Route guide · 2,580 miles
Cheap Flights from San Francisco to New York
SFO → JFK · Nonstop 5h 45m · Live round-trip fares
The run from San Francisco (SFO) to New York (JFK) is 2,580 miles of sky, and ticket prices on it are anything but steady. One week can cost double the next. Booking about 4–8 weeks in advance — and watching fares with a free Flyzento alert — is how regulars on this route keep costs down.
Live fares for SFO → JFK are updating. Use the search below for real-time prices.
Search live pricesCheapest recent fare
See live fares
Updated daily
Flight time
5h 45m
Nonstop, typical
Distance
2,580 mi
SFO → JFK
Cheapest month
December 2026
Fares from $138
Nonstop airlines
3
Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines & more
Nonstop flights from San Francisco to New York
The fastest way between the two cities is the nonstop: about 5h 45m for the 2,580-mile run from SFO to JFK. Those flights are flown by Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Delta Air Lines. Prices behave best when you book 4–8 weeks out.
Booking insights: San Francisco → New York
- Distance: 2,580 miles · nonstop flight time: 5h 45m.
- Cheapest upcoming week in the live data starts around Dec 9, with fares from $138.
- Of the months we're tracking right now, December 2026 has the lowest fares, starting at $138.
- Fares tend to bottom out when you book about 4–8 weeks ahead — earlier than that rarely helps, later usually hurts.
- If your dates flex by a day or two, shifting to a midweek departure is the easiest saving there is.
- A free fare alert beats daily checking: we watch this route and ping you when prices drop.
Price trend
Cheapest departure weeks ahead
Departing around Dec 9 is currently the cheapest window — about $11 less than the nearest weeks. Based on recent fares found for this route; prices change quickly.
Cheapest month · San Francisco → New York
December 2026
Every date's recent round-trip fare, at a glance.
Fares from
$138
Cheapest: Mon, Dec 14 — $138 · Priciest: Dec 31 — $204
Get this fare →Recent fares found for specific dates in December 2026. Blank days had no recent fare in our data — ask our team and we'll check them for you.
Free fare alerts
Watch San Francisco (SFO) → New York (JFK)
We check this route's fares daily. The moment the price drops, we'll email you — free, unsubscribe anytime.
Talk to a real person
Get San Francisco → New York flights confirmed by our team
Fares move fast. Send an enquiry and we'll confirm the latest price for your dates by email — free, and no payment is taken online.
- Free to enquire — checking your fare costs nothing.
- Confirmed by email — the full total, bags included, before you pay.
- No payment online — you only pay after you approve the fare.
San Francisco to New York: a traveler's field guide
The flight, honestly
2,580 miles separate San Francisco and New York, and the nonstop flight takes about 5h 45m. On a haul like this, small choices pay off: an aisle seat for stretching, entertainment downloaded before you board, and a real meal in the terminal if your fare doesn't include one.
Who flies it
Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Delta Air Lines fly the route nonstop. Read the fare classes carefully — one carrier's cheapest ticket is a different product from another's. Bags, seat picks and change rules are where the real price difference hides, and our airline guides break them down carrier by carrier.
On the ground
Be at SFO two hours before departure — ninety minutes only if it's a quiet airport at a quiet hour, and you're not checking a bag. Ground transport, parking and terminals are covered in our San Francisco airport guide and the New York airport guide. Headed back the other way? New York to San Francisco fares are tracked separately — the cheap days rarely line up both ways.
Booking it
Right now, December 2026 is the cheapest month we're tracking on this route, from $138. Book 4–8 weeks out for the best shot at the low fares, and don't leave it to the last two weeks — that's when this route's prices step up.
San Francisco to New York flight FAQs
How long is the flight from SFO to JFK?
Plan on about 5h 45m in the air for a nonstop from San Francisco to New York — the route runs roughly 2,580 miles. Connecting flights typically add 2–4 hours.
Are there nonstop flights from San Francisco to New York?
Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Delta Air Lines typically operate nonstop flights from SFO to JFK. Nonstops are usually cheapest when booked 4–8 weeks ahead of departure.
What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to New York?
Right now, December 2026 is shaping up cheapest for San Francisco to New York — we've seen fares from $138 in that month. Prices move fast, so lock in when you see a number you like.
How much are last minute flights from SFO to JFK?
Walking up to this route at the last minute is the expensive way to do it — prices inside 7 days of departure climb fast. The 4–8 weeks booking window is where the value sits.
What is a good round-trip deal from San Francisco to New York?
A good deal is anything at or below the recent fares shown above. Set a free Flyzento alert and we'll ping you the moment fares drop.
Which airlines fly from San Francisco to New York?
You'll mainly see Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Delta Air Lines on San Francisco to New York. Checking each against the live fares below is the surest way to find the lowest price for your dates.
How early should I get to San Francisco airport for this flight?
Plan on two hours before departure for a domestic flight — ninety minutes can work at smaller airports outside peak times. If you're checking a bag, earlier is better; the bag-drop line, not the flight, is what runs late.
Do the cheapest fares on this route include a checked bag?
Usually not. Basic economy fares on most airlines include a carry-on but charge extra for checked bags, and seat selection can cost more too. Add up the real total before comparing — a slightly higher regular fare sometimes works out cheaper. Our team confirms the full breakdown with you before you pay.
More cheap flights from San Francisco
How Flyzento works — Flyzento is a free fare-search and enquiry service. We take no payment online; send an enquiry and our travel team confirms your fare before you pay anything.