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$159+ Cheap flights from Philadelphia to San Francisco (PHL - 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 8/2. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
PHL — SFO
jul. 8 — jul. 151
mar. 7/8
mar. 7/15
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Philadelphia to San Francisco are usually found in September or February, booked 87 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Friday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Philadelphia to San Francisco

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Philadelphia (PHL) 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 julio 3, 2025.

Round-trip from

$289
(American Airlines)

One-way from

$159
(Mytrip)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$403

Good round-trip deal

$352 or less

Good one-way deal

$271 or less
From Philadelphia to San Francisco
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One-way flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 3% potential increase in price ($12 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($5 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in July 2025
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Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco.
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Price to beat on a one-way flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco.
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Find flight deals from Philadelphia to San Francisco

Cheapest flights from Philadelphia to San Francisco
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Philadelphia to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on julio 3, 2025.

This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/3. 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 American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
jue. 8/144:30 pmPHL - SFO
Nonstop5h 58mAmerican Airlines
mar. 8/196:28 amSFO - PHL
Nonstop5h 26mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 7/3$289
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. 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 Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
mié. 7/2312:25 pmPHL - SFO
1 stop11h 58mFrontier
sáb. 7/2610:29 pmSFO - PHL
1 stop9h 35mFrontier
Deal found 7/1$290
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
mié. 8/206:33 pmPHL - SFO
Nonstop6h 02mUnited Airlines
dom. 8/246:42 pmSFO - PHL
1 stop7h 53mUnited Airlines
Deal found 7/2$299
This Orbitz deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. 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 Orbitz is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
mar. 7/156:45 amPHL - SFO
1 stop12h 03mMultiple Airlines
mar. 7/228:53 pmSFO - PHL
1 stop14h 25mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/1$303
This JetBlue deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. 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 JetBlue is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
vie. 8/155:40 pmPHL - SFO
1 stop10h 18mJetBlue
mar. 8/269:25 pmSFO - PHL
1 stop10h 42mJetBlue
Deal found 7/1$306
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/3. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
mar. 8/122:55 pmPHL - SFO
1 stop9h 32mDelta
lun. 8/1812:40 amSFO - PHL
1 stop6h 59mDelta
Deal found 7/3$309
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
jue. 8/141:35 pmPHL - SFO
2 stops11h 30mSouthwest
mar. 8/265:55 amSFO - PHL
1 stop7h 05mSouthwest
Deal found 7/1$314

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Customize your flight search to find flights from Philadelphia 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 julio 3, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Philadelphia to San Francisco that are best for you.

Fly from

Philadelphia

Fly to

San Francisco

Route

Depart

Return

Price

PhiladelphiaSan Francisco

PHL - SFO

PHLSFO

Philadelphia

jue. 8/14

4:30 pm-7:28 pm

Nonstop5h 58m

San Francisco

mar. 8/19

6:28 am-2:54 pm

Nonstop5h 26m

$289

PhiladelphiaSan Francisco

PHL - SFO

PHLSFO

Philadelphia

mié. 7/23

12:25 pm-9:23 pm

1 stop11h 58m

San Francisco

sáb. 7/26

10:29 pm-11:04 am

1 stop9h 35m

$290

PhiladelphiaSan Francisco

PHL - SFO

PHLSFO

Philadelphia

mié. 8/20

6:33 pm-9:35 pm

Nonstop6h 02m

San Francisco

dom. 8/24

6:42 pm-5:35 am

1 stop7h 53m

$299

PhiladelphiaSan Francisco

PHL - SFO

PHLSFO

Philadelphia

vie. 8/15

5:40 pm-12:58 am

1 stop10h 18m

San Francisco

sáb. 8/23

9:25 pm-11:07 am

1 stop10h 42m

$306

PhiladelphiaSan Francisco

PHL - SFO

PHLSFO

Philadelphia

mar. 8/12

2:55 pm-9:27 pm

1 stop9h 32m

San Francisco

lun. 8/18

12:40 am-10:39 am

1 stop6h 59m

$309

PhiladelphiaSan Francisco

PHL - SFO

PHLSFO

Philadelphia

jue. 8/14

1:35 pm-10:05 pm

2 stops11h 30m

San Francisco

mar. 8/26

5:55 am-4:00 pm

1 stop7h 05m

$314

PhiladelphiaSan Francisco

PHL - SFO

PHLSFO

Philadelphia

sáb. 8/2

7:19 am-12:15 pm

1 stop7h 56m

$159

PhiladelphiaSan Francisco

PHL - SFO

PHLSFO

Philadelphia

jue. 8/21

2:00 pm-10:25 pm

2 stops11h 25m

$174

PhiladelphiaSan Francisco

PHL - SFO

PHLSFO

Philadelphia

lun. 9/1

7:00 am-12:11 pm

1 stop8h 11m

$180

PhiladelphiaSan Francisco

PHL - SFO

PHLSFO

Philadelphia

dom. 9/28

6:46 pm-5:03 pm

2 stops25h 17m

$184

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 7/1

Showing 1-10 of 11 results
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The best insider tips for Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia to San Francisco trip
Airports
PHL

For efficient check-in, verify your airline’s terminal before arriving. Terminals are spread out, and only some are connected by indoor walkways.

Read more about PHLby Mark Chesnut
SFO

Use BART for budget-friendly travel from SFO to downtown San Francisco. The trip takes about 40 minutes and is the least expensive option.

Read more about SFOby Harriet Baskas
Our travel experts
Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Expert on PHL

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut is a travel writer and public speaker with more than 30 years of experience. The 2019 winner of the NLGJA Excellence in Travel Writing Award, Mark is the author of the book “Prepare for Departure” and has covered air travel for multiple top consumer and trade media outlets.

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 Philadelphia to San Francisco

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

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on June 27, 2025.

The price you pay for your flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco may vary depending on when you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, look to book 70 days in advance of your trip. Fares are likely to increase a fortnight or so before your departure date.

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

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Philadelphia to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $360). 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 PHL to SFO?

Find hourly flight availability from Philadelphia 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 julio 3, 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from Philadelphia to San Francisco at noon. Doing so could potentially save you 33% on the flight price compared to flying in the morning, which is usually more expensive.

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

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Philadelphia to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on June 29, 2025.

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

Weekly flight availability from Philadelphia to San Francisco

Explore weekly flight availability from Philadelphia 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 julio 3, 2025.

The most flights from PHL to SFO are scheduled on a Thursday (19 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Sunday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (4 on average).

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Philadelphia to San Francisco?

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 julio 3, 2025.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and Delta from Philadelphia to San Francisco. 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.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,982 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,861 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
JetBlue
7.3
Good
2,916 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Philadelphia 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 airports do I use to fly from Philadelphia to San Francisco?

    You will need to book a flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco if you want to fly from Philadelphia to San Francisco. At least 7 different airlines have flights from Philadelphia (PHL) to San Francisco (SFO) on a regular basis. There are 10 flights to San Francisco from the Philadelphia airport per day. If you manage to book one that is nonstop, then you can expect the flight time from PHL to SFO to be around 5h 56m.

  • How popular is this Philadelphia to San Francisco flight route?

    The Philadelphia to San Francisco flight path was viewed by 18 users in the past month. Keep an eye out for changes in search interest prior to high and low season.

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

    Flying on American Airlines is currently your cheapest option to San Francisco, with prices starting at $289. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by Frontier and United Airlines, with the lowest prices starting at $290 and $299, respectively. These flights start at 27% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

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

    $159 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Frontier. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Southwest and Delta, with prices starting from $160 and $180, respectively.

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

    No one likes to see their flight delayed. When booking a flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco consider choosing United Airlines (89%), Air China (88%) or ANA (83%) as they are the most reliable in getting you off to your destination on time.

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

    Looking for the cheapest flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco? While on average our users pay $1,771, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $168. The most popular route (Philadelphia - San Francisco), is priced around $232.

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

    The most popular layover on flights from Philadelphia to San Francisco is Denver. Atlanta is the second most popular location for layovers on flights from Philadelphia to San Francisco.

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

    Coors Field, Paramount Theatre, and Larimer Square are the most popular attractions in Denver if you're in need of something to do during your layover. Coors Field, Paramount Theatre and Larimer Square are located about 18.4 mi, 18.6 mi, and 18.9 mi, respectively from Denver Intl if you are interested in checking them out. Travelers can book a car rental at Denver Intl for about $56 per day to make their sightseeing more efficient.

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

    Georgia Aquarium, Fox Theatre, and World of Coca-Cola are the most popular attractions in Atlanta if you're in need of something to do during your layover. Georgia Aquarium, Fox Theatre, and World of Coca-Cola are located about 8.6 mi, 9.3 mi, and 8.6 mi, respectively from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson. Those landing in Atlanta looking to spend some time exploring during their layover can rent a car for about $47 per day.

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

    The least popular layover on flights from Philadelphia to San Francisco is Phoenix. Detroit sees the second fewest layovers for non-direct flights flying from Philadelphia to San Francisco.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia to San Francisco?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Philadelphia to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $360). 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 Philadelphia?

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

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Alternative routes for Philadelphia to San Francisco

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
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Top 7 airlines flying from Philadelphia to San Francisco

Discover the top 7 airlines that operate flights from Philadelphia 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 julio 3, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$122Average$203FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
FrontierCheapest$135Average$213FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
JetBlueCheapest$136Average$246FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
American AirlinesCheapest$260Average$401FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
DeltaCheapest$276Average$350FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
SouthwestCheapest$279Average$457FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$280Average$425FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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