San Diego to London
11h 22m The flight from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) covers 8,807 km (5,472 miles) and takes approximately 11h 22m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-east on an initial great-circle bearing of 34°, passing near 59.2° N, 72.4° W at its midpoint.
The route
The great-circle path — the shortest line between the two airports across the curve of the earth. On a flat map it looks bent; on a globe it is straight.
Flight time at different cruise speeds
Aircraft type, winds and routing all move the real number. This is the same distance flown at different speeds, plus the 25-minute ground and climb allowance.
| Typical of | Cruise speed | Airborne | Gate to gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop / regional | 550 km/h | 16h 01m | 16h 26m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 11h 17m | 11h 43m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 9h 47m | 10h 12m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 10h 22m | 10h 47m |
Headwinds on an eastbound long-haul routinely add 30–60 minutes; the same route westbound can be quicker. Airlines publish schedules with padding built in.
Both airports
| SAN | LHR | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | San Diego International Airport | London Heathrow Airport |
| City | San Diego | London |
| Country | United States | United Kingdom |
| ICAO | KSAN | EGLL |
| Coordinates | 32.7336, -117.19 | 51.4707, -0.4599 |
| Elevation | 17 ft | 83 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from San Diego to London?
A non-stop flight from San Diego (SAN) to London (LHR) takes about 11h 22m. The great-circle distance is 8,807 km (5,472 miles, 4,755 nautical miles), flying north-east on an initial bearing of 34°.
How far is San Diego from London?
8,807 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 5,472 miles or 4,755 nautical miles. Actual flown distance is usually 2–5% longer because aircraft follow airways, avoid weather and route around restricted airspace.
Is there a non-stop flight between SAN and LHR?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 8,807 km the route is comfortably within range of a non-stop service if an airline chooses to fly it. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
What should I expect on a 11h 22m flight?
Anything past six hours is a long-haul flight: expect at least one meal service, a significant time-zone shift, and enough sitting that circulation and hydration start to matter. Cabin altitude, dry air and disrupted sleep do more damage to a training routine than the flight itself.
Airport coordinates from OurAirports (public domain). Distance is a great-circle calculation; flight time uses the model described on the method page. Flight times are great-circle estimates for planning only — always check the airline's published schedule.