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 26h 30m on average. On the other hand, flying from Cape Town Intl to Los Angeles takes 27h 10m 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.

R8 939 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

Nov 19

CPT

32h 07m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 23

SFO

33h 25m

1 stop

CPT

R14 772

Virgin Atlantic

Jan 20

CPT

35h 43m

2 stops

SFO

Jan 27

SFO

26h 30m

1 stop

CPT

R15 552

British Airways

Feb 3

JNB

31h 25m

1 stop

SFO

Feb 22

SFO

27h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R15 768

Delta

Jan 21

CPT

25h 31m

2 stops

SFO

Jan 25

SFO

20h 41m

1 stop

CPT

R16 068

Virgin Atlantic

Jan 20

CPT

27h 50m

1 stop

SFO

Jan 27

SFO

42h 30m

1 stop

CPT

R16 101

British Airways

Jan 21

JNB

33h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Jan 25

SFO

27h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R16 200

British Airways

Jan 21

JNB

33h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Jan 25

SFO

27h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R16 217

Virgin Atlantic

Dec 23

JNB

28h 40m

1 stop

SFO

Jan 20

SFO

43h 05m

1 stop

JNB

R16 333

British Airways

Jan 21

JNB

33h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Jan 25

SFO

27h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R16 417

British Airways

Jan 31

JNB

33h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Mar 10

SFO

31h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R16 450

Multiple Airlines

Jan 20

CPT

38h 15m

1 stop

SFO

Jan 28

SFO

29h 15m

1 stop

CPT

R16 466

British Airways

Jan 31

JNB

29h 20m

1 stop

SFO

Mar 10

SFO

27h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R16 466

Flights to Los Angeles

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British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

27h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 453

British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

27h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 552

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 20

JNB

26h 30m

1 stop

LAX

Dec 4

LAX

26h 10m

1 stop

JNB

R15 586

British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

27h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 602

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 19

JNB

32h 15m

2 stops

LAX

Dec 4

LAX

26h 10m

1 stop

JNB

R15 652

British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

27h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 685

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 9

JNB

26h 30m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 17

LAX

29h 30m

1 stop

JNB

R15 702

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 19

JNB

32h 15m

2 stops

LAX

Dec 4

LAX

26h 10m

1 stop

JNB

R15 752

Turkish Airlines

Nov 16

JNB

26h 00m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 23

LAX

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 768

Virgin Atlantic

Jan 22

JNB

33h 09m

2 stops

LAX

Jan 29

LAX

23h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R16 001

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 25

JNB

26h 30m

1 stop

LAX

Dec 4

LAX

21h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 084

British Airways

Jan 17

JNB

27h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Jan 24

LAX

27h 45m

1 stop

JNB

R16 101

Flights to San Diego

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British Airways

Apr 19

JNB

28h 30m

1 stop

SAN

Apr 30

SAN

31h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 184

Virgin Atlantic

Apr 19

JNB

35h 40m

2 stops

SAN

May 2

SAN

23h 45m

1 stop

JNB

R16 367

British Airways

Apr 19

JNB

28h 30m

1 stop

SAN

Apr 30

SAN

31h 41m

2 stops

JNB

R17 031

Multiple Airlines

Apr 19

JNB

28h 40m

2 stops

SAN

Apr 30

SAN

36h 30m

2 stops

JNB

R17 364

KLM

Apr 19

JNB

30h 34m

2 stops

SAN

May 2

SAN

26h 20m

2 stops

JNB

R17 380

British Airways

Nov 17

JNB

31h 45m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 3

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R17 663

British Airways

Jan 27

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 31

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R17 962

British Airways

Nov 17

JNB

31h 45m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 3

SAN

31h 55m

2 stops

JNB

R18 178

Air France

Nov 17

JNB

33h 07m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 3

SAN

33h 14m

2 stops

JNB

R18 194

British Airways

Nov 17

JNB

31h 45m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 3

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R18 211

British Airways

Jan 27

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 31

SAN

37h 05m

2 stops

JNB

R18 743

British Airways

Jan 27

JNB

33h 36m

2 stops

SAN

Jan 31

SAN

34h 24m

2 stops

JNB

R18 842

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.

20:50 - 18:57CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

32h 07m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

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

33h 25m1 stop London Heathrow

R14 772Virgin Atlantic

Thu, Nov 19 - Mon, Nov 23

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

27h 50m1 stop London Heathrow

18:00 - 10:25LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

30h 25m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 453British Airways

Tue, Jan 19 - Tue, Feb 2

21:00 - 22:43CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

35h 43m2 stops London Heathrow Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

6:05 - 18:35SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

26h 30m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R15 552Virgin Atlantic

Wed, Jan 20 - Wed, Jan 27

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

27h 50m1 stop London Heathrow

18:00 - 10:25LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

30h 25m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 552British Airways

Tue, Jan 19 - Tue, Feb 2

19:35 - 18:35JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

33h 00m1 stop London Heathrow

20:40 - 10:25LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

27h 45m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 752Multiple Airlines

Fri, Jan 22 - Fri, Jan 29

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

26h 00m1 stop Istanbul

18:30 - 10:55LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

30h 25m1 stop Istanbul

R15 768Turkish Airlines

Mon, Nov 16 - Mon, Nov 23

19:35 - 15:20JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

29h 45m1 stop London Heathrow

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

30h 00m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 802Multiple Airlines

Fri, Feb 12 - Fri, Feb 19

20:50 - 14:43CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

27h 53m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson New York John F Kennedy Intl

11:54 - 18:35SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

20h 41m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 068Delta

Thu, Jan 21 - Wed, Jan 27

20:50 - 10:44CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

23h 54m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

23:53 - 18:35SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

32h 42m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 068Delta

Thu, Jan 21 - Fri, Jan 29

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

26h 00m1 stop Istanbul

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

41h 55m1 stop Istanbul

R16 500Turkish Airlines

Thu, Nov 19 - Fri, Dec 4

Recent last minute flight deals from South Africa to California

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

21:20 - 0:28JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

37h 08m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

22:05 - 8:20LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

24h 15m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 652Virgin Atlantic

Sat, Nov 7 - Sat, Nov 14

0:20 - 16:30JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SFO San Francisco

26h 10m1 stop Istanbul

18:35 - 22:25SFO San Francisco-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

41h 50m1 stop Istanbul

R15 669Turkish Airlines

Sun, Nov 8 - Mon, Nov 23

21:40 - 14:10JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

26h 30m1 stop London Heathrow

17:10 - 8:40LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

29h 30m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 702Virgin Atlantic

Mon, Nov 9 - Tue, Nov 17

21:00 - 20:15CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles

33h 15m1 stop London Heathrow

5:45 - 18:35LAX Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

26h 50m2 stops Salt Lake City Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 566Delta

Sat, Nov 7 - Mon, Nov 23

20:50 - 16:31CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles

29h 41m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Salt Lake City

8:20 - 18:35LAX Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

24h 15m2 stops Austin Bergstrom Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 566Delta

Fri, Nov 6 - Sun, Nov 22

22:00 - 15:29JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

27h 29m2 stops Newark Chicago O'Hare Intl

6:00 - 18:35LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

26h 35m2 stops Chicago O'Hare Intl Newark

R16 965United Airlines

Sat, Nov 7 - Sat, Nov 14

0:30 - 11:45CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles

45h 15m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

17:15 - 6:25LAX Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

27h 10m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

R17 015Multiple Airlines

Wed, Nov 4 - Thu, Nov 12

20:50 - 10:39CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles

23h 49m1 stop Newark

11:15 - 18:00LAX Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

20h 45m1 stop Newark

R17 031United Airlines

Mon, Nov 9 - Tue, Nov 24

0:30 - 20:35CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles

30h 05m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

17:15 - 6:25LAX Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

27h 10m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

R17 131Multiple Airlines

Wed, Nov 4 - Thu, Nov 12

23:59 - 20:28JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SJC San Jose

30h 29m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Minneapolis St Paul

9:48 - 22:00SJC San Jose-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

26h 12m2 stops Salt Lake City Amsterdam Schiphol

R18 294KLM

Mon, Nov 9 - Mon, Nov 23

Fly from

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Thu 19/11

20:50-18:57

1 stop32h 07m

San Francisco

Mon 23/11

16:40-12:05

1 stop33h 25m

R14 772

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 19/1

19:35-13:25

1 stop27h 50m

Los Angeles

Tue 2/2

18:00-10:25

1 stop30h 25m

R15 453

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Wed 20/1

21:00-22:43

2 stops35h 43m

San Francisco

Wed 27/1

6:05-18:35

1 stop26h 30m

R15 552

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 19/1

19:35-13:25

1 stop27h 50m

Los Angeles

Tue 2/2

18:00-10:25

1 stop30h 25m

R15 552

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Fri 22/1

19:35-18:35

1 stop33h 00m

Los Angeles

Fri 29/1

20:40-10:25

1 stop27h 45m

R15 752

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 16/11

18:50-10:50

1 stop26h 00m

Los Angeles

Mon 23/11

18:30-10:55

1 stop30h 25m

R15 768

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Fri 12/2

19:35-15:20

1 stop29h 45m

Los Angeles

Fri 19/2

18:25-10:25

1 stop30h 00m

R15 802

Fastest return journey

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Thu 21/1

20:50-14:43

2 stops27h 53m

San Francisco

Wed 27/1

11:54-18:35

1 stop20h 41m

R16 068

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Thu 21/1

20:50-10:44

1 stop23h 54m

San Francisco

Fri 29/1

23:53-18:35

1 stop32h 42m

R16 068

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 19/11

18:50-10:50

1 stop26h 00m

Los Angeles

Fri 4/12

18:30-22:25

1 stop41h 55m

R16 500

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 British 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 26% 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	R8 939
Best Round-Trip Price	R14 772
Fastest flight time	26h 10m
Popular in	June

The best one-way flight price to California from South Africa in the last 5 days is R8 939 (Cape Town Intl to Los Angeles).

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The best return flight price to California from South Africa in the last 5 days is R14 772 (Cape Town Intl to San Francisco).

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The fastest flight to California from South Africa takes 26h 10m (Johannesburg OR Tambo to San Francisco).

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June has the highest demand for flights to California, with a 8% 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 R7 112/per person and the cheapest flight to California is R801/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?

37% 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 Moscone Center. Which airport is the quickest drive?

The closest airport to Moscone Center is San Francisco Airport, and would make for the quickest drive. For those interested in a secondary airport to fly into, consider looking at flights heading to San Jose, 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 Moscone Center, 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?

United Airlines is the most popular airline offering flights to California, with 26% of our users opting to fly with them when travelling to California. Other popular options include Virgin Atlantic 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 November 2026, there are 12 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.