Cheap Flights to Los Angeles — Compare Fares

Flights to Los Angeles, planned properly.

Compare live fares to LAX, check Burbank or Orange County on your ticket and plan Santa Monica vs Hollywood before you book — wherever you're flying from.

Flight time: Typical non-stop block time into Los Angeles is about 10 hours 30–11 hours 30 minutes (long-haul). Door-to-door is longer — add your departure-airport hop, security, and the transfer after you land before you call it sorted.

Flying from London?

LAX for most long-haul — then a city that assumes a car

Los Angeles is a set of neighbourhoods tied together by freeways, not a single walkable centre. Most international flights use LAX. Hollywood Burbank (BUR) and John Wayne (SNA) appear on some tickets and can be closer to the right suburb. Confirm the airport, then decide whether you actually need a car before you rank a fare.

LAX is the default long-haul airport. BUR and SNA only win if they are closer to the suburb you actually booked. Santa Monica is not a metro hop from John Wayne. Decide car versus FlyAway versus ride-hail before you land, and read transatlantic basic-economy bag rules before you pack a two-week California bag.

LAX, Burbank (BUR) and John Wayne (SNA)

Los Angeles International (LAX) handles most international and transcontinental long-haul. FlyAway buses toward Union Station, taxis, ride-hail and hotel shuttles are the usual ground options. Rail from LAX is improving but is not yet a European-style airport metro for every neighbourhood.

Hollywood Burbank (BUR) can be kinder for the Valley or parts of Hollywood. John Wayne (SNA) in Orange County is a different metro story toward Anaheim and the coast. A cheaper SNA fare is not “Los Angeles” if your hotel is in Santa Monica. Confirm the code.

Non-stop from Europe versus a US connection

From London, non-stops to LAX exist alongside one-stops via the East Coast or Iceland. A connection in New York or Chicago only wins if the layover is civilized and bags are through-checked. From other European cities, one-stops are more common than non-stops.

Domestic onward hops (San Francisco, Las Vegas, San Diego) should sit on the same ticket when you can. A separate cheap coupon from BUR after a long-haul into LAX is another airport day. See London–Los Angeles.

Airlines on this route

British Airways, American, Virgin Atlantic, United and others appear. Most UK flights use LAX.

Awards season, summer and quieter months

Oscars week, summer school holidays and Thanksgiving–Christmas lift both flights and beach hotels. Late winter and May (outside award dates) can be easier. There are no live fares on this page.

A ticket that lands at 21:00 after 11 hours still needs a freeway plan. A cheaper arrival into SNA plus a Santa Monica hotel is a long, expensive ride.

FlyAway, ride-hail and hire cars

FlyAway to Union Station is the value public option from LAX if you are staying downtown. Ride-hail is the default into Santa Monica, West Hollywood or Beverly Hills and sits in the same traffic as a taxi. A hire car from LAX makes sense if your week is neighbourhood-hopping; it is a parking headache if you only wanted Santa Monica and the beach.

Stay in Santa Monica or West Hollywood for a first visit if you want a walkable evening base; Downtown if you will use Metro more. LAX is west-side — a cheap hotel near Ontario or Long Beach is another geography.

Bags and the car question

Transatlantic basic economy often means a personal item plus fees for a cabin bag. A hold bag for a two-week California trip can invert the ranking versus a main-cabin fare. Read the fare family.

Use the Los Angeles stays guide once the airport is fixed. Compare car hire all-in cost on the car hire hub if you will actually drive. ESTA rules are yours to check.

Freeways, neighbourhoods, and an airport that may not be LAX

Los Angeles suits travellers who pick a neighbourhood — Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Downtown — and accept that the rest of the week involves traffic. It does not suit a first-timer who booked SNA because it was cheaper and then wondered why Santa Monica was an hour away.

A car is a tool, not a default. Beach-only weeks can live on ride-hail. Multi-neighbourhood, studio and canyon weeks usually need hire cars and parking money. FlyAway is for Union Station, not the pier. Confirm LAX, BUR or SNA before the hotel is non-refundable.

Los Angeles airports — quick compare

Airport	Best For	Transfer to centre / resort	Main Drawback
LAX	Default UK arrival	FlyAway / taxi / rideshare — often 30–90 min by neighbourhood	Sprawl — hotel area matters more than the airport

Airport transfers — quick guide

LAX: Choose Santa Monica, Hollywood or Downtown before you land — transfer time swings wildly by neighbourhood.

Flights to Los Angeles — FAQs

Should I fly into LAX or Burbank?

LAX suits most international and transcontinental schedules. Hollywood Burbank (BUR) and John Wayne (SNA) appear on some tickets — factor drive time from your actual LA base before judging price.

Do I need a car in Los Angeles?

Often, if you will hop between neighbourhoods, studios and beaches. You can skip it for a Santa Monica or Downtown week that stays local and uses ride-hail. Compare parking and hire excess against taxi totals — the headline daily rate is not the whole cost.

Are non-stops common from London?

Yes, into LAX, alongside one-stops via the East Coast. Compare total time and bags. A connection only wins if it is a true through-ticket with a humane layover.

How do I get from LAX to Santa Monica?

Ride-hail and taxis are the usual door-to-door options and sit in west-side traffic. FlyAway toward Union Station is better if you are actually staying downtown. There is no fast airport metro that drops you on the pier.

How long is the flight to Los Angeles?

Non-stop block time is usually about 10 hours 30–11 hours 30 minutes (long-haul). Door-to-door is longer once you add departure-airport transfers, security and the hop into Los Angeles after landing.

Which airlines fly to Los Angeles?

British Airways, American, Virgin Atlantic, United and others appear. Most UK flights use LAX.

What fees should I add before comparing Los Angeles fares?

Add cabin bag, hold bag, seats and payment fees, then the hop to your departure airport and the transfer after you land. Personal-item-only fares often look cheapest until those extras are included.

When should I book flights to Los Angeles?

For ordinary dates, start comparing about three to eight weeks ahead. School holidays, events and peak leisure weeks need earlier searching — confirm on live partner results.

How do I get from the airport into Los Angeles?

Choose Santa Monica, Hollywood or Downtown before you land — transfer time swings wildly by neighbourhood.