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 27h 33m on average. On the other hand, flying from Cape Town Intl to Los Angeles Los Angeles takes 23h 59m 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 312 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

Sept 9

JNB

34h 19m

2 stops

SFO

Sept 16

SFO

23h 07m

1 stop

JNB

R16 440

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 9

JNB

28h 30m

1 stop

SFO

Sept 16

SFO

23h 07m

1 stop

JNB

R16 507

Delta

Sept 15

CPT

26h 01m

2 stops

SFO

Oct 16

SFO

40h 35m

2 stops

CPT

R16 724

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 9

JNB

28h 30m

1 stop

SFO

Sept 16

SFO

26h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 724

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 7

JNB

28h 30m

1 stop

SFO

Sept 20

SFO

28h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 741

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 7

JNB

35h 06m

2 stops

SFO

Sept 14

SFO

28h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 808

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 9

JNB

34h 19m

2 stops

SFO

Sept 16

SFO

26h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 825

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 7

JNB

35h 06m

2 stops

SFO

Sept 14

SFO

28h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 841

United Airlines

Oct 31

CPT

26h 22m

2 stops

SFO

Nov 12

SFO

22h 00m

1 stop

CPT

R16 858

United Airlines

Aug 17

CPT

23h 28m

1 stop

SFO

Aug 26

SFO

26h 10m

2 stops

CPT

R16 892

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 9

JNB

32h 52m

2 stops

SFO

Sept 16

SFO

23h 07m

1 stop

JNB

R16 942

KLM

Sept 7

CPT

37h 05m

1 stop

SFO

Sept 14

SFO

27h 05m

2 stops

CPT

R16 975

Flights to Los Angeles

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Virgin Atlantic

Aug 18

CPT

32h 12m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 2

LAX

28h 00m

1 stop

CPT

R16 205

United Airlines

Sept 4

CPT

24h 32m

1 stop

LAX

Sept 18

LAX

25h 10m

1 stop

CPT

R16 540

United Airlines

Oct 26

CPT

30h 10m

2 stops

LAX

Nov 16

LAX

21h 45m

1 stop

CPT

R16 557

United Airlines

Dec 21

JNB

27h 26m

2 stops

LAX

Jan 1

LAX

32h 00m

2 stops

JNB

R16 791

Air France

Nov 13

JNB

28h 50m

2 stops

LAX

Nov 29

LAX

28h 05m

2 stops

JNB

R16 808

United Airlines

Sept 16

JNB

26h 23m

2 stops

LAX

Sept 30

LAX

34h 00m

2 stops

JNB

R16 858

United Airlines

Aug 17

CPT

28h 45m

2 stops

LAX

Nov 2

LAX

21h 45m

1 stop

CPT

R16 858

United Airlines

Oct 27

CPT

23h 59m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 12

LAX

21h 45m

1 stop

CPT

R16 892

KLM

Sept 24

JNB

45h 35m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 10

LAX

43h 35m

1 stop

JNB

R16 925

United Airlines

Oct 27

CPT

23h 59m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 12

LAX

21h 45m

1 stop

CPT

R16 925

United Airlines

Oct 27

CPT

23h 59m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 12

LAX

21h 45m

1 stop

CPT

R16 942

United Airlines

Oct 27

CPT

23h 24m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 12

LAX

25h 10m

2 stops

CPT

R16 975

Flights to San Diego

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Delta

Dec 22

CPT

23h 20m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 11

SAN

21h 40m

1 stop

CPT

R17 846

KLM

Sept 11

CPT

37h 10m

1 stop

SAN

Sept 18

SAN

38h 26m

2 stops

CPT

R18 482

KLM

Sept 11

CPT

40h 21m

2 stops

SAN

Sept 18

SAN

38h 26m

2 stops

CPT

R18 582

United Airlines

Dec 11

JNB

34h 38m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 1

SAN

37h 25m

2 stops

JNB

R19 085

Delta

Dec 25

CPT

23h 20m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 11

SAN

24h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R19 085

Delta

Sept 11

CPT

37h 10m

1 stop

SAN

Sept 18

SAN

35h 05m

1 stop

CPT

R19 118

Delta

Sept 9

CPT

45h 57m

2 stops

SAN

Sept 16

SAN

34h 20m

1 stop

CPT

R19 152

Multiple Airlines

Nov 13

JNB

30h 18m

2 stops

SAN

Nov 29

SAN

35h 10m

2 stops

JNB

R19 353

British Airways

Dec 17

JNB

36h 05m

2 stops

SAN

Jan 10

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R20 056

Multiple Airlines

Nov 13

JNB

29h 50m

1 stop

SAN

Nov 29

SAN

33h 30m

2 stops

JNB

R20 173

Delta

Dec 21

CPT

26h 20m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 11

SAN

24h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R20 457

United Airlines

Dec 11

JNB

34h 38m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 1

SAN

25h 35m

1 stop

JNB

R20 876

Flights to San Jose, California

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KLM

Sept 7

CPT

41h 33m

2 stops

SJC

Sept 14

SJC

31h 27m

2 stops

CPT

R19 135

Delta

Sept 7

CPT

45h 30m

2 stops

SJC

Sept 14

SJC

26h 10m

1 stop

CPT

R25 781

Qatar Airways

Oct 29

CPT

42h 33m

2 stops

SJC

Nov 2

SJC

49h 25m

2 stops

CPT

R29 431

Qatar Airways

Oct 29

CPT

42h 33m

2 stops

SJC

Nov 2

SJC

49h 25m

2 stops

CPT

R29 447

Qatar Airways

Oct 29

CPT

42h 33m

2 stops

SJC

Nov 2

SJC

49h 25m

2 stops

CPT

R29 464

Qatar Airways

Oct 29

CPT

42h 33m

2 stops

SJC

Nov 2

SJC

49h 25m

2 stops

CPT

R29 648

Qatar Airways

Oct 29

CPT

40h 25m

2 stops

SJC

Nov 2

SJC

40h 35m

2 stops

CPT

R30 134

United Airlines

Oct 29

CPT

35h 09m

3 stops

SJC

Nov 2

SJC

23h 40m

2 stops

CPT

R100 328

United Airlines

Oct 29

CPT

35h 09m

3 stops

SJC

Nov 2

SJC

23h 40m

2 stops

CPT

R100 379

United Airlines

Oct 29

CPT

35h 09m

3 stops

SJC

Nov 2

SJC

23h 40m

2 stops

CPT

R100 462

United Airlines

Oct 29

CPT

35h 09m

3 stops

SJC

Nov 2

SJC

23h 40m

2 stops

CPT

R101 065

United Airlines

Oct 29

CPT

35h 09m

3 stops

SJC

Nov 2

SJC

23h 40m

2 stops

CPT

R102 471

Find the cheapest flights from South Africa to California

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One-way

Last minute

Recent return flight deals from South Africa to California

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

20:05 - 23:57

CPT

SFO

36h 52m

1 stop

13:05 - 10:35

SFO

CPT

35h 30m

2 stops

R15 988Virgin Atlantic

Sun, Sep 20 - Thu, Nov 12

20:05 - 19:17

CPT

LAX

32h 12m

1 stop

22:05 - 12:05

LAX

CPT

28h 00m

1 stop

R16 205Virgin Atlantic

Tue, Aug 18 - Mon, Nov 2

20:00 - 13:00

CPT

LAX

26h 00m

2 stops

5:45 - 17:10

LAX

CPT

26h 25m

2 stops

R16 540United Airlines

Fri, Sep 4 - Fri, Sep 18

20:00 - 11:32

CPT

LAX

24h 32m

1 stop

7:00 - 17:10

LAX

CPT

25h 10m

1 stop

R16 540United Airlines

Fri, Sep 4 - Fri, Sep 18

20:05 - 12:00

CPT

SFO

24h 55m

1 stop

22:59 - 17:50

SFO

CPT

33h 51m

2 stops

R16 724Delta

Tue, Sep 15 - Sun, Oct 11

20:05 - 12:00

CPT

SFO

24h 55m

1 stop

6:00 - 17:50

SFO

CPT

26h 50m

1 stop

R16 724Delta

Tue, Sep 15 - Mon, Oct 12

19:20 - 14:10

JNB

LAX

28h 50m

2 stops

22:05 - 12:10

LAX

JNB

28h 05m

2 stops

R16 808Air France

Fri, Nov 13 - Sun, Nov 29

19:20 - 14:10

JNB

LAX

28h 50m

2 stops

18:55 - 12:10

LAX

JNB

31h 15m

1 stop

R16 858Air France

Mon, Dec 21 - Wed, Dec 30

23:15 - 11:50

JNB

LAX

45h 35m

1 stop

16:45 - 21:20

LAX

JNB

43h 35m

1 stop

R16 925KLM

Thu, Sep 24 - Sat, Oct 10

7:40 - 11:45

CPT

SFO

37h 05m

1 stop

17:45 - 5:50

SFO

CPT

27h 05m

2 stops

R16 975KLM

Mon, Sep 7 - Mon, Sep 14

Fly from

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT - SFO

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Sun 20/9

20:05-23:57

1 stop36h 52m

San Francisco

Thu 12/11

13:05-10:35

2 stops35h 30m

R15 988

Cape TownLos Angeles

CPT - LAX

CPTLAX

Cape Town Intl

Tue 18/8

20:05-19:17

1 stop32h 12m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Mon 2/11

22:05-12:05

1 stop28h 00m

R16 205

Cape TownLos Angeles

CPT - LAX

CPTLAX

Cape Town Intl

Fri 4/9

20:00-13:00

2 stops26h 00m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Fri 18/9

5:45-17:10

2 stops26h 25m

R16 540

Fastest return journey

Cape TownLos Angeles

CPT - LAX

CPTLAX

Cape Town Intl

Fri 4/9

20:00-11:32

1 stop24h 32m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Fri 18/9

7:00-17:10

1 stop25h 10m

R16 540

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT - SFO

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Tue 15/9

20:05-12:00

1 stop24h 55m

San Francisco

Sun 11/10

22:59-17:50

2 stops33h 51m

R16 724

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT - SFO

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Tue 15/9

20:05-12:00

1 stop24h 55m

San Francisco

Mon 12/10

6:00-17:50

1 stop26h 50m

R16 724

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB - LAX

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Fri 13/11

19:20-14:10

2 stops28h 50m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Sun 29/11

22:05-12:10

2 stops28h 05m

R16 808

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB - LAX

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 21/12

19:20-14:10

2 stops28h 50m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Wed 30/12

18:55-12:10

1 stop31h 15m

R16 858

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB - LAX

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 24/9

23:15-11:50

1 stop45h 35m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Sat 10/10

16:45-21:20

1 stop43h 35m

R16 925

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT - SFO

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Mon 7/9

7:40-11:45

1 stop37h 05m

San Francisco

Mon 14/9

17:45-5:50

2 stops27h 05m

R16 975

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 KLM 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 31% of people opting to fly with this airline when travelling to California. Keep in mind that there are 12 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 312
Best Round-Trip Price	R15 988
Fastest flight time	30h 05m

The best one-way flight price to California from South Africa in the last 5 days is R10 312 (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 R15 988 (Cape Town Intl to San Francisco).

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The fastest flight to California from South Africa takes 30h 05m (Johannesburg OR Tambo to Ontario).

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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 R8 024/per person and the cheapest flight to California is R1 881/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 31% of our users opting to fly with them when travelling to California. Other popular options include United Airlines and KLM. There are a total of 12 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 July 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.