San Francisco to Shanghai is a transpacific route, and nonstop award space shows up on United Airlines. The data shows 12 programs pricing it, and the cheapest economy award is 32,812 points with Air France-KLM Flying Blue. Where you book matters as much as what you fly: the same seat can carry very different prices from one program to the next. This page compares all 12 programs on SFO–PVG side by side.
SnapshotLive award availability and points prices between San Francisco and Shanghai.
OverviewSan Francisco to Shanghai is served by American Airlines, Air Canada, Air France and 30 more, offering multiple options for award travelers. Compare 12 loyalty programs to find the best value for your points. Award prices start from 32,812 points in economy. Use our search tool to check real-time award availability on this route.
Award pricing can vary by airline, cabin, loyalty program, travel season, and transfer partner. For this route, the best value often comes from comparing multiple programs instead of searching one airline at a time.
RouteFlying San Francisco to Shanghai covers about 6,140 miles, linking San Francisco International Airport (SFO) with Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG); a nonstop takes roughly 12h50, with winds moving it either way. Nonstop award space in the data comes from a single airline: United Airlines. The Boeing 777-300ER shows up on those nonstop award segments. Most award options in the data connect. Nonstops are just about 1% of the total.
PricingBest one-way award prices per airline over the next 12 months.
| Airline | Economy | Premium economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China Airlines | 32,812 pts | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| American Airlines | 35,000 pts | 84,000 pts | 256,500 pts | N/A |
| KLM | 35,000 pts | 90,000 pts | 182,900 pts | N/A |
| Alaska Airlines | 37,500 pts | N/A | 200,000 pts | 130,000 pts |
| Cathay Pacific | 37,500 pts | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Japan AirlinesBest | 37,500 pts | N/A | 110,000 pts | 150,000 pts |
| Korean Air | 38,000 pts | N/A | 200,000 pts | N/A |
| China Eastern | 38,000 pts | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Delta | 38,500 pts | N/A | 499,900 pts | N/A |
| United Airlines | 42,000 pts | 65,000 pts | 308,600 pts | N/A |
Live award pricing from Flightpoints data, computed 9/5/2026. Prices vary by date and availability.
StrategySettle the cabin before the program: on a long-haul trip like San Francisco–Shanghai, it moves the price most. The cheapest economy seat connects once; skipping the connection means an economy nonstop on United Airlines at a higher price. Watch the cash on the economy floor: about $239 in taxes and fees, well above the route's typical economy taxes, so more points and less cash can win. Stepping up costs about double the economy points for premium economy and about 2.3 times for business.
AvailabilityWhen award seats between San Francisco and Shanghai price cheapest over the next year.
ProgramsAir France-KLM Flying Blue wins economy at 32,812 points. United MileagePlus takes premium economy at 65,000 points on a United Airlines nonstop. Air Canada Aeroplan is cheapest in business class at 75,000 points. It also lists first class from 120,000 points on a connecting itinerary, often first on one leg only, so confirm the cabin on each flight. Watch the first-class routing: it lands at Haneda (HND) and leaves from Narita (NRT), both in Tokyo.
Airlines14 airlines with award seats between San Francisco and Shanghai, nonstop or connecting.
AirlinesUnited Airlines alone shows nonstop award space on San Francisco–Shanghai in the data. It's a Star Alliance carrier, so partner programs across the alliance can price it, not just United MileagePlus. If you're open to a stop, the better-priced connecting awards in the data run through Los Angeles, Taipei, and Vancouver. Partner pricing sets the business-class floor: Air Canada Aeroplan books EVA Airways for the long-haul leg as a Star Alliance partner.
DetailsAbout 6,140 miles, roughly 12h50 nonstop. Shanghai is 15 hours ahead of San Francisco (16 while San Francisco is on standard time). The data runs October 2026–August 2027, with calendar prices for eight months. Of the well-covered ones, November 2026 is the cheapest (32,812 points); pricier months include October 2026 and April 2027 (37,500).
TipsInsider moves that consistently unlock cheaper award seats.
CompareAlternative corridors travelers consider alongside San Francisco to Shanghai.
AlternativesFor San Francisco departures, San Jose (SJC) costs more, at 55,000 points in economy against the 32,812-point floor, so it's a second choice rather than a first. For a lower-cost long-haul trip from San Francisco, Hong Kong starts from 23,000 points at last check. Confirm which San Francisco airport the award uses before transferring points.
Search live award availability across every airline and program that flies this route.
Common questions travelers ask about the San Francisco to Shanghai route.
At last check, the economy floor is 32,812 points one-way through Air France-KLM Flying Blue, with one stop. With 12 programs pricing the route, it pays to check several. Per-cabin lows from the last check are in the pricing table above.
