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 24h 30m 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 949 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 6

CPT

29h 57m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 3

SFO

33h 25m

1 stop

CPT

R14 514

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 23

CPT

33h 01m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 8

SFO

29h 15m

2 stops

CPT

R14 739

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 6

CPT

36h 51m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 3

SFO

40h 11m

2 stops

CPT

R15 091

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 23

CPT

36h 51m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 8

SFO

39h 30m

2 stops

CPT

R15 155

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 6

CPT

29h 57m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 24

SFO

35h 18m

2 stops

CPT

R15 299

Delta

Oct 23

CPT

28h 49m

2 stops

SFO

Nov 8

SFO

26h 15m

2 stops

CPT

R15 972

Delta

Oct 6

CPT

33h 01m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 26

SFO

25h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R15 988

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 13

JNB

28h 40m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 20

SFO

28h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 100

Delta

Oct 6

CPT

29h 57m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 26

SFO

27h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R16 116

Delta

Oct 9

CPT

28h 49m

2 stops

SFO

Oct 23

SFO

35h 20m

2 stops

CPT

R16 197

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 13

JNB

32h 27m

2 stops

SFO

Oct 20

SFO

22h 56m

1 stop

JNB

R16 197

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 24

JNB

28h 40m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 13

SFO

22h 56m

1 stop

JNB

R16 213

Flights to Los Angeles

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Virgin Atlantic

Oct 23

CPT

32h 28m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 6

LAX

32h 55m

1 stop

CPT

R15 508

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 23

CPT

32h 28m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 6

LAX

32h 55m

1 stop

CPT

R15 588

Delta

Sept 24

JNB

27h 09m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 10

LAX

35h 45m

1 stop

JNB

R15 780

Delta

Oct 5

JNB

35h 48m

1 stop

LAX

Mar 31

LAX

26h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R15 796

Delta

Oct 5

JNB

27h 13m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 22

LAX

22h 05m

1 stop

JNB

R15 812

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 18

JNB

33h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 25

LAX

35h 20m

2 stops

JNB

R15 828

Delta

Oct 5

JNB

27h 13m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 24

LAX

24h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R15 844

British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

33h 00m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

26h 30m

2 stops

JNB

R15 876

British Airways

Jan 31

JNB

33h 00m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 10

LAX

26h 30m

2 stops

JNB

R15 908

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 18

JNB

32h 43m

2 stops

LAX

Oct 25

LAX

32h 48m

2 stops

JNB

R15 924

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 14

JNB

32h 22m

2 stops

LAX

Jan 14

LAX

34h 35m

2 stops

JNB

R15 940

United Airlines

Jan 31

JNB

30h 35m

2 stops

LAX

Feb 10

LAX

23h 50m

2 stops

JNB

R16 100

Flights to San Diego

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Virgin Atlantic

Oct 14

JNB

31h 59m

2 stops

SAN

Oct 21

SAN

23h 47m

1 stop

JNB

R15 428

British Airways

Nov 3

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Nov 24

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 556

British Airways

Oct 20

JNB

26h 40m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 20

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 620

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 20

JNB

36h 27m

2 stops

SAN

Jan 20

SAN

26h 50m

2 stops

JNB

R16 405

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 17

CPT

32h 06m

2 stops

SAN

Oct 24

SAN

27h 20m

1 stop

CPT

R16 469

Multiple Airlines

Sept 22

JNB

45h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Oct 21

SAN

35h 27m

2 stops

JNB

R16 693

KLM

Oct 20

JNB

45h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 20

SAN

29h 45m

2 stops

JNB

R16 741

Multiple Airlines

Sept 17

JNB

29h 11m

2 stops

SAN

Oct 7

SAN

25h 23m

2 stops

JNB

R16 757

Multiple Airlines

Nov 3

JNB

46h 11m

1 stop

SAN

Nov 24

SAN

34h 25m

2 stops

JNB

R16 773

United Airlines

Nov 18

CPT

26h 34m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 4

SAN

23h 20m

2 stops

CPT

R16 805

United Airlines

Dec 8

JNB

29h 10m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 29

SAN

37h 25m

2 stops

JNB

R16 821

Air France

Sept 22

JNB

30h 06m

2 stops

SAN

Oct 21

SAN

35h 27m

2 stops

JNB

R16 837

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 - 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 514Virgin Atlantic

Tue, Oct 6 - Tue, Nov 3

20:05 - 20:06CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

33h 01m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

20:50 - 12:05SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

29h 15m2 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl London Heathrow

R14 739Virgin Atlantic

Fri, Oct 23 - Sun, Nov 8

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

30h 35m1 stop London Heathrow

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

30h 25m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 556British Airways

Tue, Nov 3 - Tue, Nov 24

21:15 - 14:55JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SAN San Diego

26h 40m1 stop London Heathrow

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

30h 25m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 620British Airways

Tue, Oct 20 - Wed, Jan 20

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 780Delta

Thu, Sep 24 - Sat, Oct 10

21:55 - 0:43JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

35h 48m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

8:00 - 19:40LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

26h 40m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R15 780Delta

Mon, Oct 5 - Wed, Mar 31

22:00 - 16:39JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

28h 39m2 stops Newark Chicago O'Hare Intl

5:45 - 18:35LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

26h 50m3 stops Houston George Bush Intcntl Washington, D.C. Reagan-National Newark

R16 100United Airlines

Sun, Jan 31 - Wed, Feb 10

22:00 - 18:35JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

30h 35m2 stops Newark Chicago O'Hare Intl

8:45 - 18:35LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

23h 50m2 stops Denver Intl Newark

R16 100United Airlines

Sun, Jan 31 - Wed, Feb 10

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

27h 20m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

21:05 - 11:25LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

28h 20m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 116Air France

Sun, Jan 31 - Wed, Feb 10

19:40 - 16:51JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

31h 11m2 stops Paris Charles de Gaulle Minneapolis St Paul

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

27h 20m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 277Air France

Tue, Jan 19 - Tue, Feb 2

Recent last minute flight deals from South Africa to California

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

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

32h 50m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

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

26h 05m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 116Air France

Mon, Sep 7 - Mon, Sep 21

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

25h 50m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

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

26h 05m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 149Air France

Mon, Sep 7 - Mon, Sep 21

19:50 - 15:35CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

28h 45m2 stops Newark San Francisco

5:30 - 17:10LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

26h 40m2 stops Chicago O'Hare Intl Newark

R16 229United Airlines

Sat, Sep 5 - Wed, Sep 16

19:50 - 15:33CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

28h 43m2 stops Newark Chicago O'Hare Intl

6:00 - 17:10LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

26h 10m1 stop Newark

R16 229United Airlines

Sat, Sep 5 - Wed, Sep 16

21:55 - 0:26JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

35h 31m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

12:10 - 19:40LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

22h 30m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 373Virgin Atlantic

Mon, Sep 7 - Wed, Sep 30

23:15 - 14:45CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

24h 30m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

16:45 - 21:25LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

43h 40m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

R16 725KLM

Thu, Sep 10 - Sun, Sep 13

23:15 - 14:45CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

24h 30m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

13:50 - 5:50LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

31h 00m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

R16 725KLM

Sat, Sep 5 - Wed, Sep 16

18:50 - 15:27JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SAN San Diego

29h 37m2 stops Paris Charles de Gaulle Seattle/Tacoma Intl

13:40 - 21:20SAN San Diego-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

22h 40m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

R17 302Multiple Airlines

Thu, Sep 10 - Thu, Oct 8

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

27h 09m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

7:05 - 8:25LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

40h 20m2 stops Seattle/Tacoma Intl London Heathrow

R18 023Virgin Atlantic

Mon, Sep 7 - Wed, Sep 30

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

27h 20m2 stops Paris Charles de Gaulle London Heathrow

10:45 - 21:20LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

25h 35m2 stops Boston Logan Intl Amsterdam Schiphol

R20 314Multiple Airlines

Mon, Sep 7 - Wed, Sep 30

Fly from

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Tue 6/10

20:05-17:02

1 stop29h 57m

San Francisco

Tue 3/11

16:40-12:05

1 stop33h 25m

R14 514

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Fri 23/10

20:05-20:06

1 stop33h 01m

San Francisco

Sun 8/11

20:50-12:05

2 stops29h 15m

R14 739

JohannesburgSan Diego

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - SAN San Diego

JNBSAN

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 3/11

19:35-16:10

1 stop30h 35m

San Diego

Tue 24/11

18:00-10:25

1 stop30h 25m

R15 556

JohannesburgSan Diego

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - SAN San Diego

JNBSAN

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 20/10

21:15-14:55

1 stop26h 40m

San Diego

Wed 20/1

18:00-10:25

1 stop30h 25m

R15 620

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 780

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 5/10

21:55-0:43

1 stop35h 48m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Wed 31/3

8:00-19:40

1 stop26h 40m

R15 780

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Sun 31/1

22:00-16:39

2 stops28h 39m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Wed 10/2

5:45-18:35

3 stops26h 50m

R16 100

Fastest return journey

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Sun 31/1

22:00-18:35

2 stops30h 35m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Wed 10/2

8:45-18:35

2 stops23h 50m

R16 100

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Sun 31/1

19:40-13:00

1 stop27h 20m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Wed 10/2

21:05-11:25

1 stop28h 20m

R16 116

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 19/1

19:40-16:51

2 stops31h 11m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Tue 2/2

22:05-11:25

2 stops27h 20m

R16 277

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 949
Best Round-Trip Price	R14 514
Fastest flight time	26h 25m
Popular in	June

The best one-way flight price to California from South Africa in the last 5 days is R9 949 (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 514 (Cape Town Intl to San Francisco).

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The fastest flight to California from South Africa takes 26h 25m (Johannesburg OR Tambo to San Francisco).

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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 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?

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 29% 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 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.