Flying from San Francisco: what you need to know
SFO is tech-money central, and that shows up in the fare structure. Domestic business route prices (SFO-JFK, SFO-SEA, SFO-LAX) run higher than average because of corporate demand. But international routes — particularly to Asia — are where SFO delivers real value.
United has a Pacific hub here with nonstops to Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Sydney, and more. The competition from carriers like ANA, JAL, EVA Air, and Philippine Airlines keeps pricing honest. SFO to Tokyo can hit $450 roundtrip in low season, which is remarkable for a 10-hour flight.
The European route map is growing. SFO has nonstop service to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Frankfurt, Munich, and Zurich. Aer Lingus and Norse Atlantic are the budget-friendly options — the Dublin and London routes both regularly go below $450.
one underrated SFO trick: compare fares against Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC). Southwest operates out of both, and budget carriers like Volaris use OAK for Mexico routes at half the SFO price. The three airports are within an hour of each other for most Bay Area residents.
Seasonality at SFO follows a predictable pattern. January-March is cheapest for transpacific, April-May is the sweet spot for Europe (book by February), and October-November offers across-the-board deals before the holiday spike. Summer is expensive everywhere — no way around it.