When is the San Francisco to Osaka 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 KIX route?

The SFO–KIX route is typically operated by Boeing 787 · Boeing 777. Airlines include ANA, United.

Is turbulence on SFO to KIX dangerous?

No — turbulence on the SFO–KIX 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 KIX flight?

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

SFO to KIX Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the San Francisco to Osaka flight turbulent?

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

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SFO to KIX?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 787 · Boeing 777, that's rows 20–33. Avoid the rear of the aircraft where turbulence is felt most.

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

The SFO to KIX flight takes approximately 10h 45m, covering 5,461 miles (4,747 nautical miles) at a cruising altitude of 39,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

SFO

→

KIX

San Francisco · Osaka · 10h 45m

Turb Score

10h 45m

Duration

4,747 nm

Distance

39,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SFO–KIX

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h10h 45m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SFO–KIX route

The San Francisco to Osaka route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 5,461 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 ANA, United on Boeing 787 · Boeing 777 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 39,000 feet over a distance of 5,461 miles (4,747 nautical miles).

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

San Francisco to Osaka Flight Time

How long is the flight from SFO to KIX?

10h 45m

Flight Time

5,461 mi

Distance

39,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 787

Aircraft

The San Francisco (SFO) to Osaka (KIX) flight takes approximately 10h 45m, covering 5,461 miles (4,747 nautical miles) at 39,000 feet. The route is operated by ANA, United. Return flights (KIX 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–KIX

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–KIX

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SFO–KIX

Boeing 787 (296 seats)

Front

Rows 1–19

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 20–33

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 34+

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 transpacific flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

→

Clear-Air Turbulence

The invisible rough air that's increasing

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Turbulence in 2025

Is turbulence getting worse?

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Is Turbulence Dangerous?

What the safety data shows

→

Passenger Reports

Some light chop mid-Pacific — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in November.

Regular traveler · November

Kids barely noticed the turbulence — just some mild bumps somewhere over the ocean. Seatbelt sign was on and off a couple times. Nothing dramatic.

Parent traveling with kids · December

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

Frequent flyer · July

All SFO routes→ All KIX routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Francisco to Osaka flight turbulent?

The SFO–KIX route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 50/100.

When is turbulence worst on SFO to KIX?

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 KIX?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 787 (296 seats) (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20–33. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from SFO to KIX?

The SFO to KIX flight takes approximately 10h 45m, covering 5,461 miles (4,747 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SFO to KIX?

The main airlines operating this route are ANA, United, flying Boeing 787 · Boeing 777 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