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SFO to ICN Turbulence Forecast

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

Live forecast
SFO
→
ICN
San Francisco · Seoul · 11h 15m
58
Turb Score
11h 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 SFO–ICN

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h11h 15m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the SFO–ICN route

The San Francisco to Seoul 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 SFO–ICN

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 SFO–ICN

Turbulence by month

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

Best seat on SFO–ICN

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

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

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

LAX → ICN
Los Angeles → Seoul
Moderate
SFO → NRT
San Francisco → Tokyo
Moderate
LAX → NRT
Los Angeles → Tokyo
Moderate
SFO → HNL
San Francisco → Honolulu
Light
JFK → NRT
New York → Tokyo
Moderate

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Francisco to Seoul flight turbulent?
The SFO–ICN 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 SFO to ICN?
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 SFO to ICN?
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 SFO to ICN?
The SFO to ICN flight takes approximately 11h 15m, covering 6,417 miles (5,576 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly SFO to ICN?
The main airlines operating this route are Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, flying Airbus A380 · Boeing 777 aircraft.