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 24h 30m on average. On the other hand, flying from Cape Town Intl to 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.

R9 945 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 9

CPT

36h 51m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 24

SFO

33h 20m

1 stop

CPT

R15 215

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 22

CPT

34h 34m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 10

SFO

39h 27m

2 stops

CPT

R15 280

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 15

CPT

32h 53m

1 stop

SFO

Sept 21

SFO

21h 17m

1 stop

CPT

R15 344

Delta

Sept 22

CPT

34h 34m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 10

SFO

34h 40m

1 stop

CPT

R16 053

Delta

Oct 29

CPT

32h 16m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 12

SFO

26h 35m

1 stop

CPT

R16 069

Delta

Oct 9

CPT

26h 40m

2 stops

SFO

Oct 24

SFO

27h 45m

2 stops

CPT

R16 086

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 7

JNB

28h 30m

1 stop

SFO

Sept 20

SFO

23h 07m

1 stop

JNB

R16 311

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 5

JNB

28h 30m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 12

SFO

20h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 327

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 6

JNB

28h 30m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 18

SFO

28h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R16 343

Multiple Airlines

Sept 13

CPT

45h 30m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 11

SFO

29h 15m

1 stop

CPT

R16 408

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 7

JNB

28h 30m

1 stop

SFO

Sept 20

SFO

23h 07m

1 stop

JNB

R16 408

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 5

JNB

35h 01m

1 stop

SFO

Oct 12

SFO

30h 56m

2 stops

JNB

R16 424

Flights to Los Angeles

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Virgin Atlantic

Oct 9

CPT

29h 03m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 24

LAX

27h 50m

1 stop

CPT

R15 683

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 9

CPT

30h 13m

1 stop

LAX

Oct 24

LAX

27h 50m

1 stop

CPT

R15 731

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 1

CPT

29h 14m

1 stop

LAX

Sept 7

LAX

25h 50m

1 stop

CPT

R15 747

Delta

Oct 28

JNB

33h 05m

2 stops

LAX

Nov 11

LAX

35h 20m

1 stop

JNB

R15 795

Virgin Atlantic

Sept 1

CPT

29h 14m

1 stop

LAX

Sept 7

LAX

20h 38m

1 stop

CPT

R15 795

Delta

Nov 1

JNB

27h 13m

2 stops

LAX

Nov 12

LAX

20h 35m

1 stop

JNB

R15 812

Delta

Oct 5

JNB

27h 13m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 1

LAX

34h 15m

1 stop

JNB

R15 860

Delta

Oct 5

JNB

32h 50m

2 stops

LAX

Nov 2

LAX

23h 55m

2 stops

JNB

R15 892

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 29

JNB

33h 00m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 11

LAX

33h 53m

2 stops

JNB

R15 957

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 14

JNB

32h 29m

2 stops

LAX

Oct 28

LAX

33h 20m

2 stops

JNB

R15 973

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 12

JNB

33h 00m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 26

LAX

29h 10m

1 stop

JNB

R16 005

British Airways

Jan 16

JNB

27h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Jan 25

LAX

26h 55m

2 stops

JNB

R16 021

Flights to San Diego

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British Airways

Oct 20

JNB

29h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 25

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R14 893

British Airways

Oct 20

JNB

29h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 25

SAN

35h 13m

2 stops

JNB

R16 182

British Airways

Dec 2

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 5

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R16 488

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 20

JNB

36h 27m

2 stops

SAN

Jan 25

SAN

38h 20m

2 stops

JNB

R16 521

Virgin Atlantic

Oct 1

JNB

30h 44m

2 stops

SAN

Oct 31

SAN

33h 27m

2 stops

JNB

R16 553

United Airlines

Oct 20

JNB

33h 27m

2 stops

SAN

Jan 25

SAN

60h 54m

3 stops

JNB

R17 053

British Airways

Jan 27

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 31

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R17 262

British Airways

Jan 21

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 25

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R17 294

British Airways

Jan 27

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 31

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R17 343

British Airways

Jan 27

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 31

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R17 391

KLM

Oct 1

JNB

30h 22m

2 stops

SAN

Oct 8

SAN

22h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R17 439

British Airways

Oct 20

JNB

35h 18m

2 stops

SAN

Jan 25

SAN

40h 25m

2 stops

JNB

R17 697

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.

21:15 - 17:50JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SAN San Diego

29h 35m1 stop London Heathrow

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

30h 25m1 stop London Heathrow

R14 893British Airways

Tue, Oct 20 - Mon, Jan 25

20:05 - 23:56CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

36h 51m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

17:45 - 12:05SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

33h 20m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 215Virgin Atlantic

Fri, Oct 9 - Sat, Oct 24

20:05 - 21:39CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

34h 34m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

10:38 - 12:05SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

39h 27m2 stops Seattle/Tacoma Intl London Heathrow

R15 280Virgin Atlantic

Tue, Sep 22 - Tue, Nov 10

21:40 - 15:10JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

26h 30m1 stop London Heathrow

7:00 - 19:10LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

26h 10m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R15 795Delta

Wed, Oct 28 - Thu, Nov 12

21:40 - 21:25JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

32h 45m2 stops London Heathrow New York John F Kennedy Intl

12:35 - 19:10LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

20h 35m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R15 795Delta

Mon, Oct 26 - Thu, Nov 12

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

27h 50m1 stop London Heathrow

17:30 - 10:25LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

30h 55m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 957British Airways

Sat, Jan 16 - Sun, Jan 31

19:40 - 19:25JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

32h 45m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

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

27h 20m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 166Air France

Thu, Oct 29 - Thu, Nov 12

19:40 - 19:25JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

32h 45m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

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

27h 20m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 166Air France

Thu, Oct 29 - Tue, Nov 10

23:59 - 12:45JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

45h 46m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

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

30h 30m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 214Multiple Airlines

Wed, Oct 28 - Wed, Nov 11

23:59 - 12:45JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

45h 46m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

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

30h 30m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 214Multiple Airlines

Wed, Oct 28 - Tue, Nov 10

Recent last minute flight deals from South Africa to California

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

22:00 - 18:59JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAS Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

29h 59m1 stop Newark

12:34 - 18:30LAS Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

20h 56m1 stop Newark

R18 261United Airlines

Sat, Aug 22 - Sat, Aug 29

22:00 - 13:28JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAS Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

24h 28m1 stop Newark

8:04 - 18:30LAS Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

25h 26m2 stops Los Angeles Newark

R18 310United Airlines

Sat, Aug 22 - Sat, Aug 29

20:15 - 16:19JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

53h 04m2 stops London Heathrow Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

6:40 - 8:45LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

41h 05m2 stops Boston Logan Intl London Heathrow

R19 325Virgin Atlantic

Mon, Aug 24 - Mon, Aug 31

23:15 - 20:55JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

30h 40m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

21:30 - 19:40LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

37h 10m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R19 454Delta

Mon, Aug 24 - Mon, Aug 31

23:15 - 11:45JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SFO San Francisco

45h 30m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

17:45 - 10:20SFO San Francisco-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

31h 35m2 stops London Heathrow Paris Charles de Gaulle

R19 454Multiple Airlines

Tue, Aug 25 - Tue, Sep 8

23:15 - 14:45JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

24h 30m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

22:40 - 19:40LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

36h 00m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R19 470Delta

Mon, Aug 24 - Mon, Aug 31

23:15 - 11:45JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SFO San Francisco

45h 30m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

13:45 - 21:20SFO San Francisco-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

22h 35m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

R19 486KLM

Tue, Aug 25 - Tue, Sep 8

20:15 - 16:19JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

53h 04m2 stops London Heathrow Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

9:50 - 19:40LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

24h 50m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R21 759Virgin Atlantic

Mon, Aug 24 - Mon, Aug 31

23:15 - 14:45JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

24h 30m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

18:25 - 10:20LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

30h 55m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

R22 678Multiple Airlines

Mon, Aug 24 - Mon, Aug 31

23:15 - 14:45JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

24h 30m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

9:40 - 21:20LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

26h 40m2 stops Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Amsterdam Schiphol

R22 694KLM

Mon, Aug 24 - Mon, Aug 31

Fly from

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight

JohannesburgSan Diego

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - SAN San Diego

JNBSAN

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 20/10

21:15-17:50

1 stop29h 35m

San Diego

Mon 25/1

18:00-10:25

1 stop30h 25m

R14 893

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Fri 9/10

20:05-23:56

1 stop36h 51m

San Francisco

Sat 24/10

17:45-12:05

1 stop33h 20m

R15 215

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Tue 22/9

20:05-21:39

1 stop34h 34m

San Francisco

Tue 10/11

10:38-12:05

2 stops39h 27m

R15 280

Fastest return journey

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Wed 28/10

21:40-15:10

1 stop26h 30m

Los Angeles

Thu 12/11

7:00-19:10

1 stop26h 10m

R15 795

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 26/10

21:40-21:25

2 stops32h 45m

Los Angeles

Thu 12/11

12:35-19:10

1 stop20h 35m

R15 795

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Sat 16/1

19:35-13:25

1 stop27h 50m

Los Angeles

Sun 31/1

17:30-10:25

1 stop30h 55m

R15 957

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 29/10

19:40-19:25

1 stop32h 45m

Los Angeles

Thu 12/11

22:05-11:25

2 stops27h 20m

R16 166

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 29/10

19:40-19:25

1 stop32h 45m

Los Angeles

Tue 10/11

22:05-11:25

2 stops27h 20m

R16 166

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Wed 28/10

23:59-12:45

1 stop45h 46m

Los Angeles

Wed 11/11

18:55-11:25

1 stop30h 30m

R16 214

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Wed 28/10

23:59-12:45

1 stop45h 46m

Los Angeles

Tue 10/11

18:55-11:25

1 stop30h 30m

R16 214

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 31% 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 945
Best Round-Trip Price	R14 893
Fastest flight time	26h 20m
Popular in	June

The best one-way flight price to California from South Africa in the last 5 days is R9 945 (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 893 (Johannesburg OR Tambo to San Diego).

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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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June has the highest demand for flights to California, with a 7% 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 454/per person and the cheapest flight to California is R437/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 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.