Business class · SFO to IST
San Francisco to Istanbul in business class
About 12 hours 55 minutes nonstop. Here is every airline we quote on this route, the seat each one flies and the lounge before you board.
Get a quote for this route
A specialist compares the options and quotes the full price before you pay.
Ways to fly it
3 airlines we quote between San Francisco and Istanbul. The seat depends on the aircraft, so we confirm it for your exact flight.
- Star Alliance
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines Business Class
Suite with closing door
Lie-flat with direct aisle access (787/A350); new "Crystal Business Class" with sliding doors rolling out on 777-300ER from 2025 (targeting 50% of fleet by end 2026)
- Seat width
- 22 inches
- Bed length
- 78 inches
- Loyalty program
- Miles&Smiles
Lounge: Turkish Airlines Lounge (IST) — one of the world's largest with spa, gourmet dining, and golf simulator
- Star Alliance
United Airlines
United Polaris Business Class
Lie-flat, 1-2-1
Lie-flat pod with direct aisle access; new "Polaris 2.0" cabin debuting on new-delivery 787-9s from April 2026 (SFO-Singapore, expanding to SFO-London)
- Seat width
- 22 inches
- Bed length
- 78 inches
- Loyalty program
- MileagePlus
Lounge: United Polaris Lounge (ORD/EWR/SFO/IAD/LAX) — bedrooms, showers, à la carte dining
- SkyTeam
Delta Air Lines
Delta One Suite
Suite with closing door
Rolling multi-year rollout: Delta One Suite (closing door) established on A350-900, expanding to A330-200/300; NEXT-GEN suite (3+in longer bed) debuting on new A350-1000 from 2026/2027; older 767 fleet typically lacks a door
- Seat width
- 22 inches
- Bed length
- 78 inches (current Suite); 6.5ft+ / 3+in longer on the incoming next-gen A350-1000 suite
- Loyalty program
- Delta SkyMiles
Lounge: Delta Sky Club + Delta One Lounge (JFK)
Nonstop flights, SFO to IST
2 nonstop flights on the airline timetable, in local time at each airport. Schedules change with the season, so we confirm the flight for your dates when we quote.
| Flight | Departs SFO | Arrives IST | In the air | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish Airlines TK 290Also sold as 6E 4040, PK 5290 | 12:50 PM | 11:45 AMnext day | 12 h 55 min | Mon, Thu |
| Turkish Airlines TK 80Also sold as 6E 4038, PK 5080 | 6:45 PM | 5:40 PMnext day | 12 h 55 min | Daily |
Source: airline timetable data, checked October 23, 2026. Lists flights operated by the airlines in our airline guide; regional partners, cargo and charter flights, and airlines without a business, first or premium economy cabin are left out.
The route in numbers
Every cabin, both directions (IST-SFO), from the US Department of Transportation's T-100 data for 2025.
- Passengers in the year
- 316,413
- Flights in the year
- 1,146
- Passengers per flight, on average
- 276
Who carries the passengers
| Turkish Airlines | 100% |
|---|
Source: BTS T-100 Segment (All Carriers), calendar year 2025, scheduled passenger service; ingested 2026-10-23. Figures include every cabin, not only business class.
Onboard: dining, entertainment and bags
What each airline offers in business class. Details can differ by aircraft and route.
| Airline | Dining | Entertainment | Checked bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish Airlines | Turkish and international cuisine by DO&CO, Flying Chef on select routes | Seatback 4K touchscreen IFE, onboard Wi-Fi | 2 × 32kg checked |
| United Airlines | Multi-course dining, Saks Fifth Avenue bedding | Seatback touchscreen, Bluetooth audio | 2 × 32kg checked |
| Delta Air Lines | Multi-course dining, partnerships with celeb chefs | Seatback touchscreen IFE, Delta Studio | 2 × 32kg checked |
Before you fly: lounges at SFO
All lounges at San Francisco International AirportUnited Polaris Lounge
Dianne Feinstein International Terminal, across from the Boarding Area G security checkpoint (airport: near Gate G1, Level 2), airside
United Polaris standard or flexible fares (same-day itinerary); First Class on Lufthansa, SWISS or ANA (+1 guest); Business on ANA, Air New Zealand or ITA, and Basic/Flex Business on Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian or Brussels Airlines, at the long-haul departure airport
Air France - KLM Lounge
Dianne Feinstein International Terminal A, near Gate A1, Level 3; through Security Checkpoint A, turn left
Air France, KLM, EVA Air and Korean Air passengers (airport listing); SkyTeam eligibility per Delta; Qantas lists it as a partner lounge
The Centurion Lounge (temporary location)
Terminal 2, Concourse D, Level 2, post-security (temporary; the Terminal 3 Concourse F Centurion is closed for renovation)
American Express Platinum and Centurion cardmembers; Delta Reserve cardmembers on same-day Delta flights
United Club (International Terminal G)
Dianne Feinstein International Terminal G, between Gates G6 and G9, Level 3 (other United Clubs: T3 F-gates rotunda near F11; T3 near E4)
United Club members and one-time passholders; United Polaris and United Business international passengers; Star Alliance first/business on an international departure; Star Alliance Gold on an international Star Alliance itinerary
Quote for San Francisco to Istanbul
- The full price per traveler, with taxes, fees and fare rules.
- Business class first; premium economy or first class on request.
- Under the US DOT 24-hour rule you can cancel within 24 hours of booking when you book at least 7 days before departure.
Questions about this route
Which airlines fly business class from San Francisco to Istanbul?
Turkish Airlines flies nonstop from SFO to IST on the airline timetable checked October 23, 2026. We quote Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Delta; every quote shows the schedule, any connection and the seat for each option.
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Istanbul?
About 12 hours 55 minutes on a nonstop flight, by the airline timetable. One-stop trips take longer, depending on the connection.
Which business class seat is best on this route?
Turkish Airlines and Delta offer suites with a closing door on some aircraft. Seats vary by aircraft, so we confirm the seat on your exact flight before you book.
Is the price you quote the full price?
Yes. Every quote is the total per traveler including taxes and fees, with the fare rules, before you pay anything.