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$426+ 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 10/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SHA — SFO
Oct 17 — Oct 241
Fri 10/17
Fri 10/24
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Shanghai to San Francisco are usually found in February or September, booked 5 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 September 17, 2025.

Round-trip from

$704
(Vietnam Airlines)

One-way from

$426
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

August

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$779
From Shanghai to San Francisco
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One-way flight from Shanghai to San Francisco
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 11% potential increase in price ($143 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 4% potential price decrease ($48 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in September 2025
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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 September 17, 2025.

This Vietnam Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/16. 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 Vietnam Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 11/73:25 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop41h 35mVietnam Airlines
Sat 11/89:10 pmSFO - PVG
1 stop25h 05mVietnam Airlines
Deal found 9/16$704
This flugladen.de deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. 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 flugladen.de is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 10/49:35 amPVG - SFO
1 stop22h 55mCathay Pacific
Thu 10/1612:20 amSFO - PVG
1 stop19h 45mCathay Pacific
Deal found 9/15$707
This Asiana Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/16. 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.
Mon 10/611:35 amPVG - SFO
1 stop18h 55mAsiana Airlines
Fri 2/611:30 pmSFO - PVG
1 stop29h 25mAsiana Airlines
Deal found 9/16$709
This Jettzy deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/17. 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 Jettzy is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 11/11:35 pmSHA - SFO
1 stop23h 40mCathay Pacific
Sat 11/810:55 pmSFO - SHA
1 stop30h 00mCathay Pacific
Deal found 9/17$710
This Asiana Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/16. 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.
Tue 10/78:35 amPVG - SFO
1 stop21h 55mAsiana Airlines
Sun 2/111:30 pmSFO - PVG
1 stop23h 30mAsiana Airlines
Deal found 9/16$710
This Cathay Pacific deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. 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 12/234:35 pmSHA - SFO
1 stop20h 25mCathay Pacific
Tue 1/1311:25 amSFO - SHA
1 stop32h 55mCathay Pacific
Deal found 9/15$712
This Cathay Pacific deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/14. 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 Cathay Pacific is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 10/157:05 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop37h 25mCathay Pacific
Tue 10/2112:20 amSFO - PVG
1 stop20h 50mCathay Pacific
Deal found 9/14$712
This Cathay Pacific deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/16. 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.
Sun 10/1212:20 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop25h 20mCathay Pacific
Thu 11/611:25 amSFO - PVG
1 stop20h 20mCathay Pacific
Deal found 9/16$713
This Cathay Pacific deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/16. 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.
Fri 12/197:05 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop17h 55mCathay Pacific
Tue 1/139:45 pmSFO - PVG
1 stop23h 45mCathay Pacific
Deal found 9/16$714
This Asiana Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/16. 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.
Tue 10/144:25 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop14h 05mAsiana Airlines
Fri 11/711:30 pmSFO - PVG
1 stop20h 15mAsiana Airlines
Deal found 9/16$723
This Asiana Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/17. 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 11/264:20 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop14h 40mAsiana Airlines
Wed 4/111:30 pmSFO - PVG
1 stop24h 30mAsiana Airlines
Deal found 9/17$724
This China Southern deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/16. 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.
Sun 12/2110:50 pmPVG - SFO
2 stops36h 50mChina Southern
Wed 1/144:15 pmSFO - PVG
2 stops27h 10mChina Southern
Deal found 9/16$725

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 September 17, 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

Wed 10/15

1:10 pm-3:30 pm

1 stop17h 20m

San Francisco

Wed 10/22

11:30 pm-10:05 am

1 stop19h 35m

$709

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Mon 10/6

11:35 am-3:30 pm

1 stop18h 55m

San Francisco

Fri 2/6

11:30 pm-8:55 pm

1 stop29h 25m

$709

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Sat 10/18

8:35 am-3:30 pm

1 stop21h 55m

San Francisco

Fri 10/31

11:30 pm-8:55 pm

1 stop30h 25m

$710

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Tue 10/7

8:35 am-3:30 pm

1 stop21h 55m

San Francisco

Fri 2/6

11:30 pm-11:45 am

1 stop20h 15m

$710

ShanghaiSan Francisco

SHA - SFO

SHASFO

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Tue 12/23

4:35 pm-9:30 am

1 stop32h 55m

San Francisco

Tue 1/13

9:45 pm-8:55 pm

1 stop31h 10m

$712

ShanghaiSan Francisco

SHA - SFO

SHASFO

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Mon 12/22

10:30 pm-4:05 pm

1 stop33h 35m

San Francisco

Mon 1/12

11:25 am-12:20 pm

1 stop32h 55m

$712

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Wed 10/15

7:05 pm-5:30 pm

1 stop37h 25m

San Francisco

Tue 10/21

12:20 am-12:10 pm

1 stop20h 50m

$712

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Sat 10/18

7:20 am-11:15 am

1 stop18h 55m

San Francisco

Thu 10/30

12:35 am-12:30 pm

1 stop20h 55m

$713

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Tue 12/23

8:30 am-9:30 am

1 stop17h 00m

San Francisco

Tue 1/13

9:45 pm-12:30 pm

1 stop22h 45m

$714

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Wed 1/14

8:35 am-3:00 pm

1 stop22h 25m

San Francisco

Wed 3/11

11:30 pm-10:05 am

1 stop19h 35m

$763

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 9/16

Showing 1-10 of 41 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 flights, due to thorough document checks.

Read more about PVGby Joe Minihane
SFO

Use BART for a cost-effective trip from SFO to downtown San Francisco, taking about 40 minutes.

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 September 12, 2025.

Booking 5 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 $357). 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 SHA 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 September 17, 2025.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco at noon. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 29% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the afternoon.

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. Thursday afternoons flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Shanghai 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 September 17, 2025.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from Shanghai to San Francisco, such as Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and China Southern. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Korean Air
8.4
Very good
1,140 reviews

Entertainment

8.2

Food

8.1

Overall

8.4

Comfort

8.3

Crew

8.7

Boarding

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Jacqueline,Aug 2025

ICN - SEA

Well, I was upset at first because I have a special diet and I need to order vegetarian and I couldn’t do it before the trip, but the stewardess were so nice and they gave me sandwiches that were plant-based which I loved!!
Korean Air
8.4
Very good
1,140 reviews
Korean Air
8.4
Very good
1,140 reviews

Entertainment

8.2

Food

8.1

Overall

8.4

Comfort

8.3

Crew

8.7

Boarding

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Jacqueline,Aug 2025

ICN - SEA

Well, I was upset at first because I have a special diet and I need to order vegetarian and I couldn’t do it before the trip, but the stewardess were so nice and they gave me sandwiches that were plant-based which I loved!!
Asiana Airlines
8.2
Very good
481 reviews
Korean Air
8.4
Very good
1,140 reviews

Entertainment

8.2

Food

8.1

Overall

8.4

Comfort

8.3

Crew

8.7

Boarding

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Jacqueline,Aug 2025

ICN - SEA

Well, I was upset at first because I have a special diet and I need to order vegetarian and I couldn’t do it before the trip, but the stewardess were so nice and they gave me sandwiches that were plant-based which I loved!!
China Southern
7.5
Good
110 reviews
Korean Air
8.4
Very good
1,140 reviews

Entertainment

8.2

Food

8.1

Overall

8.4

Comfort

8.3

Crew

8.7

Boarding

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Jacqueline,Aug 2025

ICN - SEA

Well, I was upset at first because I have a special diet and I need to order vegetarian and I couldn’t do it before the trip, but the stewardess were so nice and they gave me sandwiches that were plant-based which I loved!!
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,926 reviews
Korean Air
8.4
Very good
1,140 reviews

Entertainment

8.2

Food

8.1

Overall

8.4

Comfort

8.3

Crew

8.7

Boarding

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Jacqueline,Aug 2025

ICN - SEA

Well, I was upset at first because I have a special diet and I need to order vegetarian and I couldn’t do it before the trip, but the stewardess were so nice and they gave me sandwiches that were plant-based which I loved!!
China Eastern
7.2
Good
166 reviews
Korean Air
8.4
Very good
1,140 reviews

Entertainment

8.2

Food

8.1

Overall

8.4

Comfort

8.3

Crew

8.7

Boarding

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Jacqueline,Aug 2025

ICN - SEA

Well, I was upset at first because I have a special diet and I need to order vegetarian and I couldn’t do it before the trip, but the stewardess were so nice and they gave me sandwiches that were plant-based which I loved!!

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. 9 airlines have flights to San Francisco from Shanghai on a regular basis.

  • How long is the flight from Shanghai to San Francisco?

    Airlines like Asiana Airlines and Cathay Pacific fly from Shanghai to San Francisco in about 17h 20m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 15h 35m. Airlines will cover a distance of 6133 mi. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

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

    Air Canada, at $410, was found to be the cheapest airline from Shanghai to San Francisco.Alternate airlines to your destination round-trip include China Southern and Philippine Airlines. These flights start at 61% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

  • 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 $357). 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 San Francisco?

Book flights to San Francisco if you plan to visit one of these locations
Roseville
Santa Cruz
Livermore
South San Francisco
Turlock
Antioch
Watsonville
Santa Clara
Manteca
Sunnyvale
Hollister
Vacaville
Foster City
Union City
Vallejo
Burlingame
Redwood City
San Mateo
San Leandro
Lathrop

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Top 9 airlines flying from Shanghai to San Francisco

Discover the top 9 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 September 17, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Air CanadaCheapest$410Average$1,128FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time67%
China SouthernCheapest$618Average$835FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
Philippine AirlinesCheapest$622Average$708FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time60%
China EasternCheapest$649Average$1,481FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Asiana AirlinesCheapest$679Average$951FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time76%
Cathay PacificCheapest$708Average$903FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time72%
Korean AirCheapest$761Average$810FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time81%
ANACheapest$890Average$1,060FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
United AirlinesCheapest$1,026Average$1,545FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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