Flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Europe are offered by airlines including Condor Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Scandinavian Airlines, French Bee Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aer Lingus, WestJet, and Lufthansa — connecting to major European cities like Paris and Frankfurt.
🌍 Airlines Offering Direct Flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Europe
For travelers prioritizing speed and convenience, several reputable airlines operate direct, non-stop services from San Francisco (SFO) to various key European cities. These flights typically land in major international hubs, from which you can easily connect to other European destinations if needed.
Here are some of the prominent airlines offering direct flights:
- United Airlines: As a major U.S. carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, United Airlines offers extensive direct flights from SFO to its European hubs.
- Destinations: Munich (MUC), Frankfurt (FRA), London Heathrow (LHR), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Rome Fiumicino (FCO), Dublin (DUB), and Zurich (ZRH) are common direct routes.
- Aircraft: Often utilizes wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner or Boeing 777 for these long-haul routes.
- Lufthansa: Germany's flag carrier and a Star Alliance member, Lufthansa provides direct connections from SFO to its primary hubs.
- Destinations: Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) are regularly served directly from SFO.
- Service: Known for its premium services and extensive network across Europe.
- British Airways: The flag carrier of the United Kingdom and a key member of the Oneworld alliance, British Airways offers direct flights to its London hub.
- Destinations: London Heathrow (LHR) is the primary direct route from SFO, offering onward connections throughout the UK and Europe.
- Air France: France's national airline and a major SkyTeam alliance member, Air France connects SFO directly to its Parisian hub.
- Destinations: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is the direct gateway, providing access to Air France's vast European network.
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines: The flag carrier of the Netherlands, part of the SkyTeam alliance, KLM offers direct service from SFO.
- Destinations: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) is the direct link, a popular hub for connecting to destinations across Europe.
- Virgin Atlantic: A prominent British airline, Virgin Atlantic offers direct flights to London.
- Destinations: London Heathrow (LHR) is its direct route from SFO, known for its distinct service and cabin experience.
- Swiss International Air Lines: Switzerland's flag carrier and a Star Alliance member, Swiss provides direct flights from SFO.
- Destinations: Zurich (ZRH) is the direct route, offering a convenient entry point to Central Europe.
- Aer Lingus: Ireland's national airline, Aer Lingus offers direct flights to Dublin.
- Destinations: Dublin (DUB) is the direct connection, often allowing for U.S. pre-clearance facilities.
- Turkish Airlines: The national flag carrier airline of Turkey, a Star Alliance member, Turkish Airlines connects SFO to its Istanbul hub.
- Destinations: Istanbul Airport (IST) provides a direct link and a gateway to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.
- Scandinavian Airlines (SAS): The flag carrier of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and a Star Alliance member, SAS offers direct flights from SFO.
- Destinations: Copenhagen (CPH) is a direct route, providing access to Scandinavia and Northern Europe.
- Iberia: Spain's flag carrier and a member of the Oneworld alliance, Iberia offers direct flights to Madrid.
- Destinations: Madrid Barajas (MAD) is the direct connection, serving as a hub for Southern Europe and Latin America.
🔗 Airlines with Excellent Connecting Flight Options to Europe
Even if your desired European city doesn't have a direct flight from SFO, many airlines offer convenient connecting services through their major hubs, often as part of global airline alliances. These options significantly expand your reach across the continent.
Here’s how major alliances and their member airlines facilitate connections:
- Star Alliance:
- Key Airlines: United Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, SAS, Turkish Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines.
- Connecting Hubs: Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC), Zurich (ZRH), Copenhagen (CPH), Istanbul (IST), Vienna (VIE), Brussels (BRU).
- Benefit: A vast network allowing for one-stop connections to almost any major or regional airport in Europe.
- SkyTeam Alliance:
- Key Airlines: Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic (partnered).
- Connecting Hubs: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS).
- Benefit: Strong coverage across Western and Southern Europe, with seamless transfers through their well-established hubs.
- Oneworld Alliance:
- Key Airlines: British Airways, Iberia, American Airlines, Finnair.
- Connecting Hubs: London Heathrow (LHR), Madrid (MAD), Helsinki (HEL).
- Benefit: Excellent for reaching destinations in the UK, Spain, and Northern Europe, with efficient connections through their respective hubs.
These alliances allow you to book a single itinerary with multiple airlines, ensuring your baggage is checked through to your final destination and offering protection in case of missed connections.
💡 Tips for Booking Your Europe Flight on Trip.com
When searching for flights from San Francisco to Europe on Trip.com, consider these tips to find the best options:
- Flexibility with Dates: Being flexible with your travel dates, even by a few days, can significantly impact ticket prices. Use Trip.com's flexible date search options.
- Consider Nearby Airports: While SFO is the primary airport, sometimes flights from Oakland (OAK) or San Jose (SJC) might offer different pricing or direct routes, especially for connecting flights.
- Utilize Filters: Trip.com allows you to filter by "Direct Flights," "Airlines," "Departure/Arrival Times," and "Number of Stops." This helps narrow down your search efficiently.
- Book in Advance: Especially for popular European routes and peak travel seasons (summer, holidays), booking several months in advance often secures better fares.
- Check Different Alliances: If you have loyalty with a specific airline alliance, search for flights within that network to maximize your points and benefits.
- Review Layover Times: For connecting flights, pay attention to the layover duration. Sufficient time is crucial for seamless transfers, especially in large international airports.
Data was updated on December 22, 2025; please refer to real-time search for specific details.