HomeSearch by dateVacation packagesHotelsFlight dealsCar rentalTravel tips & news
Cape Town

$550+ Cheap flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Cape Town (CPT)

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 11/15. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — CPT
Aug 19 — Aug 261
Tue 8/19
Tue 8/26
1 adult, Economy
We work with more than 300 partners to bring you better travel deals

Find cheap flights from San Francisco to Cape Town with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go

Enter your travel information like dates, passengers, trip type (one-way or round trip), and preferred cabin class then click “Find deals”

2. Select your favorite providers

We find the providers serving your travel needs. Choose up to four travel providers to compare side-by-side for flights, hotels, or car rentals.

3. Compare prices and book

Review each provider’s pricing and select the best option for you! Book through your favorite provider’s website for a seamless experience.

Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San Francisco to Cape Town Intl are usually found in March or February, booked 68 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Sunday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Cape Town

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from San Francisco (SFO) to Cape Town (CPT). 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 August 14, 2025.

Round-trip from

$976
(oojo)

One-way from

$550
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

July

Cheapest in

March

Average price

$1,779
From San Francisco to Cape Town Intl
Search Deals
One-way flight from San Francisco to Cape Town Intl
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 16% potential increase in price ($303 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($39 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in August 2025
Search Deals

Find flight deals from San Francisco to Cape Town

Cheapest flights from San Francisco to Cape Town
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Cape Town. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on August 14, 2025.

This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/14. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 9/2012:40 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop38h 10mTurkish Airlines
Thu 10/24:35 pmCPT - SFO
1 stop27h 00mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 8/14$986
This CrystalTravel deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/11. 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 CrystalTravel is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 11/126:50 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop31h 00mTurkish Airlines
Wed 11/265:15 pmCPT - SFO
1 stop27h 50mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 8/11$996
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/13. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 11/21:10 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop36h 40mTurkish Airlines
Fri 11/215:15 pmCPT - SFO
1 stop33h 30mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 8/13$1,047
This Gurufare deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/11. 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.
Tue 11/46:50 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop31h 00mTurkish Airlines
Fri 11/145:15 pmCPT - SFO
1 stop27h 50mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 8/11$1,048
This Turkish Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/11. 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 Turkish Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 9/1512:40 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop38h 10mTurkish Airlines
Mon 12/85:15 pmCPT - SFO
1 stop27h 50mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 8/11$1,058
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/12. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 11/106:50 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop31h 00mTurkish Airlines
Mon 11/245:15 pmCPT - SFO
1 stop33h 30mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 8/12$1,066
This Turkish Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/14. 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 Turkish Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 11/126:50 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop31h 00mTurkish Airlines
Mon 11/245:15 pmCPT - SFO
1 stop33h 30mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 8/14$1,083
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/14. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 10/2212:40 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop38h 10mTurkish Airlines
Fri 10/315:15 pmCPT - SFO
1 stop27h 50mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 8/14$1,095
This Turkish Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/14. 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 Turkish Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 11/166:50 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop31h 00mTurkish Airlines
Mon 11/245:15 pmCPT - SFO
1 stop33h 30mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 8/14$1,103
This Justfly.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/14. 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.
Sun 11/21:10 pmSFO - CPT
1 stop36h 40mMultiple Airlines
Fri 11/212:00 pmCPT - SFO
2 stops31h 05mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 8/14$1,104

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from San Francisco to Cape Town 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 August 14, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Francisco to Cape Town that are best for you.

Fly from

San Francisco

Fly to

Cape Town

Route

Depart

Return

Price

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Sat 9/20

12:40 pm-11:50 am

1 stop38h 10m

Cape Town Intl

Thu 10/2

4:35 pm-10:35 am

1 stop27h 00m

$986

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Wed 11/12

6:50 pm-11:50 am

1 stop31h 00m

Cape Town Intl

Wed 11/26

5:15 pm-11:05 am

1 stop27h 50m

$996

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Sun 11/2

1:10 pm-11:50 am

1 stop36h 40m

Cape Town Intl

Fri 11/21

5:15 pm-4:45 pm

1 stop33h 30m

$1,047

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Tue 11/4

6:50 pm-11:50 am

1 stop31h 00m

Cape Town Intl

Fri 11/14

5:15 pm-11:05 am

1 stop27h 50m

$1,048

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Mon 9/15

12:40 pm-11:50 am

1 stop38h 10m

Cape Town Intl

Mon 12/8

5:15 pm-11:05 am

1 stop27h 50m

$1,058

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Mon 11/10

6:50 pm-11:50 am

1 stop31h 00m

Cape Town Intl

Mon 11/24

5:15 pm-4:45 pm

1 stop33h 30m

$1,066

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Wed 11/12

6:50 pm-11:50 am

1 stop31h 00m

Cape Town Intl

Mon 11/24

5:15 pm-4:45 pm

1 stop33h 30m

$1,083

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Wed 10/22

12:40 pm-11:50 am

1 stop38h 10m

Cape Town Intl

Fri 10/31

5:15 pm-12:05 pm

1 stop27h 50m

$1,095

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Tue 11/11

6:50 pm-11:50 am

1 stop31h 00m

Cape Town Intl

Tue 11/25

5:15 pm-4:45 pm

1 stop33h 30m

$1,104

San FranciscoCape Town

SFO - CPT

SFOCPT

San Francisco

Tue 11/4

10:15 am-10:00 am

3 stops37h 45m

$658

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 8/13

Showing 1-10 of 15 results
1
2

Best time to book a flight from San Francisco to Cape Town

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Cape Town from San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Cape Town

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from San Francisco to Cape Town. Price data was last updated on August 8, 2025.

The best time to book flights from San Francisco to Cape Town is 36 days before your desired departure date. The cost of your flight will likely increase significantly if you book two weeks in advance of your flight.

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

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Cape Town (average of $1,292). Flying from San Francisco to Cape Town in December is currently the most expensive (average of $1,830). 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 SFO to CPT?

Find hourly flight availability from San Francisco to Cape Town. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated August 14, 2025.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from San Francisco to Cape Town in the afternoon. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 21% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the morning.

What is the cheapest day to fly from San Francisco to Cape Town?

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

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their San Francisco to Cape Town flight should consider departing on Wednesday afternoons when fares are most often at their lowest. Friday mornings flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

What’s the top layover airport for flights from San Francisco to Cape Town?

Share of 1-stop round-trip flights from San Francisco to Cape Town chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, using the same layover each way.

Istanbul (IST) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 63% of 1-stop itineraries from San Francisco to Cape Town on Cheapflights.

What’s the cheapest layover airport for flights from San Francisco to Cape Town?

Average round-trip fare for 1-stop flights from San Francisco to Cape Town, chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, with the same layover each way.

Doha (DOH) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $1,121.

What’s the fastest layover option from San Francisco to Cape Town?

Shortest average travel time for 1-stop one-way flights from San Francisco to Cape Town, based on itineraries clicked by Cheapflights users over the past 12 months, grouped by layover airport.

Flights via Doha (DOH) have the shortest average one-way travel time for 1-stop routes: 33h 43m.

Which airport typically offers the quickest layover for flights from San Francisco to Cape Town?

Average layover duration for 1-stop one-way flights from San Francisco to Cape Town, chosen by Cheapflights users in the last 12 months, grouped by stopover airport.

Flights via Istanbul (IST) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average layover time of 7h 24m.

Reviews of airlines servicing Cape Town

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Cape Town. 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 Cape Town. Reviews last updated August 14, 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Delta, Qatar Airways, and United Airlines from San Francisco to Cape Town to help guide your decision. You can also see how each airline stacks up in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,980 reviews

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Aaron,Oct 2024

LAX - LHR

This was a flight operated by Virgin Atlantic in their Upper Class cabin. Overall, an outstanding experience.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,980 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,980 reviews

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Aaron,Oct 2024

LAX - LHR

This was a flight operated by Virgin Atlantic in their Upper Class cabin. Overall, an outstanding experience.
Qatar Airways
7.4
Good
3,608 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,980 reviews

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Aaron,Oct 2024

LAX - LHR

This was a flight operated by Virgin Atlantic in their Upper Class cabin. Overall, an outstanding experience.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,916 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,980 reviews

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Aaron,Oct 2024

LAX - LHR

This was a flight operated by Virgin Atlantic in their Upper Class cabin. Overall, an outstanding experience.
Turkish Airlines
7.3
Good
3,940 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,980 reviews

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Aaron,Oct 2024

LAX - LHR

This was a flight operated by Virgin Atlantic in their Upper Class cabin. Overall, an outstanding experience.
British Airways
6.7
Okay
7,266 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,980 reviews

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Aaron,Oct 2024

LAX - LHR

This was a flight operated by Virgin Atlantic in their Upper Class cabin. Overall, an outstanding experience.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from San Francisco to Cape Town. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

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

    Our cheapest airline available from San Francisco to Cape Town is Turkish Airlines. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $956 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are British Airways and Qatar Airways, starting at $989 and $1,043 round-trip. Turkish Airlines is priced at 39% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.

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

    San Francisco to Cape Town flights have a layover in London most often. Istanbul sees the second most layovers for non-direct flights flying from San Francisco to Cape Town.

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

    London travelers tend to visit Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, and Piccadilly Circus more than anywhere else. Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, and Piccadilly Circus are located about 12.5 mi, 13.7 mi, and 14.1 mi, respectively from London Heathrow. Those on a layover in London in need of a rental car can book one at London Heathrow for about $48.

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

    The majority of Istanbul visitors spend their time at Taksim Square, Beyazit Meydani, and Sultan Ahmet Camii. Taksim Square, Beyazit Meydani, and Sultan Ahmet Camii can be accessed by traveling approximately 20.8 mi, 21.7 mi, and 22.3 mi, respectively from Istanbul. Those looking to explore during their layover in Istanbul can rent a car from Istanbul for about $51 per day.

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

    The least popular layover on flights from San Francisco to Cape Town is Washington, D.C..

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San Francisco to Cape Town 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 San Francisco to Cape Town?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Cape Town (average of $1,292). Flying from San Francisco to Cape Town in December is currently the most expensive (average of $1,830). 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 Cape Town?

Book flights to Cape Town if you plan to visit one of these locations
Stellenbosch
Gordon's Bay
Hermanus
Wellington
Somerset West
Simon's Town

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Alternative routes for San Francisco to Cape Town

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
Los Angeles to Sun City Resort flights
Los Angeles to OR Tambo flights
Los Angeles to Cape Town flights
Los Angeles to Nelspruit flights
San Francisco to OR Tambo flights
Ontario to OR Tambo flights
San Jose to Cape Town flights
Santa Ana to OR Tambo flights
Oakland to Cape Town flights
Ontario to Cape Town flights
San Diego to Cape Town flights
Los Angeles to Durban flights
Burbank to OR Tambo flights
San Jose to OR Tambo flights
San Diego to OR Tambo flights
Burbank to Cape Town flights
Santa Ana to Cape Town flights
Las Vegas to Cape Town flights
Sacramento to Cape Town flights
Fresno to Cape Town flights
Oakland to OR Tambo flights
Las Vegas to OR Tambo flights
Los Angeles to Port Elizabeth flights
San Francisco to Lanseria flights
San Francisco to Durban flights
Palm Springs to OR Tambo flights
San Jose to Durban flights
Sacramento to OR Tambo flights
San Francisco to Port Elizabeth flights
San Francisco to Skukuza flights
Burbank to Durban flights
San Diego to Durban flights
Long Beach to Cape Town flights
Fresno to OR Tambo flights
Reno to Cape Town flights
Santa Barbara to Cape Town flights
Los Angeles to Hoedspruit flights
San Francisco to George flights
Long Beach to OR Tambo flights
Los Angeles to George flights
Sacramento to Durban flights
San Francisco to Pietermaritzburg flights
San Francisco to Phalaborwa flights

Top 9 airlines flying from San Francisco to Cape Town

Discover the top 9 airlines that operate flights from San Francisco to Cape Town. 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 August 14, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Turkish AirlinesCheapest$956Average$1,157FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
British AirwaysCheapest$989Average$1,474FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time70%
Qatar AirwaysCheapest$1,043Average$1,361FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time68%
American AirlinesCheapest$1,140Average$1,400FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
DeltaCheapest$1,186Average$1,903FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
LufthansaCheapest$1,209Average$1,702FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time76%
KLMCheapest$1,275Average$1,921FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
EmiratesCheapest$1,281Average$1,653FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
United AirlinesCheapest$1,299Average$1,885FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

100% Free

Cheapflights is completely free to use, so you can start saving the moment you arrive.

Book with Flexibility

Our users can plan ahead with confidence and find flights with no change fees

Travel Smart

Millions of people come to us for their flight needs every year. We help make travel planning easy by providing useful insights and data-driven graphs that can inform your decisions.