A New Way to Travel to South Australia: Nonstop From San Francisco

Australia has a new gateway from the United States: South Australia. United's nonstop flight from San Francisco to Adelaide puts travelers directly into the wildlife, Outback and wine country for which the state is known. For the first time, getting there doesn't require a connection elsewhere in Australia. The new flight does more than make South Australia easier to reach. It creates a new way to build an Australian itinerary.

Why start in South Australia?

Land in Adelaide and you are already close to several very different sides of Australia. Spend time in the city for its world-class restaurants, markets and museums. Just beyond, the vineyards and forests of the Adelaide Hills take over. Barossa wine country is an easy drive away. Fly to Kangaroo Island for wildlife and coast, or head north into the Flinders Ranges for Outback landscapes.

That variety is part of South Australia's appeal. Wine country, wildlife, coast, city, and Outback can all fit into a single trip without traveling across the entire country to find them.

The new flight simply gives travelers another reason to include the state of South Australia in a trip Down Under.

A new gateway to Australia

This is where the new route gets especially interesting.

An Australian trip doesn't have to begin and end in the same city. Fly nonstop from San Francisco to Adelaide, spend several days in South Australia, then continue to Tasmania, Melbourne, Sydney, or farther afield before flying home from another Australian gateway.

Or reverse it. Begin in Sydney or Melbourne, travel through Australia, finish with Kangaroo Island or wine country, and depart Adelaide nonstop for San Francisco.

For travelers with more time, Adelaide also connects naturally to two of Australia's great rail journeys. The Ghan crosses the heart of the continent between Adelaide and Darwin, while the Indian Pacific connects Adelaide with Perth and Sydney.

It's not that these trips were impossible before. The nonstop simply makes it easier to build South Australia into the route without returning to Sydney or Melbourne solely to catch a flight home across the Pacific.

What to know about United's San Francisco to Adelaide flight

FAQs

How long is the flight to South Australia?
The outbound flight from San Francisco to Adelaide takes about 16 hours. The return, helped along by tailwinds, runs just under 15.

What time does the flight depart San Francisco?
The flight leaves San Francisco late at night.

What time does the flight arrive in Adelaide?
Arrival in Adelaide is midmorning. Because the flight crosses the International Date Line and Adelaide sits roughly seventeen and a half hours ahead of San Francisco, travelers land two calendar days after they depart, even though they're only in the air for 16 hours.

What days does the direct flight from San Francisco to Adelaide operate?
United flies this route three times a week on a seasonal schedule, on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

How can I include South Australia in a larger Australia itinerary?
The new nonstop flight makes Adelaide a natural starting or ending point for a larger Australian journey. From South Australia, continue by air to Tasmania, Melbourne, Sydney, or other parts of the country, or cross the continent by rail aboard The Ghan or Indian Pacific. A Swain Destinations specialist can design the route around where you want to go, without unnecessary backtracking.

Can I fly into Adelaide and home from another Australian city?
Yes. You fly nonstop from San Francisco to Adelaide, travel through Australia, then return from another gateway such as Melbourne or Sydney. You can also reverse the route, beginning elsewhere in Australia and ending in Adelaide for the nonstop flight home. It’s a simple change that opens up far more ways to experience Australia in a single trip.

What aircraft operates the San Francisco to Adelaide route?
United flies the San Francisco to Adelaide route on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, seating 252 passengers across three cabins. It's the same aircraft United uses on several of its other long-haul Pacific routes, built for the kind of distance this flight covers.

What cabin classes are available on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner?
Travelers can choose United Polaris business class, Premium Plus, or Economy. Polaris includes a lie-flat seat, which matters over a flight this long.