How to Score Affordable Flights to San Francisco: Smart Strategies for Budget Travelers

San Francisco is one of the most popular travel destinations in the United States, known for its picturesque landscapes, rich history, and iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and the lively Fisherman’s Wharf. While the city offers endless attractions, the cost of traveling to San Francisco can sometimes be a roadblock for budget-conscious travelers. Fortunately, with a bit of strategic planning, you can secure cheap airfare to San Francisco and make your dream trip a reality.

In this blog, we’ll explore several unconventional yet highly effective ways to find cheap airfare to san francisco. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or someone planning your first visit to the Bay Area, these tips can help you save money on airfare, allowing you to spend more on experiences once you arrive in the city.

1. Take Advantage of Airline Error Fares

One of the best-kept secrets in the travel world is the phenomenon of error fares. These are mistakes made by airlines or booking systems that result in significantly discounted flight tickets. While these fares are rare, they can save you hundreds of dollars on your airfare to San Francisco.

To catch these error fares, it’s important to be vigilant and ready to act quickly. Travel deal websites like Secret Flying, Airfarewatchdog, and The Flight Deal frequently post error fares as soon as they are discovered. Sign up for their email alerts, and consider setting up notifications for any routes to San Francisco. Error fares are usually only available for a short time, so having alerts set up ensures you don’t miss out on a huge bargain.

Pro Tip: Error fares often come with specific restrictions, such as non-refundable tickets or limited travel dates. Be sure to read all terms and conditions before booking.

2. Consider Booking Two Separate Flights

Sometimes, booking a round-trip ticket can be more expensive than booking two one-way flights on different airlines. This strategy—called two separate flights—can be especially useful for finding cheap airfare to San Francisco.

For example, you may find that flying into one airport on a budget airline and flying back home on a different carrier is cheaper than sticking to one airline for your entire trip. Try searching for flights using different combinations of departure cities and arrival airports, then compare the total price.

Pro Tip: Use multi-city search features on flight comparison websites to explore the possibility of booking multiple one-way tickets at a lower overall cost.

3. Look for “Hidden City” Ticketing

"Hidden city ticketing" is another method that savvy travelers use to save money on flights. This practice involves booking a flight with a layover in San Francisco, but instead of continuing to the final destination, you get off at the layover city—San Francisco, in this case.

For example, you might find a cheaper ticket flying from New York to San Francisco with a layover in Denver, and simply skip the final leg of the journey.

While this strategy can save you money, it comes with some risks and limitations. Hidden city ticketing works best with one-way flights, and you’ll need to carry only carry-on luggage since checked baggage would continue to the final destination.

Caution: Many airlines disapprove of this practice and may penalize passengers who repeatedly use hidden city ticketing, so be sure to research the risks before committing to this strategy.

4. Book During Special Airline Promotions

Many airlines offer sales throughout the year, especially during specific seasons or events. For example, airlines might run flash sales during the holidays, special anniversary promotions, or discounts tied to new routes.

Sign up for newsletters from airlines that frequently fly to San Francisco, such as Delta, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, to receive notifications about flash sales and promotional fares. Additionally, some online travel agencies like Expedia and Priceline also feature seasonal promotions that include discounted airfare to popular destinations like San Francisco.

Pro Tip: Be sure to book these discounted fares as soon as possible since flash sales often last for only a few hours to a couple of days.

5. Use Multiple Search Engines to Find the Best Price

While you might be familiar with popular flight search engines like Google Flights and Kayak, it’s worth branching out to lesser-known search engines to uncover better deals. Some of the more niche search engines include:

• CheapTickets
• Skyscanner
• Hopper
• Kiwi.com

Each search engine has its own algorithm for displaying flight options, and they sometimes offer different pricing for the same flight. For example, you may find that one search engine shows a better price for your selected dates or highlights a budget airline that other platforms overlook.

Pro Tip: Use multiple search engines to cross-reference prices and find the most affordable flights to San Francisco.

6. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates and Times

When booking flights, flexibility can be the key to finding cheap airfare. If you have the ability to adjust your travel dates, you can often find significant savings. Flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are usually cheaper than flights on weekends. Additionally, flights during off-peak hours, such as early morning or late-night departures, tend to be less expensive.

Some flight comparison websites and apps, like Hopper, allow you to see when prices are expected to rise or fall based on historical data. By planning your travel around these trends, you can find the most cost-effective options.

Pro Tip: If your dates are flexible, consider flying during the shoulder seasons (spring or fall) when fewer tourists are visiting and airlines often reduce prices.

7. Utilize Budget Airlines with Flexible Options

Flying on budget airlines is a great way to save on airfare, especially if you’re not as concerned with extra perks like food or seat selection. While these airlines often charge extra for services like checked baggage, their base fares can be a fraction of what traditional carriers charge.

Budget airlines like Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and JetBlue frequently offer discounted flights to San Francisco. Be aware that while the base ticket might be cheaper, additional costs for bags, seat selection, and even drinks on board can add up quickly. However, by traveling light and choosing the cheapest options, you can often save a significant amount on airfare.

Pro Tip: Southwest Airlines is especially popular for its no-fee checked baggage policy, so if you’re planning to pack a bag, this airline might be an ideal option.

8. Use Reward Programs and Miles

If you’ve accumulated frequent flyer miles or credit card points, you can use these to lower the cost of your flight to San Francisco. Many major airlines offer frequent flyer programs, and if you have points stored from a credit card with a travel rewards program (such as Chase Sapphire or American Express Membership Rewards), you can use them for airfare.

Some credit cards also offer bonus points for signing up and meeting a spending threshold, so if you're planning a trip to San Francisco, consider using your credit card to book the flight and then redeem the points for a discount.

Pro Tip: Look for promotional offers from airlines or credit card companies where you can transfer points from your rewards program to frequent flyer programs to maximize the value of your points.

9. Travel with Carry-On Luggage Only

One of the easiest ways to keep your travel costs low is by avoiding checked baggage fees. Many airlines charge anywhere from $30 to $50 for the first checked bag, and these fees can quickly add up. Instead, try to travel with only a carry-on bag, which can often be free of charge on most flights.

Pro Tip: Invest in a good-quality, compact carry-on bag that fits within airline size restrictions. By packing light and minimizing your luggage, you can save on both baggage fees and time spent at the baggage claim.

Conclusion

Finding cheap airfare to San Francisco may take a bit of extra effort, but with these innovative strategies, you can uncover some great deals and make your trip more affordable. From hunting for error fares and hidden city tickets to using rewards points and booking flexible flights, there are plenty of options to explore.