Fly Across the Pond for Under $600: Scoring Ultra-Low Fares from London to San Francisco

Fly Across the Pond for Under $600: Scoring Ultra-Low Fares from London to San Francisco - Airlines Offering the Most Competitive Rates on London-San Francisco Flights

When it comes to scoring a great deal on flights between London and San Francisco, you'll want to keep an eye out for sales and deals from a few key airlines. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic naturally have an advantage when it comes to competitive fares on this transatlantic route, given their big presence in the UK market.

British Airways in particular frequently offers decent discounts in economy, premium economy, and business class. Sign up for their email list to get alerts on fare sales. I’ve often seen roundtrip flights in the $600-$800 range in economy during some of their better promotions. Premium economy can dip under $1,000 roundtrip if you catch it at the right time.
Virgin Atlantic also offers competitive rates, especially if you’re flexible on your travel dates. They have a useful online tool called the Low Fare Finder that lets you pick flexible travel periods and then see a calendar view of the lowest fares. This is great for finding cheaper dates for your London-San Francisco trip.
Don’t rule out American Airlines and United either. Thanks to their joint ventures with British Airways, they can offer very aggressive pricing on London flights too. I always check both airlines’ sites directly when searching for deals across the pond.
Another tip is to mix and match one-way flights on different airlines. You may find United has the cheapest fare departing from San Francisco, while British Airways has the best deal on the return. Booking two one-ways is sometimes cheaper than a roundtrip ticket. Just be sure to account for stopovers and check baggage policies when splitting up airlines.

What else is in this post?

1. Fly Across the Pond for Under $600: Scoring Ultra-Low Fares from London to San Francisco - Airlines Offering the Most Competitive Rates on London-San Francisco Flights
2. Fly Across the Pond for Under $600: Scoring Ultra-Low Fares from London to San Francisco - Making Stopovers Work to Your Advantage for Cheaper Tickets
3. Fly Across the Pond for Under $600: Scoring Ultra-Low Fares from London to San Francisco - Travel Hacks to Keep Your In-Flight Experience Affordable Yet Comfortable
4. Fly Across the Pond for Under $600: Scoring Ultra-Low Fares from London to San Francisco - Must-Know Strategies for Snagging Last-Minute Deals

Fly Across the Pond for Under $600: Scoring Ultra-Low Fares from London to San Francisco - Making Stopovers Work to Your Advantage for Cheaper Tickets

When flying long haul, stopovers can be your secret weapon for scoring lower fares. By building in an extended layover of 24 hours or more in another city along the way to your final destination, you can sometimes chop hundreds of dollars off the price of your ticket.

The key is leveraging the lower fares that airlines offer on shorter connecting flights. Essentially you’re breaking up one long haul into two shorter flights that individually cost less. Then by extending your layover for a day or two, you turn it into a stopover to explore a new destination for free.
For example, say you want to fly from San Francisco to London. The nonstop roundtrip flight may be $800. But you could book a flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt for $500, extended layover there for a couple days, then get a separate ticket from Frankfurt to London for $200. By stopping over in Frankfurt along the way, you’ve lowered the total airfare cost to $700 and gotten a free stay in Germany!

When searching for stopover opportunities, look closely at fares to major hub cities of major alliance airlines like Lufthansa, Air France, and ANA. Transit hubs like Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo, and Dubai often have discounted connecting flights across their networks.

Be sure to price out both directions of your stopover itinerary, since costs can vary significantly. It may be hundreds cheaper to fly San Francisco - London - Frankfurt - San Francisco than the reverse. Run searches on Google Flights or the multi-city tool on airline sites, trying different hub cities and dates.

Also keep in mind that not all airlines allow stopovers on a single ticket. But you can replicate the experience by booking two one-ways on different airlines. Just pay attention to baggage policies so you don’t end up paying extra fees.
When scheduling your flights, optimize for the longest layover you can get without going over 24 hours. Anything under 24 hours is just a regular layover, but once you hit that 24 hour mark it becomes a “stopover” which unlocks cheaper flight options. I usually aim for about 48 hour layovers to give me enough time to explore the stopover city.

Fly Across the Pond for Under $600: Scoring Ultra-Low Fares from London to San Francisco - Travel Hacks to Keep Your In-Flight Experience Affordable Yet Comfortable

Scoring a cheap plane ticket is just the first step - making sure you stay comfortable during the long haul flight without breaking the bank takes some creative travel hacking. Flying economy for 10+ hours can be rough, but a few simple tricks helps make it bearable and even enjoyable.
First, don't underestimate the power of a soft travel pillow. It may look silly, but a U-shaped pillow that wraps around your neck makes a huge difference in allowing you to actually get some sleep on a redeye. I never travel without my trusty travel pillow - it's a must-have for long flights. For extra comfort, bring a soft blanket or even an eye mask to block out light.

Be strategic when choosing your seat location. Opt for an aisle seat so you can easily get up and stretch your legs whenever you want without needing others to move. Bulkhead seats also offer extra legroom, but avoid exit rows which have no under-seat storage for your personal items. Emergency exit seats are great if you can snag one without paying extra fees.

Pack plenty of snacks. Airplane food is never enough to keep you full and satisfied. Bring nutritious snacks like protein bars, nuts, dried fruit, and veggies. Sandwiches, pretzels, and granola are other smart options. Just be sure to check TSA rules on liquids and gels. Stay hydrated with a large refillable water bottle.
Make a playlist of movies, shows, podcasts and music downloaded to your phone or tablet. Tuning out with entertainment helps pass the time and distract you from discomfort. Noise-cancelling headphones are a worthwhile investment for long haul flights.
Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes. Leggings and a cozy sweater or hoodie will keep you relaxed. Compression socks promote healthy circulation on long flights. Change into fresh socks/underwear midway through long flights to stay refreshed.
Move around, stretch and stay active when possible. Take short walks up and down the aisle. Simple exercises like ankle circles and neck rolls can be done right in your seat to boost circulation. Just be respectful not to disturb other passengers.

Fly Across the Pond for Under $600: Scoring Ultra-Low Fares from London to San Francisco - Must-Know Strategies for Snagging Last-Minute Deals

Finding an affordable last-minute flight across the pond may seem next to impossible, but with the right strategies, scoring a deal – even just days before departure – is doable. The key is flexibility, persistence, and knowing where to look.

First, broaden your search to include all airlines serving the route, rather than just your preferred carrier. Cast a wide net across British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American, United, Air France, Lufthansa, and any others flying between your departure and destination cities. Less obvious airlines sometimes release last-minute inventory at a discount.

Expand your airport options if feasible. Look at all London area airports like Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and London City, plus for San Francisco include Oakland and San Jose airports. The further you’re willing to travel to your departure airport, the more options you may find.
Don’t limit yourself to nonstop flights. Considering one-stop itineraries can open up availability, especially via European connection hubs like Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid and more. The extra stop only adds a couple hours and could save hundreds.

Check alternate dates within 3-4 days of your ideal travel days. Airlines sometimes markup dates with exceptionally high demand, so shifting your trip by a few days can reveal major differences in fares.

Be flexible on timing. Redeye and early morning flights are less popular and therefore more prone to last-minute discounts as airlines work to fill seats. Midweek flights also tend to be cheaper than peak weekends.
Leverage airline social media accounts for limited flash sales. Follow and turn on notifications from relevant airlines so you'll be alerted the minute a last-minute fare sale crops up. These can sell out in seconds, so you have to pounce.
Finally, don’t expect a rock bottom fare. With last-minute bookings, focus less on the price and more on finding a convenient itinerary that fits your schedule. Scoring any deal within a week or two of departure is a success when planning late.