Economy award flights from Cairns (CNS) to San Francisco (SFO)
In the last 30 days AwardTool saw economy award space on 6 programs for CNS→SFO. Lowest: 40,000 miles + $120.89 with American Airlines AAdvantage, which showed economy award space on 8 dates. No nonstop economy award was seen in the last 30 days.
Prices observed – ; newest observation .
Page regenerated from the Nov 12, 2026 data snapshot (normally daily). Summary last changed . Seats change quickly.
- Lowest observed
- 40,000 miles + $120.89
- American Airlines AAdvantage
- Programs with space
- 6 of 6
- programs seen on this route
- Most dates seen
- 10 of 10
- dates checked · Air Canada Aeroplan
- Nonstop
- Not seen
- in the last 30 days
In economy, the lowest award seen was 40,000 miles + $120.89 with American Airlines AAdvantage, against 42,500 points + $140.89 with Alaska Atmos Rewards, the next-lowest program. With American Airlines AAdvantage, business class started at 268,000 miles + $116.59, about 6.7 times the points of its lowest economy award (40,000 miles + $120.89).
Compare programs for economy
The lowest one-way economy award each program showed on CNS→SFO, sorted by points.
| Program | Points + taxes | Stops | Airlines seen | Seats | Dates seen | Newest observation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines AAdvantageLowest observed | 40,000 pts + $120.89 | 2 stops |  AA AS FJ QF | — | 8 | See dates | |
| Alaska Atmos Rewards | 42,500 pts + $140.89 | 2 stops | ASFJQF | 9+ | 6 | See dates | |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 48,200 pts + $153.35 | 2 stops | AAASFJQF | 1 | 7 | See dates | |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 55,679 pts + $186.10 | 2 stops |  AC SQ UA VA | 9+ | 10 | See dates | |
| Virgin Australia Velocity | 59,900 pts + $115.25 | 1 stop |  NHSQUAVA | 9+ | 6 | See dates | |
| United MileagePlus | 60,000 pts + $115.79 | 2 stops | AC BRNHSQ+2 | 9+ | 10 | See dates |
Not seen means AwardTool hasn't observed this cabin on this route in the last 30 days. It doesn't mean the airline has no seats. Dates seen counts departure dates with an open award in that cabin at any price; newest observation is the latest time AwardTool saw one of them. Seats is the count the program reported when we observed it; some programs report at most 9.
Observed economy award examples
| Departure | Program | Points + taxes | Seats | Stops | Observed (UTC) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Atmos Rewards | 60,000 pts + $144.29 | 9+ | 2 stops | Check this date | ||
| United MileagePlus | 60,500 pts + $145.59 | 2 | 2 stops | Check this date | ||
| United MileagePlus | 60,500 pts + $145.59 | 1 | 2 stops | Check this date | ||
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 65,000 pts + $199.00 | 2 | 1 stop | Check this date | ||
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 65,000 pts + $199.00 | 1 | 1 stop | Check this date | ||
| Virgin Australia Velocity | 65,900 pts + $146.15 | 2 | 2 stops | Check this date | ||
| American Airlines AAdvantage | 82,000 pts + $122.19 | — | 2 stops | Check this date | ||
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 91,300 pts + $135.11 | 1 | 2 stops | Check this date |
Prices are one-way per traveler: the program's points or miles plus taxes and carrier fees in USD, as AwardTool observed them in the observation window. Award space changes constantly. A seat we saw may be gone, and space we haven't seen may exist. Always confirm with a live search before transferring points; most transfers can't be reversed.
How often economy award space showed up
Departure dates in the next 365 days that AwardTool checked for each program in the last 30 days, how many had economy award space at any price, and the latest departure with space.
| Program | Dates with space | Share of dates checked | Latest departure with space |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines AAdvantage | 8 of 13 | 61% | |
| Alaska Atmos Rewards | 6 of 10 | 60% | |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 7 of 10 | 70% | |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 10 of 10 | 100% | |
| Virgin Australia Velocity | 6 of 9 | 66% | |
| United MileagePlus | 10 of 10 | 100% |
Economy compared with business class, by program
Each program's lowest one-way economy and business-class awards on CNS→SFO, in its own points or miles, and how many times the economy points the business-class award needed. — in the last column means one of the two is a mixed-cabin award or was not seen on 2 or more dates.
| Program | Economy | Business | Business ÷ economy points |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines AAdvantage | 40,000 miles + $120.89 | 268,000 miles + $116.59 | 6.7× |
| Alaska Atmos Rewards | 42,500 points + $140.89 | 250,000 points + $143.09Mixed cabin | — |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 48,200 points + $153.35 | 620,000 points + $560.03 | 13× |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 55,679 points + $186.10 | 333,937 points + $206.10Mixed cabin | — |
| Virgin Australia Velocity | 59,900 points + $115.25 | 1,617,700 points + $130.65 | 27× |
| United MileagePlus | 60,000 miles + $115.79 | 300,000 miles + $115.99 | 5× |
Best months for economy from Cairns (CNS) to San Francisco (SFO)
| Month | Lowest observed | Program | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60,000 pts + $144.29 | Alaska Atmos Rewards | 1 | |
| 40,000 pts + taxes not reported | American Airlines AAdvantage | 2 | |
| 52,500 pts + taxes not reported | American Airlines AAdvantage | 1 | |
| 40,000 pts + taxes not reported | American Airlines AAdvantage | 3 |
A month's taxes are those of an award AwardTool recorded at that month's lowest price for a departure that month. “Taxes not reported” means the data has none for that month; the award still has taxes and fees.
Lowest economy award by month and program
Each program's lowest one-way economy award by departure month, in its own points or miles, with the taxes of that month's lowest award and the program's open dates that month under it. A price without taxes had none reported for that month. — means the program showed no economy space that month.
| Program | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines AAdvantagemiles | 82,000+ $122.19 · 2 dates | 40,0002 dates | 52,5001 date | 40,0003 dates |
| Alaska Atmos Rewardspoints | 60,000+ $144.29 · 1 date | 110,0002 dates | — | 42,500+ $140.89 · 3 dates |
| Qantas Frequent Flyerpoints | 91,300+ $135.11 · 3 dates | 91,8001 date | — | 48,200+ $153.35 · 3 dates |
| Air Canada Aeroplanpoints | 65,000+ $199.00 · 5 dates | 58,8422 dates | — | 55,679+ $186.10 · 3 dates |
| Virgin Australia Velocitypoints | 65,900+ $146.15 · 2 dates | 59,9001 date | — | 59,9003 dates |
| United MileagePlusmiles | 60,500+ $145.59 · 5 dates | 60,5002 dates | — | 60,000+ $115.79 · 3 dates |
Airlines seen in economy
Airlines that appeared on the award itineraries AwardTool observed, and the programs that showed them.
- American Airlines (AA): American Airlines AAdvantage and Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Air Canada (AC): Air Canada Aeroplan and United MileagePlus
- Alaska Airlines (AS): American Airlines AAdvantage, Alaska Atmos Rewards and Qantas Frequent Flyer
- EVA Air (BR): United MileagePlus
- Fiji Airways (FJ): American Airlines AAdvantage, Alaska Atmos Rewards and Qantas Frequent Flyer
- ANA (NH): Virgin Australia Velocity and United MileagePlus
- Qantas (QF): American Airlines AAdvantage, Alaska Atmos Rewards and Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Singapore Airlines (SQ): Air Canada Aeroplan, Virgin Australia Velocity and United MileagePlus
- United Airlines (UA): Air Canada Aeroplan, Virgin Australia Velocity and United MileagePlus
- Virgin Australia (VA): Air Canada Aeroplan, Virgin Australia Velocity and United MileagePlus
Economy on nearby routes
The lowest economy award AwardTool observed on related routes, as each route's page shows it: the return direction, other airports in the same cities, and more routes from Cairns (CNS) and to San Francisco (SFO). One way, in the program's points or miles, with that award's taxes when the data has them.
| Route | Lowest observed | Program | Dates seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco (SFO) to Cairns (CNS)Return direction | 55,696 points + $125.11 | Air Canada Aeroplan | 10 |
| Cairns (CNS) to Sydney (SYD)Also from CNS | 7,500 points + $48.80Nonstop | Alaska Atmos Rewards | 292 |
| Cairns (CNS) to Singapore (SIN)Also from CNS | 27,000 points + $112.56Nonstop | Virgin Australia Velocity | 267 |
| Cairns (CNS) to Brisbane (BNE)Also from CNS | 8,900 points + $32.60Nonstop | Virgin Australia Velocity | 322 |
| Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne (MEL)Also from CNS | 10,000 miles + $27.00Nonstop | American Airlines AAdvantage | 17 |
| London Heathrow (LHR) to San Francisco (SFO)Also to SFO | 9,000 points + $352.63Nonstop | Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 330 |
| Amsterdam (AMS) to San Francisco (SFO)Also to SFO | 13,000 points + $328.36 | Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 190 |
| Madrid (MAD) to San Francisco (SFO)Also to SFO | 15,000 points + $253.21 | Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 116 |
Points that transfer to these programs
| Program | Amex | Bilt | Capital One | Chase | Citi | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1:1 · Instant | 1:1 · Instant | 1:1 · Instant | 1:1 · Instant | — | — |
| Alaska Atmos Rewards | — | 1:1 · ~1 day | — | — | — | — |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | — | — | — | — | 1:1 · Instant | — |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1:1 · Instant | — | 1:1 · ~1-2 days | — | 1:1 · Instant | — |
| United MileagePlus | — | 1:1 · Instant | — | 1:1 · Instant | — | — |
Check current transfer bonuses. Most transfers can't be reversed. AwardTool's list has no transfers from these US card programs to Virgin Australia Velocity.
Questions about economy award flights from Cairns (CNS) to San Francisco (SFO)
How many points for economy from Cairns (CNS) to San Francisco (SFO)?
The lowest economy award AwardTool has seen was 40,000 miles + $120.89 with American Airlines AAdvantage. American Airlines AAdvantage showed economy award space on 8 departure dates at any price (newest observation Nov 6, 2026, 03:41 UTC). Search live before transferring points.
Which programs had economy award space from Cairns (CNS) to San Francisco (SFO)?
American Airlines AAdvantage (8 dates), Alaska Atmos Rewards (6 dates), Qantas Frequent Flyer (7 dates), Air Canada Aeroplan (10 dates), Virgin Australia Velocity (6 dates) and United MileagePlus (10 dates), in the last 30 days.
Can you fly economy nonstop from Cairns (CNS) to San Francisco (SFO) on points?
AwardTool hasn't observed nonstop economy award space on this route in the last 30 days. That doesn't mean nonstop space never appears.
How much are taxes and fees on economy award flights from Cairns (CNS) to San Francisco (SFO)?
Taxes and fees on each program's lowest award ranged from $115.25 with Velocity (59,900 points + $115.25) to $186.10 with Aeroplan (55,679 points + $186.10). Amounts are one way per traveler in USD and can differ on other dates and routings.
What's the best month to fly economy from Cairns (CNS) to San Francisco (SFO) on points?
Counting only month prices from programs with award space on 2 or more dates that month, and leaving out unusually low outliers, the lowest economy award AwardTool observed was for May 2027 departures: 40,000 miles + taxes not reported with AAdvantage (3 dates). The month table shows every lowest price, including those. Based on dates we observed, not a forecast.