How long is the flight from South Africa to California?

Flight times vary depending on what airport in South Africa you fly out of and what airport in California you fly into. For example, flying from Johannesburg OR Tambo to Los Angeles Los Angeles takes 25h 55m on average. On the other hand, flying from Cape Town Intl to Los Angeles Los Angeles takes 24h 50m on average. Keep in mind that it’s always quicker to opt for a non-stop flight, so be sure to check momondo to see if there are any available for your route.

R9 879 Cheap Flights to California in 2026/27

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Recent flights found to popular cities in California

Find flights to these popular cities in California from your nearest airport.

Flights to San Francisco

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Virgin Atlantic

Oct 6

CPT

36h 51m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 28

SFO

32h 27m

2 stops

CPT

R15 257

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 6

CPT

36h 51m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 28

SFO

33h 25m

1 stop

CPT

R15 289

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 13

CPT

33h 01m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 24

SFO

33h 10m

1 stop

CPT

R15 305

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 2

CPT

32h 53m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 18

SFO

28h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R15 338

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 13

CPT

29h 57m

1 stop

SFO

Dec 8

SFO

62h 16m

2 stops

CPT

R15 809

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 17

CPT

33h 11m

2 stops

SFO

Oct 24

SFO

32h 40m

2 stops

CPT

R16 248

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 14

JNB

28h 40m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 21

SFO

22h 56m

1 stop

JNB

R16 394

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 14

JNB

34h 07m

2 stops

SFO

Oct 21

SFO

22h 56m

1 stop

JNB

R16 475

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 4

JNB

34h 17m

2 stops

SFO

Oct 11

SFO

26h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 524

Multiple Airlines

Sept 30

CPT

37h 38m

2 stops

SFO

Oct 28

SFO

32h 27m

2 stops

CPT

R16 605

Multiple Airlines

Oct 2

CPT

29h 49m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 18

SFO

33h 45m

2 stops

CPT

R16 654

Multiple Airlines

Oct 9

CPT

35h 54m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 20

SFO

33h 45m

2 stops

CPT

R16 670

Flights to Los Angeles

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British Airways

Mar 8

JNB

27h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Apr 12

LAX

28h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R15 435

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 5

JNB

25h 55m

1 stop

LAX

Mar 31

LAX

26h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R15 549

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 5

JNB

32h 29m

2 stops

LAX

Mar 31

LAX

27h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R15 614

British Airways

Nov 16

JNB

27h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 28

LAX

29h 55m

1 stop

JNB

R15 679

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 5

CPT

33h 10m

1 stop

LAX

Dec 2

LAX

19h 59m

1 stop

CPT

R15 679

Virgin Atlantic

Jan 19

JNB

26h 30m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

25h 10m

1 stop

JNB

R15 744

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 2

CPT

37h 21m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 18

LAX

23h 15m

1 stop

CPT

R15 744

Virgin Atlantic

Jan 19

JNB

44h 49m

2 stops

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

26h 10m

1 stop

JNB

R15 793

British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

27h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

30h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R15 825

British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

33h 00m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

26h 30m

2 stops

JNB

R15 858

British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

33h 00m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

26h 30m

2 stops

JNB

R15 874

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 2

JNB

32h 35m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 9

LAX

29h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R15 939

Flights to San Diego

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Delta

Nov 25

JNB

33h 29m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 2

SAN

37h 23m

2 stops

JNB

R16 361

British Airways

Nov 25

JNB

47h 05m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 2

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R16 394

Delta

Nov 25

JNB

29h 13m

1 stop

SAN

Dec 2

SAN

34h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 410

Virgin Atlantic

Dec 11

JNB

33h 40m

2 stops

SAN

May 25

SAN

34h 40m

2 stops

JNB

R16 573

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 4

JNB

31h 34m

2 stops

SAN

Nov 18

SAN

35h 35m

2 stops

JNB

R16 621

United Airlines

Nov 1

CPT

28h 38m

1 stop

SAN

Nov 8

SAN

25h 25m

1 stop

CPT

R17 125

Multiple Airlines

Dec 14

JNB

26h 30m

2 stops

SAN

May 25

SAN

22h 35m

1 stop

JNB

R17 223

Delta

Oct 30

CPT

32h 22m

2 stops

SAN

Nov 4

SAN

24h 50m

2 stops

CPT

R17 255

Delta

Nov 4

JNB

23h 53m

1 stop

SAN

Nov 18

SAN

29h 45m

2 stops

JNB

R17 531

Multiple Airlines

Dec 12

JNB

33h 40m

2 stops

SAN

May 25

SAN

28h 45m

1 stop

JNB

R17 905

Multiple Airlines

Dec 11

JNB

26h 30m

2 stops

SAN

May 25

SAN

22h 35m

1 stop

JNB

R18 457

British Airways

Nov 25

JNB

44h 40m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 2

SAN

34h 56m

2 stops

JNB

R18 685

Find the cheapest flights from South Africa to California

Return

One-way

Last minute

Recent return flight deals from South Africa to California

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

19:35 - 16:10JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SAN San Diego

30h 35m1 stop London Heathrow

19:40 - 9:25SAN San Diego-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

28h 45m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 240British Airways

Wed, Dec 23 - Fri, May 7

20:05 - 23:56CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

36h 51m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

18:38 - 12:05SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

32h 27m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles London Heathrow

R15 257Virgin Atlantic

Tue, Oct 6 - Wed, Oct 28

20:05 - 21:55CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

34h 50m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

17:40 - 12:05SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

33h 25m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 257Virgin Atlantic

Tue, Oct 6 - Wed, Oct 28

19:35 - 13:25JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

27h 50m1 stop London Heathrow

19:45 - 9:25LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

28h 40m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 435British Airways

Mon, Mar 8 - Mon, Apr 12

19:35 - 16:10JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SAN San Diego

30h 35m1 stop London Heathrow

19:40 - 9:25SAN San Diego-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

28h 45m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 971Multiple Airlines

Wed, Dec 23 - Tue, May 25

19:35 - 16:10JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SAN San Diego

30h 35m1 stop London Heathrow

19:40 - 9:25SAN San Diego-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

28h 45m1 stop London Heathrow

R16 004Multiple Airlines

Thu, Dec 24 - Tue, May 25

19:40 - 16:40JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

31h 00m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

22:05 - 11:25LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

27h 20m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 296Air France

Mon, Nov 2 - Tue, Nov 17

19:40 - 18:25JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

32h 45m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

22:05 - 11:25LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

27h 20m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 296Air France

Mon, Nov 2 - Sun, Nov 15

21:20 - 20:49JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SAN San Diego

33h 29m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Seattle/Tacoma Intl

19:47 - 19:10SAN San Diego-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

37h 23m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 361Delta

Wed, Nov 25 - Wed, Dec 2

20:50 - 11:00CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

23h 10m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

5:50 - 18:35LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

26h 45m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 589Delta

Thu, Oct 29 - Mon, Nov 2

Recent last minute flight deals from South Africa to California

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

20:15 - 15:55JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SFO San Francisco

28h 40m1 stop London Heathrow

6:00 - 19:40SFO San Francisco-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

28h 40m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 345Virgin Atlantic

Mon, Sep 21 - Sun, Oct 4

23:15 - 14:45JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

24h 30m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

13:50 - 21:20LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

22h 30m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

R16 345KLM

Sat, Sep 26 - Mon, Oct 19

23:15 - 14:45JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

24h 30m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

9:45 - 21:20LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

26h 35m2 stops Seattle/Tacoma Intl Amsterdam Schiphol

R16 345KLM

Sat, Sep 26 - Mon, Oct 19

20:15 - 19:58JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SFO San Francisco

32h 43m2 stops London Heathrow Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

14:00 - 19:40SFO San Francisco-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

20h 40m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 426Virgin Atlantic

Mon, Sep 21 - Sun, Oct 4

18:50 - 11:40JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

25h 50m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

16:45 - 21:20LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

43h 35m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

R16 719Multiple Airlines

Thu, Sep 24 - Sat, Oct 10

7:40 - 11:45CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

37h 05m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

20:10 - 22:10SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

41h 00m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 914Multiple Airlines

Mon, Sep 21 - Sun, Oct 4

7:40 - 15:08CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

40h 28m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Minneapolis St Paul

23:55 - 17:50LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

32h 55m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R17 564Delta

Mon, Sep 21 - Sun, Sep 27

7:40 - 15:08CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

40h 28m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Minneapolis St Paul

23:55 - 17:50LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

32h 55m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R17 629Delta

Mon, Sep 21 - Sun, Sep 27

18:50 - 13:10JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

27h 20m2 stops Paris Charles de Gaulle London Heathrow

23:15 - 10:20LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

26h 05m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R20 326Air France

Thu, Sep 24 - Mon, Oct 5

18:50 - 13:10JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

27h 20m2 stops Paris Charles de Gaulle London Heathrow

23:15 - 10:20LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

26h 05m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R21 723Air France

Thu, Sep 24 - Sat, Oct 10

Fly from

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight

JohannesburgSan Diego

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - SAN San Diego

JNBSAN

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Wed 23/12

19:35-16:10

1 stop30h 35m

San Diego

Fri 7/5

19:40-9:25

1 stop28h 45m

R15 240

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Tue 6/10

20:05-23:56

1 stop36h 51m

San Francisco

Wed 28/10

18:38-12:05

2 stops32h 27m

R15 257

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Tue 6/10

20:05-21:55

1 stop34h 50m

San Francisco

Wed 28/10

17:40-12:05

1 stop33h 25m

R15 257

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 8/3

19:35-13:25

1 stop27h 50m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Mon 12/4

19:45-9:25

1 stop28h 40m

R15 435

JohannesburgSan Diego

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - SAN San Diego

JNBSAN

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Wed 23/12

19:35-16:10

1 stop30h 35m

San Diego

Tue 25/5

19:40-9:25

1 stop28h 45m

R15 971

JohannesburgSan Diego

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - SAN San Diego

JNBSAN

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 24/12

19:35-16:10

1 stop30h 35m

San Diego

Tue 25/5

19:40-9:25

1 stop28h 45m

R16 004

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 2/11

19:40-16:40

1 stop31h 00m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Tue 17/11

22:05-11:25

2 stops27h 20m

R16 296

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 2/11

19:40-18:25

1 stop32h 45m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Sun 15/11

22:05-11:25

2 stops27h 20m

R16 296

JohannesburgSan Diego

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - SAN San Diego

JNBSAN

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Wed 25/11

21:20-20:49

2 stops33h 29m

San Diego

Wed 2/12

19:47-19:10

2 stops37h 23m

R16 361

Fastest return journey

Cape TownLos Angeles

CPT Cape Town Intl - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

CPTLAX

Cape Town Intl

Thu 29/10

20:50-11:00

1 stop23h 10m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Mon 2/11

5:50-18:35

1 stop26h 45m

R16 589

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Showing 1-10 of 20 resultsSorted by cheapest first

California flights insights and trends

Explore insights for your California flight to craft the best travel plan

Airlines

Other information

Which airlines fly to California?

Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines and Qatar Airways are the top three most popular airlines that fly to California from South Africa according to our data. Virgin Atlantic is the first choice among our users, with 27% of people opting to fly with this airline when travelling to California. Keep in mind that there are 11 different airlines that fly to California on a routine basis, so you have a few additional options to choose from.

Cheapest flights to cities in California

Click on the cities below to find out when it's cheapest to fly to California from South Africa

San Francisco

Find flights to San Francisco

Cheap California flight deals and tips

Summary info about California flight prices, duration and airlines

Best One-Way Price	R9 879
Best Round-Trip Price	R14 639
Fastest flight time	25h 40m
Popular in	July

The best one-way flight price to California from South Africa in the last 5 days is R9 879 (Cape Town Intl to San Francisco).

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The best return flight price to California from South Africa in the last 5 days is R14 639 (Cape Town Intl to San Francisco).

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The fastest flight to California from South Africa takes 25h 40m (Johannesburg OR Tambo to San Francisco).

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July has the highest demand for flights to California, with a 13% price increase on average.

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Frequently asked questions about flying to California

What is the cheapest flight I can find to California?

The average flight to California costs R6 981/per person and the cheapest flight to California is R1 425/per person. This price varies based on a multitude of factors such as departure airport, airline, time of booking and when you plan on travelling.

What is the best airport to fly into to visit San Francisco?

44% of momondo users visit San Francisco more often than any other city in California. When travelling to San Francisco, typically the most convenient airport to fly into is San Francisco Airport.

I plan on visiting The Wiltern. Which airport is the quickest drive?

The closest airport to The Wiltern is Los Angeles Airport, and would make for the quickest drive. For those interested in a secondary airport to fly into, consider looking at flights heading to Santa Ana, California Airport.

What are the most popular landmarks in California?

Many visitors who travel to California find themselves making a stop at popular landmarks such as The Wiltern, Fisherman's Wharf, and Crypto.com Arena.

What is the weather like in California?

California typically has a temperature range from 51,8 °F(January) to 62,6 °F(September). Those looking to avoid rain and/or snow while visiting California should plan their trip in July, August, or June, as these months are relatively less likely to have precipitation.

Which airlines fly to California?

Virgin Atlantic is the most popular airline offering flights to California, with 27% of our users opting to fly with them when travelling to California. Other popular options include United Airlines and Qatar Airways. There are a total of 11 different airlines flying to California.

When did momondo last update prices for flights to California?

Prices for flights to California are updated daily.

How many operators does momondo search for flights to California?

As of September 2026, there are 13 operators available to choose from for flights to California.

How old do you have to be to fly to California?

The minimum age a child must be to fly alone is five but airlines that offer an unaccompanied minor (UNMR) service will have their own age restrictions, including rules around flight length, timings, and stopovers. We always recommend checking with the individual airline you are booking with to travel to California.

What documentation or ID do you need to fly to California?

The necessary travel and health documents for your California trip may vary depending on your travel plans and individual circumstances. Generally, you should have various documents, such as a national ID card or driver's licence and a passport that is valid for six months beyond your scheduled arrival date. We recommend seeking advice from your airline or a trusted third party, such as IATA.

Why use momondo?

Why should I use momondo to find a flight deal to California?

momondo collates all your flight options in one place and lets you filter them to find the perfect flight to California. momondo saves you time and could save you money on your trip.

Can I find flights to California with flexible booking policies on momondo?

Yes. momondo enables you to select and highlight flights to California with this policy.

How can momondo help me find flights to California?

momondo helps you find the best flight to California by providing filters to narrow your choice of flights to those matching your criteria. You can select fights based on numerous factors such as price, departure and landing times, airport and airline.

I’m not ready to book a flight to California right now. Can momondo alert me if prices change?

If you are simply researching potential flights to California, momondo offers a useful price alert feature which will track prices for flights to California and alert you when they change.