Flights from San Francisco to Beijing
This city pair covers the SFO, OAK, SJC airports to PEK — roughly 9,494 km and about 12 hours in the air, 2 nonstop carriers on these airports. Compare every airport pair below.
Searching flights from San Francisco to Beijing? The route covers roughly 9,494 km and typically takes about 12 hours in the air, with nonstop services recorded on this pair. San Francisco departure airports: SFO, OAK, SJC; arrival: PEK. Compare every option below and book with the provider offering your price.
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Airports on this route
Flights from San Francisco depart from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK), Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) — the city search covers all of them, and low-cost carriers often use the secondary airports with the lowest fares.
You will land at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK).
Airlines with nonstop service on this route
Air China, United Airlines are recorded with nonstop service between these airports in our reference schedule data.
Route and airline facts are compiled from the OpenFlights route database (ODbL 1.0), a scheduled-service snapshot. Schedules change: the live search always shows current availability.
Connections and stopovers
At roughly 9,494 km this is a long-haul trip. Nonstop services exist mainly on flagship hub pairs; elsewhere the market is served with one stop, commonly through major Gulf, European or Asian hubs depending on the airlines involved.
One-stop itineraries are often markedly cheaper than nonstops at this distance — compare both, and weigh total journey time against the saving before choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Beijing?
Flight time is typically around 12 hours in the air for a nonstop; one-stop itineraries take longer including the connection.
What is the distance from San Francisco to Beijing?
The great-circle distance is roughly 9,494 km (5,896 miles).
Are there direct flights from San Francisco to Beijing?
Yes — Air China, United Airlines fly this pair nonstop in the reference schedule data. Schedules change seasonally, so the live search confirms today's options.
Which airports can I use in Beijing?
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Searching by city covers all of them at once.
How do I get the best price on this route?
Compare midweek dates, check nearby departure airports, and book international trips a few months ahead. The search above shows current fares from our booking partners.
How far in advance should I book flights from San Francisco to Beijing?
long-haul trips like this are most often cheapest when booked around two to four months out — and at their most expensive inside the last two weeks. These are booking windows, not rules — fares change constantly, so compare dates in the search above and book when the total, bags included, is right.
What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Beijing?
The cheapest month depends on the demand calendar at Beijing — school holidays, the Christmas–New Year peak and major local events price highest, and shoulder-season months between them price lowest. Rather than trusting a generic answer, open the fare calendar on the search above: it shows real prices for every date this month and next, so the cheap windows are visible immediately.
What day of the week is cheapest to fly from San Francisco to Beijing?
Midweek departures — Tuesday to Thursday — commonly price below Friday–Sunday on routes like San Francisco → Beijing, because leisure demand concentrates at the weekend. The pattern is not guaranteed on every date, so compare a midweek date against your first-choice day in the search above before locking in.
How do I get from PEK airport to Beijing?
Airport Express rail to Dongzhimen ~25 min. T3 is vast — the people mover inside it is part of the arrival time. FlyraGo’s Beijing airport transfer guide compares fixed-price cars, taxis and public transport for this airport.
Do I need a visa to fly from San Francisco to Beijing?
It depends on your nationality, not on the route — two travellers on the same San Francisco → Beijing flight can face completely different entry rules. Check the destination country’s official immigration site or your foreign-ministry travel advice for your passport, and do it before booking: some destinations require a visa obtained in advance, others issue visas or waivers on arrival.
How many bags can I take on flights from San Francisco to Beijing?
Whatever the fare you buy includes — baggage is set by the carrier and fare class, not the route, and the carriers on this pair (Air China, United Airlines) price bags very differently. Low-cost fares usually include cabin bags only and charge per checked bag; full-service fares typically include at least one. Compare totals with your bags added, because a dearer fare with bags included is often cheaper overall.
How do I survive the long-haul flight from San Francisco to Beijing?
Roughly 12 hours in the air is a genuine endurance event, and three choices decide most of it: pick your seat when booking (aisle for freedom, window for sleep), decide your sleep strategy before boarding rather than halfway through, and book your Beijing transfer in advance so the arrival half of the journey is already solved when you land, tired.