Cheap flights from London to Oakland

When to fly and when to book: November is the cheapest month on this route, and fares also show for September, October, December, January, February, March and July. Late autumn is the sweet spot — the summer rush is over and Thanksgiving has not arrived yet. July sits at the other end, with school holidays in both countries pushing fares up, and the December run into Christmas is busy in the other direction. Flying out midweek, Tuesday to Thursday, tends to cost less than a Friday or Sunday departure. Book a few months ahead for summer and December travel; for November you can often leave it later. Watch UK half-term and US Thanksgiving, when the cheap seats go first.

Every airline flying London to Oakland here is full-service — there is no low-cost carrier on the route, and no non-stop, so you change planes at least once. British Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines sell the trip through their own networks, and Alaska Airlines, a West Coast carrier, most often covers the final leg into Oakland. Lufthansa and Lufthansa City Airlines route through Germany, Air France through Paris, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines through Amsterdam and Finnair through Helsinki. What differs is what is included: a full-service transatlantic fare usually comes with a checked bag and a meal, while the lightest fare families strip the bag out.

Oakland International is the only airport on the Oakland side of the bay, and it sits close to the city centre — a short drive or train ride rather than a long haul out of town. BART, the Bay Area's train system, connects the airport with downtown Oakland and with San Francisco, and taxis and rideshares wait outside arrivals. Clear US immigration before you leave the airport, and keep your passport and entry confirmation to hand. What catches people out is the geography: Oakland and San Francisco are on opposite sides of the bay, and a hotel booked in the wrong city turns a short transfer into a long one. If you land late, check that your onward train is still running.

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 Oakland

7.8 M (2020)

Time zone

UTC-07 (America/Los_Angeles)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport you fly from — Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and London City are far apart.
• Confirm whether your fare includes a checked bag, since the lightest transatlantic fares often do not.
• On separate tickets, leave a long buffer at the connection — a missed flight is not protected.
• Sort out your US entry permission before you book and check your passport is valid for the whole trip.
• Compare November fares with July, when school holidays push prices up.
• Decide whether you are staying in Oakland or across the bay before you pick a hotel.