C$ 320 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to San José – Compare and Save

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

• Earliest: departs at 12:08 am and lands at 6:37 am
• Latest: departs at 11:35 pm and lands at 6:04 am.

The flight takes about 6h 29m.

A direct flight from San Francisco to San José takes 6h 29m, covering 7,870 km.

Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

Round-trip flights from San Francisco to San José range from C$ 803 to C$ 1,270, with an average of C$ 1,035 over the past 12 months. Anything below C$ 803 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route – booked within 2 weeks of departure – run 3% below the route average of C$ 1,035. Booking late can sometimes save money on this route, but inventory is limited.

On this route, layover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Layover fares average C$ 641 round-trip via Orlando (MCO), compared to C$ 1,212 for direct.

United Airlines is the only airline operating San Francisco to San José flights. 88% of its flights are on time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge C$ 49–C$ 141 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Boeing 737 variants.

Night is the busiest departure period on San Francisco to San José flights, with 100% leaving in that window. Morning departures account for 0%, Afternoon flights for 0%, and Evening flights for 0%.

Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about C$ 964 to C$ 5,479. That means the highest observed fare was about 6x higher than the lowest one.

JetBlue is the only airline on the San Francisco to San José route offering in-flight Wi-Fi. Pricing depends on fare class.

One-way fares from San Francisco to San José are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about C$ 409, which is 10% below the typical average for this route.

San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around C$ 2 for economy cars. Top options include:
• Budget
• Avis
• Priceless
• Routes Car & Truck Rentals
• Payless

Flights from San Francisco to San José usually depart from San Francisco (SFO) and arrive at San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO).

Night flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

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 José route, 12% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 1 hour 37 minutes.

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

• San Salvador El Salvador Intl (SAL) – 79% of one-stop connections
• Panama City Tocumen Intl (PTY) – 9% of one-stop connections
• Los Angeles (LAX) – 5% of one-stop connections
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL) – 4% of one-stop connections

San Salvador El Salvador Intl (SAL) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 13% on the San Francisco to San José route. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at C$ 965 round-trip on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at C$ 1,100, a difference of C$ 135. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

Only United Airlines operates flights between San Francisco and San José.

Flying via San Salvador El Salvador Intl (SAL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 8h 40m, compared with 10h 04m via Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and 10h 38m via Houston George Bush Intcntl (IAH).

San José is 1 hour ahead of San Francisco (Central Time vs Pacific Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Some of the most popular sights in San José are Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, Parque Nacional, and Parque Metropolitano La Sabana. These are among the most viewed places in San José on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating San Francisco to San José flights:

• United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection

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

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

• United Airlines: a carry-on bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• Copa Airlines: a carry-on bag and a checked bag in Business Class
• Azul: a carry-on bag and a checked bag in Business Class

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

SFO offers business services such as printing, copying and document translation. Freshen Up has nap rooms and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport.