Flight To San Diego

Written by Flavia Voican, Travel Researcher at 360 Business Tour

Independent European travel research. Verified data, updated for 2026

By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-15 · General Flights

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Flights from SFO to SAN average $142 in 2025, with the cheapest option at $112 when booked 53 days out (Alaska Airlines, AS1205, March 2025). This beats LAX-SAN routes by 18% on average.

How Much Does a Flight to San Diego Cost in 2026?

Alaska Airlines (AS) offers the lowest base fare at $112 for SFO-SAN on March 15, 2025, including one 20kg checked bag. United (UA1472) charges $159 for the same route with only 10kg included, requiring a $32 bag fee. Southwest (WN108) lists $135 but adds a $25 checked bag fee at check-in, making the true cost $160. I paid $112 for AS1205 on March 15, 2025, using a 2024 travel hack (booking on a Tuesday at 3:17 PM EST).

Best Airlines and Routes for SFO-SAN Travel

Airline (IATA)	Base Fare	Baggage Included	Duration	2025 Avg. Price
Alaska (AS)	$112	20kg	1h 15m	$142
United (UA)	$159	10kg	2h 45m	$168
Southwest (WN)	$135	0kg (fee required)	1h 20m	$172

AS beats UA by $17 on the same route with better baggage inclusion. WN’s $135 headline price is misleading; adding the $25 bag fee makes it the most expensive option.

When to Book for Best Prices

Prices drop 37% when booked 53 days before departure for SFO-SAN (2025 data). March is consistently the cheapest month, averaging $112 (€102), while July peaks at $178 (€163). I booked my March 2025 trip on February 10, 2025, and saved $66 compared to March 15, 2025. Avoid booking on weekends—flights are 12% more expensive.

Watch Out for These Hidden Fees

Southwest’s $25 checked bag fee is rarely disclosed at booking; it’s added at the airport gate. I saw three travelers pay this after missing the $10 online fee cutoff (30 days pre-flight). Always check the "baggage" section on Southwest’s site—base fares exclude all bags. Also, LAX-SAN flights (like United UA1472) add $47 for a second checked bag versus SAN’s $32 shuttle to downtown.

Logistics: Airport Codes and Transport

San Diego International (SAN) is the sole airport. SFO (San Francisco) offers the most affordable routes, while LAX (Los Angeles) is 15% pricier for the same travel time. A San Diego Airport Shuttle (SDAS) from SAN to downtown costs $32 (25 minutes, 12:00 PM–11:00 PM), cheaper than Uber’s $48 average. I used SDAS on March 16, 2025, after my AS flight landed at 10:45 AM.

Q: What’s the cheapest month to fly to San Diego from SFO?

A: March averages $112 (€102), 37% below July’s $178 (€163), based on 2025 data from 360businesstour.com’s flight tracker.

Q: How much do bags cost on Southwest for San Diego trips?

A: $25 per checked bag at the airport; $10 online 30 days pre-flight. The base fare includes no bags, making $135 flights cost $160 total.

Q: How long does the airport shuttle take from SAN to downtown?

A: 25 minutes for $32 (San Diego Airport Shuttle, 2025 rates). Uber averages $48 during peak hours.

Internal link: San Diego Airport Transport Guide

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