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ICN to SFO Turbulence Forecast

Is the Seoul to San Francisco flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast
ICN
→
SFO
Seoul · San Francisco · 12h 15m
58
Turb Score
12h 15m
Duration
5,576 nm
Distance
38,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Moderate
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for ICN–SFO

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h12h 15m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the ICN–SFO route

The Seoul to San Francisco route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 6,417 miles. The Pacific jet stream creates moderate turbulence, typically around 3–7 hours into the flight. The sheer length of the route means passengers experience varying conditions: calm stretches punctuated by bumpy patches.

The route is served by Korean Air, Asiana Airlines on Airbus A380 · Boeing 777 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 6,417 miles (5,576 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion.

Turbulence levels on ICN–SFO

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm
LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady
ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause
HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly ICN–SFO

Turbulence by month

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Rough

Best seat on ICN–SFO

Airbus A380

Front
Rows 1–27
Light
✓ Wing
Rows 28–48
Smoothest
Rear
Rows 49+
Rougher
Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

ICN to SFO turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

SFO → ICN
San Francisco → Seoul
Moderate
ICN → LAX
Seoul → Los Angeles
Moderate
NRT → SFO
Tokyo → San Francisco
Moderate
NRT → LAX
Tokyo → Los Angeles
Moderate
HNL → SFO
Honolulu → San Francisco
Light
HKG → LAX
Hong Kong → Los Angeles
Moderate
See all transpacific flights →
All ICN routes→ All SFO routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Seoul to San Francisco flight turbulent?
The ICN–SFO route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 58/100.
When is turbulence worst on ICN to SFO?
Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.
Which seat is smoothest on ICN to SFO?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A380 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 28–48. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from ICN to SFO?
The ICN to SFO flight takes approximately 12h 15m, covering 6,417 miles (5,576 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly ICN to SFO?
The main airlines operating this route are Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, flying Airbus A380 · Boeing 777 aircraft.