San Diego International to Paris Charles de Gaulle
5684 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 11h 50m with 3 airlines operating direct service from San Diego International (SAN) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $699 return), with peak prices in August (around $2097). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from San Diego International
San Diego International is the busiest single-runway commercial airport in the United States, sitting 3 miles from downtown San Diego. MTS Route 992 runs from the terminals directly to downtown in around 15 minutes for $2.50; the future Trolley extension (planned 2027) will provide direct light rail. Southwest and Alaska have the largest schedules; American, Delta and United add full-service capacity. Limited international long-haul — British Airways and Lufthansa serve London and Frankfurt direct.
Arriving in Paris
Paris Charles de Gaulle is 25 km northeast of central Paris, with RER B trains reaching Gare du Nord in 25–35 minutes for €11.80. Air France, Delta, American and United dominate the transatlantic corridor. Cheapest months from US East Coast hubs are November (post-Thanksgiving) and late January; peak demand is May–early September. Olympic-year (2024) demand peaks have moderated; pricing now mirrors typical patterns.
Who flies SAN to CDG?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| British Airways | BA | 11h 50m | Economy |
| Lufthansa | LH | 11h 50m | Economy |
| Japan Airlines | JL | 11h 50m | Economy |
3 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly SAN→CDG
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
San Diego to Paris FAQs
Direct flights from San Diego International (SAN) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) take approximately 11h 50m for the 5684-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $699. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
3 carriers operate direct service from San Diego International (SAN) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG): British Airways, Lufthansa and Japan Airlines. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — British Airways typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
Visa-free Schengen for US passport holders up to 90 days in any 180-day period. ETIAS authorisation will be required from late 2026. Always check travel.state.gov for the latest entry requirements before booking.
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is the primary international airport for Paris. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.