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 takes 25h 55m on average. On the other hand, flying from Cape Town Intl to Los Angeles takes 27h 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 865 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 16

CPT

25h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 29

SFO

21h 50m

1 stop

CPT

R15 156

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 8

CPT

27h 50m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 15

SFO

26h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R15 172

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 13

CPT

33h 01m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 24

SFO

33h 10m

1 stop

CPT

R15 188

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 16

CPT

33h 11m

2 stops

SFO

Oct 29

SFO

25h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R15 237

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 8

CPT

32h 24m

2 stops

SFO

Nov 15

SFO

26h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R15 253

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 13

CPT

29h 57m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 24

SFO

32h 40m

2 stops

CPT

R15 351

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 20

CPT

29h 57m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 27

SFO

38h 25m

2 stops

CPT

R15 367

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 13

CPT

29h 57m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 20

SFO

56h 40m

2 stops

CPT

R15 823

Virgin Atlantic

Feb 9

CPT

32h 47m

1 stop

SFO

Mar 9

SFO

42h 30m

1 stop

CPT

R15 953

Multiple Airlines

Oct 16

CPT

28h 54m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 29

SFO

27h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R16 051

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 20

CPT

33h 11m

2 stops

SFO

Oct 27

SFO

34h 16m

2 stops

CPT

R16 344

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 8

JNB

34h 29m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 15

SFO

30h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R16 360

Flights to Los Angeles

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Multiple Airlines

Nov 9

JNB

31h 30m

2 stops

LAX

Nov 16

LAX

30h 55m

2 stops

JNB

R15 302

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 9

JNB

32h 35m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 16

LAX

29h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R15 546

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 9

CPT

33h 15m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 16

LAX

24h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R15 563

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 9

JNB

32h 35m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 16

LAX

29h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R15 579

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 9

JNB

37h 06m

2 stops

LAX

Oct 18

LAX

27h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R15 628

Virgin Atlantic

Jan 19

JNB

33h 27m

2 stops

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

20h 55m

1 stop

JNB

R15 644

Virgin Atlantic

Jan 19

JNB

26h 30m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

25h 10m

1 stop

JNB

R15 677

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 1

CPT

35h 45m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 15

LAX

28h 00m

1 stop

CPT

R15 677

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 16

CPT

27h 00m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 29

LAX

25h 25m

1 stop

CPT

R15 693

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 12

CPT

33h 10m

1 stop

LAX

Dec 5

LAX

22h 08m

1 stop

CPT

R15 709

Virgin Atlantic

Jan 19

JNB

33h 03m

2 stops

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

22h 10m

1 stop

JNB

R15 725

British Airways

Nov 10

JNB

27h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 17

LAX

25h 45m

2 stops

JNB

R15 742

Flights to San Diego

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British Airways

Feb 26

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Mar 9

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R16 018

Delta

Nov 25

JNB

27h 09m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 2

SAN

34h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 279

Delta

Nov 25

JNB

27h 09m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 2

SAN

34h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 393

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 29

CPT

31h 46m

1 stop

SAN

Nov 3

SAN

42h 25m

1 stop

CPT

R16 474

Virgin Atlantic

Dec 1

CPT

34h 29m

1 stop

SAN

Feb 2

SAN

42h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R16 588

KLM

Dec 22

JNB

46h 11m

1 stop

SAN

May 25

SAN

22h 35m

1 stop

JNB

R16 718

Multiple Airlines

Dec 22

JNB

46h 11m

1 stop

SAN

May 25

SAN

34h 06m

2 stops

JNB

R16 784

Virgin Atlantic

Feb 26

JNB

35h 15m

2 stops

SAN

Mar 9

SAN

27h 10m

2 stops

JNB

R16 849

United Airlines

Nov 1

CPT

28h 05m

2 stops

SAN

Nov 10

SAN

25h 10m

2 stops

CPT

R17 044

Multiple Airlines

Feb 26

JNB

33h 40m

2 stops

SAN

Mar 9

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R17 093

Delta

Nov 17

CPT

28h 28m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 5

SAN

25h 15m

2 stops

CPT

R17 109

United Airlines

Nov 17

CPT

28h 22m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 5

SAN

48h 00m

2 stops

CPT

R17 142

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.

23:45 - 15:55CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

25h 10m1 stop London Heathrow

11:45 - 18:35SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

21h 50m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R15 156Virgin Atlantic

Fri, Oct 16 - Thu, Oct 29

21:00 - 14:50CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

27h 50m1 stop London Heathrow

6:00 - 18:35SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

26h 35m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R15 172Virgin Atlantic

Sun, Nov 8 - Sun, Nov 15

23:59 - 21:29JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

31h 30m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol New York John F Kennedy Intl

18:30 - 11:25LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

30h 55m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R15 302Multiple Airlines

Mon, Nov 9 - Mon, Nov 16

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

27h 50m1 stop London Heathrow

18:25 - 10:25LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

30h 00m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 579British Airways

Tue, Feb 9 - Sun, Feb 14

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

27h 50m1 stop London Heathrow

21:30 - 10:25LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

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

R15 628British Airways

Tue, Feb 9 - Sun, Feb 14

20:05 - 15:59CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

28h 54m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

6:00 - 18:35SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

27h 35m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 051Multiple Airlines

Fri, Oct 16 - Thu, Oct 29

20:50 - 18:09CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles

31h 19m2 stops Newark Houston George Bush Intcntl

23:59 - 18:00LAX Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

32h 01m2 stops Houston George Bush Intcntl Newark

R16 230United Airlines

Mon, Nov 9 - Mon, Nov 16

20:50 - 11:24CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles

24h 34m1 stop Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

7:10 - 18:00LAX Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

24h 50m1 stop Newark

R16 230United Airlines

Sun, Dec 13 - Wed, Jan 20

19:40 - 16:45JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

31h 05m2 stops Paris Charles de Gaulle New York John F Kennedy Intl

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

27h 20m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 230Air France

Tue, Jan 19 - Tue, Feb 2

19:40 - 16:35JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

30h 55m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

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

30h 30m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 637Air France

Tue, Jan 12 - Sun, Jan 31

Recent last minute 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 602Virgin Atlantic

Tue, Sep 29 - Tue, Nov 10

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

36h 52m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

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

33h 25m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 188Virgin Atlantic

Tue, Sep 29 - Tue, Nov 10

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

27h 20m2 stops Paris Charles de Gaulle London Heathrow

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

27h 20m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 328Air France

Tue, Sep 29 - Tue, Dec 1

20:00 - 14:49CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

27h 49m2 stops Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Houston George Bush Intcntl

8:45 - 18:00SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

23h 15m2 stops Los Angeles Newark

R16 556United Airlines

Tue, Sep 29 - Tue, Nov 10

20:00 - 11:22CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

24h 22m1 stop Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

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

23h 45m1 stop Newark

R16 556United Airlines

Tue, Sep 29 - Tue, Nov 10

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

37h 05m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

14:50 - 12:40SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

36h 50m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Johannesburg OR Tambo

R16 686KLM

Mon, Sep 28 - Tue, Oct 27

0:15 - 21:34CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

30h 19m2 stops Paris Charles de Gaulle Los Angeles

14:50 - 9:45SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

33h 55m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Johannesburg OR Tambo

R16 849Multiple Airlines

Sun, Sep 27 - Tue, Oct 27

23:15 - 20:32CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

30h 17m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Minneapolis St Paul

22:59 - 18:35SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

34h 36m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R17 060Delta

Thu, Oct 1 - Sat, Oct 31

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

37h 05m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

14:50 - 22:40SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

22h 50m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

R17 109KLM

Mon, Sep 28 - Tue, Oct 27

14:30 - 15:19JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

33h 49m3 stops Addis Ababa Bole Rome Fiumicino Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

23:30 - 13:30LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

29h 00m2 stops Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Addis Ababa Bole

R23 832Ethiopian Air

Mon, Sep 28 - Wed, Oct 7

Fly from

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight

Fastest return journey

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Fri 16/10

23:45-15:55

1 stop25h 10m

San Francisco

Thu 29/10

11:45-18:35

1 stop21h 50m

R15 156

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Sun 8/11

21:00-14:50

1 stop27h 50m

San Francisco

Sun 15/11

6:00-18:35

1 stop26h 35m

R15 172

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 9/11

23:59-21:29

2 stops31h 30m

Los Angeles

Mon 16/11

18:30-11:25

2 stops30h 55m

R15 302

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 9/2

19:35-13:25

1 stop27h 50m

Los Angeles

Sun 14/2

18:25-10:25

1 stop30h 00m

R15 579

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 9/2

19:35-13:25

1 stop27h 50m

Los Angeles

Sun 14/2

21:30-10:25

2 stops26h 55m

R15 628

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Fri 16/10

20:05-15:59

1 stop28h 54m

San Francisco

Thu 29/10

6:00-18:35

1 stop27h 35m

R16 051

Cape TownLos Angeles

CPT Cape Town Intl - LAX Los Angeles

CPTLAX

Cape Town Intl

Mon 9/11

20:50-18:09

2 stops31h 19m

Los Angeles

Mon 16/11

23:59-18:00

2 stops32h 01m

R16 230

Cape TownLos Angeles

CPT Cape Town Intl - LAX Los Angeles

CPTLAX

Cape Town Intl

Sun 13/12

20:50-11:24

1 stop24h 34m

Los Angeles

Wed 20/1

7:10-18:00

1 stop24h 50m

R16 230

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 19/1

19:40-16:45

2 stops31h 05m

Los Angeles

Tue 2/2

22:05-11:25

2 stops27h 20m

R16 230

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 12/1

19:40-16:35

1 stop30h 55m

Los Angeles

Sun 31/1

18:55-11:25

1 stop30h 30m

R16 637

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?

United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Qatar Airways are the top three most popular airlines that fly to California from South Africa according to our data. United Airlines 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 865
Best Round-Trip Price	R15 156
Fastest flight time	26h 20m
Popular in	July

The best one-way flight price to California from South Africa in the last 5 days is R9 865 (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 156 (Cape Town Intl to San Francisco).

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The fastest flight to California from South Africa takes 26h 20m (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 995/per person and the cheapest flight to California is R1 428/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.