Compare 4 loyalty programs for Miami to San Francisco award flights, with economy seats from 90 points.
Miami to San Francisco is a transcontinental domestic route with nonstop award seats on United Airlines. Four programs price the route, and economy starts at 90 points on a United Airlines nonstop. Lufthansa Miles & More prices that seat lowest, so defaulting to United Airlines' own program can mean overpaying. This page compares every way to book MIA–SFO on points, daily.
Best one-way award prices per airline over the next 12 months.
| Airline | Economy | Premium economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 United AirlinesUA | 90Lowest | 150,000Lowest | 100,000pts | 91,800pts |
 American AirlinesAA | 17,500pts | Not available | 68,400Lowest | 35,000Lowest |
 Alaska AirlinesAS | 17,500pts | Not available | Not available | 97,500pts |
When award seats between Miami and San Francisco price cheapest over the next year.
| Month | Cheapest award (points) |
|---|---|
| Nov 2026 | 90 |
| Dec 2026 | 8,974 |
| Jan 2027 | 6,615 |
| Feb 2027 | 8,974 |
| Mar 2027 | 22,500 |
| Apr 2027 | 36,777 |
| May 2027 | 17,500 |
| Jun 2027 | No award data |
| Jul 2027 | No award data |
| Aug 2027 | No award data |
| Sep 2027 | No award data |
| Oct 2027 | No award data |
3 airlines with award seats between Miami and San Francisco, nonstop or connecting.
American AirlinesAAAlaska AirlinesASUnited AirlinesUAWhat to know before booking Miami to San Francisco with points.
About 2,580 miles, roughly 5h40 nonstop. San Francisco runs 3 hours behind Miami. Data covers November 2026–November 2027, with calendar prices for seven months. Across well-covered months, November 2026 is the cheapest (90 points), ahead of March 2027 (22,500) and May 2027 (17,500).
Miami to San Francisco is served by American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, offering multiple options for award travelers. Compare 4 loyalty programs to find the best value for your points. Award prices start from 90 points in economy. Use our search tool to check real-time award availability on this route.
Flying Miami to San Francisco covers about 2,580 miles, linking Miami International Airport (MIA) with San Francisco International Airport (SFO); a nonstop takes roughly 5h40, with winds moving it either way. United Airlines carries all of the nonstop award space in the data. The Boeing 737 shows up on those nonstop award segments. Expect mostly connecting results: only about 10% of the award options in the data are nonstop.
Miami–San Francisco is a domestic route, so the first question is whether to spend points at all. The economy floor is a partner booking on a United Airlines nonstop, with no connection to trade off against the points. Its $319 in taxes and fees is the catch, well above the route's typical economy taxes; more points and less cash can come out ahead. When the fare is low, pay cash and hold the points for a pricier trip.
Lufthansa Miles & More is cheapest in economy at 90 points on a United Airlines nonstop. Qantas Frequent Flyer wins business class at 68,400 points. Alaska Atmos Rewards takes first class at 35,000 points. United MileagePlus also prices the route and is worth a cross-check before transferring. Business and first class also price as partner awards, with one airline's miles buying another airline's seat.
Only United Airlines (Star Alliance) shows nonstop award space between Miami and San Francisco in the data; partner programs across Star Alliance can price it alongside United MileagePlus. When nonstop space is gone, the cheaper connecting awards in the data route through Newark, Los Angeles, and Seattle. The economy floor is a Star Alliance partner award: Lufthansa Miles & More prices the United Airlines nonstop.
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) also logs nonstop flights to San Francisco in the data. The return, San Francisco to Miami, has its own page, since award pricing can differ by direction. For another option from Miami, Atlanta prices from 4,500 points at last check. Check the arrival code before transferring points, since San Francisco awards can also land at San Jose (SJC).
Alternative corridors travelers consider alongside Miami to San Francisco.
From 2,357 ptsBusiness 49,527 pts
From 4,500 ptsBusiness 19,300 pts
From 4,500 ptsBusiness 9,000 pts
From 6,369 ptsBusiness 30,000 pts
From 7,500 ptsBusiness 15,000 pts
From 7,500 ptsBusiness 43,600 pts
Common questions travelers ask about the Miami to San Francisco route.
