Cheap flights from Tel Aviv to San Francisco International

All you need to know about flights from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport TLV to San Francisco International Airport SFO

Airlines that fly from Tel Aviv to San Francisco

Direct flights from Tel Aviv to San Francisco are offered by United seven times a week, once a day. Starting 19 November 2018, EL AL will join this route and offer three weekly Tel Aviv San Francisco flights in the future. Direct flights from Ben Gurion AIrport TLV to San Francisco SFO are quite long - it takes over 15 hours to complete the journey. There are many other options via stopovers; we will show you everything here on Skyscanner.co.il.

Check all the airlines that fly to San Francisco

Terminal Information - Departing

All flights from Tel Aviv to San Francisco depart from Ben Gurion Airport TLV Terminal 3 נמל התעופה בן גוריון - נתב"ג . You can reach it by train; the station is just outside the terminal, a short walk to the drop-off counters. Due to security measures, it is recommended to arrive at least three hours before departure, especially during the high season and holidays. Free and unlimited Wifi service is available in most areas of the terminal.

Get into the vacation mood already at the Duty-Free where you can find a large variety of stores, including clothing and shoes, electronics, books, local and international wines and liquors, and much more. You can buy electronics and gadget which are part of the outstanding $200 tax-free sale, and store it until you return to Israel using the פטור ושמור services.

Satisfy your hunger before the long journey all the way to the West Coast at one of the restaurants and cafes. You can even spoil yourself at one of the two Dan Lounges, where you can enjoy complimentary soft drinks, beers, wines, and snacks. If you have a premium credit card, you may be eligible for free admission.

Terminal Information - Arriving

San Francisco International Airport SFO: Flights from Tel Aviv to San Francisco arrive at SFO airport, located 21 km south of downtown San Francisco, California. The airport has four terminals, one of which is the international terminal. Naturally, direct flights from Tel Aviv arrive at the international terminal.

The AirTrain offers free transport around the airport between each of the terminals, the San Francisco Airport Car Rental Center and the BART Station. BART is the rail link between the airport and the city center. A single fare costs $7.85-$12.40, depends on your final destination. Children age 4 or younger enjoy free rides.

Public bus routes KX, 292, 397 and 398 link SFO Airport to San Mateo County, San Francisco, and Palo Alto. Tickets cost $2.05-$4.00 depends on your destination and payment method. Shared ride vans cost $17. Check with your hotel if they offer shuttles; it takes 35-90 minutes to reach your hotel. If you take a taxi, expect to pay $46.16-$66.16 for the 27-minute ride. You can make it cheaper by using app-based ride services, such as Uber.

Things you should know

To board flights from Tel Aviv to San Francisco, you need to have a valid visa stamped in your passport. Since it can take weeks, it’s recommended to book Tel Aviv San Francisco flights only after you have completed this procedure. As an Israeli passport holder, you must apply for the visa online via the website of the American embassy. They will invite you for a personal interview. Once your application is approved, you will get a tourist visa, usually valid for up to 10 years. You can stay no more than 90 days on each visit.

Several European nationalities are exempted from this procedure. If you have a foreign passport, check if your other nationality is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Note that Polish and Romanian passports are not part of this program and if you have any of these nationalities - you still need to apply for a visa before flying from TLV to SFO.

Once you landed in the states, tell the boarder's control officer exactly where you are staying, the purpose of your visit, the duration, answer any question they may ask, and keep the jokes for yourself. Have all your documents and vouchers printed and ready; it will make this process smoother and faster.

Useful Information about San Francisco - סן פרנסיסקו

San Francisco is 10 hours behind Tel Aviv: when it’s 22:00 in Israel, the time on the west coast is 12:00. The currency used is USD - $. The weather is enjoyable, 13-16 degrees in the winter, and 22-23 in July-August. Daylight Saving Time (Summer Time) is observed starting the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.

While a meal at a fast food restaurant is 43% cheaper in San Francisco compared to Tel Aviv, if you spoil yourself with a three-course meal for two you will pay almost 10% more. If you do your own grocery shopping, you will find most products more expensive than in your supermarket at home. That doesn’t include beers, which are up to 17% cheaper in San Francisco. Transportation is also more costly here, by over 60%. Comfort yourself with shopping, many clothing items and shoes are cheaper by 20%-43%.

Must do in San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Cable Cars, The Exploratorium, Alcatraz, Chinatown, California Academy of Sciences, Twin Peaks, Children's Creativity Museum, Ocean Beach. There are many local tours and tastings, nature and landscape to see including Muir Woods National Monument.

How to find cheap flights to San Francisco

Round-trip flights from Ben Gurion Airport TLV to San Francisco Airport SFO are usually more expensive than $947 (₪3,360). But if you are flexible travelers on a budget and don’t mind flying via two stopovers, you can find bargain deals on Tel Aviv San Francisco flights for less than $400 round-trip (around ₪1,420)! Search “whole month” instead of typing in exact dates to find cheaper flights from Tel Aviv to San Francisco. Remember, prices change regularly and quickly, and it depends on many different factors. Sign up for Price Alerts, and we’ll notify you by email whenever there’s a price change. Our best advice for you is if you see great flight deals from Tel Aviv to San Francisco - book it! Find out more on how to book cheap flights to San Francisco.

This information is correct as of April 2018