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 04m 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.

R10 123 Cheap Flights to California in 2026

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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 9

CPT

36h 51m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 24

SFO

33h 10m

1 stop

CPT

R15 201

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 9

CPT

36h 51m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 24

SFO

33h 10m

1 stop

CPT

R15 217

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 20

CPT

35h 54m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 27

SFO

36h 50m

2 stops

CPT

R15 297

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 20

CPT

35h 54m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 27

SFO

33h 25m

1 stop

CPT

R15 377

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 20

CPT

35h 54m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 27

SFO

33h 25m

1 stop

CPT

R15 457

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 9

CPT

33h 01m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 24

SFO

39h 27m

2 stops

CPT

R15 665

Delta

Sept 13

CPT

36h 52m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 11

SFO

32h 36m

1 stop

CPT

R16 002

Delta

Sept 13

CPT

36h 52m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 11

SFO

32h 36m

1 stop

CPT

R16 018

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 20

CPT

33h 11m

2 stops

SFO

Oct 27

SFO

36h 50m

2 stops

CPT

R16 258

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 25

JNB

28h 40m

1 stop

SFO

Mar 14

SFO

29h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 306

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 20

CPT

33h 11m

2 stops

SFO

Oct 27

SFO

36h 25m

2 stops

CPT

R16 338

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 6

JNB

28h 40m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 12

SFO

28h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 338

Flights to Los Angeles

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Virgin Atlantic

Oct 9

CPT

32h 28m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 25

LAX

32h 55m

1 stop

CPT

R15 649

British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

33h 00m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

26h 30m

2 stops

JNB

R15 682

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 9

CPT

32h 28m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 25

LAX

32h 55m

1 stop

CPT

R15 682

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 9

CPT

32h 28m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 25

LAX

32h 55m

1 stop

CPT

R15 730

British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

33h 00m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

30h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R15 762

Turkish Airlines

Nov 8

JNB

26h 15m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 16

LAX

41h 55m

1 stop

JNB

R15 778

Delta

Sept 24

JNB

27h 09m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 10

LAX

35h 45m

1 stop

JNB

R15 810

Virgin Atlantic

Dec 23

JNB

26h 30m

1 stop

LAX

Jan 13

LAX

29h 10m

1 stop

JNB

R15 826

Turkish Airlines

Oct 28

JNB

26h 15m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 4

LAX

40h 55m

1 stop

JNB

R15 842

Delta

Dec 3

JNB

32h 00m

2 stops

LAX

Jun 30

LAX

26h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R15 858

Delta

Dec 1

JNB

32h 35m

2 stops

LAX

Jul 1

LAX

26h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R15 890

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 20

JNB

25h 55m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 27

LAX

33h 20m

2 stops

JNB

R15 906

Flights to San Diego

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British Airways

Dec 23

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

May 4

SAN

31h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R14 945

British Airways

Oct 20

JNB

29h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 25

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R14 961

British Airways

Dec 23

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

May 11

SAN

31h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R15 265

Multiple Airlines

Dec 23

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

May 4

SAN

31h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R15 409

British Airways

Dec 22

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

May 25

SAN

28h 45m

1 stop

JNB

R15 425

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 7

JNB

36h 27m

2 stops

SAN

Oct 14

SAN

20h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R15 457

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 5

JNB

33h 24m

2 stops

SAN

Oct 12

SAN

28h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 553

Multiple Airlines

Dec 24

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

May 4

SAN

28h 45m

1 stop

JNB

R15 794

British Airways

Oct 20

JNB

29h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 25

SAN

34h 53m

2 stops

JNB

R16 082

British Airways

Dec 23

JNB

30h 05m

2 stops

SAN

Apr 27

SAN

28h 45m

1 stop

JNB

R16 178

Delta

Dec 23

JNB

32h 10m

2 stops

SAN

May 11

SAN

32h 16m

2 stops

JNB

R16 258

Delta

Dec 23

JNB

32h 10m

2 stops

SAN

Apr 25

SAN

21h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R16 274

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

16:45 - 9:25SAN San Diego-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

31h 40m1 stop London Heathrow

R14 945British Airways

Wed, Dec 23 - Tue, May 4

21:15 - 17:50JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SAN San Diego

29h 35m1 stop London Heathrow

18:00 - 10:25SAN San Diego-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

30h 25m1 stop London Heathrow

R14 961British Airways

Tue, Oct 20 - Mon, Jan 25

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

36h 51m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

17:55 - 12:05SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

33h 10m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 201Virgin Atlantic

Fri, Oct 9 - Sat, Oct 24

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

36h 51m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

17:55 - 12:05SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

33h 10m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 217Virgin Atlantic

Fri, Oct 9 - Sat, Oct 24

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

30h 35m1 stop London Heathrow

16:45 - 9:25SAN San Diego-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

31h 40m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 409Multiple Airlines

Wed, Dec 23 - Tue, May 4

0:20 - 16:35JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

26h 15m1 stop Istanbul

18:30 - 22:25LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

41h 55m1 stop Istanbul

R15 778Turkish Airlines

Sun, Nov 8 - Mon, Nov 16

21:55 - 16:04JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

27h 09m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

22:55 - 19:40LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

35h 45m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R15 810Delta

Thu, Sep 24 - Sat, Oct 10

21:55 - 20:25JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

31h 30m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

12:15 - 19:40LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

22h 25m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R15 810Delta

Mon, Oct 5 - Wed, Mar 31

0:20 - 17:35JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

26h 15m1 stop Istanbul

19:30 - 22:25LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

40h 55m1 stop Istanbul

R15 842Turkish Airlines

Wed, Oct 28 - Wed, Nov 4

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

36h 51m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

17:55 - 12:40SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

33h 45m2 stops London Heathrow Johannesburg OR Tambo

R16 498Multiple Airlines

Fri, Oct 9 - Sat, Oct 24

Recent last minute flight deals from South Africa to California

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

20:05 - 23:57CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

36h 52m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

23:59 - 18:35SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

32h 36m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 002Delta

Sun, Sep 13 - Wed, Nov 11

20:05 - 23:57CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

36h 52m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

23:59 - 18:35SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

32h 36m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 018Delta

Sun, Sep 13 - Wed, Nov 11

20:15 - 19:26JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAS Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

56h 11m2 stops London Heathrow Seattle/Tacoma Intl

9:44 - 19:40LAS Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

24h 56m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 082Virgin Atlantic

Sun, Sep 13 - Sun, Oct 11

23:15 - 19:36CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

29h 21m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Los Angeles Los Angeles

14:47 - 6:25SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

29h 38m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 627Multiple Airlines

Sun, Sep 13 - Wed, Nov 11

23:15 - 19:36CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

29h 21m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Los Angeles Los Angeles

14:47 - 6:25SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

29h 38m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 643Multiple Airlines

Sun, Sep 13 - Wed, Nov 11

21:55 - 19:40JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAS Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

30h 45m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

16:05 - 8:25LAS Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

31h 20m2 stops Seattle/Tacoma Intl London Heathrow

R16 739Virgin Atlantic

Sun, Sep 13 - Wed, Oct 7

20:00 - 12:28CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

25h 28m2 stops Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Los Angeles Los Angeles

8:10 - 18:00SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

23h 50m2 stops Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Newark

R16 771United Airlines

Sun, Sep 13 - Wed, Nov 11

20:00 - 12:28CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

25h 28m2 stops Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Los Angeles Los Angeles

8:15 - 18:00SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

23h 45m1 stop Newark

R16 771United Airlines

Sun, Sep 13 - Wed, Nov 11

20:55 - 14:00JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

26h 05m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl

16:20 - 9:10LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

31h 50m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl

R22 073Qatar Airways

Fri, Sep 11 - Sun, Sep 13

20:55 - 19:03JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-ONT Ontario

31h 08m2 stops Doha Hamad Intl Seattle/Tacoma Intl

12:12 - 4:00ONT Ontario-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

30h 48m2 stops Seattle/Tacoma Intl Doha Hamad Intl

R23 915Qatar Airways

Tue, Sep 15 - Tue, Sep 22

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

Tue 4/5

16:45-9:25

1 stop31h 40m

R14 945

JohannesburgSan Diego

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - SAN San Diego

JNBSAN

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 20/10

21:15-17:50

1 stop29h 35m

San Diego

Mon 25/1

18:00-10:25

1 stop30h 25m

R14 961

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Fri 9/10

20:05-23:56

1 stop36h 51m

San Francisco

Sat 24/10

17:55-12:05

1 stop33h 10m

R15 201

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Fri 9/10

20:05-23:56

1 stop36h 51m

San Francisco

Sat 24/10

17:55-12:05

1 stop33h 10m

R15 217

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 4/5

16:45-9:25

1 stop31h 40m

R15 409

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Sun 8/11

0:20-16:35

1 stop26h 15m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Mon 16/11

18:30-22:25

1 stop41h 55m

R15 778

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 24/9

21:55-16:04

1 stop27h 09m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Sat 10/10

22:55-19:40

1 stop35h 45m

R15 810

Fastest return journey

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 5/10

21:55-20:25

1 stop31h 30m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Wed 31/3

12:15-19:40

1 stop22h 25m

R15 810

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Wed 28/10

0:20-17:35

1 stop26h 15m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Wed 4/11

19:30-22:25

1 stop40h 55m

R15 842

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Fri 9/10

20:05-23:56

1 stop36h 51m

San Francisco

Sat 24/10

17:55-12:40

2 stops33h 45m

R16 498

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 29% 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	R10 123
Best Round-Trip Price	R14 945
Fastest flight time	26h 05m
Popular in	July

The best one-way flight price to California from South Africa in the last 5 days is R10 123 (Johannesburg OR Tambo to Los Angeles Los Angeles).

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The best return flight price to California from South Africa in the last 5 days is R14 945 (Johannesburg OR Tambo to San Diego).

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The fastest flight to California from South Africa takes 26h 05m (Johannesburg OR Tambo to Los Angeles Los Angeles).

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July has the highest demand for flights to California, with a 14% 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 921/per person and the cheapest flight to California is R434/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?

43% 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 29% 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.