Cheap flights from London to San Diego

February is the cheapest month on this route, so it is the one to aim for if price matters more to you than peak-season weather. Prices are listed for every month of the year, and they climb through the summer, the Christmas and New Year weeks, and school half-terms. Thanksgiving in the United States is another spike worth dodging if you are flexible. Midweek departures usually cost less than Friday and Sunday flights, and the gap is wider on a long-haul route like this one. Book well ahead for summer and holiday travel; for February and the quieter shoulder months you can watch the calendar for a while before committing.

A long list of carriers shows up on this route. British Airways, American Airlines and United Airlines are the familiar names on the long-haul legs, while Finnair, Air France, Brussels Airlines, Air Canada Rouge, Air Dolomiti, Iberia Express and Republic Airways tend to appear on connecting itineraries that route you through a hub. The mix runs from major international airlines to smaller partner carriers flying the shorter legs. What is included — checked bags, seat selection, food — depends on the fare you buy and on who operates each leg, so compare the total cost rather than the headline fare and check the baggage rules for the operating carrier before you pay.

San Diego is served by Lindberg Fld, and it is the only airport you will see on this route. With a single gateway, arrivals bunch up around the same times of day, so build in room on the ground. Sort your transfer into the centre before you land — decide between a taxi, a rideshare and public transport, and check how late the last service runs if you arrive in the evening. If you are on a connecting itinerary, you clear United States immigration and customs at your first point of entry rather than in San Diego, so leave a generous gap between flights and keep your onward booking and address to hand.

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 San Diego

1.4 M (2020)

Time zone

UTC-08 (America/Los_Angeles)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport you are leaving from — Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City all serve the route.
• See whether your itinerary is non-stop or connects, and how long the layover is.
• If you book legs on separate tickets, leave a long buffer so a delay does not cost you the connection.
• Confirm the baggage allowance, especially on shorter partner legs where it can be smaller.
• Check your passport and United States entry requirements before you pay.
• Compare the price calendar first — February is the cheapest month, summer and the holidays the dearest.