San Francisco to Rio De Janeiro (SFO–GIG) — 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.
SFO–GIG had nonstop service from United Airlines, last on the schedule in May 2026. There's no nonstop on it right now, so today you'd fly it with one stop. The connecting options below are sorted by layover. Nonstop, it's about 6,611 miles in 12h 50m.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines | 1 | – | – | Star Alliance | – |
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Travel Essentials
SFO: PDT · GIG: -03
When it's 6:00 PM in San Francisco, it's 10:00 PM in Rio De Janeiro.
US passport holders need an eVisa to enter Brazil. Apply through the official portal at gov.br/mre before departure. The eVisa costs USD 80.90, is valid for 10 years with multiple entries, and allows stays up to 90 days per visit. Processing takes a few business days. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry.
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) runs from downtown San Francisco (Embarcadero, Powell St.) to the SFO station and then a free AirTrain shuttle to all terminals (30–40 min from Embarcadero, $10.45). BART also connects Oakland and Berkeley; useful for East Bay travelers. Trains run from ~4am to midnight.Taxis from downtown San Francisco cost $40–60. Ride-hails (Uber, Lyft) pick up in the designated area in the garage and are often $30–50 depending on surge pricing. SamTrans buses serve Peninsula cities. Highway 101 and I-280 are heavily congested during commute hours; BART is faster than driving at those times.
Uber and 99 serve the airport at R$50–80 to Ipanema or Copacabana (40–60 min off-peak). Official táxi amarelo (yellow taxi) at the curb: R$80–120. Pre-pay at the taxi counter inside arrivals for a fixed rate option.The Real Auto Ônibus airport bus (R$16) runs to Rodoviária Novo Rio, Cinelândia metro station, and Santos Dumont Airport. BRT Transcarioca (R$4.05) serves Barra da Tijuca. Rental car desks are in the arrivals hall. GIG is 40km from the South Zone; always check traffic before planning ground travel time.
Tropical climate on Guanabara Bay. Summer (December–March) is hot and very wet at 28–37°C with intense afternoon downpours that regularly flood approach roads and occasionally cause airport disruptions. January and February see the highest rainfall and are the most disruption-prone months operationally.
Winter (June–September) is warm and drier at 22–28°C. This is the most operationally stable period. The airport sits on Ilha do Governador. Approach paths are over water, but the surrounding terrain causes occasional windshear on the south runway. Rio's Carnival period (February–March) creates extreme traffic on ground access routes.
SFO–GIG Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from SFO to GIG
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Rio Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG) had nonstop service from United Airlines, last on the schedule in May 2026. The nonstop is dormant right now, so the way to fly it today is one connection, and the options above are sorted by layover.
SFO to GIG Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from SFO to GIG is about 12 hours 50 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 6,611 miles (10,639 km).
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Miami, George Bush Intercontinental and Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.