San Francisco to Xiamen (SFO–XMN) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
SFO–XMN is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. United Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 6,620 miles in approximately 13h 27m. Beyond nonstop, 20 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines | 1 | – | 13h27 | Star Alliance | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Travel Essentials
SFO: PDT · XMN: CST
When it's 6:00 PM in San Francisco, it's 9:00 AM (next day) in Xiamen.
US passport holders can enter China visa-free for stays up to 30 days under a temporary policy running through December 31, 2026. This covers tourism, business visits, and transit. No advance application is needed. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry.
For stays beyond 30 days, a standard visa from a Chinese embassy or consulate is required before departure. Separate 144-hour and 72-hour visa-free transit programs exist at select airports for travelers continuing to a third country.
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.
Metro Line 3 runs from the airport to central Xiamen and Xiamen North Station (high-speed rail hub) in 30–40 minutes for CNY 6–8. Taxis and DiDi are available outside arrivals; fares to the city centre are CNY 40–70. Airport buses serve multiple city destinations and the Wuyuan Bay ferry terminal for CNY 20.
Xiamen North Station connects via high-speed rail to Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai. The Gulangyu Island ferry is accessible from the city waterfront via taxi or bus from the airport. Rental car desks are in the arrivals hall.
Subtropical maritime climate. Summers (June–September) are hot and humid at 28–34°C, with the southwest monsoon bringing heavy rainfall and typhoon risk from June through October. Typhoons can close the airport entirely and are the primary operational risk. September is statistically the peak risk month for direct hits.
Winters (December–February) are mild and relatively dry at 12–18°C, among the most pleasant winter climates of any Chinese city. Spring (March–May) is warm but rainy and foggy. Flying conditions are generally excellent outside the typhoon and monsoon season.
SFO–XMN Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from SFO to XMN
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) are connected by nonstop service from United Airlines. With 1 weekly departures, this is a regularly served route.
SFO to XMN Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from SFO to XMN ranges from 13 hours 27 minutes. The route covers a distance of 6,620 miles (10,653 km). There are approximately 1 weekly flights outbound and 1 return, totaling 2 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
20 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 17 hours via KIX. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.