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Cheap flights to Big Sur

— SFO
Nov 8 — Nov 151
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Find flight deals to Big Sur

Popular in

April

Cheapest in

March

Average price

R18 090
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 6% potential increase in price (R1 332 potential increase over avg. return price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease (R452 potential savings vs. average return price).
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Average for return flights in October 2026
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Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight to Big Sur

What are the cheapest airlines that fly to Big Sur?

The cheapest airlines flying from Johannesburg to Big Sur are Turkish Airlines, American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

Reviews of airlines servicing Big Sur

See what other customers who have flown with Emirates,KLM, andVirgin Atlantic to the United States have to say. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Emirates
8,1
Very Good
3 672 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

8,2

Comfort

8,1

Overall

8,1

Food

7,9

Crew

8,4

Boarding

8,2

Reviews

1 / 20
4,0
Okay

Milind,Aug 2026

DXB - SFO

Subject: Disappointing Experience Relative to Your Premium Brand I chose your airline because of its reputation as a premium carrier and was willing to pay a significant premium for that experience. Unfortunately, several aspects of my journey fell well short of the standard I expected. Airport Experience At check-in, I was initially directed to the regular line and then told to move to the U.S. line, resulting in unnecessary delays and confusion. I attempted to purchase a Business Class upgrade for my wife, who was traveling in Premium Economy. I was directed to a reservations desk that was unattended. After searching for another service window and waiting approximately 15 minutes, I eventually gave up. This was a frustrating experience that should have been much easier to navigate. Onboard Experience The lounge experience was excellent and is one of the highlights of the journey. Once onboard, I tried again to upgrade my wife to Business Class. I was quoted approximately $1,500 for a single flight segment, which was difficult to justify. What was even more frustrating was discovering later that several Business Class seats remained empty. It seems counterproductive to let seats go unused rather than offer a more reasonable last-minute upgrade option. Had the price been more aligned with market realities, my wife could have traveled with me in Business Class and both the airline and the customer would have benefited. The inflight entertainment was disappointing. The quality of the system and the selection of English-language movies were well below what I would expect from a premium international airline. I spent much of the flight unable to find suitable content. During the final meal service before landing, I was never offered a meal despite being awake and attentive. While I have no doubt the crew would have provided one had I specifically requested it, I do not believe customers should have to ask to receive a standard meal service. What Worked Well The chauffeur/car pickup service at all locations was excellent and consistently met expectations. The lounge experience was also very good. Loyalty Program One factor that makes it difficult for me to remain loyal is that your frequent flyer program is not integrated into one of the major global mileage ecosystems in the same way airlines such as United participate in broader alliances. Given your premium pricing and limited route network relative to larger carriers, consolidating miles and status benefits across multiple airlines is an important consideration for travelers like me. Overall Impression This was not an inexpensive trip. In fact, given recent geopolitical concerns in the region, choosing this routing required a degree of trust and willingness to accept additional travel risk. Unfortunately, the overall experience did not justify either the premium price or that trust. When I combine the airport issues, upgrade frustrations, entertainment shortcomings, missed meal service, and loyalty limitations, I cannot say I received the level of experience your brand promises. As things stand today, I am unlikely to choose your airline again, and my wife is already encouraging me to consider alternatives for my next international trip in December. I share this feedback because I believe your airline has the potential to deliver a truly exceptional experience, but this journey fell significantly short of that expectation.
Emirates
8,1
Very Good
3 672 reviews
Emirates
8,1
Very Good
3 672 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

8,2

Comfort

8,1

Overall

8,1

Food

7,9

Crew

8,4

Boarding

8,2

Reviews

1 / 20
4,0
Okay

Milind,Aug 2026

DXB - SFO

Subject: Disappointing Experience Relative to Your Premium Brand I chose your airline because of its reputation as a premium carrier and was willing to pay a significant premium for that experience. Unfortunately, several aspects of my journey fell well short of the standard I expected. Airport Experience At check-in, I was initially directed to the regular line and then told to move to the U.S. line, resulting in unnecessary delays and confusion. I attempted to purchase a Business Class upgrade for my wife, who was traveling in Premium Economy. I was directed to a reservations desk that was unattended. After searching for another service window and waiting approximately 15 minutes, I eventually gave up. This was a frustrating experience that should have been much easier to navigate. Onboard Experience The lounge experience was excellent and is one of the highlights of the journey. Once onboard, I tried again to upgrade my wife to Business Class. I was quoted approximately $1,500 for a single flight segment, which was difficult to justify. What was even more frustrating was discovering later that several Business Class seats remained empty. It seems counterproductive to let seats go unused rather than offer a more reasonable last-minute upgrade option. Had the price been more aligned with market realities, my wife could have traveled with me in Business Class and both the airline and the customer would have benefited. The inflight entertainment was disappointing. The quality of the system and the selection of English-language movies were well below what I would expect from a premium international airline. I spent much of the flight unable to find suitable content. During the final meal service before landing, I was never offered a meal despite being awake and attentive. While I have no doubt the crew would have provided one had I specifically requested it, I do not believe customers should have to ask to receive a standard meal service. What Worked Well The chauffeur/car pickup service at all locations was excellent and consistently met expectations. The lounge experience was also very good. Loyalty Program One factor that makes it difficult for me to remain loyal is that your frequent flyer program is not integrated into one of the major global mileage ecosystems in the same way airlines such as United participate in broader alliances. Given your premium pricing and limited route network relative to larger carriers, consolidating miles and status benefits across multiple airlines is an important consideration for travelers like me. Overall Impression This was not an inexpensive trip. In fact, given recent geopolitical concerns in the region, choosing this routing required a degree of trust and willingness to accept additional travel risk. Unfortunately, the overall experience did not justify either the premium price or that trust. When I combine the airport issues, upgrade frustrations, entertainment shortcomings, missed meal service, and loyalty limitations, I cannot say I received the level of experience your brand promises. As things stand today, I am unlikely to choose your airline again, and my wife is already encouraging me to consider alternatives for my next international trip in December. I share this feedback because I believe your airline has the potential to deliver a truly exceptional experience, but this journey fell significantly short of that expectation.
KLM
7,8
Good
1 580 reviews
Emirates
8,1
Very Good
3 672 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

8,2

Comfort

8,1

Overall

8,1

Food

7,9

Crew

8,4

Boarding

8,2

Reviews

1 / 20
4,0
Okay

Milind,Aug 2026

DXB - SFO

Subject: Disappointing Experience Relative to Your Premium Brand I chose your airline because of its reputation as a premium carrier and was willing to pay a significant premium for that experience. Unfortunately, several aspects of my journey fell well short of the standard I expected. Airport Experience At check-in, I was initially directed to the regular line and then told to move to the U.S. line, resulting in unnecessary delays and confusion. I attempted to purchase a Business Class upgrade for my wife, who was traveling in Premium Economy. I was directed to a reservations desk that was unattended. After searching for another service window and waiting approximately 15 minutes, I eventually gave up. This was a frustrating experience that should have been much easier to navigate. Onboard Experience The lounge experience was excellent and is one of the highlights of the journey. Once onboard, I tried again to upgrade my wife to Business Class. I was quoted approximately $1,500 for a single flight segment, which was difficult to justify. What was even more frustrating was discovering later that several Business Class seats remained empty. It seems counterproductive to let seats go unused rather than offer a more reasonable last-minute upgrade option. Had the price been more aligned with market realities, my wife could have traveled with me in Business Class and both the airline and the customer would have benefited. The inflight entertainment was disappointing. The quality of the system and the selection of English-language movies were well below what I would expect from a premium international airline. I spent much of the flight unable to find suitable content. During the final meal service before landing, I was never offered a meal despite being awake and attentive. While I have no doubt the crew would have provided one had I specifically requested it, I do not believe customers should have to ask to receive a standard meal service. What Worked Well The chauffeur/car pickup service at all locations was excellent and consistently met expectations. The lounge experience was also very good. Loyalty Program One factor that makes it difficult for me to remain loyal is that your frequent flyer program is not integrated into one of the major global mileage ecosystems in the same way airlines such as United participate in broader alliances. Given your premium pricing and limited route network relative to larger carriers, consolidating miles and status benefits across multiple airlines is an important consideration for travelers like me. Overall Impression This was not an inexpensive trip. In fact, given recent geopolitical concerns in the region, choosing this routing required a degree of trust and willingness to accept additional travel risk. Unfortunately, the overall experience did not justify either the premium price or that trust. When I combine the airport issues, upgrade frustrations, entertainment shortcomings, missed meal service, and loyalty limitations, I cannot say I received the level of experience your brand promises. As things stand today, I am unlikely to choose your airline again, and my wife is already encouraging me to consider alternatives for my next international trip in December. I share this feedback because I believe your airline has the potential to deliver a truly exceptional experience, but this journey fell significantly short of that expectation.
Virgin Atlantic
7,5
Good
694 reviews
Emirates
8,1
Very Good
3 672 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

8,2

Comfort

8,1

Overall

8,1

Food

7,9

Crew

8,4

Boarding

8,2

Reviews

1 / 20
4,0
Okay

Milind,Aug 2026

DXB - SFO

Subject: Disappointing Experience Relative to Your Premium Brand I chose your airline because of its reputation as a premium carrier and was willing to pay a significant premium for that experience. Unfortunately, several aspects of my journey fell well short of the standard I expected. Airport Experience At check-in, I was initially directed to the regular line and then told to move to the U.S. line, resulting in unnecessary delays and confusion. I attempted to purchase a Business Class upgrade for my wife, who was traveling in Premium Economy. I was directed to a reservations desk that was unattended. After searching for another service window and waiting approximately 15 minutes, I eventually gave up. This was a frustrating experience that should have been much easier to navigate. Onboard Experience The lounge experience was excellent and is one of the highlights of the journey. Once onboard, I tried again to upgrade my wife to Business Class. I was quoted approximately $1,500 for a single flight segment, which was difficult to justify. What was even more frustrating was discovering later that several Business Class seats remained empty. It seems counterproductive to let seats go unused rather than offer a more reasonable last-minute upgrade option. Had the price been more aligned with market realities, my wife could have traveled with me in Business Class and both the airline and the customer would have benefited. The inflight entertainment was disappointing. The quality of the system and the selection of English-language movies were well below what I would expect from a premium international airline. I spent much of the flight unable to find suitable content. During the final meal service before landing, I was never offered a meal despite being awake and attentive. While I have no doubt the crew would have provided one had I specifically requested it, I do not believe customers should have to ask to receive a standard meal service. What Worked Well The chauffeur/car pickup service at all locations was excellent and consistently met expectations. The lounge experience was also very good. Loyalty Program One factor that makes it difficult for me to remain loyal is that your frequent flyer program is not integrated into one of the major global mileage ecosystems in the same way airlines such as United participate in broader alliances. Given your premium pricing and limited route network relative to larger carriers, consolidating miles and status benefits across multiple airlines is an important consideration for travelers like me. Overall Impression This was not an inexpensive trip. In fact, given recent geopolitical concerns in the region, choosing this routing required a degree of trust and willingness to accept additional travel risk. Unfortunately, the overall experience did not justify either the premium price or that trust. When I combine the airport issues, upgrade frustrations, entertainment shortcomings, missed meal service, and loyalty limitations, I cannot say I received the level of experience your brand promises. As things stand today, I am unlikely to choose your airline again, and my wife is already encouraging me to consider alternatives for my next international trip in December. I share this feedback because I believe your airline has the potential to deliver a truly exceptional experience, but this journey fell significantly short of that expectation.
Turkish Airlines
7,4
Good
4 455 reviews
Emirates
8,1
Very Good
3 672 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

8,2

Comfort

8,1

Overall

8,1

Food

7,9

Crew

8,4

Boarding

8,2

Reviews

1 / 20
4,0
Okay

Milind,Aug 2026

DXB - SFO

Subject: Disappointing Experience Relative to Your Premium Brand I chose your airline because of its reputation as a premium carrier and was willing to pay a significant premium for that experience. Unfortunately, several aspects of my journey fell well short of the standard I expected. Airport Experience At check-in, I was initially directed to the regular line and then told to move to the U.S. line, resulting in unnecessary delays and confusion. I attempted to purchase a Business Class upgrade for my wife, who was traveling in Premium Economy. I was directed to a reservations desk that was unattended. After searching for another service window and waiting approximately 15 minutes, I eventually gave up. This was a frustrating experience that should have been much easier to navigate. Onboard Experience The lounge experience was excellent and is one of the highlights of the journey. Once onboard, I tried again to upgrade my wife to Business Class. I was quoted approximately $1,500 for a single flight segment, which was difficult to justify. What was even more frustrating was discovering later that several Business Class seats remained empty. It seems counterproductive to let seats go unused rather than offer a more reasonable last-minute upgrade option. Had the price been more aligned with market realities, my wife could have traveled with me in Business Class and both the airline and the customer would have benefited. The inflight entertainment was disappointing. The quality of the system and the selection of English-language movies were well below what I would expect from a premium international airline. I spent much of the flight unable to find suitable content. During the final meal service before landing, I was never offered a meal despite being awake and attentive. While I have no doubt the crew would have provided one had I specifically requested it, I do not believe customers should have to ask to receive a standard meal service. What Worked Well The chauffeur/car pickup service at all locations was excellent and consistently met expectations. The lounge experience was also very good. Loyalty Program One factor that makes it difficult for me to remain loyal is that your frequent flyer program is not integrated into one of the major global mileage ecosystems in the same way airlines such as United participate in broader alliances. Given your premium pricing and limited route network relative to larger carriers, consolidating miles and status benefits across multiple airlines is an important consideration for travelers like me. Overall Impression This was not an inexpensive trip. In fact, given recent geopolitical concerns in the region, choosing this routing required a degree of trust and willingness to accept additional travel risk. Unfortunately, the overall experience did not justify either the premium price or that trust. When I combine the airport issues, upgrade frustrations, entertainment shortcomings, missed meal service, and loyalty limitations, I cannot say I received the level of experience your brand promises. As things stand today, I am unlikely to choose your airline again, and my wife is already encouraging me to consider alternatives for my next international trip in December. I share this feedback because I believe your airline has the potential to deliver a truly exceptional experience, but this journey fell significantly short of that expectation.
Qatar Airways
7,3
Good
3 724 reviews
Emirates
8,1
Very Good
3 672 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

8,2

Comfort

8,1

Overall

8,1

Food

7,9

Crew

8,4

Boarding

8,2

Reviews

1 / 20
4,0
Okay

Milind,Aug 2026

DXB - SFO

Subject: Disappointing Experience Relative to Your Premium Brand I chose your airline because of its reputation as a premium carrier and was willing to pay a significant premium for that experience. Unfortunately, several aspects of my journey fell well short of the standard I expected. Airport Experience At check-in, I was initially directed to the regular line and then told to move to the U.S. line, resulting in unnecessary delays and confusion. I attempted to purchase a Business Class upgrade for my wife, who was traveling in Premium Economy. I was directed to a reservations desk that was unattended. After searching for another service window and waiting approximately 15 minutes, I eventually gave up. This was a frustrating experience that should have been much easier to navigate. Onboard Experience The lounge experience was excellent and is one of the highlights of the journey. Once onboard, I tried again to upgrade my wife to Business Class. I was quoted approximately $1,500 for a single flight segment, which was difficult to justify. What was even more frustrating was discovering later that several Business Class seats remained empty. It seems counterproductive to let seats go unused rather than offer a more reasonable last-minute upgrade option. Had the price been more aligned with market realities, my wife could have traveled with me in Business Class and both the airline and the customer would have benefited. The inflight entertainment was disappointing. The quality of the system and the selection of English-language movies were well below what I would expect from a premium international airline. I spent much of the flight unable to find suitable content. During the final meal service before landing, I was never offered a meal despite being awake and attentive. While I have no doubt the crew would have provided one had I specifically requested it, I do not believe customers should have to ask to receive a standard meal service. What Worked Well The chauffeur/car pickup service at all locations was excellent and consistently met expectations. The lounge experience was also very good. Loyalty Program One factor that makes it difficult for me to remain loyal is that your frequent flyer program is not integrated into one of the major global mileage ecosystems in the same way airlines such as United participate in broader alliances. Given your premium pricing and limited route network relative to larger carriers, consolidating miles and status benefits across multiple airlines is an important consideration for travelers like me. Overall Impression This was not an inexpensive trip. In fact, given recent geopolitical concerns in the region, choosing this routing required a degree of trust and willingness to accept additional travel risk. Unfortunately, the overall experience did not justify either the premium price or that trust. When I combine the airport issues, upgrade frustrations, entertainment shortcomings, missed meal service, and loyalty limitations, I cannot say I received the level of experience your brand promises. As things stand today, I am unlikely to choose your airline again, and my wife is already encouraging me to consider alternatives for my next international trip in December. I share this feedback because I believe your airline has the potential to deliver a truly exceptional experience, but this journey fell significantly short of that expectation.

FAQs about flying to Big Sur

  • Can I find cheaper flights to Big Sur if I am willing to have stopovers?

    Yes, flights with stopovers are often cheaper than direct flights. Keep an eye out for flight deals to Big Sur on Cheapflights that require 1 or 2 stops for potential cost savings.

  • What is the best airline to fly to Big Sur?

    Based on reviews from Cheapflights users, Emirates is rated the highest out of the airlines that fly to Big Sur.

  • How much is a return flight to Big Sur?

    A return flight to Big Sur will typically cost around R6 598, however they can be found for as little as R5 966.

  • Where does the fastest flight to Big Sur depart from?

    For those looking to save time traveling to Big Sur, Johannesburg offers the quickest one-way flight (29 hours 20 minutes).

  • Does San Francisco have car hire?

    Yes. Those touching down at San Francisco can take advantage of the car hire services offered upon their arrival.

  • Are there hotels close to San Francisco?

    Yes. San Francisco has hotels nearby for those requiring accommodations. Grand Hyatt At Sfo is the closest property to San Francisco (1,6 km away from San Francisco).

See more FAQs

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