Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Beijing: what you need to know
Approximately 12 hours 2 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Beijing.
The timezone in Beijing is UTC+8. The city is 15 hours ahead of San Francisco, where San Francisco International Airport is located.
With 13 weekly flights between the two airports, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is the most popular route. United operates the earliest flight at 10:35. If you're eager to get more out of your day before you fly, the last flight from SFO to PEK is with Air China at 14:20.
Give yourself plenty of time to make your flight from SFO to Beijing. As a general rule, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
If you're flying during a peak month like August, head to the airport even earlier. It's wise to arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours ahead of a domestic departure. Security lines will be longer during high seasons like summer and spring break.
Nonstop flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Beijing are available for booking. Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is where you'll be touching down.
Book your ticket with United. This well-known airline operates direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Beijing.
Think about adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper flight from SFO to Beijing. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for the departures. Break up the journey at one of these airports:
Haneda Airport (HND)
Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
If you hold a passport from United States, you will need an embassy visa to visit China. This applies when booking a cheap ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Beijing for tourism purposes. Requirements may change if you're travelling for work or other reasons. Always check official visa guidelines before you make travel plans and certainly before flying.
Located around 21 kilometres from central San Francisco, SFO can be reached in about 20 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The same journey by public transport is roughly 47 minutes.
Catching an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Beijing? Avoid the last-minute rush to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by picking one of these hotels close to SFO:
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Beijing
ر.ق. 1,683 is the cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Beijing. For a return flight on this route, the best price is ر.ق. 2,971. Depending on when and how early you book, these fares could change.
Get cheap tickets from SFO to Beijing by booking at least 2 months ahead. Based on our research, that's the sweet spot for finding a bargain.
Organise your trip for October. That's the cheapest month for tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Beijing. If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across every month.
Log into your online account or use the app to create a Price Alert. We'll get in touch right away if there's a cheaper deal on this route. It doesn't take long, and it'll save you time checking for cheap flight tickets from SFO to Beijing every day.
Play around with the filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from San Francisco International Airport to Beijing, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by departure and arrival times, airline, and number of stops.
Airports in Beijing
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is around 31 kilometres from the centre of Beijing. With a cab or in your own car rental, the drive is about 40 minutes.
If you're arriving on a late flight from San Francisco International Airport to Beijing, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing not long after at one of these hotels near PEK:
Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Daxing International Airport (PKX) is about 56 kilometres from the centre of Beijing. Once you've disembarked your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Beijing, it'll take you around 1 hour and 3 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
After your flight from SFO to Beijing, rest your head at a hotel close to PKX. These are some great options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
Best time to go to Beijing
It's time to work out your trip dates for your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Beijing. July is the busiest month to visit Beijing. If you want a quieter atmosphere, go in February.
The warmest month in Beijing is July, with temperatures ranging between 21ºC and 35ºC. Lock in your flights from San Francisco International Airport to Beijing in this month if you enjoy this type of weather.
For cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from SFO to Beijing in January when temperatures average between -11ºC and 3ºC.
More about Beijing
Start your Beijing trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Beijing, explore our selection of accommodation options including:
Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven are a couple of popular attractions to put on your Beijing to-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at Tiananmen Square.
Complete your Beijing trip with a car rental
Select one of our car rentals in Beijing and see the sights at your own pace. Easily compare options in one place to find your ideal ride once you've locked in your hotel and cheap flights from San Francisco International Airport to Beijing.
