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Flights to California

Explore the Golden State

Avg flight time from London

10 hrs 45 mins

Cheapest return flights

£473

Distance from London

3,672 miles

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Book flights to California

It’s a massive state, but don’t worry, we’ve got it covered. British Airways flies to three different cities in California – providing the perfect choice of launch pads for your next great adventure. Flying with British Airways to California is a dream. It’s time to head west.

You’ll be itching to get your holiday started, so choose our direct flights to California. We operate services from London to Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. With our great service on board, a choice of exciting destinations and convenient flight times, travel with us for your perfect holiday to California.

California flight FAQs

What's the cheapest time to fly to California?

California gets hundreds of millions of tourists annually and is popular year-round. The busiest time to visit is in the summer months, and airfares on flights to California from London can rise accordingly in June, July and August. If you’re looking for cheap flights to California, use our lowest fare finder to find our best prices.

How long is the flight time from London to California?

You can reach Los Angeles and San Diego in just over 11 hours, and San Francisco in ten and a half hours.

Which airports does British Airways fly into in California?

We serve three gateway airports in California: Los Angeles International (LAX), San Francisco International (SFO) and San Diego International (SAN). All our flights depart from London Heathrow (LHR).

North Pontos beach, California. © DOUGBERRY.

How do I get from the airport into the city?

From Los Angeles International Airport it’s best to hire a car if you intend to explore, you can get a taxi to Hollywood for around $50 (but don’t forget the $4 airport surcharge on taxis). A no-reservation-required bus, the LAX FlyAway runs from the airport to various destinations including Hollywood, Union Station in Downtown and Long Beach. A one-way ticket is just under $10.

San Francisco International is situated just 20-25 minutes from the downtown area by taxi or hire car, or it’s easy to hop on a train that takes just 30 minutes into town and costs $8.65 one way – the city is easily explored on foot and on public transport.

San Diego International is just three kilometres from the city’s downtown area, and you can easily get a taxi into the city which should be less than $20, a shuttle bus is around $15 depending on your final destination in the city or hire a car if you intend to explore the coast.

Why not save time and book your airport transfers with us? Simply choose your preferred option when you book your holiday or flights.

Do I need a visa to travel to California?

If you’re travelling on a British passport, there’s no need to get a visa in advance – but you do need to apply for an ESTA at least 72 hours before you travel. There is a $21 fee for registration and, once approved, your ESTA is valid for multiple journeys for two years or until your passport expires.

Find out more about visa requirements

San Francisco street scene. © Phoenix Wang.

Our cheapest flights to Los Angeles

From £473return

from London, November 2024

Our World Traveller (economy) cabin offers our lowest fares and is great for budget travellers. You’ll get a meal, drinks and full use of our in-flight entertainment system.

November

£473

return, from London

£473

December

£473

return, from London

£473

January

£473

return, from London

£473

Our cheapest flights to San Diego

From £518return

from London, January 2025

Our World Traveller (economy) cabin offers our lowest fares and is great for budget travellers. You’ll get a meal, drinks and full use of our in-flight entertainment system.

January

£518

return, from London

£518

February

£518

return, from London

£518

March

£518

return, from London

£518

Our cheapest flights to San Francisco

From £482return

from London, January 2025

Our World Traveller (economy) cabin offers our lowest fares and is great for budget travellers. You’ll get a meal, drinks and full use of our in-flight entertainment system.

January

£482

return, from London

£482

February

£482

return, from London

£482

March

£482

return, from London

£482

California Travel Essentials

Flight time

10 hrs 45 mins

Time zone

GMT -7

Currency

US Dollar

Discover more of California...

Upper Cathedral Lake, Yosemite national park, California, America, USA.

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Ella Buchan,  Travel writer and California resident

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