Cheap flights from Beijing to San Francisco (PEK to SFO) from $1,317

The cheapest month to fly is October, and departing on Tuesdays typically offers the best fares. Book 6–8 weeks ahead for the best prices.

Book at the right time: For international flights, aim to book 6–10 weeks ahead. Last-minute fares on Beijing to San Francisco are rarely cheap, and prices spike sharply within 2 weeks of departure.

Shift your dates by a day or two: Tuesdays are typically the cheapest day to fly this route. Avoiding Friday and Sunday departures can save significantly. October is historically the cheapest month on this route.

Weigh up connecting flights: Connecting flights on Beijing to San Francisco can be 20–40% cheaper than direct options. If you have time to spare, it's worth comparing.

Factor in baggage fees: Low-cost carriers on this route often advertise attractive base fares but charge separately for checked luggage. Always compare the all-in price — a $20 cheaper fare plus $50 baggage fee is no saving. Hainan Airlines and Korean Air may have different inclusions, so check each airline's fare conditions.

Search in private browsing: Some booking sites use cookies to track repeat searches and may show higher prices after multiple lookups. Use an incognito or private window — or just use Booked AI, which pulls live prices without any tracking markup.

Compare two one-ways against a return: On some international routes, booking a one-way with one airline and the return with another can undercut a standard return ticket — especially if a budget carrier covers one direction. Check both options with the flexible dates calendar above.

The cheapest flights from Beijing to San Francisco start from $1,317, with typical prices ranging from $1,317 to $1,617.

The typical flight time from Beijing to San Francisco is approximately 18 hours and 56 minutes.

Airlines operating this route include Hainan Airlines, Korean Air, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, Lufthansa, JAL, Turkish Airlines, Philippine Airlines, China Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air China, Austrian, EVA Air, ANA, Air Macau, Asiana Airlines.