How to find cheap flights to San Francisco?
🌉 Planning a trip to the Bay Area? Flying into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) can be surprisingly affordable when you know the right timing strategies, fare patterns, and booking techniques. It’s common to find roundtrip domestic fares between $74–$158 from major U.S. cities — especially when you take advantage of flexible search tools and smart traveler hacks.
🕒 Best Times to Book Flights to San Francisco
Domestic sweet spot: book 4–7 weeks before travel for the most stable low fares.
Mid-week departures (Tue/Wed) save an average of 12–22% compared to weekend travel.
📉 Cheapest Month to Fly to SFO
- February — excellent off-peak pricing after the holiday rush.
- September — post-summer dip while weather is still great.
- Late April — shoulder season savings before early-summer spikes.
💸 Sample Flight Deals to SFO
- Los Angeles (LAX → SFO): $78 roundtrip on Alaska or United.
- Seattle (SEA → SFO): $89 roundtrip mid-week on Delta.
- Denver (DEN → SFO): $102 roundtrip on Frontier with light baggage.
- Dallas (DFW → SFO): $118–$158 roundtrip on American.
Real-time fares vary — always check calendars for price drops.
✈️ Nonstop Flights — Airlines & Typical Prices
| Route | Airlines | Roundtrip Range |
|---|---|---|
| LAX → SFO | United, Alaska, Delta | $78–$148 |
| SEA → SFO | Delta, Alaska, United | $89–$169 |
| DEN → SFO | Frontier, United | $102–$178 |
| LAS → SFO | United, Alaska | $74–$149 |
| PHX → SFO | American, Alaska, United | $96–$168 |
🛠️ Airline Hacks to Save More
- Search for flights into both SFO and OAK — Oakland often has cheaper fares with easy transit access.
- Try mixing airlines for outbound and return legs to reduce total cost.
- Track fares using price alerts; SFO sees frequent 24-hour flash sales.
- Check late-night departures — SFO’s “shoulder hours” often drop below the daily average.
🏙️ San Francisco Airport (SFO) Guide
- BART connects SFO to downtown quickly and affordably (~$10 one way).
- Security is smoothest 6–8 AM and after 8 PM.
- Terminals offer lounges for Alaska, Delta, United, and American.
- Food options lean premium — plan ahead if traveling on a budget.
💳 Credit Card Travel Tips
- Use cards that offer trip delay protection — SFO fog can cause weather-related delays.
- Redeem airline miles on Alaska and United for high-value routes into SFO.
- Consider cards with lounge access for long layovers at SFO.
⏳ Last-Minute Flights
- Southwest and Alaska sometimes drop fares within 72 hours of departure.
- Same-day standby upgrades occasionally open up on Delta and United.
- Bundle flight + hotel on aggregator sites for better last-minute pricing.
🧳 Baggage Fees
- United / Delta / American: ~$30 first checked bag.
- Frontier: carry-on fees vary — can exceed $50 depending on timing.
- Carry-on only strategies save significant cash on SFO short-haul trips.
🛡️ Travel Insurance
Because the Bay Area can experience coastal weather disruptions, coverage for delays and missed connections is valuable — especially during winter rain season.
💡 Pro Tip: For the lowest fares into SFO, target flights arriving after 9 PM — these often dip below daytime prices and are commonly released during short promotional sales.
✔️ Pre-Booking Checklist
- Compare SFO with nearby OAK for cheaper Bay Area access.
- Use full-month calendar tools before locking in dates.
- Review baggage fees — especially on ultra-low-cost airlines.
- Use price alerts and flexible date searches to maximize savings.
Tools: Google Flights • KAYAK • Skyscanner