Cheap flights from London to Jakarta

August comes out cheapest across the year on this route, and it lands in the middle of the European summer rush, so book well ahead if that is your month. Fares climb around British school holidays and again in the run-up to Christmas, when everyone flies at once. Leaving and returning midweek usually costs less than a Friday or Sunday departure. If your dates are loose, scan the price calendar across several months instead of fixing on one, because the gap between a cheap week and an expensive one on a long-haul route like this can be wide.

Nobody flies London to Jakarta non-stop, so the airline list is really a list of connections. Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Swiss and Edelweiss Air route you through their own hubs, with one ticket covering both legs and baggage normally included. Air China, Shenzhen Airlines and Hainan Airlines do the same through China, and Royal Brunei through Brunei. AirAsia X and IndiGo are the low-cost names in the mix: the fare looks smaller, but checked bags, meals and seat choice are extras, and long layovers are common. On a route this long, a single ticket with a protected connection is usually worth more than the smallest headline fare.

Every flight into Jakarta lands at Soekarno-Hatta International, the city's only commercial airport, so there is no second option to weigh up when you book. It sits well outside the centre, and the drive in can take a long time in the city's traffic, so build in slack if you have an onward flight or a meeting. A rail link and airport buses run between the terminals and the city, and metered taxis and ride-hailing apps are the usual alternatives. Check which terminal your flight uses, since the international and domestic sides are separate, and have your accommodation address ready to show a driver.

Currency

IDR (Rp)

Power sockets

Type C, F · 127 V

Language

Indonesian

Emergency number

112

Calling code

+62

Internet domain

.id

Population of Jakarta

11.1 M (2024)

Time zone

UTC+08 (Asia/Makassar)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport your fare leaves from, because the city has five and they are nowhere near each other.
• Confirm the baggage allowance on AirAsia X and IndiGo, where a checked bag is normally an extra.
• Make sure both legs sit on one ticket, or leave a generous gap if you are booking separate connections.
• Check your passport validity and the visa rules for Indonesia well before departure.
• Compare August fares against the months either side before you fix your dates.
• Look at total journey time, not just departure time, since some connections add a long overnight layover.