Flying from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA): what you need to know
Take a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport and you'll be travelling for an average of 2 hours 15 minutes.
San Francisco and Seattle are both in the UTC-8 timezone. This means you won't have to change your watch on arrival.
Flights from SFO to SEA start at 06:00 — the earliest with Alaska Airlines. The latest departure is at 23:15 with United Airlines. In total, there are 130 weekly San Francisco International Airport to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport flights.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are golden rules for stress-free travel. Make sure you're at the airport on time to catch your SFO to SEA flight.
Travelling during a peak time such as July? Public holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer lines and delays at security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
With direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport available through various airlines, getting to Seattle (and then other destinations in the United States) is a cinch. You can travel nonstop with these carriers:
The majority of travellers choose to travel with Alaska Airlines on this route.
With a reliable 81.98% of services arriving as planned, United is the most punctual carrier offering SFO to SEA flights.
Consider adding a stopover when booking your ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' to break up your journey, or even explore someplace new along the way. Here's where you can stop between SFO and SEA:
Portland Airport
Redmond Airport
Medford Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
At the moment, R 666 is the cheapest price we've seen for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport flight. The best price for a return ticket is R 1,456. Bear in mind that fares could change due to demand at the time of booking.
Don't leave everything to the last moment. You're more likely to find cheap tickets from SFO to SEA if you book early. Airlines often offer some terrific early bird deals.
The cheapest month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest prices if you have a flexible schedule.
Cut down on the time spent looking for cheap flights from SFO to SEA by setting up a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or push notification on the app when fares go down.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from San Francisco International Airport to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport.
Handy information about San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
When it comes to the on-time performance of San Francisco International Airport, data shows 78% of flights complete their journey on time.
Central San Francisco to San Francisco International Airport is approximately 21 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take about 25 minutes to get there if you're driving, catching a taxi or ride-sharing.
Expect a trip time of about 35 minutes on public transport.
Catching an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport? Avoid rushing to the airport (and catch some extra z's) by picking one of these stays close to SFO:
Arriving at Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
The last thing you want is a lengthy trip to your hotel if you're arriving on a late San Francisco International Airport to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport flight. Reserve one of these accommodation options near SEA instead:
Hit the road running by picking up a Seattle / Tacoma International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Thrifty, Europcar or Budget and explore beyond Seattle's main sights.
Lock in the best deal by reserving your vehicle from Seattle / Tacoma International Airport about one week before your travel date.
Getting from Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to central Seattle
Seattle / Tacoma International Airport to the centre of Seattle has a drive time of about 25 minutes. It's approximately 23 kilometres away.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey of roughly 35 minutes.
When to fly to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
July is the busiest month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport. For a quieter experience, go to Seattle in March.
The warmest month in Seattle is August, with the temperature ranging between 12ºC (54ºF) and 28ºC (82ºF). Lock in your flights from San Francisco International Airport to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport in this month if you enjoy this type of weather.
February sees average temperatures of between -1ºC (30ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF). Look for cheap tickets from SFO to SEA sometime around then if you want to travel when it's cooler.
Explore more of the United States
Portland is just one of the many places in the United States waiting to be discovered after you've seen Seattle. Around 241 kilometres away to the south, check out popular attractions including Portland Japanese Garden, Peninsula Park Rose Garden and Beyond Van Gogh Portland.
Spokane is another well-known destination in the United States and is around 370 kilometres east of Seattle. No journey is complete without dropping by Riverside State Park, Spokane Falls (Upper Falls) and Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes.
