£397 Find Cheap Flights to California

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from the United Kingdom to California departing on 31/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to California

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to California
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to California
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Cheap Flights to California

Cheapest return prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours
Los Angeles
Los Angelesdirect£483
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop£509
San Diego
San Diego1 stop£598
San Jose
San Jose1 stop£429
Palm Springs
Palm Springs2 stops£674
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo2 stops£656
Los Angeles
Los Angelesdirect£483
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop£509
San Diego
San Diego1 stop£598
San Jose
San Jose1 stop£429
Palm Springs
Palm Springs2 stops£674
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo2 stops£656

Book Cheap California Plane Tickets

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights to California that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals to California

Mon, 7 Sep - Mon, 28 Sep
Lufthansa Logo
13:05 - 16:10
LHR
-
LAX
11h 05mdirect
Lufthansa Logo
15:40 - 10:10
LAX
-
LHR
10h 30mdirect
£483Lufthansa
Tue, 10 Nov - Tue, 24 Nov
SWISS Logo
09:15 - 16:35
LCY
-
LAX
15h 20m
1 stop
SWISS Logo
19:10 - 17:05
LAX
-
LCY
13h 55m
1 stop
£484SWISS
Fri, 25 Sep - Wed, 7 Oct
Austrian Airlines Logo
06:00 - 13:05
LHR
-
LAX
15h 05m
1 stop
Austrian Airlines Logo
15:40 - 10:10
LAX
-
LHR
10h 30mdirect
£484Austrian Airlines
Mon, 7 Sep - Tue, 6 Oct
SWISS Logo
18:35 - 16:30
LGW
-
LAX
29h 55m
1 stop
SWISS Logo
19:35 - 08:25
LAX
-
LGW
28h 50m
1 stop
£484SWISS
Fri, 6 Nov - Mon, 9 Nov
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
10:35 - 17:00
LHR
-
LAX
38h 25m
2 stops
Scandinavian Airlines Logo
19:30 - 16:00
LAX
-
LHR
36h 30m
1 stop
£484Scandinavian Airlines
Wed, 4 Nov - Wed, 11 Nov
United Airlines Logo
09:00 - 16:30
LHR
-
SFO
15h 30m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
08:35 - 09:40
SFO
-
LHR
17h 05m
1 stop
£510United Airlines
Thu, 24 Sep - Sat, 3 Oct
United Airlines Logo
08:45 - 16:15
LHR
-
SFO
15h 30m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
19:45 - 14:10
SFO
-
LHR
10h 25mdirect
£511United Airlines
Thu, 2 Jul - Sat, 18 Jul
Virgin Atlantic Logo
20:05 - 14:02
LHR
-
LAS
25h 57m
1 stop
Virgin Atlantic Logo
22:00 - 15:55
LAS
-
LHR
9h 55mdirect
£662Virgin Atlantic
Sun, 9 Aug - Tue, 18 Aug
British Airways Logo
13:10 - 20:27
LHR
-
LAS
15h 17m
1 stop
British Airways Logo
22:10 - 16:05
LAS
-
LHR
9h 55mdirect
£663British Airways
Wed, 8 Jul - Sun, 12 Jul
Virgin Atlantic Logo
17:25 - 20:10
LHR
-
LAS
10h 45mdirect
Virgin Atlantic Logo
22:00 - 15:55
LAS
-
LHR
9h 55mdirect
£664Virgin Atlantic
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to California

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights to California to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest flight to California?

These are the best return prices found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.

The cheapest ticket to California from the United Kingdom found in the last 72 hours was to Los Angeles, at £464 return. The most popular route is London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Los Angeles (LAX) and the cheapest return airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was £464.

What is the cheapest month to fly from the United Kingdom to California?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from the United Kingdom to California, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from the United Kingdom to California is September, when tickets cost £501 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are July and June, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is £755 and £684 respectively.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to California?

The average price for all round-trip flights from the United Kingdom to California depending on the time of departure, clicked by users on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

The cheapest time of day to fly to California is generally in the morning, when retur flights cost £506 on average. Morning departures are around 10% cheaper than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to California is generally in the evening, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is £561.

How far in advance should I book a flight from the United Kingdom to California?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights to California, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below-average price on a flight from the United Kingdom to California, you should book around 5 weeks before departure, which saves you about 24% compared to booking last-minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 22 weeks before departure.

Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in California?

Prices will differ depending on the departure airport, but generally, the cheapest airport to fly to in California is Los Angeles Airport (LAX), with an average flight price of £599.

Good to know - Cheap tickets to California

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight£400
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 4% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly (20% more expensive on average)
Flight from London Gatwick Airport to Las Vegas

Flights to California: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travellers who flew to California 
AntonFlew with United Airlines
LHR
-
SFO
Feb 2026
United has a cool arrival lounge in london but it is a bit hard to find, after customs look left
AlastairFlew with British Airways
LHR
-
SFO
Feb 2025
Make sure your free checked luggage is for outward and return flights.
Verified travelerFlew with British Airways
LHR
-
SAN
Sept 2024
Flight overall is good. Service is very good. Bring yourself some snacks, in case the food isn’t up to your taste.
MeganFlew with Iberia
LHR
-
LAX
Sept 2024
Pack light and know you can always get stuff when you land.
Verified travelerFlew with United Airlines
LHR
-
SFO
Sept 2024
Download all your music. Add shows and movies to your queue. Bring short so you can relax. Bring long charger cords.
SimonFlew with British Airways
LHR
-
LAX
Jun 2024
If flying business class I’d research which cabin your aircraft operates. BA have some old business class on the 380 and new business class on the 777. (And 350). The new cabin is so much better. But the food just isn’t as good as it used to be

FAQs - booking California flights

  • I’m booking a flight to California to visit San Francisco. Which airport do I choose?

    San Francisco International is the closest to the city centre (15min) and has the most options when it comes to airlines and routes. United, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic operate direct flights from London Heathrow, Norwegian flies from London Gatwick, and Thomas Cook Airlines operates seasonal flights to SFO from Manchester. However, this is one of the busiest airports in California; if you’d prefer a less busy airport, you can fly to San Jose International, which is 47min from downtown San Francisco. However, do keep in mind that British Airways is the only airline to operate regular flights to this airport from London Heathrow.

  • I’m planning a trip to Yosemite National Park. What’s the best airport to fly into?

    The closest airport to Yosemite is Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), about 96 mi away from the park and accessible by road. If you want to fly from the United Kingdom all the way to Yosemite, you'll have to have a stopover either in San Francisco or Los Angeles. United flies from Heathrow and Gatwick to San Francisco and Los Angeles, while American Airlines flies to Los Angeles from Heathrow. Alternatively, or if you’d prefer to fly as little as possible, you can fly into San Francisco and then drive to Yosemite (approx. 3h 50min).

  • Which international airport in California is closest to Disneyland?

    Los Angeles International Airport is the closest to Disneyland California, which is about 35min away by car. This airport is served by the Disneyland Resort Express bus, which takes passengers straight to the park.

  • I’m searching for flights to California from Northern Ireland. Which are the best airports?

    If your final destination is Los Angeles or San Francisco, you can choose to catch a flight to California from London Heathrow with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and United, or from London Gatwick with Norwegian. easyJet operates direct flights to Gatwick from Belfast International Airport (BFS), while Aer Lingus and British Airways operate regular flights to Heathrow from George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD). If you’re flying to San Jose or San Diego, you’ll have to fly out of London Heathrow on British Airways. The simplest option is to book your flight to California with this airline from Belfast International.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from the United Kingdom to California?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from the United Kingdom to California.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from the United Kingdom to California?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from the United Kingdom to California is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from the United Kingdom to California?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly from the United Kingdom to California with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from the United Kingdom to California?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying from the United Kingdom to California up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • What is the cheapest day to fly to California?

    Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to California is Wednesday when return tickets can be as cheap as £534. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Sunday, when return prices are £612 on average.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to California

  • Looking for cheap airfare to California? 25% of our users found round-trip tickets to California for the following prices or less: Cheap flights to California from London Heathrow £1,132
  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest California flight deals.
  • For passengers flying from other cities in the UK without direct flights to California and who prefer to fly low-cost to London, Flybe operates regular flights to London Heathrow from Aberdeen and Edinburgh. On the other hand, Gatwick has more options for low-cost flights with easyJet operating regular connections with Belfast, Glasgow, and Inverness.
  • When looking for flights to California, you can choose from four international airports with regular direct flights to the UK. Those are Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and San Jose International Airport (SJC).
  • London Heathrow (LHR) is the airport in the United Kingdom with the most options when it comes to airlines flying to all the four major airports in California. Keep in mind that if you’re flying from elsewhere, you’ll probably need to factor in a stopover here.
  • If you prefer to fly out of London Gatwick (LGW), you'll have fewer options in terms of routes and airlines. Norwegian is the only airline operating direct flights to California from this airport, and only to Los Angeles and San Francisco.
  • If you’d like to book a direct flight to California from Manchester Airport (MAN), look for seasonal flights operated by Virgin Atlantic and Thomas Cook Airlines to San Francisco or Los Angeles.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to California

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying to California. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline from the United Kingdom to California. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from the United Kingdom to California? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.5
Virgin AtlanticOverall score based on 689 reviews
6.9Food
7.7Boarding
7.5Entertainment
7.3Comfort
8.1Crew
Airline reviews

Seating and zone. The minor I went with didn’t even seat close to me

4.0 OkayAnonymous, Mar 2026
BOS - LIS
Read more Virgin Atlantic reviews

Seating and zone. The minor I went with didn’t even seat close to me

My seat 3G did not go down fully and the buttons were not working properly

Food has been disappointing in both legs of flight to india

Great staff great experience, made a 2 hour delay very bearable

Great staff, great experience, made a 2 hour delay very bearable

Food was the worst I’ve had on a VA flight. Normally it’s a lot better

I was my pleasure to fly virgin on my birthday for my first solo trip ever 🫶🏼

These are one of the older seat arrangements facing away from the windows! Not particularly convenient sets. No storage spaces. NO COAT HANGING HOOKS. Inconvenient business class seat compared to any other airlines of similar class. Staff are excellent! Extremely professional, friendly. Food is good too.

Overall, flight was excellent but check in was very slow for Premium Economy. Economy queue was shorter but we weren't allowed to use it.

The staff was not very polite but the flight was very very nice and comfortable and the entertainment was great

6 1/2 hours from Tampa to SFO on a Boeing 737. Cramped. No Service. No real food. One pass for coffee at the beginning and a second pass THREE hours later. And check-in in Tampa was nasty even by United standards. And I am at almost TWO million miles on United. It's a non-stop. But terrible service.

First class ticket gets you no seat back entertainment? I have to bring my own laptop to see a movie? And most of their movies have ADS? No thank you. Worse: Tiny snacks only on a 2 hr flight?

Late plane. Only one crew on the ground so we b had to wait for Denver flight to come in, board, and depart. At 78 yrs of age I was not pleased trying to get my connection. What really made me angry was the notification you sent me to hurry up or I would miss my connection. Why tell me to hurry up when you got me in late. It was not a good way of treating customers.

No complaints other than luggage carousel was incorrectly guiding passengers to the wrong carousel on the screen.

Seats were not super comfortable and food was not good at all. If I had a chance I would definitely fly a different airline. Of course they are better than any budget airline, but not by much.

Flew steerage class. Short on leg room unless you pay more. No window unless you pay more. Etc. United is trying to squeeze every cent from you. It doesn’t make for any loyalty.

Outstanding service, efficient & friendly crew, flight was safe, comfortable & on time

Outstanding service, great food, friendly & efficient crew, safe & comfortable flight

Staff were not attentive, wifi did not work, cut my head in the bathroom due to the position of the soap on the sink, had blood running down my face, told staff, they had no expression no sympathy, didn't even say "sorry", they said "oh we will have a look at that" about 10 mins later the purser brought me a bandaid, still no sorry.... Shocking

The crew was great. Very friendly and responsive. The plane was old, small and tight. We ran out of overhead space and I had to check. Middle seat was particularly tight.

I sat in the first row behind first class. There was plenty of legroom. The entertainment was great. I saw two excellent movies and one episode of a sitcom. Also enjoyed the flight tracker.

OK overall. Flight was delayed Crew on flight was good

On time, only a little turbulence, very competent and caring attendants. Clear information.

Late late late. Delayed and arrived an hour late for a 1 hour 45 minute connection. Every time. Poor record for this company. I try to fly any other carrier first.

The flights are literally always delayed arriving, boarding and taking off so they are always late for the connection. I planned ahead so I was okay but many others aren't. The food was terrible. The staff was very pleasant. I appreciate boarding back to front.

The crew was friendly. The plane was comfortable. In-flight wifi didn't work well at all. The ride was quite turbulent but understandable given the weather.

My issue is with the SkyWest terminal. The flight was not listed on the main airport flight screen list, and I had to do a Google search to locate the terminal and gate. We had to ask several airport employees where to locate the phantom gate. The airport did not provide adequate signage and was confusing. When we arrived, there was one vendor providing services that quickly closed, leaving zero options for food and drink while we waited hours for our delayed flight. The crew that assisted with check-in and boarding was VERY friendly.

Economy seats a bit small but other than that it was all good.

No complimentary drinks or snacks offered on a 2 hour flight was disappointing but everything else went well

All aspects were excellent - it helped that the flight was only 2/3 full and I had no one sitting in my row. The Pre-check (US Passport Control and Customs) in Dublin made everything so easy when we arrived in Chicago.

The legroom was lacking and the entertainment system lacked adequate selection of older films. Modern films are generally not very good.

Perfect airline, super friendly, great service, tasty food. Would fly again.

The flight attendants were wonderful - one man put my carry on in the bin for me. Very attentive service. Loved the blanket and pillow waiting for me in economy. Food was excellent which is a surprise given the reputation of any airline food. Wine was fine with the meals. Delighted with the new movies - flight went by very quickly. I would definitely fly Lufthansa again.

Flight was delayed by several hours and then cancelled due to weather. But Staff was very helpful getting me on a different flight. United should offer food coupons and tooth brush and paste for stranded passengers

Service was excellent. Flight was only about half full, which meant we had tons of room to stretch out. Boarding area was nice and well organized, flight attendants were super friendly and attentive and we loved the 3 snacks!

My flight was cancelled, but it was not Kayak's fault. Kayak did require me to pay for the ticket twice to two different venders who paid Lufthansa. Kayak/Lufthansa owes me for the first booking I made first was fraudulent on the part of the subcontracting ticket seller. There will be litigation over this issue under the current passenger protection laws.

flight was half full, plenty of empty seats, was able to lie down across 4 seats, food was good, arrived on time

Was never allowed on and not refunded the full amount of the ticket plus charged a $300 processing fee.

Terrible. Our flight was completely cancelled with no options to rebook until 4 days later.

Generally good. Not their fault but the design of the Boeing 747 had seating supports directly in line with my legs. So my legs always had to straddle this support which caused body misallignment. Such poor design from Boeing. There was no USB port for me to charge my phone. The screen touch control was very poor.

Business class lounge for my gate was closed and no email was sent, causing me to walk back and forth to different gates, etc for over 20 minutes one way. Flight entertainment was mediocre with very poor choices especially for business class cabin. Original flight was cancelled and rebooking was difficult and no reason given for cancellation.

Very comfortable flight and simple and directed one way and back. Amazing price.

We loved our flight attendant, Emma from Scotland, the meal and entertainment offerings were wonderful, the flight was smooth, and enough leg room to stretch. We would fly with you again!

Los Angeles to London. 25th of April 2026. Business class. I was flying backwards with a complete stranger snoring next to me. In Business class. Males and females, strangers lying next to each other. Seats were backwards. I paid for comfort. I got dizziness and stress.

Long line with check in at the DIA British Airway counter.

The flights were on time. Cabin crew were nice. The food was terrible! Checking in was not easy using my phone.

Crew were fantastic and the aircraft was extremely comfortable, but outdated. Headphone jacks were worn out and sound normally only came out of one ear unless positioned just right.

A shout-out to the flight attendent, Lauren, who was the main person assisting me. She was amazing - perfect balance of bright, cheerful, engaging, yet formal

OK, except for a cabin attendant's lack of attention.

efficient. on time. cabin crew were very professional and very nice to deal with. would definately fly BA again.

Everything you need to know for your flight to California