All flights San Francisco (SFO) to Taipei (TPE) with China Airlines leave from San Francisco's eternally stylish San Francisco International Airport. The second-busiest airport in California, San Francisco International distinguishes itself from other airports with its unique personality, including an on-site Museum and Yoga studio. China Airlines fly daily to Taipei from San Francisco and have an exclusive luxury lounge at the airport. Passengers can easily reach to/from the SFO airport to the San Francisco city center on BART as the platform is conveniently located on the departure level of the International terminal.
China Airlines flights from San Francisco arrive at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the headquarters of the airline. Taoyuan International Airport is Taiwan's busiest airport, in the Taoyuan province, near the capital Taipei. The airport can easily be reached from Taipei with regular bus and train services.
San Francisco is 6,463 miles away from Taipei. Flights take approximately 13 hours and 20 minutes.
Starting May 2, 2023, China Airlines will operate 2 additional flights per week on Wednesday/Saturday: total 9 direct flights departing from San Francisco（SFO) to Taipei (TPE).
On average one flight departs each day, with an additional service on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so passengers can choose between nine departures each week. September is low-season for flights, whereas December's Christmas period is the busiest time for departures.
China Airlines is the national airline of Taiwan. They distinguish themselves with their attention to providing a high-quality, environmentally friendly service with a specific focus on traveler's comfort.
Flights San Francisco (SFO) to Taipei (TPE) with China Airlines is among the quickest services on this route, taking only 13 hours and 20 minutes (may flightly vary based on seasonality/weather). An overnight service, which departs a little after midnight each evening, means that passengers can sleep while flying to reduce the chance of jetlag. In addition to the departure after midnight each evening, on Wednesdays and Satursdays, additional services are provided. China Airlines fly an Airbus A350 XWB on this additional route (2 flights per week). The daily flight is serviced on Boeing's 777-330ER.
Frequent-flyers can benefit from a SkyTeam alliance card, which not only accrues points on China Airlines flights but also for flights with other airline providers in SkyTeam. Cardholders can enjoy skip-the-line access at airports and for boarding, alongside lounge access.
Before flying, China Airlines Business Class passengers, DFP members (Paragon/Emerald/Gold Card) and SkyTeame Elite Plus cardholders can relax in San Francisco International Airport's China Airlines' Dynasty Lounge. The lounge is located passed the security checkpoint (immediate left and on the upper level). Freqent flyer members (DFP Paragon and Emerald members) can access the exclusive area (limited seats), but the business area also has extra seating. Passengers can enjoy some hot meals and drinks while checking their emails (complimentary Wi-Fi) before proceeding to the gate for boarding. At Taoyuan International Airport, China Airlines Business Class passengers can visit their impressive flagship lounge, with stunning modern interior design and a huge buffet serving an astonishing variety of authentic Taiwanese cuisine.
Onboard, China Airlines passengers can choose between Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class. All passengers will enjoy a Taiwanese meal and a traditional tea service during the course of their flight. A paid WiFi plan is available. All passengers are entitled to two pieces of luggage, with a maximum weight allowance of 77lb in the hold.
Passengers will find it easy to reach San Francisco International Airport from the city center on the Yellow BART line, which has an average journey time of 35 minutes. For those who want to drive, car parks are available at the airport, for short-term and long-stay parking.
At Taoyuan International Airport, passengers will find parking spaces at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. For those who want to rent a car during their trip, travelers will find international provider Avis, and local car rental services Hotai, iRent, and Rentcar. As in the United States, cars drive on the right-hand side of the road. For those who prefer public transport, they are advised to take a shuttle bus to Taoyuan Station, before boarding the high-speed train to Taipei. All in all, the journey should take approximately 55 minutes.
Travelers from the United States do not need a visa to enter Taiwan if they intend to stay less than 90 days. However, a passport is required for all instances of international travel. Travelers should be advised that, if their passport will expire in less than 90 days, they must have a return flight scheduled before their passport's expiry.
The time in Taipei is 16 hours ahead of San Francisco. The rainy season in Taipei coincides with the summer period in San Francisco, so travelers should be conscientious of the potential for typhoons if they travel in the summer and early fall.
The currency in Taiwan is the Taiwan dollar (TWD). Exchange rates currently sit at 30.48 Taiwanese dollars to one United States dollar, as of March 2023). As in America, the most common way to greet someone in Taiwan is with a handshake. People speak Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan. However, one key difference is that it's more polite to look at the ground when making a greeting than smiling.
In Taipei, there are many fantastic sights and attractions for the curious traveler to discover. Here are our top tips for getting the most out of a trip to Taipei:
National Palace Museum
Taipei's National Palace Museum is a veritable treasure-trove of Chinese art and culture. Inside the Museum, there are over 700,000 artifacts. Noted among them are some early examples of Chinese bronze art, from 1,000 BC.
Taipei 101
Climb the Taipei 101, a supertall skyscraper that was the world's tallest building (before the Burj Khalifa took its crown). A high-speed elevator to the 89th floor complements the experience, getting to those dizzy heights in an astonishing 37 seconds.
Shifen Waterfall
Only a short way away from the city center of Taipei is the beautiful Shifen Waterfall. The Shifen Waterfall is a beautiful cascading waterfall with a height of 40 meters, but travelers should be conscientious that they can't swim in the water.
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