Cheap Flights from Boston to San Francisco
BOS → SFO • About 6h 25m nonstop • 4 airlines
Adults
+12 years old
Children
2-11 years old
Infants
Under 2 years
Fares shown are the lowest we have recorded recently on this route and are not a live quote. Run a search above for today's availability, or call (800) 399-8818 and an agent will price it with you.
Flights from Boston (BOS) to San Francisco (SFO)
The Boston to San Francisco route covers roughly 2,700 miles and takes about 6h 25m nonstop. 4 airlines compete on it — JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines — which keeps fares moving and makes it worth comparing carriers rather than defaulting to the one you usually fly. We have seen one-way fares on this route start around $172.
San Francisco is compact, walkable in bursts, and steeper than photographs suggest. Seven square miles hold the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Chinatown, the Mission murals and some of the best food in the country.
It is also the gateway to Napa, Sonoma, Muir Woods and Highway 1 — most visitors build in at least one day outside the city.
Airlines flying BOS to SFO
- JetBlue Airways
- United Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Alaska Airlines
Airports on this route
- Departing: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Arriving: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Arriving: Oakland International Airport (OAK)
- Arriving: Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)
Best time to fly to San Francisco
September through November, which is genuinely the city's warmest and clearest stretch — summer is famously foggy and cold.
Top things to do in San Francisco
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Alcatraz Island
- Fisherman's Wharf
- Golden Gate Park
- Cable cars
- The Mission District
- Chinatown
How to save on Boston to San Francisco flights
- Shift your departure by one or two days — midweek departures on this route are consistently cheaper than Friday and Sunday.
- Book four to eight weeks ahead. Last-minute fares on BOS to SFO routinely run double the advance price.
- Compare all 4 carriers rather than checking one airline's own site.
- Pack a jacket regardless of season; summer afternoons on the coast rarely clear 60°F.
- Oakland and San José airports are often cheaper and connect to the city by BART or Caltrain.
- Book Alcatraz tickets weeks ahead — they sell out well in advance in every season.
About flights from Boston to San Francisco
Fares on the BOS to SFO route move with demand, so flexibility is worth more than timing tricks. Shifting your departure by a day or two, flying midweek instead of Friday or Sunday, and booking four to eight weeks ahead all reduce the fare on this route. Our agents also hold consolidator and unpublished fares that do not appear in online results.
JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines all operate on this route. JetBlue Airways typically offers the most frequencies, with United Airlines and Delta Air Lines providing competing schedules. Availability varies by season and by which Boston airport you depart from, so it is worth comparing all carriers before booking.
A nonstop flight takes about 6h 25m. Itineraries with a connection typically add two to four hours depending on the layover city and the length of the stop.
The two cities are roughly 2,700 miles apart by air.
Departures leave from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). Arrivals land at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK), Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC).
September through November, which is genuinely the city's warmest and clearest stretch — summer is famously foggy and cold.