Compare 3 loyalty programs for San Francisco to Los Angeles award flights, with economy seats from 4,000 points.
San Francisco to Los Angeles is a short-haul domestic hop; nonstop award space turns up on four carriers, including Delta and American Airlines. Just three programs price the route, and economy starts at 4,000 points via Delta SkyMiles, on a nonstop. At this distance, check the cash fare before redeeming: points earn their keep only when the award price is genuinely low. Every SFO–LAX award below is broken out program by program.
Best one-way award prices per airline over the next 12 months.
| Airline | Economy | First |
|---|---|---|
 DeltaDL | 4,000Lowest | Not available |
 American AirlinesAA | 4,500pts | 9,000Lowest |
 Alaska AirlinesAS | 5,000pts | 12,500pts |
 United AirlinesUA | 8,500pts | Not available |
When award seats between San Francisco and Los Angeles price cheapest over the next year.
| Month | Cheapest award (points) |
|---|---|
| Nov 2026 | No award data |
| Dec 2026 | 4,000 |
| Jan 2027 | 4,500 |
| Feb 2027 | 5,000 |
| Mar 2027 | 19,577 |
| Apr 2027 | 5,000 |
| May 2027 | 25,000 |
| Jun 2027 | 25,000 |
| Jul 2027 | No award data |
| Aug 2027 | No award data |
| Sep 2027 | No award data |
| Oct 2027 | No award data |
4 airlines with award seats between San Francisco and Los Angeles, nonstop or connecting.
American AirlinesAAAlaska AirlinesASDeltaDLUnited AirlinesUAWhat to know before booking San Francisco to Los Angeles with points.
About 340 miles, roughly 1h10 nonstop. Los Angeles keeps the same clock as San Francisco. The data runs November 2026–October 2027, with calendar prices for seven months. Counting well-covered months only, December 2026 is the cheapest (4,000 points), ahead of January 2027 (4,500) and February 2027 (5,000).
San Francisco to Los Angeles is served by American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta and 1 more, offering multiple options for award travelers. Compare 3 loyalty programs to find the best value for your points. Award prices start from 4,000 points in economy. Use our search tool to check real-time award availability on this route.
At about 340 miles from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), a nonstop runs roughly 1h10, give or take with the winds. Nonstop award space in the data comes from Delta, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines. The Boeing 737-900 and Embraer 175 both appear on those nonstop award segments. Nonstops make up about 49% of the award options in the data, which makes a direct award a realistic target.
San Francisco–Los Angeles is a domestic route, so the first question is whether to spend points at all. The economy floor is a Delta nonstop booked through its own program, which means the fewest points and no connection. Expect about $6 in taxes and fees on top, in line with the route's typical economy taxes. When the fare is low, pay cash and hold the points for a pricier trip. Bank points transfer to Delta SkyMiles; check for a transfer bonus, then confirm the seat before moving them.
Delta SkyMiles wins economy at 4,000 points on a Delta nonstop. Alaska Atmos Rewards takes first class at 9,000 points on an American Airlines nonstop. Virgin Australia Velocity also prices the route and is worth a cross-check before transferring. Alaska Atmos Rewards takes over at first class, so the right currency depends on where you want to sit.
On points, San Francisco–Los Angeles has nonstop seats from Delta (SkyTeam), American Airlines (oneworld), Alaska Airlines (oneworld), and United Airlines (Star Alliance), which puts partner programs from all three alliances in play for a nonstop. The lowest first-class award here is a oneworld partner booking: the American Airlines nonstop through Alaska Atmos Rewards. Only four airlines hold award inventory here, so shifting dates is the main lever when space runs out.
Departing the San Francisco area, San Jose (SJC) prices at the same 4,000 points in economy as SFO. Landing in the Los Angeles area, Orange County (SNA) comes in only slightly higher at 5,000 points in economy against the 4,000-point floor, making it a sensible check when LAX awards dry up; Burbank (BUR) prices from 7,500. San Jose has nonstop flights to Los Angeles in the data too.
Alternative corridors travelers consider alongside San Francisco to Los Angeles.
From 4,900 ptsBusiness 21,000 pts
From 5,000 ptsBusiness 19,300 pts
From 5,000 ptsBusiness 23,000 pts
From 5,700 ptsBusiness 25,500 pts
From 7,000 ptsBusiness 30,000 pts
From 7,000 ptsBusiness 40,000 pts
Common questions travelers ask about the San Francisco to Los Angeles route.
