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 28h 35m 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 506 Cheap Flights to California in 2026/27

Discover deals from 900+ travel sites with momondo.

Save money when you book flights with momondo

Big names, great deals

Search 100s of travel sites to compare prices.

Filter for what you want

Free Wi-Fi? Stopover? Instantly customise your results.

Trusted and free

We’re completely free to use - no hidden charges or fees.

Price Alerts

Not ready to book? to track prices.

Search flight deals

Recent flights found to popular cities in California

Find flights to these popular cities in California from your nearest airport.

Flights to San Francisco

Search all flight deals to San Francisco

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 26

CPT

32h 07m

1 stop

SFO

Dec 3

SFO

33h 25m

1 stop

CPT

R15 132

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 26

CPT

34h 59m

1 stop

SFO

Dec 3

SFO

31h 30m

2 stops

CPT

R15 365

Turkish Airlines

Nov 20

JNB

26h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 28

SFO

30h 20m

1 stop

JNB

R15 598

Turkish Airlines

Nov 6

JNB

27h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 23

SFO

30h 20m

1 stop

JNB

R15 681

Turkish Airlines

Nov 20

JNB

26h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 28

SFO

30h 20m

1 stop

JNB

R15 731

Turkish Airlines

Nov 22

JNB

26h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Nov 30

SFO

41h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R15 748

British Airways

Dec 24

JNB

27h 25m

1 stop

SFO

Jan 18

SFO

31h 00m

1 stop

JNB

R15 848

British Airways

Feb 1

JNB

33h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Feb 28

SFO

27h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R16 081

British Airways

Jan 21

JNB

33h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Jan 25

SFO

27h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R16 130

British Airways

Jan 21

JNB

33h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Jan 25

SFO

27h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R16 180

British Airways

Jan 21

JNB

33h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Jan 25

SFO

27h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R16 197

British Airways

Jan 21

JNB

33h 10m

1 stop

SFO

Jan 25

SFO

27h 50m

1 stop

JNB

R16 264

Flights to Los Angeles

Search all flight deals to Los Angeles

British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

27h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 465

British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

33h 00m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 498

British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

27h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 531

Virgin Atlantic

Feb 15

JNB

33h 30m

2 stops

LAX

Feb 22

LAX

42h 55m

1 stop

JNB

R15 614

Turkish Airlines

Nov 8

JNB

44h 30m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 16

LAX

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 664

Virgin Atlantic

Dec 24

JNB

26h 30m

1 stop

LAX

Dec 31

LAX

21h 20m

1 stop

JNB

R15 681

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 19

JNB

34h 59m

2 stops

LAX

Dec 4

LAX

21h 40m

1 stop

JNB

R15 714

British Airways

Jan 19

JNB

27h 50m

1 stop

LAX

Feb 2

LAX

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 748

Delta

Dec 24

JNB

26h 30m

1 stop

LAX

Dec 31

LAX

25h 10m

2 stops

JNB

R15 764

Turkish Airlines

Nov 16

JNB

26h 00m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 23

LAX

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R15 798

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 7

JNB

32h 35m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 14

LAX

24h 35m

1 stop

JNB

R15 814

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 22

CPT

33h 05m

1 stop

LAX

Nov 29

LAX

28h 00m

1 stop

CPT

R15 814

Flights to San Diego

Search all flight deals to San Diego

Virgin Atlantic

Dec 25

JNB

33h 56m

1 stop

SAN

Mar 6

SAN

30h 41m

2 stops

JNB

R16 214

Virgin Atlantic

Nov 17

CPT

32h 51m

1 stop

SAN

Dec 5

SAN

30h 08m

2 stops

CPT

R16 480

British Airways

Dec 22

JNB

30h 10m

2 stops

SAN

Jan 12

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R16 696

Virgin Atlantic

Dec 25

JNB

35h 17m

2 stops

SAN

Mar 6

SAN

32h 16m

2 stops

JNB

R17 213

Delta

Nov 17

CPT

31h 57m

2 stops

SAN

Dec 5

SAN

34h 05m

1 stop

CPT

R17 346

Multiple Airlines

Nov 17

JNB

46h 11m

1 stop

SAN

Dec 3

SAN

33h 14m

2 stops

JNB

R17 479

British Airways

Dec 22

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Jan 12

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R17 496

Delta

Nov 15

CPT

32h 51m

1 stop

SAN

Dec 6

SAN

21h 29m

1 stop

CPT

R17 496

Multiple Airlines

Nov 17

JNB

46h 11m

1 stop

SAN

Dec 3

SAN

33h 14m

2 stops

JNB

R17 512

Air France

Nov 21

JNB

30h 53m

2 stops

SAN

Nov 28

SAN

33h 14m

2 stops

JNB

R17 545

British Airways

Dec 25

JNB

30h 35m

1 stop

SAN

Mar 6

SAN

30h 25m

1 stop

JNB

R17 562

British Airways

Dec 22

JNB

30h 10m

2 stops

SAN

Jan 12

SAN

32h 01m

2 stops

JNB

R17 579

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

R15 132Virgin Atlantic

Thu, Nov 26 - Thu, Dec 3

20:50 - 21:49CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

34h 59m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

18:35 - 12:05SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

31h 30m2 stops Los Angeles London Heathrow

R15 365Virgin Atlantic

Thu, Nov 26 - Thu, Dec 3

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 465British Airways

Tue, Jan 19 - Tue, Feb 2

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

33h 00m1 stop London Heathrow

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

30h 25m1 stop London Heathrow

R15 498British Airways

Tue, Jan 19 - Tue, Feb 2

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

26h 10m1 stop Istanbul

18:35 - 10:55SFO San Francisco-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

30h 20m1 stop Istanbul

R15 598Turkish Airlines

Fri, Nov 20 - Sat, Nov 28

0:20 - 10:50JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

44h 30m1 stop Istanbul

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

30h 25m1 stop Istanbul

R15 664Turkish Airlines

Sun, Nov 8 - Mon, Nov 16

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

26h 30m1 stop London Heathrow

8:00 - 19:10LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

25h 10m2 stops Minneapolis St Paul Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R15 764Delta

Thu, Dec 24 - Thu, Dec 31

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

26h 30m1 stop London Heathrow

13:50 - 22:00LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

22h 10m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

R16 297Multiple Airlines

Thu, Dec 24 - Thu, Dec 31

20:50 - 10:05CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles

23h 15m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

7:15 - 18:35LAX Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

25h 20m2 stops Salt Lake City Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 613Delta

Tue, Nov 17 - Wed, Dec 2

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

26h 30m1 stop London Heathrow

10:45 - 22:25LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

25h 40m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Cape Town Intl

R16 930Multiple Airlines

Mon, Nov 30 - Thu, Dec 31

Recent last minute flight deals from South Africa to California

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

21:00 - 21:10CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles

33h 10m1 stop London Heathrow

11:30 - 18:35LAX Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

21h 05m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R15 714Virgin Atlantic

Thu, Oct 29 - Wed, Nov 11

20:50 - 20:06CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

32h 16m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

11:51 - 18:35SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

20h 44m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 230Delta

Fri, Oct 30 - Mon, Nov 9

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

33h 20m2 stops London Heathrow San Francisco

8:00 - 18:35LAX Los Angeles-CPT Cape Town Intl

24h 35m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R16 413Virgin Atlantic

Mon, Nov 2 - Sun, Nov 15

20:50 - 11:00CPT Cape Town Intl-LAX Los Angeles

23h 10m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

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

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

R16 580Delta

Thu, Oct 29 - Wed, Nov 11

8:30 - 13:55CPT Cape Town Intl-SFO San Francisco

38h 25m1 stop Paris Charles de Gaulle

14:47 - 6:25SFO San Francisco-CPT Cape Town Intl

29h 38m2 stops Los Angeles Paris Charles de Gaulle

R16 896Air France

Fri, Oct 30 - Mon, Nov 9

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

32h 30m1 stop London Heathrow

14:00 - 19:10LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

43h 10m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R17 146SAUDIA

Thu, Oct 29 - Thu, Nov 5

21:40 - 19:33JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-LAX Los Angeles

30h 53m2 stops London Heathrow Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

14:00 - 19:10LAX Los Angeles-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

43h 10m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

R17 329Multiple Airlines

Thu, Oct 29 - Thu, Nov 5

22:00 - 18:02JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SFO San Francisco

30h 02m2 stops Newark Los Angeles

23:30 - 18:35SFO San Francisco-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

33h 05m2 stops Chicago O'Hare Intl Newark

R17 346United Airlines

Tue, Nov 3 - Wed, Nov 18

22:00 - 15:35JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SFO San Francisco

27h 35m2 stops Newark Chicago O'Hare Intl

5:00 - 18:35SFO San Francisco-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

27h 35m2 stops Chicago O'Hare Intl Newark

R17 346United Airlines

Mon, Nov 2 - Sat, Nov 21

23:59 - 11:45JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo-SFO San Francisco

45h 46m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol

7:00 - 22:00SFO San Francisco-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo

29h 00m2 stops New York John F Kennedy Intl Amsterdam Schiphol

R18 411KLM

Tue, Nov 3 - Wed, Nov 18

Fly from

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Thu 26/11

20:50-18:57

1 stop32h 07m

San Francisco

Thu 3/12

16:40-12:05

1 stop33h 25m

R15 132

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT Cape Town Intl - SFO San Francisco

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Thu 26/11

20:50-21:49

1 stop34h 59m

San Francisco

Thu 3/12

18:35-12:05

2 stops31h 30m

R15 365

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 465

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 19/1

19:35-18:35

1 stop33h 00m

Los Angeles

Tue 2/2

18:00-10:25

1 stop30h 25m

R15 498

JohannesburgSan Francisco

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - SFO San Francisco

JNBSFO

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Fri 20/11

0:20-16:30

1 stop26h 10m

San Francisco

Sat 28/11

18:35-10:55

1 stop30h 20m

R15 598

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Sun 8/11

0:20-10:50

1 stop44h 30m

Los Angeles

Mon 16/11

18:30-10:55

1 stop30h 25m

R15 664

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 24/12

21:40-14:10

1 stop26h 30m

Los Angeles

Thu 31/12

8:00-19:10

2 stops25h 10m

R15 764

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 24/12

21:40-14:10

1 stop26h 30m

Los Angeles

Thu 31/12

13:50-22:00

1 stop22h 10m

R16 297

Fastest return journey

Cape TownLos Angeles

CPT Cape Town Intl - LAX Los Angeles

CPTLAX

Cape Town Intl

Tue 17/11

20:50-10:05

1 stop23h 15m

Los Angeles

Wed 2/12

7:15-18:35

2 stops25h 20m

R16 613

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo - LAX Los Angeles

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 30/11

21:40-14:10

1 stop26h 30m

Los Angeles

Thu 31/12

10:45-22:25

2 stops25h 40m

R16 930

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 Qatar 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 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 506
Best Round-Trip Price	R15 132
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 R8 506 (Cape Town Intl to Los Angeles).

Search Deals

The best return flight price to California from South Africa in the last 5 days is R15 132 (Cape Town Intl to San Francisco).

Search Deals

The fastest flight to California from South Africa takes 26h 20m (Johannesburg OR Tambo to San Francisco).

Search Deals

June has the highest demand for flights to California, with a 7% price increase on average.

Search Deals

Frequently asked questions about flying to California

What is the cheapest flight I can find to California?

The average flight to California costs R7 928/per person and the cheapest flight to California is R1 460/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?

43% 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, The Wiltern, and Fisherman's Wharf.

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 26% 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 October 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.