Flying from Madrid Airport (MAD) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): what you need to know
Around 12 hours 35 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct flight from Madrid Airport to San Francisco International Airport.
San Francisco is nine hours behind Madrid and is in the UTC-8 timezone.
Arrive at the airport on time so you don't miss your MAD to SFO flight. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to avoid any last-minute rush.
Be prepared for longer queues during popular months such as July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures is a smart move.
Getting to San Francisco (and then seeing more of the United States!) is a breeze with Iberia. This popular airline has direct flights from Madrid Airport to San Francisco International Airport.
The airline most travellers prefer to fly with on this route is Iberia.
Consider adding a stopover when booking your ticket from Madrid Airport to San Francisco International Airport. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' to break up your journey, or perhaps see a new city along the way. Check out these options between MAD and SFO:
London Heathrow Airport
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Barcelona Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Madrid Airport (MAD) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
R 5,819 is currently the best price for a one-way Madrid Airport to San Francisco International Airport flight. Return flights start from R 8,234. These fares can change based on availability.
Score cheap tickets from MAD to SFO by booking four months ahead. Based on our research, that's the sweet spot for landing a bargain.
September is the cheapest month for flights from Madrid Airport to San Francisco International Airport. If you're looking to fly at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
You don't need to check back in every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll update you as soon as there's a new deal on cheap flights from MAD to SFO.
Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Alternatively, sort your results by 'Cheapest' to get the best deals on flights from Madrid Airport to San Francisco International Airport.
Handy information about Madrid Airport (MAD)
77% of flights that take off from Madrid Airport make it to their destination on time.
To reach Madrid Airport from central Madrid, it'll take about 20 minutes if you're going by car. This depends on traffic, however. It's approximately 13 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
You can expect a journey time of about 30 minutes when using public transport.
Need a handy hotel close to MAD? If you've booked an early flight from Madrid Airport to San Francisco International Airport, these stays will have you sleeping moments from your check-in counter:
Arriving at San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
If you're landing on a late Madrid Airport to San Francisco International Airport flight, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing not long after at one of these hotels near SFO:
Go where the road takes you with a San Francisco International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Hertz and experience more of San Francisco and beyond.
For the best deal, book your vehicle from San Francisco International Airport about one week ahead.
When to fly to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
July is the busiest month for flights from Madrid Airport to San Francisco International Airport. To avoid the crowds, head to San Francisco in March.
Before locking in your flight from Madrid Airport to San Francisco International Airport, consider the type of weather you enjoy. September is the warmest month in San Francisco, with the temperature ranging from 12ºC (54ºF) to 24ºC (75ºF).
Look for cheap tickets from MAD to SFO in January if you like cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 5ºC (41ºF) and 16ºC (61ºF) on average.
Explore more of the United States
San Jose is just one of the many cities in the United States waiting to be explored after you've seen San Francisco. Around 64 kilometres away to the south-east, popular attractions include Winchester Mystery House, The Tech Interactive and Santa Clara Valley.
Around 257 kilometres south-east of San Francisco, Fresno is another essential stop in the United States. Experience the best of this destination with a visit to Forestiere Underground Gardens, Shinzen Japanese Garden and Fresno Chaffee Zoo.
