When is the San Francisco to Sydney 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 SYD Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the San Francisco to Sydney flight turbulent?

The SFO–SYD route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SFO to SYD?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 787 · Airbus A350, that's rows 20–35. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The SFO to SYD flight takes approximately 17h 0m, covering 8,534 miles at 39,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

SFO

→

SYD

San Francisco · Sydney · 17h 0m

Turb Score

17h 0m

Duration

7,415 nm

Distance

39,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

Get exact timing, altitude & best seat — free

Download free on the App Store Get it on Google Play

★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android

Scan to get the full forecast ★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android · No sign-up

Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SFO–SYD

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h17h 0m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SFO–SYD route

The San Francisco to Sydney route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 8,534 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 Qantas, United Airlines on Boeing 787 · Airbus A350 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 39,000 feet over a distance of 8,534 miles (7,415 nautical miles).

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

San Francisco to Sydney Flight Time

How long is the flight from SFO to SYD?

17h 0m

Flight Time

8,534 mi

Distance

39,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 787

Aircraft

The San Francisco (SFO) to Sydney (SYD) flight takes approximately 17h 0m, covering 8,534 miles (7,415 nautical miles) at 39,000 feet. The route is operated by Qantas, United Airlines. Return flights (SYD 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–SYD

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

Get minute-by-minute timing for your specific flight

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Best time to fly SFO–SYD

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SFO–SYD

Boeing 787

Front

Rows 1–19

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 20–35

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 36+

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

Moderate

SFO → HNL

San Francisco → Honolulu

Light

LAX → MEL

Los Angeles → Melbourne

Light

LAX → SIN

Los Angeles → Singapore

Light

SFO → HKG

San Francisco → Hong Kong

Light

See all transpacific flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

→

Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

→

Clear-Air Turbulence

The invisible rough air that's increasing

→

Turbulence in 2025

Is turbulence getting worse?

→

Is Turbulence Dangerous?

What the safety data shows

→

Passenger Reports

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

Regular traveler · May

The 17h 0m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · June

Flew San Francisco–Sydney in April, had some light turbulence in the middle portion of the flight. Brief and nothing concerning. This route is usually fine.

Business traveler · April

All SFO routes→ All SYD routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Francisco to Sydney flight turbulent?

The SFO–SYD route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 52/100.

When is turbulence worst on SFO to SYD?

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 SYD?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 787 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20–35. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from SFO to SYD?

The SFO to SYD flight takes approximately 17h 0m, covering 8,534 miles (7,415 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SFO to SYD?

The main airlines operating this route are Qantas, United Airlines, flying Boeing 787 · 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