Cheap flights from London to Philadelphia

February is the cheapest month on this route, and the price calendar runs from September through July, so you have most of the year to compare. Late autumn and the stretch just after the New Year are quieter, while summer and the run-up to Christmas are when seats fill and fares climb. Midweek departures, Tuesday through Thursday, usually undercut Friday and Sunday, when weekend traffic peaks on both sides of the Atlantic. Keep an eye on UK school breaks and the American holiday weekends around Thanksgiving and Christmas, since those lift transatlantic fares weeks in advance. Book early for summer travel and leave winter bookings later.

Direct flights exist between London and Philadelphia, and the carriers selling this route split into full-service names and low-cost ones. Finnair, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Swiss, TAP Portugal, Aer Lingus, Icelandair, Air Canada and Edelweiss Air generally route you through their own hubs, whether that is Helsinki, Amsterdam, Zurich, Lisbon, Dublin, Reykjavik or a Canadian city, and baggage is usually folded into the fare. Vueling Airlines and Eurowings are the budget options here, and they price bags, seat choice and food separately. A connection on one ticket protects you if a leg runs late; separate bookings do not.

Philadelphia International is the city's main gateway and sits close to the centre, so the transfer into town is short by American standards. A regional rail line links the airport with Center City, and taxis and ride shares wait outside the terminals, with the train the simplest choice if you are heading downtown with light luggage. Allow extra time on the way back, as security queues at Philadelphia International get long in the late afternoon and international departures ask you to check in well ahead. If your flight lands late at night, look up the last train times before you book, since the rail service does not run around the clock.

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 Philadelphia

1.6 M (2020)

Time zone

UTC-05 (America/New_York)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport your fare leaves from, because Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City are far apart.
• Confirm whether the flight is non-stop or connects through a European or Canadian hub.
• Read the baggage rules on low-cost fares, where a cabin bag is often all that is included.
• Leave time to recheck bags and clear security again if your connection sits on a separate ticket.
• Check your passport and US entry authorisation before you pay, as the airline asks at check-in.
• Book early for summer and the winter holidays, when transatlantic seats go first.