How long is the flight from South Africa to California?

Flight times vary depending on what airport in South Africa you fly out of and what airport in California you fly into. For example, flying from Johannesburg to Los Angeles takes 25h 35m on average. On the other hand, flying from Cape Town to Los Angeles takes 29h 54m on average. Keep in mind that it’s always quicker to opt for a non-stop flight, so be sure to check momondo to see if there are any available for your route.

Which airlines fly to California?

Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines and British Airways are the top three most popular airlines that fly to California from South Africa according to our data. Virgin Atlantic is the first choice among our users, with 31% of people opting to fly with this airline when travelling to California. Keep in mind that there are 13 different airlines that fly to California on a routine basis, so you have a few additional options to choose from.

What is the cheapest airline that flies from South Africa to California?

Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and RwandAir are the most popular carriers operating from South Africa to California

When did momondo last update prices for flights from South Africa to California?

Prices for flights from South Africa to California refresh daily.

How many operators does momondo search for flights from South Africa to California?

As of September 2025, there are 13 operators available to choose from for flights from South Africa to California.

How old do you have to be to fly from South Africa to California?

The minimum age a child must be to fly alone is five but airlines that offer an unaccompanied minor (UNMR) service will have their own age restrictions, including rules around flight length, timings, and stopovers. We always recommend checking with the individual airline you are booking with to travel from South Africa to California.

What documentation or ID do you need to fly to California?

The required travel and health documents for your California trip may vary depending on your itinerary and personal circumstances. As a general rule, you should carry multiple documents, including a national ID card or driver's licence and a passport valid for six months after your intended arrival at California. We recommend that you seek guidance from your airline or a reliable third party such as IATA.

R11 288 Cheap Flights from South Africa to California in 2025

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Find the cheapest flights from South Africa to California

Round-trip

One-way

Last minute

Recent return flight deals from South Africa to California

21:30 - 18:56CPT-SFO

30h 26m1 stop

8:15 - 19:15SFO-CPT

25h 00m1 stop

R15 213Virgin Atlantic

Find Deal

Mon, Oct 27 - Mon, Nov 3

21:30 - 18:56CPT-SFO

30h 26m1 stop

11:58 - 19:15SFO-CPT

21h 17m1 stop

R15 543Virgin Atlantic

Find Deal

Mon, Oct 27 - Mon, Nov 3

19:05 - 16:50JNB-LAX

31h 45m1 stop

13:05 - 10:50LAX-JNB

35h 45m1 stop

R16 203Turkish Airlines

Find Deal

Wed, Nov 12 - Tue, Nov 25

19:10 - 17:50JNB-LAX

31h 40m1 stop

18:45 - 10:50LAX-JNB

30h 05m1 stop

R16 376Turkish Airlines

Find Deal

Tue, Oct 28 - Tue, Nov 4

20:50 - 13:21CPT-LAX

25h 31m2 stops

8:30 - 18:00LAX-CPT

23h 30m2 stops

R16 897United Airlines

Find Deal

Tue, Oct 28 - Tue, Nov 4

20:50 - 18:34CPT-SFO

30h 44m1 stop

8:25 - 16:10SFO-CPT

21h 45m1 stop

R16 915United Airlines

Find Deal

Fri, Oct 31 - Mon, Nov 10

19:40 - 18:46JNB-LAS

32h 06m2 stops

20:25 - 21:20LAS-JNB

39h 55m1 stop

R17 297KLM

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Thu, Oct 30 - Thu, Apr 9

19:40 - 18:46JNB-LAS

32h 06m2 stops

20:25 - 21:20LAS-JNB

39h 55m1 stop

R17 314KLM

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Thu, Oct 30 - Thu, Apr 9

22:00 - 21:42JNB-LAS

33h 42m2 stops

12:00 - 7:35LAS-JNB

33h 35m2 stops

R18 286British Airways

Find Deal

Thu, Nov 20 - Mon, Nov 24

22:00 - 22:19JNB-LAX

34h 19m2 stops

17:35 - 10:25LAX-JNB

30h 50m1 stop

R18 286British Airways

Find Deal

Mon, Dec 8 - Tue, Jan 20

Turkish Airlines flights from South Africa to California

Our best Turkish Airlines deals on South Africa to California flight tickets

Turkish Airlines

Nov 12

JNB19:05Johannesburg OR Tambo

31h 45m

1 stop

LAX16:50Los Angeles

Nov 25

LAX13:05Los Angeles

35h 45m

1 stop

JNB10:50Johannesburg OR Tambo

R16 203

Find similar

Turkish Airlines

Oct 28

JNB19:10Johannesburg OR Tambo

31h 40m

1 stop

LAX17:50Los Angeles

Nov 4

LAX18:45Los Angeles

30h 05m

1 stop

JNB10:50Johannesburg OR Tambo

R16 376

Find similar

Turkish Airlines

Nov 8

JNB19:10Johannesburg OR Tambo

26h 00m

1 stop

LAX11:10Los Angeles

Nov 16

LAX18:45Los Angeles

30h 05m

1 stop

JNB10:50Johannesburg OR Tambo

R16 689

Find similar

SWISS flights from South Africa to California

Our best SWISS deals on South Africa to California flight tickets

SWISS

Dec 11

JNB20:15Johannesburg OR Tambo

30h 20m

1 stop

LAX16:35Los Angeles

Jan 20

LAX19:10Los Angeles

29h 20m

1 stop

JNB10:30Johannesburg OR Tambo

R16 654

Find similar

SWISS

Oct 6

CPT8:40Cape Town Intl

40h 50m

1 stop

LAX16:30Los Angeles

May 8

LAX11:30Los Angeles

33h 45m

2 stops

CPT6:15Cape Town Intl

R16 689

Find similar

SWISS

Oct 8

CPT8:40Cape Town Intl

40h 50m

1 stop

LAX16:30Los Angeles

May 9

LAX11:30Los Angeles

60h 55m

3 stops

CPT9:25Cape Town Intl

R16 776

Find similar

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT - SFO

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Mon 27/10

21:30-18:56

1 stop30h 26m

San Francisco

Mon 3/11

8:15-19:15

1 stop25h 00m

R15 213

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT - SFO

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Mon 27/10

21:30-18:56

1 stop30h 26m

San Francisco

Mon 3/11

11:58-19:15

1 stop21h 17m

R15 543

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB - LAX

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Wed 12/11

19:05-16:50

1 stop31h 45m

Los Angeles

Tue 25/11

13:05-10:50

1 stop35h 45m

R16 203

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB - LAX

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 28/10

19:10-17:50

1 stop31h 40m

Los Angeles

Tue 4/11

18:45-10:50

1 stop30h 05m

R16 376

Cape TownLos Angeles

CPT - LAX

CPTLAX

Cape Town Intl

Tue 28/10

20:50-13:21

2 stops25h 31m

Los Angeles

Tue 4/11

8:30-18:00

2 stops23h 30m

R16 897

Cape TownSan Francisco

CPT - SFO

CPTSFO

Cape Town Intl

Fri 31/10

20:50-18:34

1 stop30h 44m

San Francisco

Mon 10/11

8:25-16:10

1 stop21h 45m

R16 915

JohannesburgLas Vegas

JNB - LAS

JNBLAS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 30/10

19:40-18:46

2 stops32h 06m

Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

Thu 9/4

20:25-21:20

1 stop39h 55m

R17 297

JohannesburgLas Vegas

JNB - LAS

JNBLAS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 30/10

19:40-18:46

2 stops32h 06m

Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

Thu 9/4

20:25-21:20

1 stop39h 55m

R17 314

JohannesburgLas Vegas

JNB - LAS

JNBLAS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 20/11

22:00-21:42

2 stops33h 42m

Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

Mon 24/11

12:00-7:35

2 stops33h 35m

R18 286

JohannesburgLos Angeles

JNB - LAX

JNBLAX

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Mon 8/12

22:00-22:19

2 stops34h 19m

Los Angeles

Tue 20/1

17:35-10:25

1 stop30h 50m

R18 286

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

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How to get the cheapest flight ticket from South Africa to California

Look no further. We've gone through all the searches for this route on momondo so you have the important information and insights to find the cheapest flight ticket for your trip

Prices

Airlines

Other information

What is the cheapest month to fly to California?

The month of February is, on average, the cheapest month to fly to California from South Africa, with most prices found around R16 341. If you’re not able to fly to California in February, then May is your next best option. Flight prices from South Africa to California during May average around R17 522.

What is the cheapest day to depart on your flight to California?

The cheapest day to depart on your flight to California is on a Tuesday when prices can be found for as low as R16 855. This is often the case because there is less demand to fly during this day of the week. Flights from South Africa to California on a Friday will generally be more expensive and average around R18 782. Keep in mind that these prices on both days could fluctuate depending on the season and the demand.

What is the cheapest time of day to depart on your flight to California?

Our most recent data shows that the best time of day to fly to California is in the morning. Flights from South Africa to California during this time can be as low as R16 367. If you have a flexible travel schedule, then try to avoid flying at midday when prices are R22 644 on average. Flights to California from South Africa at midday are generally more expensive because this time of day is more convenient for travellers’ schedules.

How far in advance should I book a flight to California?

You are more likely to see cheaper flights to California from South Africa when booking weeks ahead of your departure date. In general, you can expect to find flights to California for around R18 682 when searching weeks before you fly. However, flight prices might be lower outside of this timeframe. For example, people recently found flights to California from South Africa for as low as R18 078 on momondo.

Can stopping save me money on South Africa to California flights?

You could potentially save up to 3% on your flight if you consider stops on a South Africa to California flight.

Cheap South Africa to California flight deals and tips

Find info about flight duration, direct flights, and airports for your flight from South Africa to California

Direct flights	None

There are no direct flights from South Africa to California. There are no popular flight routes from South Africa to California.

Search flight deals

When did momondo last update prices for flights from South Africa to California?
Prices for flights from South Africa to California refresh daily.
How many operators does momondo search for flights from South Africa to California?
As of September 2025, there are 13 operators available to choose from for flights from South Africa to California.
How old do you have to be to fly from South Africa to California?
The minimum age a child must be to fly alone is five but airlines that offer an unaccompanied minor (UNMR) service will have their own age restrictions, including rules around flight length, timings, and stopovers. We always recommend checking with the individual airline you are booking with to travel from South Africa to California.
What documentation or ID do you need to fly to California?
The required travel and health documents for your California trip may vary depending on your itinerary and personal circumstances. As a general rule, you should carry multiple documents, including a national ID card or driver's licence and a passport valid for six months after your intended arrival at California. We recommend that you seek guidance from your airline or a reliable third party such as IATA.

Best airlines flying from South Africa to California

Compare and see reviews for airlines that fly from South Africa to California with momondo

Airline	Rating	Free Cancellation	Price
Lufthansa	PriceFrom R11 400	Free Cancellation	Rating 6,8 7 409 reviews	Search Lufthansa flights
SWISS	PriceFrom R14 284	Free Cancellation	Rating 7,5 1 730 reviews	Search SWISS flights
British Airways	PriceFrom R15 015	Free Cancellation	Rating 6,6 7 361 reviews	Search British Airways flights
United Airlines	PriceFrom R15 818	Free Cancellation	Rating 7,4 8 934 reviews	Search United Airlines flights
Virgin Atlantic	PriceFrom R15 994	Free Cancellation	Rating 7,4 664 reviews	Search Virgin Atlantic flights
Air France	PriceFrom R16 023	Free Cancellation	Rating 7,4 1 468 reviews	Search Air France flights
Delta	PriceFrom R16 027	Free Cancellation	Rating 7,9 7 959 reviews	Search Delta flights
Turkish Airlines	PriceFrom R16 038	Free Cancellation	Rating 7,3 3 968 reviews	Search Turkish Airlines flights
KLM	PriceFrom R16 213	Free Cancellation	Rating 7,8 1 385 reviews	Search KLM flights
Singapore Airlines	PriceFrom R17 177	Free Cancellation	Rating 8,1 1 365 reviews	Search Singapore Airlines flights

Why use momondo?

Why should I use momondo to find a flight deal from South Africa to California?

We help find the flight that best suits your needs, momondo compares prices from hundreds of airlines and travel agents and helps you filter them to find the best flight from South Africa to California for you.

Can I find flights from South Africa to California with flexible booking policies on momondo?

momondo does allow users to show only those flights to California from South Africa which offer a flexible booking policy as well as other useful filters and features.

How can momondo help me find flights from South Africa to California?

momondo offers useful filters to help you find the right flight. Choose specific flight times, airports or even what payment method you prefer. We have numerous options to help you book your ideal flight from South Africa to California.

I’m not ready to book a flight from South Africa to California right now. Can momondo alert me if prices change?

If you are not ready to book a flight from South Africa to California now, use our insights above to find helpful tips or alternatively set up a price alert, where momondo will track prices on flights to California and let you know when they change.