Cheap flights from London to Detroit

February is when fares on this route tend to sit at their lowest, and the price calendar tracks every month from September through August so you can see where the dips fall. Late autumn and the first weeks of the new year are quieter than the summer rush, when families fly and seats go early. Midweek departures, Tuesday to Thursday, usually cost less than a weekend flight. If you can be flexible, steer clear of the days around Thanksgiving and Christmas, and book a few months ahead for July or August travel.

No airline flies London to Detroit non-stop, so every itinerary here involves a change. Brussels Airlines, Swiss, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France and Lufthansa City Airlines sell the trip through their European hubs, with a short hop first and the long haul after the change. Helvetic Airways and German Airways appear as operating partners on some of those legs, which matters when you check in. American Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic cover the transatlantic stretch, often with a European carrier flying you out of London. What is included depends on the fare, not the name on the plane, so read the baggage rules before you pay.

Detroit Metro is the only airport serving the city, and it sits well outside the centre, so build in time for the transfer rather than treating it as a quick hop. Taxis, rideshares and rental cars cover most arrivals, and the rental desks are at the airport itself. When your connection lands on American soil, you clear immigration and customs there before the final leg, which adds a chunk of time to the journey. Keep your plans loose on arrival day, and check whether your bags are tagged through to Detroit or need collecting at the transfer point.

Currency

USD ($)

Power sockets

Type A, B · 120 V

Language

Samoan, Hawaiian, Chamorro, Carolinian, Spanish

Emergency number

911

Driving side

right

Calling code

+1

Internet domain

.us

Population of Detroit

639 k (2020)

Time zone

UTC-05 (America/New_York)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport your ticket uses, because departures are split across several.
• Read the baggage allowance for each leg, since the rules can differ between the airline you book with and the one flying.
• Avoid separate tickets for the two legs unless you are happy to re-check bags and carry the risk of a missed connection.
• Sort your US entry paperwork before you book, as it is needed for everyone travelling.
• Allow a generous connection time, especially if you change planes at a US airport where you clear immigration.
• Compare February against the summer months on the price calendar before you commit.