Flying from New York to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): What you need to know
Start planning your trip by checking out the best departure point for your flight from New York to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Explore the options for leaving from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), two of the city's main airports.
6 hours 40 minutes is the average travel time for a direct New York to San Francisco International Airport flight.
San Francisco International Airport is located in San Francisco. The city is in the UTC-8 timezone and is three hours behind New York.
With 127 direct flights a week between the two airports, New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the busiest route. American Airlines operates the earliest flight at 5:59am. If you'd like to make the most of your day before you fly, the latest flight from JFK to SFO is with JetBlue Airways at 10:10pm.
Get to the airport on time so you don't miss your flight from New York to SFO. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to avoid any last-minute rush.
Getting away during a peak month like July? Popular seasons (like Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year and spring break) can easily add another hour at security. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
Airports in New York
New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) will have you travelling directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from New York to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) take off from this terminal.
Top airlines that have direct flights from New York to San Francisco International Airport leaving from JFK include:
The preferred choice for passengers flying between JFK and SFO is Delta.
The carrier with the best on-time arrival rate on this route is American Airlines.
Located around 24 kilometres from the centre of New York, JFK can be reached in about 45 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport will take roughly 50 minutes.
Want a hassle-free start to your break? Stay near New York John F. Kennedy International Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from New York to San Francisco International Airport or prefer not to feel hurried, these hotels offer the perfect solution:
When it comes to the on-time performance of New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, data shows 73% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
You'll find JFK at JFK Airport.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
You can book a direct New York to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) plane ticket with departures from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Check if flying out of EWR makes more sense for your journey.
United Airlines offers direct flights from New York to SFO out of EWR. Book your favourite window seat and reach your destination in one go.
United is the most popular choice for travellers flying from EWR to SFO.
Alaska Airlines is the most reliable carrier flying from Newark Liberty International Airport to San Francisco International Airport, with 76.7% of its services arriving as scheduled.
EWR is about 24 kilometres from central New York. It takes 35 minutes or so to get to the airport by car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before boarding your New York to SFO flight? Unwind in a hotel near Newark Liberty International Airport before your holiday officially begins. These stays are calling your name:
When it comes to keeping flights on track, Newark Liberty International Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 71%.
EWR is located at Building 1, Conrad Road.
New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
The journey time to LGA from central New York is around 55 minutes by public transport. If you're planning to travel by car, it'll take you roughly 30 minutes to cover the 13 kilometres or so.
Sleep a little longer and still make your New York to San Francisco International Airport flight without having to rush. These hotels near New York LaGuardia Airport make it a breeze to get to the terminal if you're setting off early:
The on-time performance rate of LGA is 69%. To put it simply, that's how often flights from this airport arrive within the expected time frame.
You'll find New York LaGuardia Airport at Hangar 7 Centre.
About San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Book a hotel near SFO if you're catching a late flight from New York to San Francisco International Airport. Settle into one of these options and be in bed sooner:
To secure the lowest price, reserve your vehicle around one week ahead of your New York to San Francisco International Airport flight.
Getting from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to central San Francisco
From San Francisco International Airport, central San Francisco is around 21 kilometres away. It takes about 25 minutes to get to the city centre by car.
When travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 35 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from New York to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
R 1,727 is currently the best price for a one-way ticket from New York to San Francisco International Airport. A return flight starts at R 3,453. These prices may change based on availability and demand.
Booking in advance is often the key to scoring a cheap flight from New York to SFO. Fares tend to rise as demand increases, so the closer your departure date, the more it could cost you.
Cheap New York to San Francisco International Airport tickets are easier to find if your travel dates are flexible. Use the 'Whole month' search tool to compare fares throughout the month and then pick the cheapest day.
There's no need to check every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know when a better deal comes up on plane tickets from New York to SFO.
Nail down a great price on a flight from New York to San Francisco International Airport with the help of the filters. Choose your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
The best time to fly from New York to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Think about your travel style when deciding the best time to fly. December is the quietest month to visit San Francisco. July is when most people book flights from New York to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which may be perfect if you'd rather travel when it's busy.
The warmest month in San Francisco is September, with temperatures ranging between 12ºC (54ºF) and 24ºC (75ºF). Lock in your New York to SFO plane ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.
Look for cheap tickets from New York to San Francisco International Airport in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 5ºC (41ºF) and 16ºC (61ºF).
More about San Francisco
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the most popular stays in San Francisco right here. Explore these hotels as soon as you've locked in your flight from New York to San Francisco International Airport:
There are so many things to explore in this city, it can be hard to figure out where to begin. Golden Gate Bridge, Painted Ladies - Alamo Square and Alcatraz Island are major attractions which should be on every San Francisco itinerary.
Explore more of the United States
San Francisco has plenty to offer, but there are so many other parts of the United States just waiting to be explored. Around 257 kilometres east of San Francisco, a trip to Fresno will keep you on the go. Don't miss top attractions like Forestiere Underground Gardens, Shinzen Japanese Garden and Fresno Chaffee Zoo.
Sacramento is another essential stop in the United States and is around 129 kilometres northeast of San Francisco. No trip is complete without visiting California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento State Historic Park and Crocker Art Museum.