When is the San Francisco to Krabi 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 SFO to KBV route?

The SFO–KBV route is typically operated by Airbus A320 · ATR 72 · Boeing 737. Airlines include AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways.

Is turbulence on SFO to KBV dangerous?

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

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

SFO to KBV Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the San Francisco to Krabi flight turbulent?

The SFO–KBV route typically experiences light-to-moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SFO to KBV?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A320 · ATR 72 · Boeing 737, that's rows 10-20. Avoid the rear of the aircraft where turbulence is felt most.

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

The SFO to KBV flight takes approximately 16h, covering 8,303 miles (7,215 nautical miles) at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

SFO

→

KBV

San Francisco · Krabi · 16h

Turb Score

16h

Duration

7,215 nm

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light-to-Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Light-to-Moderate turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SFO–KBV

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h16h

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SFO–KBV route

The San Francisco to Krabi route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 35,000 feet, the aircraft encounters the strongest bumps roughly 2–5 hours into the flight. This is clear-air turbulence — no clouds, no visual warning — which makes a pre-flight forecast especially valuable.

The route is served by AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways on Airbus A320 · ATR 72 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 35,000 feet over a distance of 8,303 miles (7,215 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth.

San Francisco to Krabi Flight Time

How long is the flight from SFO to KBV?

16h

Flight Time

8,303 mi

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The San Francisco (SFO) to Krabi (KBV) flight takes approximately 16h, covering 8,303 miles (7,215 nautical miles) at 35,000 feet. The route is operated by AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways. Return flights (KBV 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–KBV

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–KBV

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SFO–KBV

Airbus A320

Front

Rows 1–9

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 10-20

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 21+

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 → NRT

San Francisco → Tokyo

Moderate

SFO → CPH

San Francisco → Copenhagen

Moderate

SFO → BCN

San Francisco → Barcelona

See all transatlantic flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

A few bumpy patches on descent, lasted maybe half an hour total. Drink service was paused briefly. Not unusual for this time of year.

Frequent flyer · June

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

Regular traveler · May

The 16h flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · January

All SFO routes→ All KBV routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Francisco to Krabi flight turbulent?

The SFO–KBV route typically experiences light-to-moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected. The turbulence score for this route is 3/100.

When is turbulence worst on SFO to KBV?

Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on SFO to KBV?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A320 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10-20. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from SFO to KBV?

The SFO to KBV flight takes approximately 16h, covering 8,303 miles (7,215 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SFO to KBV?

The main airlines operating this route are AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways, flying Airbus A320 · ATR 72 · Boeing 737 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