Shanghai

$478+ Cheap flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Shanghai, China

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 8/29. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — SHA
Jul 7 — Jul 141
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San Francisco to Shanghai are usually found in April or February, booked 17 days in advance, depart on a Monday or Thursday and return on a Thursday

Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Shanghai

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from San Francisco (SFO) to Shanghai (CN2). 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 July 2, 2025.

Round-trip from

$875
(oojo)

One-way from

$478
(FlightHub)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

April

Average price

$1,524
From San Francisco to Shanghai
One-way flight from San Francisco to Shanghai
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 18% potential increase in price ($278 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($37 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in July 2025

Find flight deals from San Francisco to Shanghai

Cheapest flights from San Francisco to Shanghai
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Shanghai. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on July 2, 2025.

This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/30. 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.
Thu 11/2011:25 amSFO - SHA
1 stop32h 55mCathay Pacific
Sun 2/221:35 pmSHA - SFO
1 stop23h 40mCathay Pacific
Deal found 6/30$875
This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/30. 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.
Mon 8/254:25 pmSFO - PVG
2 stops33h 05mChina Southern
Tue 9/166:20 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop17h 20mChina Southern
Deal found 6/30$875
This Jetabroad deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/30. 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 Jetabroad is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 7/216:50 pmSFO - SHA
2 stops24h 30mChina Southern
Wed 8/209:50 pmSHA - SFO
2 stops37h 40mChina Southern
Deal found 6/30$877
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/30. 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.
Sat 11/229:10 pmSFO - PVG
1 stop25h 05mVietnam Airlines
Sat 11/293:25 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop41h 35mVietnam Airlines
Deal found 6/30$877
This Kiwi.com 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 7/2812:00 pmSFO - PVG
Nonstop14h 00mMultiple Airlines
Fri 9/192:55 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop15h 25mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/2$891
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/30. 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.
Sun 8/31:40 pmSFO - PVG
1 stop19h 15mCathay Pacific
Fri 8/222:30 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop18h 20mCathay Pacific
Deal found 6/30$893
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/30. 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 8/201:00 pmSFO - PVG
2 stops28h 50mAir China
Tue 10/216:50 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop30h 40mAir China
Deal found 6/30$899
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/30. 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 Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 11/1011:35 pmSFO - SHA
2 stops22h 35mMultiple Airlines
Sun 11/236:25 pmSHA - SFO
1 stop31h 05mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 6/30$900
This Ovago 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 Ovago is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 9/1012:50 pmSFO - PVG
1 stop32h 35mKorean Air
Thu 11/611:20 amPVG - SFO
2 stops36h 36mKorean Air
Deal found 7/1$902
This Gotogate deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/30. 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 Gotogate is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 8/241:05 amSFO - PVG
1 stop18h 45mChina Airlines
Mon 9/812:05 pmPVG - SFO
1 stop23h 25mChina Airlines
Deal found 6/30$906
This Korean Air 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 Korean Air is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 9/1212:50 pmSFO - SHA
1 stop37h 15mKorean Air
Mon 10/276:25 pmSHA - SFO
1 stop31h 05mKorean Air
Deal found 7/2$916
This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/30. 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.
Wed 7/301:00 pmSFO - SHA
1 stop18h 40mAir China
Fri 8/297:25 pmSHA - SFO
1 stop30h 05mAir China
Deal found 6/30$926

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Customize your flight search to find flights from San Francisco to Shanghai 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 July 2, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Francisco to Shanghai that are best for you.

Fly from

San Francisco

Fly to

Shanghai

Route

Depart

Return

Price

San FranciscoShanghai

SFO - PVG

SFOPVG

San Francisco

Mon 8/25

4:25 pm-4:30 pm

2 stops33h 05m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Tue 9/16

6:20 pm-8:40 pm

1 stop17h 20m

$875

San FranciscoShanghai

SFO - SHA

SFOSHA

San Francisco

Mon 7/21

6:50 pm-10:20 am

2 stops24h 30m

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Wed 8/20

9:50 pm-8:30 pm

2 stops37h 40m

$877

San FranciscoShanghai

SFO - SHA

SFOSHA

San Francisco

Thu 8/14

12:05 am-12:05 pm

1 stop21h 00m

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Fri 8/22

4:50 pm-10:55 pm

1 stop21h 05m

$891

San FranciscoShanghai

SFO - PVG

SFOPVG

San Francisco

Mon 7/28

12:00 pm-5:00 pm

Nonstop14h 00m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Fri 9/19

2:55 pm-3:20 pm

1 stop15h 25m

$891

San FranciscoShanghai

SFO - PVG

SFOPVG

San Francisco

Sun 8/3

1:40 pm-11:55 pm

1 stop19h 15m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Fri 8/22

2:30 pm-5:50 pm

1 stop18h 20m

$893

San FranciscoShanghai

SFO - PVG

SFOPVG

San Francisco

Wed 8/20

1:00 pm-8:50 am

2 stops28h 50m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Tue 10/21

6:50 pm-10:30 am

1 stop30h 40m

$899

San FranciscoShanghai

SFO - SHA

SFOSHA

San Francisco

Thu 9/11

12:35 am-10:20 pm

2 stops30h 45m

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Mon 9/15

6:10 pm-3:30 pm

1 stop36h 20m

$900

San FranciscoShanghai

SFO - PVG

SFOPVG

San Francisco

Wed 9/10

12:50 pm-12:25 pm

1 stop32h 35m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Thu 11/6

11:20 am-7:56 am

2 stops36h 36m

$902

San FranciscoShanghai

SFO - PVG

SFOPVG

San Francisco

Sun 8/24

1:05 am-10:50 am

1 stop18h 45m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Mon 9/8

12:05 pm-8:30 pm

1 stop23h 25m

$906

San FranciscoShanghai

SFO - SHA

SFOSHA

San Francisco

Fri 9/12

12:50 pm-5:05 pm

1 stop37h 15m

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Tue 10/28

6:25 pm-10:30 am

1 stop31h 05m

$916

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 6/30

Showing 1-10 of 27 results
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The best insider tips for San Francisco to Shanghai 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 San Francisco to Shanghai trip
Airports
SFO

For a stress-free departure, use SFO’s AirTrain to quickly navigate between terminals and reach your gate efficiently.

Read more about SFOby Harriet Baskas
PVG

Take the Maglev train from Longyang Road to PVG for a quick 8-minute ride, avoiding traffic delays.

Read more about PVGby Joe Minihane
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 San Francisco to Shanghai

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Shanghai 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 Shanghai

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

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

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from San Francisco to Shanghai, you should look to book at least 17 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

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

Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Shanghai (average of $1,123). Flying from San Francisco to Shanghai in July is currently the most expensive (average of $1,609). 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 SHA?

Find hourly flight availability from San Francisco to Shanghai. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated July 2, 2025.

It’s optimal to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai in the morning. By choosing this option you can save up to 16% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight at noon.

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

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

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their San Francisco to Shanghai flight should consider departing on Monday mornings 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.

Reviews of airlines servicing Shanghai

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Shanghai. 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 Shanghai. Reviews last updated July 2, 2025.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Korean Air, ANA, and China Airlines from San Francisco to Shanghai by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.3

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.4

Boarding

8.5

Food

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Chris,Mar 2025

SEA - ICN

Was told the flight was overbooked so they selected only a few people to weight their bags and we were forced to check our luggage. We Once we got seated on the flight there were many seats vacant and our overhead bin was completely open. Both our luggage and our carryon were small. We had booked our tickets months in advance and we watched people carry two small suitcases on without one word to them. Am I upset?? Yes it was disappointing.

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.3

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.4

Boarding

8.5

Food

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Chris,Mar 2025

SEA - ICN

Was told the flight was overbooked so they selected only a few people to weight their bags and we were forced to check our luggage. We Once we got seated on the flight there were many seats vacant and our overhead bin was completely open. Both our luggage and our carryon were small. We had booked our tickets months in advance and we watched people carry two small suitcases on without one word to them. Am I upset?? Yes it was disappointing.
8.4
Very good

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.3

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.4

Boarding

8.5

Food

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Chris,Mar 2025

SEA - ICN

Was told the flight was overbooked so they selected only a few people to weight their bags and we were forced to check our luggage. We Once we got seated on the flight there were many seats vacant and our overhead bin was completely open. Both our luggage and our carryon were small. We had booked our tickets months in advance and we watched people carry two small suitcases on without one word to them. Am I upset?? Yes it was disappointing.

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.3

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.4

Boarding

8.5

Food

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Chris,Mar 2025

SEA - ICN

Was told the flight was overbooked so they selected only a few people to weight their bags and we were forced to check our luggage. We Once we got seated on the flight there were many seats vacant and our overhead bin was completely open. Both our luggage and our carryon were small. We had booked our tickets months in advance and we watched people carry two small suitcases on without one word to them. Am I upset?? Yes it was disappointing.

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.3

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.4

Boarding

8.5

Food

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Chris,Mar 2025

SEA - ICN

Was told the flight was overbooked so they selected only a few people to weight their bags and we were forced to check our luggage. We Once we got seated on the flight there were many seats vacant and our overhead bin was completely open. Both our luggage and our carryon were small. We had booked our tickets months in advance and we watched people carry two small suitcases on without one word to them. Am I upset?? Yes it was disappointing.

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.3

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.4

Boarding

8.5

Food

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Chris,Mar 2025

SEA - ICN

Was told the flight was overbooked so they selected only a few people to weight their bags and we were forced to check our luggage. We Once we got seated on the flight there were many seats vacant and our overhead bin was completely open. Both our luggage and our carryon were small. We had booked our tickets months in advance and we watched people carry two small suitcases on without one word to them. Am I upset?? Yes it was disappointing.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from San Francisco to Shanghai. 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 from for flights from San Francisco to Shanghai?

    San Francisco (SFO) is the airport you will fly out of if you book a flight from San Francisco to Shanghai. You should not have trouble finding flights to Shanghai from San Francisco; the airport handles an average of 2 outbound flights to Shanghai per day. You should also have plenty of airline options to choose from since 14 airlines have flights from the San Francisco airport to Shanghai. It is only a 11.8 mi journey to San Francisco (SFO) from San Francisco’s city center.

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

    Flying on Cathay Pacific is currently your cheapest option to Shanghai, with prices starting at $875. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by China Southern and Vietnam Airlines, with the lowest prices starting at $875 and $877, respectively. You may be able to fly from San Francisco to Shanghai for 27% less than the average price by searching for these airlines.

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

    For one-way options, check prices for Asiana Airlines. According to our data, you can fly for as low as $478. Users have also found prices from $480 and $488 on Cathay Pacific and Korean Air, respectively.

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

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

    Dongdaemun Market, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Lotte World are the most popular attractions in Seoul if you're in need of something to do during your layover. Dongdaemun Market, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Lotte World can be visited by traveling about 31.6 mi, 30.6 mi, and 35.7 mi respectively from Incheon Intl. Travelers can book a car rental at Incheon Intl for about $58 per day to make their sightseeing more efficient.

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

    If you're on a layover in Taipei City and looking for things to do, consider visiting Taipei 101, Shilin Night Market, or Raohe Street Night Market. Taipei 101, Shilin Night Market, and Raohe Street Night Market are located about 21.0 mi, 18.3 mi, and 21.6 mi, respectively from Taipei City Taiwan Taoyuan Intl. Travelers in need of a car in Taipei City can rent one for about $78 per day.

  • What are points of interest worth seeing during a layover in Hong Kong?

    Hong Kong travelers tend to visit Hong Kong Disneyland, Shatin Baptist Church, and Ocean Park more than any other attractions. Hong Kong Disneyland, Shatin Baptist Church and Ocean Park are located about 7.8 mi, 18.3 mi, and 16.9 mi, respectively from Hong Kong Intl if you are interested in checking them out.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Shanghai (average of $1,123). Flying from San Francisco to Shanghai in July is currently the most expensive (average of $1,609). 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

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Top 10 airlines flying from San Francisco to Shanghai

Discover the top 10 airlines that operate flights from San Francisco to Shanghai. 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 July 2, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Air ChinaCheapest$706Average$1,182FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time67%
Philippine AirlinesCheapest$730Average$907FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time60%
Cathay PacificCheapest$746Average$1,293FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time72%
China EasternCheapest$748Average$1,291FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
China SouthernCheapest$761Average$1,120FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
EVA AirCheapest$817Average$1,053FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
ANACheapest$829Average$1,227FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
DeltaCheapest$832Average$1,635FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
Korean AirCheapest$862Average$1,045FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time81%
China AirlinesCheapest$871Average$1,059FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time70%

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