Cheap Flights
to San Francisco

Cheap flights to San Francisco with Southwest Airlines, Virgin America, SkyWest, JetBlue and other airlines from Los Angeles, San Diego, and Seattle.

San Francisco International Airport

Cheap flights to San Francisco should be available on some of the many domestic and international airlines which serve San Francisco International Airport. It's a major west coast hub, like Los Angeles.

For anyone planning to drive the Pacific Coast Highway, a cheap flight to San Francisco is a good starting point, if you can get one. Low-cost airlines flying to San Francisco include Southwest Airlines, SkyWest, Virgin America, and JetBlue.

Just a few of the many major international carriers are Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas, and Virgin Atlantic. Major US airlines flying into San Francisco include American Airlines, Continental, Delta, United Airlines, and US Airways.

CityPASS San Francisco

If you're going to be spending any time in San Francisco then we really recommend doing what we did, and getting a San Francisco CityPASS. Not only does it get you into some of the top attractions like the California Academy of Sciences and the Aquarium of the Bay, it also includes a 7-day Cable Car and Muni Bus Passport and a free cruise in San Francisco Bay. We definitely got full use of ours!

San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco airport (code: SFO; tel: 800/435-9736 or 650/821-8211; website: http://www.flysfo.com) is ideally located for driving south down the Pacific Coast Highway. It's right on Highway 101, near the junction with Highway 380, about 13 miles south of the city center.

Rather than take 101, though, we recommend taking 380 then 280 North, then take Exit 47 onto CA-1 South, cutting across to the coast to start your Pacific Coast Highway drive that way. It should only be a 15-20 minute drive and you'll be seeing the ocean, and there are plenty of car rental places at the airport if you want to collect a hire car there.

Our Pick of the Guides

Cheap Flights to San Francisco: International

Many international airlines use San Francisco International, which increases the chance of finding a budget flight bargain. In addition to the airlines mentioned above, some of the other international carriers are Air Berlin, Singapore Airlines, the Central American airline TACA, Swiss International Air Lines, Philippine Airlines, Aeroméxico, Mexicana, LAN Peru, Korean Air, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Emirates, EVA Air, Cathay Pacific, and Asiana Airlines.

Don't miss our page on San Francisco Airport Hotels!

Cheap Flights Canada-San Francisco

As well as Air Canada, there are seasonal low-cost flights on WestJet to San Francisco from Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver.

Cheap Flights to San Francisco: Domestic

Some of the best options for cheap flights within the USA will be with Southwest Airlines, who fly to San Francisco from Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Phoenix, and San Diego.

Other budget air fares may be available through the following airlines, though some routes only operate seasonally:
AirTran Airways, who fly to San Francisco from Atlanta and Milwaukee.
Alaska Airlines, flying not only from Anchorage but also Palm Springs, Puerto Vallarta, San José del Cabo, and Seattle.
Frontier Airlines, from Denver and Milwaukee to San Francisco.
Hawaiian Airlines, between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Horizon Air, linking San Francisco with Portland, Oregon.
JetBlue Airways, from San Francisco to Austin, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Long Beach, and New York.
Sun Country Airlines, seasonally from San Francisco to Minneapolis/St. Paul.
United Express, serving numerous US destinations.
Virgin America, flying to Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Orange County, San Diego, Seattle, and Washington-Dulles.

Flying San Francisco-Los Angeles

If you want to drive the Pacific Coast Highway in one direction to or from Los Angeles and fly back, then cheap flight options include Southwest Airlines, who fly to both Los Angeles and John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Virgin America, and JetBlue, who fly San Francisco-Long Beach. Other airlines flying the route and who might be worth checking for special offers are American Airlines and United.

For more information visit our Cheap Flights to Los Angeles page.

Our Pick of the LA Guides

Flying San Francisco-San Diego

Southwest Airlines, Virgin America, and United all fly between San Diego and San Francisco.

Also check our Cheap Flights to San Diego page.

Our Pick of San Diego Guides

Flying San Francisco-Seattle

Alaska Airlines has flights between San Francisco and Seattle, and so does Virgin America. United Airlines also fly this route and could be worth checking for any cheap flights to San Francisco that they might have on special offer.

Our Pick of the Guides

Other San Francisco pages

Visiting the Golden Gate Bridge
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to visiting the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco including how to get there and free walking tours of the bridge.
Best Time to Visit San Francisco
Pacific Coast Highway Travel’s advice on the best time to visit San Francisco, covering the weather and climate from month to month and season by season.
Touring Alcatraz
Touring Alcatraz, the former island prison, is one of the best things to do in San Francisco and attracts over 1.5 million visitors a year.
Best Romantic Hotels in San Francisco
Pacific Coast Highway Travel brings you the best romantic hotels in San Francisco, many with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and in the heart of the city.
Best Nightlife in San Francisco at the California Academy of Sciences
The Best Nightlife in San Francisco could be at the California Academy of Sciences where once a week it becomes a temporary nightclub.
San Francisco Best Chinatown Restaurants
San Francisco has some of the best Chinatown restaurants in the USA, and its Chinese restaurants provide superb dining. Here are our top eating places.
Perfect Day in San Francisco
A perfect day in San Francisco would include Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, and the California Academy of Sciences.
San Francisco
Information about San Francisco, including what to see, where to stay, where to eat, and links to sources of information including the official visitor website.
San Francisco Sightseeing Tours
San Francisco sightseeing tours can be by helicopter, bike, walking, eating in Chinatown, touring the gay area or trips to the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.
Free San Francisco Kindle Guide to Free Attractions
101 free San Francisco attractions and things to do are in the Kindle guide, 101 Free Things to Do in San Francisco, in the Travel Free eGuidebooks series.
Alcatraz Famous Inmates
Pacific Coast Highway dishes the dirt on Alcatraz's famous inmates, like the infamous Al Capone and the well-known Birdman, who never kept birds at Alcatraz!
Best Museums in San Francisco
The best museums in San Francisco include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, California Academy of Sciences, de Young Museum and Exploratorium.
Best Golf Courses in San Francisco
The Pacific Coast Highway Travel guide to the best golf courses in San Francisco for all budgets and skill levels, including courses close to the city center.
Ten Reasons to Visit San Francisco's Chinatown
Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks ten reasons to visit San Francisco's Chinatown ranging from food and fortune cookies to historic landmarks and shopping.
San Francisco Airport Hotels
San Francisco Airport hotels include a Grand Hyatt, La Quinta, Westin, Marriott, Super 8 and bayfront hotels ranging from budget to 5-star luxury.
Photos of the Golden Gate Bridge
A selection of the best Photos of the Golden Gate Bridge on the Pacific Coast Highway Travel website, for travel and photographic inspiration.
Visiting Golden Gate Park
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's advice on visiting Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and seeing its museums, gardens, lakes, buildings, and even bison!
Ten San Francisco Dishes and Drinks
Before you go it helps to know what to eat in San Francisco and so here's our list of ten San Francisco dishes and drinks that you have to try.
Ten Best Things to Do in San Francisco
Pacific Coast Highway Travel lists the ten best things to do in San Francisco, including Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, and Fisherman's Wharf.
Your Insider's Guide to San Francisco
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's book review of Insider's Guide to San Francisco guidebook by Jill Loeffler, publisher of the San Francisco Tourism Tips website.
San Francisco Music Tour on the Magic Bus to Haight-Ashbury
Take a San Francisco Music Tour with Magic Bus, a trip through the musical past to Haight-Ashbury, the City Lights Bookstore and the Summer of Love.