Cheap flights from London to Islamabad

September is the cheapest month on this route, and it also falls between the summer rush and the winter family-travel peak, so seats are easier to find. Fares climb during the school holidays and around the main holiday periods, when everyone travels at once. Midweek departures from Heathrow or Gatwick usually cost less than weekend ones, and the early-morning and late-night departures tend to be the quietest. Book a few weeks ahead if your dates are fixed. If they are not, watch the price calendar and let it pick the week for you.

This route mixes low-cost and full-service carriers. Wizz Air UK and Air Arabia are the budget names here, so expect a stripped-back fare where bags and seats are added on. Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines, British Airways and Pakistan International are full-service, while Aer Lingus and Azerbaijan Airlines also turn up on connecting itineraries. Nonstop flights exist, but plenty of results put you through a hub, which adds hours and can cut the fare. Baggage and seat rules differ between the two groups, so compare the total rather than the headline.

You land at Benazir Bhutto International, the airport that serves Islamabad. It sits on the edge of the city rather than in the middle of it, so allow time for the transfer once you have cleared immigration. Taxis and pre-arranged pickups are the usual way in, and it pays to agree the fare or confirm the booking before you set off. Immigration queues get long when several long-haul arrivals land close together, so build in a buffer if someone is meeting you or you have a connection onward.

Currency

PKR (₨)

Power sockets

Type C, D, G · 230 V

Language

English, Urdu

Emergency number

15, 16, 1122

Calling code

+92

Internet domain

.pk

Population of Islamabad

1.0 M (2017)

Time zone

UTC+05 (Asia/Karachi)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Decide which London airport you fly from, since Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and London City all serve this route.
• Check whether your fare is nonstop or connects through a hub, and how long the layover runs.
• On separate tickets, a missed connection is your problem, not the airline's.
• Add bags and seats to a low-cost fare before you compare it with a full-service ticket.
• Confirm your passport and visa position for Pakistan before you pay.
• If your dates are flexible, let the price calendar point you at September and the weeks around it.