SFO - SAN

₹ 5,592 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to San Diego – Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
₹ 8,909
Typical prices: ₹ 12,733-₹ 27,666
Frontier
Sat 24/11Sat 1/12
SFO - SAN • Direct
Cheapest one-way flight
₹ 5,592
Typical prices: ₹ 8,456-₹ 20,335
Alaska Airlines
Sun 11/11
SFO - SAN • Direct
Direct flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines, Southwest, and others. Average duration is 1h 41m.
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 79% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 6 weeks in advance save around 53% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 22% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top stopover airports
Cheapest • Avg ₹ 14,824 (return)
Shortest trip • 3h 50m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Start a new search
KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you enjoy your trip to San Diego!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to San Diego (SFO-SAN)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from San Francisco to San Diego

Tue, 24 Nov - Tue, 1 Dec
Frontier Logo
08:44 - 10:26SFO  San Francisco-SAN San Diego
1h 42mdirect
Frontier Logo
19:51 - 21:43SAN  San Diego-SFO San Francisco
1h 52mdirect
₹ 8,909Frontier
3+ days ago
Sun, 22 Nov - Tue, 1 Dec
Frontier Logo
17:33 - 19:11SFO  San Francisco-SAN San Diego
1h 38mdirect
Frontier Logo
19:51 - 21:43SAN  San Diego-SFO San Francisco
1h 52mdirect
₹ 9,098Frontier
3+ days ago
Mon, 23 Nov - Wed, 2 Dec
Frontier Logo
17:33 - 19:11SFO  San Francisco-SAN San Diego
1h 38mdirect
Frontier Logo
19:51 - 21:43SAN  San Diego-SFO San Francisco
1h 52mdirect
₹ 9,288Frontier
3+ days ago
Thu, 26 Nov - Wed, 2 Dec
Frontier Logo
08:44 - 10:26SFO  San Francisco-SAN San Diego
1h 42mdirect
Frontier Logo
19:51 - 21:43SAN  San Diego-SFO San Francisco
1h 52mdirect
₹ 9,477Frontier
3+ days ago
Sat, 14 Nov - Sat, 14 Nov
Alaska Airlines Logo
14:44 - 16:22SFO  San Francisco-SAN San Diego
1h 38mdirect
Alaska Airlines Logo
20:12 - 21:57SAN  San Diego-SFO San Francisco
1h 45mdirect
₹ 10,615Alaska Airlines
3+ days ago
Wed, 18 Nov - Wed, 18 Nov
Alaska Airlines Logo
14:44 - 16:22SFO  San Francisco-SAN San Diego
1h 38mdirect
Alaska Airlines Logo
20:07 - 21:52SAN  San Diego-SFO San Francisco
1h 45mdirect
₹ 10,615Alaska Airlines
3+ days ago
Fri, 6 Nov - Sat, 7 Nov
United Airlines Logo
07:00 - 08:36SFO  San Francisco-SAN San Diego
1h 36mdirect
United Airlines Logo
18:26 - 20:10SAN  San Diego-SFO San Francisco
1h 44mdirect
₹ 11,089United Airlines
3+ days ago
Thu, 12 Nov - Thu, 19 Nov
Southwest Logo
06:50 - 08:25SFO  San Francisco-SAN San Diego
1h 35mdirect
Southwest Logo
16:30 - 18:15SAN  San Diego-SFO San Francisco
1h 45mdirect
₹ 11,089Southwest
3+ days ago
Wed, 11 Nov - Wed, 18 Nov
Southwest Logo
16:55 - 18:35SFO  San Francisco-SAN San Diego
1h 40mdirect
Southwest Logo
08:45 - 10:35SAN  San Diego-SFO San Francisco
1h 50mdirect
₹ 11,089Southwest
3+ days ago
Fri, 13 Nov - Mon, 16 Nov
Alaska Airlines Logo
07:04 - 08:42SFO  San Francisco-SAN San Diego
1h 38mdirect
Alaska Airlines Logo
20:12 - 21:57SAN  San Diego-SFO San Francisco
1h 45mdirect
₹ 11,089Alaska Airlines
3+ days ago
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for San Francisco to San Diego flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

How much is a return flight from San Francisco to San Diego?

Return flights from San Francisco to San Diego typically range from ₹ 12,733 to ₹ 27,666. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was ₹ 8,909 on Frontier.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from San Francisco to San Diego?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from San Francisco to San Diego. It’s 12% cheaper than the average day, while Sunday is the most expensive, with prices 9% higher.

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to San Diego?

•October is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to San Diego at ₹ 14,880 return.
•March (₹ 23,314) and April (₹ 22,272) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 56% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from San Francisco to San Diego the cheapest?

Flights from San Francisco to San Diego are cheapest 6 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 53% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Key details for San Francisco to San Diego flights

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

₹ 5,592
Beat the crowds with an average 26% drop in traveller numbers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 30% increase in traveller numbers.
One-way flight from San Francisco to San Diego

When to book flights from San Francisco to San Diego

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Francisco to San Diego based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

Your San Francisco to San Diego flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking tips.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from San Francisco to San Diego?

    These are the earliest and latest flight times available from San Francisco to San Diego:

    • Earliest: departs at 05:30 and lands at 07:11
    • Latest: departs at 22:44 and lands at 00:25.

    The flight takes about 1h 41m.

  • Which cabin classes can I book on flights from San Francisco to San Diego?

    Only Economy class is available on flights from San Francisco to San Diego.

  • How long is a flight from San Francisco to San Diego?

    A direct flight from San Francisco to San Diego takes 1h 41m, covering 1,156 km.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from San Francisco to San Diego?

    No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need another form of identification, such as a driving licence.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a San Francisco to San Diego flight?

    Return flights from San Francisco to San Diego range from ₹ 12,733 to ₹ 27,666, with an average of ₹ 19,142 over the past 12 months. Anything below ₹ 12,733 counts as a good deal.

  • How expensive are last-minute San Francisco to San Diego flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 49% above the ₹ 19,142 route average. Book 6 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How much can I save by having a stopover when flying from San Francisco to San Diego?

    On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average ₹ 14,824 return via Salt Lake City (SLC), compared with ₹ 19,193 for direct.

  • How does on-time performance compare across airlines flying from San Francisco to San Diego?

    United Airlines is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Alaska Airlines has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on San Francisco to San Diego flights are:

    • United Airlines: 79% on time
    • Alaska Airlines: 72% on time
    • Frontier: 60% on time

    On average, flights on this route are punctual 70% of the time.

  • What is the standard checked bag allowance on flights from San Francisco to San Diego?

    There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge ₹ 3,791–₹ 9,476 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

  • Which aircraft model is used most often on flights from San Francisco to San Diego?

    The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Southwest and Alaska Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Boeing 737 MAX 8 variants.

  • How are flight departures from San Francisco to San Diego spread across the day?

    Morning is the busiest departure period on San Francisco to San Diego flights, with 39% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 38%, Evening flights for 19%, and Night flights for 4%.

  • Have flight prices from San Francisco to San Diego changed much recently?

    Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, return flight prices on this route showed a wide range, from about ₹ 8,909 to ₹ 64,329. That means the highest observed fare was about 7x higher than the lowest one.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi on San Francisco to San Diego flights?

    Two airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi on San Francisco to San Diego flights:

    • Alaska Airlines
    • JetBlue

    Pricing varies by airline and fare class. Some plans are included with the ticket or loyalty programme, while others are paid add-ons priced by flight length.

  • How are flight prices from San Francisco to San Diego looking right now?

    One-way fares from San Francisco to San Diego are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about ₹ 6,340, which is 54% below the typical average for this route.

  • Which car hire options are available at San Diego Airport (SAN)?

    San Diego Airport (SAN) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around ₹ 1,334 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Dollar
    • Payless
    • Europcar
    • Thrifty
    • Fox

  • Which airports can I use when flying from San Francisco to San Diego?

    Flights from San Francisco to San Diego usually depart from San Francisco (SFO) and arrive at San Diego (SAN).

  • What time of day has the fewest delays on flights from San Francisco to San Diego?

    Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route, while afternoon departures tend to have the most.

  • At what point is a flight considered delayed on the route from San Francisco to San Diego?

    A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the San Francisco to San Diego route, 30% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 2h 07m.

  • Which airports do connecting flights from San Francisco to San Diego pass through?

    One-stop flights from San Francisco to San Diego most commonly connect through:

    • Los Angeles (LAX) – 39% of one-stop connections
    • Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) – 28% of one-stop connections
    • Denver Intl (DEN) – 22% of one-stop connections
    • Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) – 6% of one-stop connections

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from San Francisco to San Diego?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 20% on flights from San Francisco to San Diego. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at ₹ 16,870 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at ₹ 21,040, a difference of ₹ 4,170.

    KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to three days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • Which airlines fly from San Francisco to San Diego?

    4 airlines operate flights between San Francisco and San Diego. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

    • United Airlines
    • Southwest
    • Alaska Airlines
    • Frontier

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different stopover airport from San Francisco to San Diego?

    Flying via Los Angeles (LAX) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 3h 50m, compared to 4h 45m via Salt Lake City (SLC) and 6h 08m via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX).

  • What popular places can I visit in San Diego?

    Some of the most popular sights in San Diego are Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego Convention Center, and San Diego Zoo. These are among the most viewed places in San Diego on KAYAK.

  • Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on San Francisco to San Diego flights?

    Among airlines operating San Francisco to San Diego flights:

    • Frontier: offers free seat selection
    • Alaska Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
    • Southwest: offers free seat selection
    • United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
    • American Airlines: offers free seat selection

    Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on San Francisco to San Diego flights?

    Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

    • Frontier: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
    • Alaska Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
    • Southwest: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

    Baggage allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

  • What if I just want to relax? Is there a quiet room at San Francisco International Airport?

    Sometimes you just want a little solitude before getting on your flight. While waiting on your flight from San Francisco to San Diego, visit SFO’s yoga room in Terminal 2 where you can meditate, stretch, and exercise. There are also a number of lounges in the airport including the Delta Sky Club, United Club, and both the Admiral and Centurion Clubs (by American Express).

  • What restaurants are close to the San Francisco International Airport?

    Around the airport are a number of great restaurants for dining. Within a couple of miles is a sushi spot (Zen Sushi Bistro), a steakhouse (Hangar Steak), and a Benihana. If you prefer something quick, consider Wendy’s on Gateway Boulevard, Hana Hawaiian Barbecue on San Mateo Avenue, or McDonald’s on Airport Boulevard.

  • Are there hotels close to the San Diego International Airport?

    If you’re only in town 2-3 days, you might want to just stay at or around the airport. Staying close to the airport is also convenient when you have a very early morning flight. There are several hotels less than a mile from the airport, including the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Holiday Inn Express.

  • Is it easy to get around the San Diego International Airport?

    Getting around SAN is not too difficult. The airport offers a simple design which includes three terminals. Terminal 1 houses Southwest, Frontier, and Allegiant Airlines. There are also numerous restaurants here for passengers such as Ciao Gourmet Market, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Emerald Express. British Airways, jetBlue, and Alaska Airlines are all located in Terminal 2. It also offers passengers a variety of dining options from Bubbles Seafood and Wine Bar to the California Pizza Kitchen. A shuttle is easily accessible and makes it convenient to get from one terminal to the other.

Your guide to booking San Francisco to San Diego flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly, and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Tuesday departure and avoid flying on Sunday. On this route, Tuesday flights average ₹ 16,870, about ₹ 4,170 less than Sunday fares (20% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 6 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 53% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your San Francisco to San Diego trip for October. Fares historically average ₹ 14,880 return in that month – typically ₹ 8,435 less than the most expensive month, which is March (based on the last 12 months).
  • For the best chance of arriving on time, fly with United Airlines. Over the past three months, 79% of United Airlines flights from San Francisco to San Diego arrived on time, slightly above the route average of 70%. When flights on this route arrive late, they're delayed by an average of 2h 07m, so choosing an airline with strong on-time performance can make a difference if you're on a tight schedule.
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest stopover option averages ₹ 14,824 return on this route – about ₹ 4,369 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to San Diego Airport.

    • Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown Little Italy
    • Bay Club Hotel & Marina
    • Sheraton San Diego Resort
  • Enjoy non-stop flights from San Francisco to San Diego with Alaska, Southwest, or United Airlines. These flights take off throughout both the day and evening and last about an hour and a half. You will depart from San Francisco International Airport and will land at San Diego International Airport.
  • Parking at San Francisco International Airport is abundant. There is long-term parking found both in a garage and lot. Parking costs around $25 per day and includes express entry and exit. Shuttle service to airport terminals is also provided 24/7.
  • Along with food and shopping, San Francisco International Airport offers a number of cultural and educational opportunities. Learn about the history of the airport through exhibits in international terminal hall. You might also read a book in the Christian Science Reading Room (Terminal 1, near Gate 40) or watch a short film in the screening room which is also in the international terminal hall.
  • San Diego International Airport, or SAN, is conveniently located off of I-5. It is a short drive from outdoor attractions like Windansea Beach and La Jolla Caves, and than 10 minutes from Petco Park (home of the San Diego Padres) and the downtown area.
  • Getting to downtown or other communities in San Diego from the airport is quite convenient via Bus Route 992. It is only a 10-minute ride and the bus will pick you up just outside of baggage claim. If you don’t want to use public transportation, there are a number of transportation companies that provide shuttle service from the airport -- simply catch a shuttle at Transportation Plaza in either Terminal 1 or 2.

Prefer to fly direct from San Francisco to San Diego?

 
Find which airlines fly direct from San Francisco Airport to San Diego Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

San Francisco to San Diego

Monday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Friday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Diego to San Francisco

Monday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Friday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,Frontier,Southwest, +1 more

Alaska Airlines,Frontier, +2 more

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from San Francisco to San Diego

Complete your trip to San Diego with a hotel stay or car hire