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$451+ 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 4/24. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SHA — SFO
Mar 11 — Mar 181
Wed 3/11
Wed 3/18
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Shanghai to San Francisco are usually found in February or October, booked 32 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Wednesday and return on a Monday

Cheap 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 February 9, 2026.

This Vietnam Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/5. 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 4/243:10 pm
PVG
-
SFO
1 stop41h 45m
Vietnam Airlines
Sat 5/210:50 pm
SFO
-
PVG
1 stop22h 50m
Vietnam Airlines
Deal found 2/5$616
This Vietnam Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/6. 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.
Tue 4/283:10 pm
PVG
-
SFO
1 stop41h 45m
Vietnam Airlines
Wed 5/610:50 pm
SFO
-
PVG
1 stop22h 50m
Vietnam Airlines
Deal found 2/6$642
This Vietnam Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/6. 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.
Tue 2/103:25 pm
PVG
-
SFO
1 stop41h 35m
Vietnam Airlines
Sat 3/79:10 pm
SFO
-
PVG
1 stop25h 05m
Vietnam Airlines
Deal found 2/6$668
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/7. 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 3/44:25 pm
PVG
-
SFO
1 stop13h 35m
Asiana Airlines
Mon 3/911:50 pm
SFO
-
PVG
1 stop21h 05m
Asiana Airlines
Deal found 2/7$690
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/6. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 2/113:25 pm
PVG
-
SFO
1 stop41h 35m
Vietnam Airlines
Sat 3/79:10 pm
SFO
-
PVG
1 stop25h 05m
Vietnam Airlines
Deal found 2/6$691
This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/6. 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 Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 2/166:05 pm
PVG
-
SFO
1 stop17h 35m
China Southern
Mon 3/211:35 pm
SFO
-
PVG
1 stop24h 40m
China Southern
Deal found 2/6$701
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/7. 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.
Thu 6/1110:55 am
SHA
-
SFO
1 stop19h 25m
Asiana Airlines
Fri 12/411:50 pm
SFO
-
SHA
1 stop25h 25m
Asiana Airlines
Deal found 2/7$709
This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/7. 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.
Sat 3/141:35 pm
SHA
-
SFO
1 stop23h 40m
Cathay Pacific
Sun 3/1512:25 pm
SFO
-
SHA
1 stop35h 55m
Cathay Pacific
Deal found 2/7$716
This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/8. 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.
Sat 3/147:05 pm
PVG
-
SFO
1 stop18h 10m
Cathay Pacific
Sun 3/1512:25 pm
SFO
-
PVG
1 stop20h 30m
Cathay Pacific
Deal found 2/8$716
This Asiana Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/8. 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.
Sun 3/811:35 am
PVG
-
SFO
1 stop18h 25m
Asiana Airlines
Mon 3/3011:50 pm
SFO
-
PVG
1 stop19h 15m
Asiana Airlines
Deal found 2/8$718
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/7. 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 CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 4/203:55 pm
PVG
-
SFO
1 stop33h 45m
Air Canada
Mon 9/2112:50 pm
SFO
-
PVG
2 stops34h 15m
Air Canada
Deal found 2/7$719
This Asiana Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/6. 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.
Thu 3/124:25 pm
PVG
-
SFO
1 stop13h 35m
Asiana Airlines
Mon 3/1611:50 pm
SFO
-
PVG
1 stop30h 15m
Asiana Airlines
Deal found 2/6$720

Find 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 February 9, 2026.

Round-trip from

$616
(Vietnam Airlines)

One-way from

$451
(SmartFares)

Popular in

August

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$769
From Shanghai to San Francisco
Search Deals
One-way flight from Shanghai to San Francisco
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 15% potential increase in price ($190 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 4% potential price decrease ($50 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in February 2026
Search Deals

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 February 9, 2026.
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 4/24

3:10 pm-5:55 pm

1 stop41h 45m

San Francisco

Sat 5/2

10:50 pm-12:40 pm

1 stop22h 50m

$616

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Fri 4/24

3:10 pm-5:55 pm

1 stop41h 45m

San Francisco

Wed 4/29

10:50 pm-12:40 pm

1 stop22h 50m

$642

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Wed 3/4

4:25 pm-2:00 pm

1 stop13h 35m

San Francisco

Mon 3/9

11:50 pm-11:55 am

1 stop21h 05m

$690

ShanghaiSan Francisco

SHA - SFO

SHASFO

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Tue 6/16

10:55 am-3:20 pm

1 stop19h 25m

San Francisco

Tue 6/30

11:50 pm-9:45 am

1 stop18h 55m

$709

ShanghaiSan Francisco

SHA - SFO

SHASFO

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Mon 3/9

10:55 am-3:00 pm

1 stop19h 05m

San Francisco

Mon 3/16

11:50 pm-9:45 am

1 stop18h 55m

$709

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Thu 3/12

4:25 pm-3:00 pm

1 stop13h 35m

San Francisco

Mon 3/16

11:50 pm-9:05 pm

1 stop30h 15m

$720

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Mon 4/20

1:40 pm-10:40 am

1 stop36h 00m

San Francisco

Mon 9/21

12:50 pm-8:10 pm

1 stop16h 20m

$721

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Fri 4/24

8:50 am-10:40 am

1 stop16h 50m

San Francisco

Thu 4/30

12:40 pm-8:10 pm

1 stop16h 30m

$722

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Fri 5/1

1:40 pm-10:40 am

1 stop36h 00m

San Francisco

Wed 5/6

12:40 pm-12:25 pm

1 stop32h 45m

$726

ShanghaiSan Francisco

PVG - SFO

PVGSFO

Shanghai Pu Dong

Tue 3/3

2:00 pm-9:30 am

1 stop35h 30m

San Francisco

Mon 3/23

12:40 pm-12:35 pm

1 stop32h 55m

$727

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 2/6

Showing 1-10 of 43 results
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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 February 6, 2026.

Booking 32 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, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Shanghai to San Francisco (average of $507). Flying from Shanghai to San Francisco in July is currently the most expensive (average of $915). 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 February 9, 2026.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Shanghai to San Francisco in the afternoon. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 18% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the morning.

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 February 7, 2026.

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 often are flights from Shanghai to San Francisco delayed?

About 20% of weekly flights between Shanghai and San Francisco have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 154 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for Shanghai to San Francisco flights?

Historically, flights departing in the early afternoon are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the early afternoon tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Sunday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Tuesday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on Shanghai to San Francisco flights?

Over the last year, United Airlines have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 19% of flights being delayed.

The best insider tips for Shanghai to San Francisco flights

AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your Shanghai to San Francisco trip
Our travel experts
Joe Minihane

Joe Minihane

Expert on PVG

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 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

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 February 9, 2026.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from Shanghai to San Francisco, such as Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and United Airlines. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Korean Air
8.4
Very good
1,189 reviews

Entertainment

8.2

Food

8.1

Overall

8.4

Boarding

8.5

Comfort

8.3

Crew

8.7

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
1,189 reviews
Korean Air
8.4
Very good
1,189 reviews

Entertainment

8.2

Food

8.1

Overall

8.4

Boarding

8.5

Comfort

8.3

Crew

8.7

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
8.1
Very good
505 reviews
Korean Air
8.4
Very good
1,189 reviews

Entertainment

8.2

Food

8.1

Overall

8.4

Boarding

8.5

Comfort

8.3

Crew

8.7

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
9,259 reviews
Korean Air
8.4
Very good
1,189 reviews

Entertainment

8.2

Food

8.1

Overall

8.4

Boarding

8.5

Comfort

8.3

Crew

8.7

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
7.3
Good
137 reviews
Korean Air
8.4
Very good
1,189 reviews

Entertainment

8.2

Food

8.1

Overall

8.4

Boarding

8.5

Comfort

8.3

Crew

8.7

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
192 reviews
Korean Air
8.4
Very good
1,189 reviews

Entertainment

8.2

Food

8.1

Overall

8.4

Boarding

8.5

Comfort

8.3

Crew

8.7

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

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

    Airlines like Vietnam Airlines, Asiana Airlines, and Korean Air fly from Shanghai to San Francisco in about 13h 35m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 28h 10m. 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 China Eastern. These flights start at 60% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

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

    $375 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Philippine Airlines. You may also be able to find cheap deals on China Southern and Air China, with prices starting from $377 and $385, respectively.

  • 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, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Shanghai to San Francisco (average of $507). Flying from Shanghai to San Francisco in July is currently the most expensive (average of $915). 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
South San Francisco
Santa Cruz
Santa Clara
Roseville
Livermore
Watsonville
San Bruno
Daly City
Sunnyvale
Turlock
Vacaville
San Carlos
San Ramon
San Lorenzo
Davis
Hollister
Redwood City
Manteca
Union City
Elk Grove

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Top 7 airlines flying from Shanghai to San Francisco

Discover the top 7 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 February 9, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Air CanadaCheapest$410Average$1,128FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time67%
China SouthernCheapest$605Average$764FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
China EasternCheapest$649Average$1,340FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Asiana AirlinesCheapest$685Average$888FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time76%
Korean AirCheapest$696Average$770FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time81%
Cathay PacificCheapest$708Average$840FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time72%
United AirlinesCheapest$1,091Average$1,502FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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