When is the Shanghai 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 PVG to SFO route?

The PVG–SFO route is typically operated by Boeing 777 · Airbus A350. Airlines include Air China, China Eastern, United Airlines.

Is turbulence on PVG to SFO dangerous?

No — turbulence on the PVG–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 PVG to SFO flight?

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

PVG to SFO Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Shanghai to San Francisco flight turbulent?

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

Q: Which seat is smoothest on PVG to SFO?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 777 · Airbus A350, that's rows 22–40. Avoid the rear of the aircraft where turbulence is felt most.

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

The PVG to SFO flight takes approximately 13h 00m, covering 6,762 miles (5,875 nautical miles) at a cruising altitude of 38,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

PVG

→

SFO

Shanghai · San Francisco · 13h 00m

Turb Score

13h 00m

Duration

5,875 nm

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for PVG–SFO

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h13h 00m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the PVG–SFO route

The Shanghai to San Francisco route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 6,762 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 Air China, China Eastern, United Airlines on Boeing 777 · Airbus A350 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 6,762 miles (5,875 nautical miles).

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

Shanghai to San Francisco Flight Time

How long is the flight from PVG to SFO?

13h 00m

Flight Time

6,762 mi

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 777

Aircraft

The Shanghai (PVG) to San Francisco (SFO) flight takes approximately 13h 00m, covering 6,762 miles (5,875 nautical miles) at 38,000 feet. The route is operated by Air China, China Eastern, United Airlines. Return flights (SFO to PVG) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on PVG–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 PVG–SFO

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on PVG–SFO

Boeing 777

Front

Rows 1–21

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 22–40

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 41+

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 → PVG

San Francisco → Shanghai

Moderate

LAX → PVG

Los Angeles → Shanghai

Moderate

PVG → LAX

Shanghai → Los Angeles

Moderate

SFO → NRT

San Francisco → Tokyo

Moderate

SFO → ICN

San Francisco → Seoul

See all transpacific flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

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Best Seat Guide

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Clear-Air Turbulence

The invisible rough air that's increasing

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Turbulence in 2025

Is turbulence getting worse?

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Is Turbulence Dangerous?

What the safety data shows

→

Passenger Reports

Rough patch over the Pacific in May — drinks went everywhere on the row behind me. Probably 45 minutes of actual turbulence. Nothing dangerous but definitely uncomfortable.

Business traveler · May

More turbulent than I expected. The crossing the dateline section was pretty rough — overhead bins rattling, some gasps from other passengers. Died down before landing.

Leisure traveler · October

Flew this in April 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 · April

All PVG routes→ All SFO routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Shanghai to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The PVG–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 PVG 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 PVG to SFO?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 777 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 22–40. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from PVG to SFO?

The PVG to SFO flight takes approximately 13h 00m, covering 6,762 miles (5,875 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly PVG to SFO?

The main airlines operating this route are Air China, China Eastern, United Airlines, flying Boeing 777 · Airbus A350 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