SFO to MXP Turbulence Forecast

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

Live forecast
SFO
MXP
San Francisco · Milan · 11h 45m
35.3
Turb Score
11h 45m
Duration
5,155 nm
Distance
37,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Light
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SFO–MXP

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h11h 45m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the SFO–MXP route

The San Francisco to Milan route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 37,000 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 American Airlines, United, Delta on Boeing 777 · Airbus A350 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 37,000 feet over a distance of 5,932 miles (5,155 nautical miles).

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

San Francisco to Milan Flight Time

How long is the flight from SFO to MXP?

11h 45m
Flight Time
5,932 mi
Distance
37,000 ft
Cruising Altitude
Boeing 777
Aircraft

The San Francisco (SFO) to Milan (MXP) flight takes approximately 11h 45m, covering 5,932 miles (5,155 nautical miles) at 37,000 feet. The route is operated by American Airlines, United, Delta. Return flights (MXP 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–MXP

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–MXP

Turbulence by month

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

Best seat on SFO–MXP

Boeing 777

Front
Rows 1–19
Light
✓ Wing
Rows 20–38
Smoothest
Rear
Rows 39+
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 MXP turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

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Passenger Reports

Flew San Francisco–Milan in May, had some light turbulence in the middle portion of the flight. Brief and nothing concerning. This route is usually fine.
Business traveler · May
A few bumpy patches mid-Atlantic, lasted maybe half an hour total. Drink service was paused briefly. Not unusual for this time of year.
Frequent flyer · September
The 11h 45m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.
Leisure traveler · March
All SFO routes All MXP routes

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Francisco to Milan flight turbulent?
The SFO–MXP route typically experiences light turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 35.3/100.
When is turbulence worst on SFO to MXP?
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 MXP?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 777 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20–38. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from SFO to MXP?
The SFO to MXP flight takes approximately 11h 45m, covering 5,932 miles (5,155 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly SFO to MXP?
The main airlines operating this route are American Airlines, United, Delta, flying Boeing 777 · Airbus A350 aircraft.

Data Sources

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data