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 26h 05m 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.

R9 902 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 29

CPT

32h 53m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 10

SFO

33h 25m

1 stop

CPT

R14 684

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 6

CPT

34h 50m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 26

SFO

36h 50m

2 stops

CPT

R15 362

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 29

CPT

36h 52m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 10

SFO

31h 22m

2 stops

CPT

R15 395

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 13

CPT

33h 01m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 2

SFO

33h 50m

2 stops

CPT

R15 427

Delta

Sept 13

CPT

36h 52m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 11

SFO

32h 36m

1 stop

CPT

R16 186

Delta

Sept 13

CPT

36h 52m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 11

SFO

32h 36m

1 stop

CPT

R16 202

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 26

CPT

26h 50m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 13

SFO

28h 30m

2 stops

CPT

R16 251

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 26

CPT

33h 40m

2 stops

SFO

Nov 13

SFO

28h 30m

2 stops

CPT

R16 348

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 13

JNB

28h 40m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 20

SFO

22h 56m

1 stop

JNB

R16 396

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 13

JNB

32h 27m

2 stops

SFO

Oct 20

SFO

26h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 477

Multiple Airlines

Oct 16

CPT

25h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 22

SFO

30h 35m

2 stops

CPT

R16 526

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 4

CPT

26h 50m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 10

SFO

36h 00m

2 stops

CPT

R16 590

Flights to Los Angeles

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Virgin Atlantic

Oct 11

CPT

30h 13m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 27

LAX

32h 55m

1 stop

CPT

R15 782

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 20

CPT

32h 21m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 30

LAX

32h 55m

1 stop

CPT

R15 815

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 9

CPT

29h 03m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 24

LAX

27h 50m

1 stop

CPT

R15 863

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 9

CPT

29h 03m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 24

LAX

19h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R15 879

Virgin Atlantic

Dec 10

JNB

33h 00m

1 stop

LAX

Jan 14

LAX

34h 35m

2 stops

JNB

R16 025

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 20

JNB

25h 55m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 27

LAX

24h 15m

1 stop

JNB

R16 041

Delta

Oct 5

JNB

43h 54m

2 stops

LAX

Nov 1

LAX

38h 15m

2 stops

JNB

R16 057

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 6

JNB

33h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 12

LAX

33h 20m

2 stops

JNB

R16 073

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 12

JNB

35h 24m

2 stops

LAX

Feb 4

LAX

35h 35m

2 stops

JNB

R16 089

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 12

JNB

32h 43m

2 stops

LAX

Oct 19

LAX

30h 05m

2 stops

JNB

R16 122

Air France

Nov 26

JNB

27h 20m

1 stop

LAX

Dec 3

LAX

30h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R16 154

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 6

JNB

33h 15m

2 stops

LAX

Nov 12

LAX

36h 00m

2 stops

JNB

R16 170

Flights to San Diego

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Virgin Atlantic

Oct 14

JNB

30h 47m

2 stops

SAN

Oct 21

SAN

26h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R15 476

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 12

JNB

36h 27m

2 stops

SAN

Oct 19

SAN

23h 47m

1 stop

JNB

R15 621

KLM

Sept 17

JNB

45h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Oct 7

SAN

29h 55m

2 stops

JNB

R16 784

KLM

Sept 17

JNB

30h 22m

2 stops

SAN

Oct 7

SAN

29h 00m

2 stops

JNB

R16 865

United Airlines

Nov 18

CPT

35h 37m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 6

SAN

47h 55m

2 stops

CPT

R16 946

Air France

Oct 14

JNB

32h 05m

2 stops

SAN

Oct 21

SAN

35h 27m

2 stops

JNB

R17 059

KLM

Oct 12

JNB

28h 59m

2 stops

SAN

Oct 19

SAN

25h 23m

2 stops

JNB

R17 091

British Airways

Jan 27

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 31

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R17 188

United Airlines

Oct 13

CPT

27h 57m

1 stop

SAN

Oct 27

SAN

26h 25m

1 stop

CPT

R17 188

British Airways

Jan 27

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 31

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R17 285

British Airways

Jan 27

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 31

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R17 349

British Airways

Jan 27

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 31

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R17 414

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.

20:05 - 19:58CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

32h 53m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

16:40 - 12:05SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

33h 25m1 stop London Heathrow

R14 684Virgin Atlantic

Tue, Sep 29 - Tue, Nov 10

20:05 - 17:02CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

29h 57m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

16:40 - 12:05SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

33h 25m1 stop London Heathrow

R14 684Virgin Atlantic

Tue, Oct 13 - Mon, Nov 2

21:55 - 8:49JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

43h 54m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Dallas/Fort Worth

18:55 - 19:10LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

38h 15m2 stops Dallas/Fort Worth Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 057Delta

Mon, Oct 5 - Sun, Nov 1

21:55 - 10:02JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

45h 07m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson New York John F Kennedy Intl

22:55 - 19:10LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

34h 15m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 057Delta

Mon, Oct 5 - Sun, Nov 1

19:40 - 13:00JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

27h 20m1 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 122Air France

Thu, Nov 26 - Thu, Dec 3

19:40 - 13:00JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

27h 20m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

18:55 - 11:25LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

30h 30m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 154Air France

Thu, Nov 26 - Thu, Dec 3

23:59 - 11:45JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

45h 46m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

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

27h 20m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 251Multiple Airlines

Sat, Nov 21 - Tue, Dec 1

23:59 - 11:45JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

45h 46m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

18:55 - 11:25LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

30h 30m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 283Multiple Airlines

Sat, Nov 21 - Tue, Dec 1

20:00 - 9:33CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

22h 33m1 stop Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

7:00 - 18:00LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

26h 00m2 stops Chicago O'Hare Intl Newark

R16 364United Airlines

Sun, Oct 11 - Tue, Oct 27

20:00 - 13:06CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

26h 06m2 stops Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Chicago O'Hare Intl

8:15 - 18:00LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

24h 45m2 stops Chicago O'Hare Intl Newark

R16 364United Airlines

Sun, Oct 11 - Tue, Oct 27

Recent last minute flight deals from South Africa to California

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

10:05 - 14:25JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

37h 20m1 stop Dubai Intl

16:40 - 16:15LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

38h 35m1 stop Dubai Intl

R23 165Emirates

Mon, Aug 31 - Sun, Sep 6

13:45 - 12:50JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

56h 05m2 stops Singapore Changi Tokyo Narita

23:30 - 19:20LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

34h 50m1 stop Singapore Changi

R25 394Singapore Airlines

Mon, Aug 31 - Sun, Sep 6

20:25 - 12:50JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

49h 25m2 stops Singapore Changi Tokyo Narita

14:20 - 19:20LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

44h 00m2 stops Tokyo Narita Singapore Changi

R27 252Singapore Airlines

Mon, Aug 31 - Sun, Sep 6

11:10 - 13:55JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

35h 45m2 stops Hong Kong Intl Tokyo Narita

8:15 - 3:55LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

34h 40m3 stops Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Intl Athens Eleftherios V. Addis Ababa Bole

R34 973Multiple Airlines

Mon, Aug 31 - Sun, Sep 6

21:15 - 13:50JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

25h 35m1 stop London Heathrow

22:30 - 9:25LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

25h 55m2 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl London Heathrow

R74 825British Airways

Mon, Aug 31 - Sun, Sep 6

21:15 - 17:44JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

29h 29m2 stops London Heathrow Chicago O'Hare Intl

21:30 - 9:25LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

26h 55m2 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl London Heathrow

R74 971British Airways

Mon, Aug 31 - Sun, Sep 6

11:10 - 11:15JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

33h 05m1 stop Hong Kong Intl

0:25 - 7:55LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

46h 30m1 stop Hong Kong Intl

R83 258Cathay Pacific

Mon, Aug 31 - Sat, Sep 5

20:10 - 14:25JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

51h 15m3 stops Harare Lusaka Dubai Intl

11:42 - 16:15LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

43h 33m2 stops Houston George Bush Intcntl Dubai Intl

R158 988Emirates

Mon, Aug 31 - Sun, Sep 6

20:10 - 14:25JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

51h 15m3 stops Harare Lusaka Dubai Intl

16:40 - 14:25LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

60h 45m3 stops Dubai Intl Lusaka Harare

R166 709Emirates

Mon, Aug 31 - Sun, Sep 6

Fly from

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Tue 29/9

20:05-19:58

1 stop32h 53m

San Francisco

Tue 10/11

16:40-12:05

1 stop33h 25m

R14 684

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Tue 13/10

20:05-17:02

1 stop29h 57m

San Francisco

Mon 2/11

16:40-12:05

1 stop33h 25m

R14 684

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 5/10

21:55-8:49

2 stops43h 54m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Sun 1/11

18:55-19:10

2 stops38h 15m

R16 057

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 5/10

21:55-10:02

2 stops45h 07m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Sun 1/11

22:55-19:10

1 stop34h 15m

R16 057

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 26/11

19:40-13:00

1 stop27h 20m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Thu 3/12

22:05-11:25

2 stops27h 20m

R16 122

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 26/11

19:40-13:00

1 stop27h 20m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Thu 3/12

18:55-11:25

1 stop30h 30m

R16 154

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Sat 21/11

23:59-11:45

1 stop45h 46m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Tue 1/12

22:05-11:25

2 stops27h 20m

R16 251

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Sat 21/11

23:59-11:45

1 stop45h 46m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Tue 1/12

18:55-11:25

1 stop30h 30m

R16 283

Fastest return journey

Cape TownLos Angeles

CPT Cape Town Intl - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

CPTLAX

Cape Town Intl

Sun 11/10

20:00-9:33

1 stop22h 33m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Tue 27/10

7:00-18:00

2 stops26h 00m

R16 364

Cape TownLos Angeles

CPT Cape Town Intl - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

CPTLAX

Cape Town Intl

Sun 11/10

20:00-13:06

2 stops26h 06m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Tue 27/10

8:15-18:00

2 stops24h 45m

R16 364

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 British 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	R9 902
Best Round-Trip Price	R14 684
Fastest flight time	26h 05m
Popular in	June

The best one-way flight price to California from South Africa in the last 5 days is R9 902 (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 684 (Cape Town Intl to San Francisco).

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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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June has the highest demand for flights to California, with a 10% 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 978/per person and the cheapest flight to California is R438/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 30% of our users opting to fly with them when travelling to California. Other popular options include United Airlines and British 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 August 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.