SFO to LHR flight delays
San Francisco, CA (SFO) London (LHR)
2,956 flights · March 2025 – August 2026 · US Bureau of Transportation Statistics and UK Civil Aviation Authority
80.37%
Arrived on time
Within 15 minutes of schedule
1.08%
Cancelled
Share of scheduled flights
—
When late, late by
Average across delayed arrivals
11 min
Delay per flight
Averaged over every flight flown
What the record says about this route
The season swings this route hard. In March it ran 25 points more punctual than in June — a difference bigger than the one between the best and worst airlines on most routes. If the date is flexible, it is worth more than the carrier.
This route does better than its own airport. Departures from SFO overall run 16.5 points less punctual than this particular one — so whatever congestion SFO has, this route is largely escaping it.
The 3 airlines here are separated by under 5 points — close enough to call a tie. Choose on price and departure time.
The San Francisco to London route sits close to the middle of the record — neither notably punctual nor notably late.
Which airline should you fly on this route?
Over March 2025 – August 2026, British Airways arrived on time most often on SFO to LHR. Virgin Atlantic was late most often. Flights ran closest to schedule in August and worst in June.
Every airline on SFO to LHR
Ranked by how many flights each one operated. A carrier with fewer than 100 flights in the period is listed but not graded.
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Avg delay | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 1,279 | 79.86% | 1.02% | — | C |
| British Airways | 957 | 82.66% | 1.15% | — | B |
| Virgin Atlantic | 720 | 78.23% | 1.11% | — | C |
Month by month
Share of flights that arrived within 15 minutes of schedule, by month flown.
The return leg
LHR to SFO London back to San Francisco 77.55% on time COther routes from San Francisco
What these figures do and do not tell you
Everything on this page is counted from the flights that actually operated on SFO to LHR during March 2025 – August 2026, as reported by the airlines to the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics. "On time" is the federal definition: arriving at the gate within 15 minutes of the scheduled time.
A route's record is a description of the past, not a forecast. Weather, air traffic control and the aircraft's earlier flights that day drive most delays, and none of them are predictable from a historical rate. What the record does tell you is whether this route runs late more often than others, and which carrier on it has the better history — which is the part you can actually act on when you book.
Cancellations are counted separately from delays because they are a different problem for a traveller: a late flight still gets you there. How the grade is calculated →