When is the San Francisco to Seoul route most turbulent?

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

SFO to ICN Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the San Francisco to Seoul flight turbulent?

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

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SFO to ICN?

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

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

The SFO to ICN flight takes approximately 11h 15m, covering 6,417 miles at 38,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

SFO

→

ICN

San Francisco · Seoul · 11h 15m

Turb Score

11h 15m

Duration

5,576 nm

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SFO–ICN

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.

San Francisco to Seoul Flight Time

How long is the flight from SFO to ICN?

11h 15m

Flight Time

6,417 mi

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A380

Aircraft

The San Francisco (SFO) to Seoul (ICN) flight takes approximately 11h 15m, covering 6,417 miles (5,576 nautical miles) at 38,000 feet. The route is operated by Korean Air, Asiana Airlines. Return flights (ICN to SFO) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

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

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

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

San Francisco → Tokyo

San Francisco → Honolulu

Light

LAX → HKG

Los Angeles → Hong Kong

See all transpacific flights →

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Passenger Reports

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

Nervous flyer · May

Moderate turbulence over the Pacific — the kind where you're glad you kept your seatbelt on. Lasted about 30-40 minutes, then smoothed out. I've had worse on transatlantic routes.

Frequent flyer · February

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

Business traveler · March

All SFO routes→ All ICN routes→

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.

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