly.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 5/121:35 amPVG - SFO
1 stop30h 00mANA
Mon 8/111:45 amSFO - PVG
1 stop27h 55mANA
Deal found 3/31$907
This Air Canada deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/1. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Air Canada is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 10/113:55 pmPVG - SFO
2 stops35h 43mAir Canada
Sun 10/191:30 pmSFO - PVG
1 stop33h 35mAir Canada
Deal found 4/1$983

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Customize your flight search to find flights from Shanghai to San Francisco that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated April 1, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Shanghai to San Francisco that are best for you.

Fly from

Shanghai

Fly to

San Francisco

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Fri 6/6

10:00 pm-8:40 pm

1 stop37h 40m

San Francisco

Thu 8/28

12:35 am-10:00 am

1 stop18h 25m

$752

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Wed 4/16

4:00 pm-8:50 pm

1 stop19h 50m

San Francisco

Wed 9/17

11:55 pm-2:30 pm

1 stop23h 35m

$753

ShanghaiSan Francisco

SHA - SFO

SHASFO

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Fri 6/6

4:50 pm-10:55 pm

1 stop21h 05m

San Francisco

Thu 8/28

12:05 am-12:05 pm

1 stop21h 00m

$756

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Thu 5/29

7:05 pm-10:40 pm

1 stop18h 35m

San Francisco

Sun 7/20

12:05 am-12:10 pm

1 stop21h 05m

$756

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Thu 5/29

6:50 pm-12:58 am

2 stops45h 08m

San Francisco

Mon 7/21

11:05 pm-10:15 am

2 stops44h 10m

$804

ShanghaiSan Francisco

SHA - SFO

SHASFO

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Fri 6/6

11:50 am-11:52 pm

2 stops27h 02m

San Francisco

Thu 8/28

12:35 am-5:25 pm

1 stop25h 50m

$858

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Tue 4/15

1:40 pm-10:40 am

1 stop36h 00m

San Francisco

Sun 9/14

12:50 pm-12:25 pm

1 stop32h 35m

$870

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Mon 5/12

1:35 am-4:35 pm

1 stop30h 00m

San Francisco

Mon 8/11

1:45 am-8:40 pm

1 stop27h 55m

$907

ShanghaiSan Francisco

SHA - SFO

SHASFO

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Wed 5/21

9:50 pm-8:30 pm

2 stops37h 40m

San Francisco

Wed 11/19

11:40 am-5:10 pm

1 stop37h 30m

$966

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Tue 5/20

8:35 am-3:30 pm

1 stop21h 55m

San Francisco

Thu 11/20

11:30 pm-3:00 pm

1 stop23h 30m

$975

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 3/31

Showing 1-10 of 35 results
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The best insider tips for Shanghai to San Francisco flights

Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of Cheapflights-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.
Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your Shanghai to San Francisco trip
Airports
PVG

Allow 2.5 hours for check-in and security at PVG, especially for international departures, to avoid delays.

Read more about PVGby Joe Minihane
SFO

Use BART for a cost-effective 40-minute trip from SFO to downtown San Francisco.

Read more about SFOby Harriet Baskas
Our travel experts
Joe Minihane

Joe Minihane

Expert on PVG

Joe Minihane

Joe Minihane

Joe has been obsessed with travel and flying ever since he was a child. He's a freelance travel journalist and author, and his work has appeared in The Times, Guardian and CNN. As a Europe obsessive, he has stayed in Zurich on a swimming adventure around the city, used Geneva as a base for Alpine adventures and spent time in Copenhagen soaking up the world class culture and cuisine, all the while exploring the best hotels these cities have to offer.

Read more
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on SFO

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

Best time to book a flight from Shanghai to San Francisco

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Francisco from Shanghai with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Shanghai to San Francisco

How far ahead should I book a flight from Shanghai to San Francisco?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Shanghai to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on March 28, 2025.

Booking 73 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Shanghai to San Francisco. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Shanghai to San Francisco?

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Shanghai to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Shanghai to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $393). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from PVG to SFO?

Find hourly flight availability from Shanghai to San Francisco. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated April 1, 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from Shanghai to San Francisco at noon. Doing so could potentially save you 24% on the flight price compared to flying in the morning, which is usually more expensive.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Shanghai to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on December 16, 2024.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Shanghai to San Francisco flight should consider departing on Thursday at noon when fares are most often at their lowest. Monday mornings flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Weekly flight availability from Shanghai to San Francisco

Explore weekly flight availability from Shanghai to San Francisco. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated April 1, 2025.

The most flights from CN2 to SFO are scheduled on a Monday (3 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (2 on average).

Rainfall in San Francisco by month

Plan your trip to San Francisco by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in San Francisco ranges from 0.0 - 4.4 inches per month. January is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 4.4 in. July is typically the driest time to visit San Francisco when rainfall is around 0.0 in.

Temperature in San Francisco by month

Plan your trip to San Francisco by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to San Francisco, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, September is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 62.6 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 51.8 F).

Reviews of airlines servicing San Francisco

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Francisco. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to San Francisco. Reviews last updated April 1, 2025.
To help decide which airline to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco, see what other customers have to say about EVA Air, Korean Air and Japan Airlines. Users can see the overall rating for each airline as well as how each is rated in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Comfort

8.3

Food

8.1

Entertainment

8.0

Boarding

8.4

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,Feb 2025

SFO - TPE

Inside plane was clean and chair was comfortable, but flight attendants serving coffee without giving me cream and sugar, even I ask he escape my request.

Comfort

8.3

Food

8.1

Entertainment

8.0

Boarding

8.4

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,Feb 2025

SFO - TPE

Inside plane was clean and chair was comfortable, but flight attendants serving coffee without giving me cream and sugar, even I ask he escape my request.

Comfort

8.3

Food

8.1

Entertainment

8.0

Boarding

8.4

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,Feb 2025

SFO - TPE

Inside plane was clean and chair was comfortable, but flight attendants serving coffee without giving me cream and sugar, even I ask he escape my request.

Comfort

8.3

Food

8.1

Entertainment

8.0

Boarding

8.4

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,Feb 2025

SFO - TPE

Inside plane was clean and chair was comfortable, but flight attendants serving coffee without giving me cream and sugar, even I ask he escape my request.
8.3
Very good

Comfort

8.3

Food

8.1

Entertainment

8.0

Boarding

8.4

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,Feb 2025

SFO - TPE

Inside plane was clean and chair was comfortable, but flight attendants serving coffee without giving me cream and sugar, even I ask he escape my request.

Comfort

8.3

Food

8.1

Entertainment

8.0

Boarding

8.4

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,Feb 2025

SFO - TPE

Inside plane was clean and chair was comfortable, but flight attendants serving coffee without giving me cream and sugar, even I ask he escape my request.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Shanghai to San Francisco. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.
  • What airport do you fly into for flights to San Francisco from Shanghai?

    For a flight from Shanghai to San Francisco, you will be flying into San Francisco. San Francisco (SFO) is just 11.8 mi from the center of the city. San Francisco is the only San Francisco airport and it handles 2 inbound flights from Shanghai per day. 10 airlines have flights to San Francisco from Shanghai on a regular basis.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Shanghai to San Francisco round-trip?

    China Southern, at $752, was found to be the cheapest airline from Shanghai to San Francisco.Alternate airlines to your destination round-trip include Philippine Airlines and Cathay Pacific. These flights start at 35% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco one-way?

    $419 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from China Southern. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Cathay Pacific and Air China, with prices starting from $441 and $444, respectively.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Shanghai to San Francisco?

    Before booking your flight to San Francisco from Shanghai, check out the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time: United Airlines (87%), Air China (87%), China Eastern( 69%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Shanghai to San Francisco?

    Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $456. While the most popular route (Shanghai Hongqiao Intl - San Francisco) can be booked for $756 on average our data indicates $1,686 when flying from Shanghai to San Francisco.

  • Where are the most common layover locations when flying from Shanghai to San Francisco?

  • What are some popular things to do or see while on a layover in Seoul?

    Seoul travelers tend to visit Dongdaemun Market, Myeongdong Cathedral, and Bukchon Hanok Village more than anywhere else. Travelers on a layover in Seoul can visit Dongdaemun Market, Myeongdong Cathedral, and Bukchon Hanok Village, by traveling 31.6 mi, 30.4 mi, and 30.6 mi, respectively after landing at Incheon Intl. Those looking to explore during their layover in Seoul can rent a car from Incheon Intl for about $51 per day.

  • What are some popular points of interest to see during a layover in Tokyo?

    The majority of Tokyo visitors spend their time at Akihabara Electric Town, Tsukiji Outer Market, and Tokyo Tower. Akihabara Electric Town, Tsukiji Outer Market and Tokyo Tower are located about 10.3 mi, 7.9 mi, and 7.9 mi, respectively from Tokyo Haneda if you are interested in checking them out. Those looking to explore during their layover in Tokyo can rent a car from Tokyo Haneda for about $66 per day.

  • Where are the least popular layover locations for Shanghai to San Francisco flights?

  • Can I find deals for flights from Shanghai to San Francisco that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Shanghai to San Francisco flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Shanghai to San Francisco.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Shanghai to San Francisco?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Shanghai to San Francisco by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Shanghai to San Francisco?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Shanghai to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Shanghai to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $393). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near Shanghai?

Book flights to Shanghai if you plan to visit one of these locations
Roseville
Mountain View
Santa Cruz
Turlock
Fairfield
South San Francisco
Manteca
Sausalito
Richmond
Watsonville
Hollister
Milpitas
Antioch
Hayward
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Newark
Alameda
Sunnyvale
Campbell
Daly City

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Top 10 airlines flying from Shanghai to San Francisco

Discover the top 10 airlines that operate flights from Shanghai to San Francisco. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated April 1, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Philippine AirlinesCheapest$651Average$771FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time60%
China SouthernCheapest$652Average$888FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
Asiana AirlinesCheapest$751Average$976FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time76%
Cathay PacificCheapest$751Average$1,037FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time72%
Korean AirCheapest$765Average$1,024FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time81%
Air ChinaCheapest$857Average$1,086FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time67%
Japan AirlinesCheapest$930Average$1,419FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time79%
ANACheapest$993Average$1,122FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
United AirlinesCheapest$1,026Average$1,514FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
China EasternCheapest$1,306Average$1,611FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%

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