San Francisco to London (SFO–LHR) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
SFO–LHR is served by 3 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic lead the route. The flight covers 5,354 miles in approximately 10h 20m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines Also: AC, LX, NZ, OS, SN | 21 | 789 | 10h20-10h25 | Star Alliance | AC, LX, NZ, OS, SN | |
| BA British Airways Also: AY, EI, IB | 14 | 388, 77W | 10h05-10h18 | Oneworld | AY, EI, IB | |
| VS Virgin Atlantic Also: NZ, SV | 13 | 35K, 789 | 10h03-10h20 | SkyTeam | NZ, SV |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Travel Essentials
SFO: PDT · LHR: BST
When it's 6:00 PM in San Francisco, it's 2:00 AM (next day) in London.
US citizens need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travel, applied for online. The ETA costs GBP 10 and is valid for multiple entries over 2 years. Stays are permitted for up to 6 months per visit. Passport must be valid for the duration of stay.
Declare goods over GBP 390 in value. UK duty-free allowances apply on goods from outside the UK.
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) runs from downtown San Francisco (Embarcadero, Powell St.) to the SFO station and then a free AirTrain shuttle to all terminals (30–40 min from Embarcadero, $10.45). BART also connects Oakland and Berkeley; useful for East Bay travelers. Trains run from ~4am to midnight.Taxis from downtown San Francisco cost $40–60. Ride-hails (Uber, Lyft) pick up in the designated area in the garage and are often $30–50 depending on surge pricing. SamTrans buses serve Peninsula cities. Highway 101 and I-280 are heavily congested during commute hours; BART is faster than driving at those times.
Heathrow Express runs every 15 minutes to Paddington (15 min, £25). Piccadilly line is slower (50–60 min) but £5.50 with Oyster. National Express coaches serve all terminals from Victoria (60–90 min, £6–10). Black cabs cost £50–90 to central London depending on traffic and time of day.
Mild maritime climate. Summers average 18–23°C with long daylight hours. Winters are 2–7°C, rarely below freezing. Rain is frequent year-round but rarely heavy. Pack layers and a waterproof jacket regardless of season. Fog can disrupt flights November through February.
SFO–LHR Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from SFO to LHR
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) are connected by nonstop service from United Airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. With 174 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
SFO to LHR Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from SFO to LHR is about 10 hours 20 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 5,354 miles (8,616 km). There are approximately 174 weekly flights outbound and 187 return, totaling 361 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Dublin, Portland and Vancouver. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.