$548 Cheap Flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Cairns (CNS)

View $548 flight on Mon, Dec 1, 2025Opens in a new window

Popular airlines from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS)

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Cairns (SFO-CNS)

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $548 for one-way flights and $1,084 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

Qantas Airways
Sun, Apr 5 - Mon, Apr 20
SFO
San Francisco
CNS
Cairns
$1,084 Roundtrip, found 5 days ago
$1,084
Roundtrip
found 5 days ago
Select Qantas Airways flight, departing Sun, Apr 5 from San Francisco to Cairns, returning Mon, Apr 20, priced at $1,084 found 5 days ago
Qantas Airways
Sun, Apr 5 - Sat, Apr 25
SFO
San Francisco
CNS
Cairns
$1,087 Roundtrip, found 5 days ago
$1,087
Roundtrip
found 5 days ago
Select Qantas Airways flight, departing Sun, Apr 5 from San Francisco to Cairns, returning Sat, Apr 25, priced at $1,087 found 5 days ago
Qantas Airways
Thu, Apr 9 - Sat, Apr 25
SFO
San Francisco
CNS
Cairns
$1,090 Roundtrip, found 5 days ago
$1,090
Roundtrip
found 5 days ago
Select Qantas Airways flight, departing Thu, Apr 9 from San Francisco to Cairns, returning Sat, Apr 25, priced at $1,090 found 5 days ago
Qantas Airways
Mon, Nov 17 - Wed, Nov 19
SFO
San Francisco
CNS
Cairns
$1,097 Roundtrip, found 5 days ago
$1,097
Roundtrip
found 5 days ago
Select Qantas Airways flight, departing Mon, Nov 17 from San Francisco to Cairns, returning Wed, Nov 19, priced at $1,097 found 5 days ago
Qantas Airways
Mon, Nov 17 - Thu, Nov 20
SFO
San Francisco
CNS
Cairns
$1,100 Roundtrip, found 5 days ago
$1,100
Roundtrip
found 5 days ago
Select Qantas Airways flight, departing Mon, Nov 17 from San Francisco to Cairns, returning Thu, Nov 20, priced at $1,100 found 5 days ago
Qantas Airways
Wed, Apr 8 - Mon, Apr 20
SFO
San Francisco
CNS
Cairns
$1,101 Roundtrip, found 5 days ago
$1,101
Roundtrip
found 5 days ago
Select Qantas Airways flight, departing Wed, Apr 8 from San Francisco to Cairns, returning Mon, Apr 20, priced at $1,101 found 5 days ago
Cathay Pacific
Tue, Feb 10 - Tue, Feb 24
SFO
San Francisco
CNS
Cairns
$1,109 Roundtrip, found 6 days ago
$1,109
Roundtrip
found 6 days ago
Select Cathay Pacific flight, departing Tue, Feb 10 from San Francisco to Cairns, returning Tue, Feb 24, priced at $1,109 found 6 days ago
Air Canada
Tue, Apr 21 - Tue, Apr 28
SFO
San Francisco
CNS
Cairns
$1,193 Roundtrip, found 2 days ago
$1,193
Roundtrip
found 2 days ago
Select Air Canada flight, departing Tue, Apr 21 from San Francisco to Cairns, returning Tue, Apr 28, priced at $1,193 found 2 days ago
United
Wed, Mar 4 - Wed, Mar 18
SFO
San Francisco
CNS
Cairns
$1,258 Roundtrip, found 6 days ago
$1,258
Roundtrip
found 6 days ago
Select United flight, departing Wed, Mar 4 from San Francisco to Cairns, returning Wed, Mar 18, priced at $1,258 found 6 days ago
All Nippon Airways
Mon, Aug 10 - Wed, Aug 19
SFO
San Francisco
CNS
Cairns
$1,315 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$1,315
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select All Nippon Airways flight, departing Mon, Aug 10 from San Francisco to Cairns, returning Wed, Aug 19, priced at $1,315 found 1 day ago

Alternative airports near Cairns

Prices were available within the past 7 days. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Select flight to Cairns Intl. CNS. Cheapest and Closest option available. Average driving time to city center is 8 minutes. Flights from $1,483
CNS
Cairns Intl.
CheapestClosest
Average driving time to city center8 min
Flights from $1,483

Frequently asked questions

How much does a flight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) cost?
Grab a cheap one-way flight from $548 or cheap return flight from $1,084 from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) with Expedia. Enter your travel dates and sort by "Price (lowest to highest)" to find our cheapest flight deals on this route.
What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS)?
April is the cheapest month to fly from SFO to CNS. Traveling outside of peak seasons is often the key to landing a great deal.
What is the cheapest airline that flies from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS)?
Use the filters on Expedia to compare airlines and find the most affordable carrier that'll fly you from SFO to CNS. Then, sort your results by "Price (lowest to highest)" to snap up a good deal.
How many flights per day from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS)?
Nonstop flights from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) aren't available daily, so you'll need to take a flight with a layover. Explore your options with Expedia's filter tool. Enter your travel dates and choose either "1 Stop" or "2+ Stops."
What day of the week has the most flights from SFO to CNS?
Typically you'll find the largest variety of flight choices on a Friday. Tuesdays tend to be the quietest.* However, this can change depending on the time of year, airline and other factors.*Busiest/quietest day to travel is based on Expedia flight demand through January to December 2024.
What is the best time to fly from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS)?
To avoid potential delays on the San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) route, aim to travel before 3 PM. Departures after this hour have a 22% higher chance of cancellation.**Most reliable time of the day and month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2024 flight status data sourced from OAG's global flight data platform.
Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) last-minute?
Waiting until just before your departure to book a flight from SFO to CNS often results in higher prices. While you may find some last-minute deals, there's no guarantee. Keep your travel plans flexible to maximize your chances of getting a bargain.
Is it cheaper to book a SFO to CNS flight and hotel package?
Compared with arranging hotels and flights separately, booking a SFO to CNS flight and hotel package with Expedia could result in significant savings. Better yet, having everything in one easy place takes the hassle out of travel planning. Just pick your flights and choose from our wide range of hotels, then personalize your trip with other add-ons like tours and car rentals.
Can I cancel or change the date of my flight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS)?
Typically, you're able to cancel or reschedule your SFO to CNS flight. However, there may be additional charges, especially if your booking was made more than 24 hours ago. Check your itinerary for the airline's rules and fees on flight changes, or if you want further details, head to our Customer Service portal.

Travel information

Origin airport
San Francisco Intl.
Destination airport
Cairns Intl.
Airlines serving
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, United
Roundtrip price
$1,084
Distance
7022 mi

Book with confidence

San Francisco to Cairns Flights

The cheapest times to fly from San Francisco to Cairns

On average, Thursday can be the cheapest time to fly, according to data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), one of the world's biggest databases for global airline sales. The data reveals that you could save up to 16% by flying on a Thursday—the cheapest day to travel on average—instead of a Sunday—the most expensive. Some of the most affordable flights from San Francisco to Cairns are during the month of April. You can find some of the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Cairns with Expedia's search tool and vast selection of airlines.

 

The best time to book a flight from San Francisco to Cairns

Sunday is one of the best days to book for cheap flights from San Francisco to Cairns: Tickets reserved on a Sunday cost between 6% and 13% less than those reserved on a Friday, according to ARC data. The data also suggests booking early can also lead to cheaper airfares. You could save 24% by buying your tickets for domestic flights at least a month in advance and 10% by booking international flights 2 months in advance.

 

How to find cheap round-trip tickets from San Francisco to Cairns

Being flexible with your dates and using Expedia's Price Drop Protection and Price Tracking features are some of the best ways of finding a cheap ticket from San Francisco to Cairns in 2025. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $548 one-way. Expedia also offers Price Drop Protection, so if the cost of your airfare goes down after booking, you'll receive a credit for the difference*. This is available for a small fee, and is free to One Key Gold and Platinum tier members.

 

Expedia's Price Tracking feature means you can stay on top of airfares without manually checking every day. It sends you automated price alerts for cheap San Francisco to Cairns flights and uses historical data to indicate when the best time to book is. Download Expedia's free app to activate this handy tool in a few easy taps.

 

You could also save big by booking one of Expedia's vacation packages. Bundling together your San Francisco to Cairns airfare with your accommodations and car rental is often cheaper than booking everything separately. There’s also One Key, Expedia's generous rewards program. Join for free and you could earn One Key cash on most bookings to save on future adventures.

 

*Terms apply.

 

Disclaimer: ARC The statistics are based on average round-trip ticket prices between January and August 2023. The percentages you see are averages.

 

San Francisco to Cairns Flights

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*Available to One Key members.