KIX to SFO Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Osaka to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The KIX–SFO route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on KIX to SFO?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 787 (296 seats), that's rows 20–33. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from KIX to SFO?

The KIX to SFO flight takes approximately 10h 45m.

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

Live forecast

KIX

→

SFO

Osaka · San Francisco · 10h 45m

Turb Score

10h 45m

Duration

4,747 nm

Distance

39,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for KIX–SFO

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h10h 45m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the KIX–SFO route

The Osaka to San Francisco route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 5,461 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 ANA, United on Boeing 787 · Boeing 777 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 39,000 feet over a distance of 5,461 miles (4,747 nautical miles).

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

Turbulence levels on KIX–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 KIX–SFO

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on KIX–SFO

Boeing 787 (296 seats)

Front

Rows 1–19

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 20–33

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 34+

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

NRT → SFO

Tokyo → San Francisco

Tokyo → San Francisco

Moderate

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Passenger Reports

The 10h 45m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · November

Some light chop somewhere over the ocean — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in September.

Regular traveler · September

There was some noticeable movement over the Pacific that made me grip the armrest. My seatmate (clearly a regular) didn't even look up from their book. Perspective.

First-time flyer · July

All KIX routes→ All SFO routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Osaka to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The KIX–SFO route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 50/100.

When is turbulence worst on KIX 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 KIX to SFO?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 787 (296 seats) (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20–33. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from KIX to SFO?

The KIX to SFO flight takes approximately 10h 45m, covering 5,461 miles (4,747 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly KIX to SFO?

The main airlines operating this route are ANA, United, flying Boeing 787 · 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