Beijing to San Francisco (PEK–SFO) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
PEK–SFO is served by 2 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines and Air China lead the route. The flight covers 5,900 miles in approximately 12h 1m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines | 7 | 772 | 12h01 | – | Star Alliance | – |
| CA Air China | 2 | 77W | 12h01 | – | Star Alliance | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Travel Essentials
PEK: CST · SFO: PDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Beijing, it's 3:00 AM in San Francisco.
Chinese passport holders require a B1/B2 visa for tourism or business travel to the United States. The visa is typically issued for 10 years with multiple entries, allowing stays of up to 180 days per visit. An in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate is required, and the application fee is US $185. Holders of 10-year B visas must also enroll in EVUS (Electronic Visa Update System) every two years before travel.
Airport Express train runs from Dongzhimen or Sanyuanqiao (Line 10) to the airport in 16–20 minutes (¥25). Trains run every 10 minutes from 6am to 11pm and connect directly to Terminals 2 and 3. This bypasses Beijing's severe road congestion reliably.Taxis from central Beijing (Dongcheng/Xicheng districts) cost ¥80–120 and take 40–90 minutes depending on traffic and time of day. Express buses (¥25–30) serve major city hubs. Note that PKX (Daxing) is Beijing's second international airport; confirm your terminal before traveling.
BART from SFO station (free AirTrain from any terminal to the station) to downtown San Francisco takes 30–40 minutes ($10.45 to Embarcadero). Traffic on 101 can make taxis and ride-hails much slower during peak hours; BART skips all of that. BART also reaches Oakland, Berkeley, and Millbrae for Caltrain connections.Ride-hails from SFO use a dedicated garage pickup area; follow signs. Taxis are metered; downtown SF costs $40–60. Caltrain to the Peninsula (Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose) requires taking BART to Millbrae station for the transfer. Rental cars are at a consolidated facility accessible by AirTrain.
Coastal fog dominates the climate pattern. The thick marine layer ("Karl the Fog") rolls into SFO from the Pacific regularly in summer (June–September), causing significant low-visibility delays even on days that appear sunny inland. Morning fog burns off by afternoon most days, but persistent IFR conditions can last all day. This is the primary flight disruption risk at SFO.
Temperatures are mild year-round (10–20°C) with little seasonal variation. Winters bring rain (December–March) and occasional atmospheric river events that cause brief but intense flooding on the 101. Summers are cool. Pack a light jacket year-round. Wind off the bay affects small aircraft approach paths.
PEK–SFO Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from PEK to SFO
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are connected by nonstop service from United Airlines and Air China. With 9 weekly departures, this is a regularly served route.
PEK to SFO Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from PEK to SFO is about 12 hours 1 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 5,900 miles (9,494 km). There are approximately 9 weekly flights outbound and 9 return, totaling 18 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Incheon, Seattle–Tacoma and Tokyo Haneda. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.