When is the Seoul to San Francisco route most turbulent?

See the monthly chart above for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical and Caribbean routes peak during monsoon season (Jul–Sep).

What aircraft operates the ICN to SFO route?

The ICN–SFO route is typically operated by Airbus A380 · Boeing 777. Airlines include Korean Air, Asiana Airlines.

Is turbulence on ICN to SFO dangerous?

No — turbulence on the ICN–SFO route is not dangerous to the aircraft. Modern commercial aircraft are built to withstand far more stress than any turbulence encountered. The main risk is to unbelted passengers. Always keep your seatbelt fastened when seated.

How can I check turbulence before my ICN to SFO flight?

Use the Turbulence Forecast app (iOS & Android) for real-time PIREPs, SIGMET alerts, and AI-powered forecasts for the ICN–SFO route. The app shows minute-by-minute turbulence timing for your specific flight date.

ICN to SFO Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Seoul to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The ICN–SFO route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on ICN to SFO?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A380 · Boeing 777, that's rows 28–48. Avoid the rear of the aircraft where turbulence is felt most.

Q: 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) at a cruising altitude of 38,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

ICN

→

SFO

Seoul · San Francisco · 12h 15m

Turb Score

12h 15m

Duration

5,576 nm

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

Get exact timing, altitude & best seat — free

Download free on the App Store ★★★★★ 4.8 · 20K+ reviews Get it on Google Play ★★★★★ 4.8 · 20K+ reviews

★★★★★ 4.8 · 20,000+ reviews · iOS & Android

Scan to get the full forecast ★★★★★ 4.8 · 20,000+ reviews · iOS & Android · Free

Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for ICN–SFO

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.

Seoul to San Francisco Flight Time

How long is the flight from ICN to SFO?

12h 15m

Flight Time

6,417 mi

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A380

Aircraft

The Seoul (ICN) to San Francisco (SFO) flight takes approximately 12h 15m, covering 6,417 miles (5,576 nautical miles) at 38,000 feet. The route is operated by Korean Air, Asiana Airlines. Return flights (SFO to ICN) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

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

Get minute-by-minute timing for your specific flight

Download on the App Store ★★★★★ 4.8 · 20K+ reviews Get it on Google Play ★★★★★ 4.8 · 20K+ reviews

Best time to fly ICN–SFO

Turbulence by month

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

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

SFO → ICN

San Francisco → Seoul

San Francisco → Tokyo

Moderate

SFO → HNL

San Francisco → Honolulu

See all transpacific flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

→

Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

→

Clear-Air Turbulence

The invisible rough air that's increasing

→

Turbulence in 2025

Is turbulence getting worse?

→

Is Turbulence Dangerous?

What the safety data shows

→

Passenger Reports

Flew this in May expecting smooth skies based on past experience, but it was noticeably bumpier than usual. About an hour of moderate chop. Seatbelt sign basically stayed on.

Regular traveler · May

This was genuinely difficult for me. Real bumps for a long stretch mid-Pacific, seatbelt sign on for what felt like forever. The flight attendants were calm which helped. Got through it.

Nervous flyer · June

The over the North Pacific section was legitimately rough. I was holding on to the armrests. Lasted maybe 40 minutes. One of the flight attendants had to sit down. Not a fun 12h 15m flight but we landed fine.

Solo traveler · March

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.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data