LAX
LHR

Route guide · Updated 2026

The best flights from Los Angeles to London

Pick the best of 9 nonstop flights on British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American and more. But which flights let you stretch out, defy jetlag, and save hours door-to-door?

Our verdict

The best flights from Los Angeles to London:

Typical flight time
10 hrs 30 mins
Time change
8 hours ahead
Nonstop flights
9 a day

Defy jetlag

Book overnight flights departing after 7pm

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These overnight flights will be easier to sleep through. Your body clock will still be on your Los Angeles timezone, so getting to sleep will be easier for flights after 7pm. By the time dinner is cleared away, it will be about 9pm and you'll feel naturally tired.

The second big benefit is that the flights will land nearer a time you would typically wake up in Los Angeles. Your body will have had more chance to rest and recharge without interruption at a somewhat normal time. Earlier flights will leave you sleep deprived. Remember, you'll typically be offered breakfast 1-2 hours before landing too. That will feel easier nearer 6-7am on your body clock than 1-2 am.

If you do have to take an earlier flight, see if you can get the earliest possible flight then get home or to a hotel for a "proper" sleep until lunchtime in London the day you land (your body will want to this anyway). If you can land around dawn, get out the airport quickly, and beat the morning rush hour traffic home, this also works. Your flight then isn't so critical for sleep.

Los Angeles
6pm10pm2am6am
London
2am6am10am2pm
Bedtime in Los Angeles
Bedtime in London
Virgin Atlantic
VS142A330-900neo
LAX – LHR
American
AA134787-9
LAX – LHR
British Airways
BA268A380-800
LAX – LHR
Virgin Atlantic
VS24A350-1000
LAX – LHR

Defy jetlag

Avoid overnight flights that land in the evening

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You might be too awake to go to bed in the new local time. Even if you haven't slept well inflight, your body clock will be on morning time in your Los Angeles timezone. It's easier if you have more hours in London to adjust and tire out again before bed. If not, you may struggle to get to sleep again on the first night that you land, so your day 2 jetlag will become much worse.

If you do have to take these later flights, try not to sleep all the way through. Instead, try waking up about halfway through the flight and "starting your day" on London time. It won't feel easy, but you'll be more ready to click into the new timezone on arrival.

Seatmap lottery

Best cabin? Book the upper deck on BA's A380

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The current British Airways A380 layout has Economy split over the main and upper deck. Unlike the main deck 3-4-3 layout, the upper deck is 2-4-2 and has large side bins for storing your personal belongings (as opposed to just the overhead lockers).

Smaller cabins and easier aisle access feels far less crowded than the dense Economy cabins on other aircraft.

British Airways are reconfiguring their A380s at the moment. This will convert the entire upper deck to Club Suite, moving Premium Economy downstairs into a 2-4-2 configuration, and expanding from 55 to 84 seats. Economy will only be downstairs in a 3-4-3.

British Airways A380 upper deck Economy cabin seatmap showing 2-4-2 layout
The upper deck Economy cabin is 2-4-2 with large side bins. · View seatmap on Aerolopaaerolopa.com faviconaerolopa.com

Seatmap lottery

Seek out the Virgin A330neo's

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Virgin Atlantic's A330neos feature their best hard products in every cabin. Even in Economy, it is a markedly better product with plenty of twin seats thanks to the 2-4-2 configuration. That's great for couples and groups. Solo travellers have fewer 'strangers' to navigate. There's easiest aisle access for window seat lovers. Huge screens, bluetooth for your own headphones, and deep recline.

Premium Economy comes in a 2-3-2 setup.

Business Class gets the latest Upper Class Suite with forward-facing suites with doors and aisle-access. These give the best setup for sleep, work, and window-gazing. You can also book extra space in their new 'Retreat Suite' as an individual or couple.

Seatmap lottery

Flying Economy? Book the A330neo for more space

A330neos have a twin seat layout (i.e. 2-4-2). These layouts are much better for most travellers - groups, couples, and individuals. With fewer middle seats, and window seats being closer to the aisle, the whole cabin will feel more spacious even with the same seat pitch and width.

Seatmap lottery

Land feeling fresher by flying the A380, A350 or 787

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Studies show the effects of lower cabin altitude (more oxygen and humidity) help with feeling less fatigued when you land.

787s, A350s and A380s have lower cabin altitudes than other aircraft. On long flights, like from London to Los Angeles, you'll notice your skin, mouth, and nose dry through the flight.

Faster door-to-door

Avoid flights departing Los Angeles between 5pm and 9pm to miss rush hour

Rush hour in Los Angeles hits around 3pm to 6pm. If you depart Los Angeles between 5pm and 9pm, you'll hit the traffic on the way to the airport and check-in. Taxis and Ubers will be more expensive too.

Los Angeles
10am2pm6pm10pm
London
6pm10pm2am6am
Rush hour in Los Angeles
Virgin Atlantic
VS8A350-1000
LAX – LHR
United
UA923787-9
LAX – LHR
British Airways
BA282777-300ER
LAX – LHR
American
AA136777-300ER
LAX – LHR
British Airways
BA280777-300ER
LAX – LHR
Virgin Atlantic
VS142A330-900neo
LAX – LHR
American
AA134787-9
LAX – LHR
British Airways
BA268A380-800
LAX – LHR
Virgin Atlantic
VS24A350-1000
LAX – LHR
View all flights

Plane food

Virgin will keep you feeling full on longer US flights

Virgin features three distinct meal services with a hot main meal, midflight snack lunch, then a light meal towards the end of the flight. This is more aligned to how often you'll eat normally.

Plane food

Pack snacks for the British Airways flights

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The longest US flights get a second hot meal service, but you'll have 7-8 hours between service where you can go hungry. There are snacks onboard, but they tend to be carb-heavy that can spike your blood sugar and not really fill you up. Other airlines pace their meal service better for long dayflights that might leave you wanting more.

Avoid grazing through the flight, and consider high-protein snacks. These do a better job making you feel full and trigger hormones that make you feel more alert. Carb-heavy snacks will send you on a blood sugar rollercoaster that might make you feel less with it when you land.

Plane food

Avoid American Airlines on longer US flights

American Airlines don't differentiate between a longer flight to Los Angeles and their shorter flights to New York - you get offered exactly the food whether your flight is 7 hours or 11 hours. That becomes a big gap between meals. The quality and quantity of their food service is also more basic in Economy. Typically, these fares are sold by British Airways - if you can fly the equivalent BA flight, you'll get a little more for your money.

When is your trip?

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Every nonstop

When the flights actually go

Los Angeles
4am12pm8pm4am12pm8pm
London
12pm8pm4am12pm8pm4am
Virgin Atlantic
VS8A350-1000
LAX – LHR
United
UA923787-9
LAX – LHR
British Airways
BA282777-300ER
LAX – LHR
American
AA136777-300ER
LAX – LHR
British Airways
BA280777-300ER
LAX – LHR
Virgin Atlantic
VS142A330-900neo
LAX – LHR
American
AA134787-9
LAX – LHR
British Airways
BA268A380-800
LAX – LHR
Virgin Atlantic
VS24A350-1000
LAX – LHR
View all flights