Wondering which airline has the best business class to London from the US? Let us walk you through the options.
Flying Business Class from the US to London
Let’s face it, flying business class is a game changer. Flights are more comfortable, getting through the airport is more convenient and many services offer enjoyable perks on top.
When your journey lasts for 3400 miles with work waiting for you at the end, flying business is a worthwhile investment.
Yet, the reasons to choose business class trips to the UK are more than just a comfy chair (although that is important.) There’s also…
- Simpler and quicker pre-boarding procedures.
- Private lounge access.
- Delicious cuisine and drinks anytime (on demand).
- Entertainment.
- Luxury amenities.
- Enhanced personal space with space for coats and laptops.
- Assistance in arrivals, departures, and with flight connections.
- Better service in case of last-minute changes in schedules and ticket returns.
- More luggage allowed.
However, this comes at a cost. And finding a one-way flight under $2,000 is a miracle in most cases. In part, this is explained by the unwillingness of airline companies to sell tickets cheaper than usual. They rather choose to go with empty seats than offload business class.
That is why we devote this guide to looking for the best business class flights with London as the destination. Here we will also share tips to help you find less expensive tickets.
For more practical flying tips, see our guide to enjoying your next long-haul flight and our list of essential flight booking hacks for savvy travellers.
Flying to London from the United States: Important Details On Airports
The US-London route is a popular long-haul flight path. However, there are some peculiarities that you should know about.
Most flights from the United States are from New York: with nearly 35 daily flights. Flights from the US typically arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick, and 5 main airports serve such flights:
- Heathrow (LHR) – London’s main international airport with direct cross-Atlantic flights.
- Gatwick (LGW) – London’s second largest airport that often serves flights to resorts.
- Luton (LTN) – a popular hub for budget flights for multiple purposes.
- Stansted (STN) – a small airport that hosts all kinds of flights, – from long-haul transatlantic ones to short, low-cost flights from Europe.
- City (LCY) – another small airport close to London’s Canary Wharf.
Need recommendations for your time in the English capital? Discover what London is famous for here and learn how to spend 72 hours in London here.
Airlines Which Fly Non-Stop to London from the US
Non-stop trips are currently carried out by the following airlines:
- British Airways
This carrier makes the most journeys to the British capital from many cities: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Denver, Phoenix, Austin, Seattle, San Jose, Washington, New York, San Francisco, Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans, and others.
- American Airlines
The company flies from Chicago, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, Phoenix, New York, Seattle, Philadelphia, and a few other smaller cities.
- JetBlue
JetBlue frequently flies between London and New York.
- Virgin Atlantic
Flights from Virgin Atlantic are offered from Atlanta, Boston, New York, Miami, Orlando, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Washington, and Seattle.
- Delta Airlines
Delta includes non-stops from Atlanta, Boston, Seattle, New York, and cities rarely covered by steady long-haul flights like Detroit and Minneapolis.
Direct flights between US cities and London can also be found from the following airlines:
- Qatar Airways
- Finnair
- Gulf Air
- KLM
- Iberia
- Singapore Airlines
- Royal Jordanian
- Aeromexico
Feeling particularly lenient with those purse strings? Discover how much it costs to charter a private plane here.
Which Air Carrier Companies Are Worth Considering for Business Class Flights to London
Now that you are more sure about the point-A and point-B airports to match your air journey, it is time to review some of the most praised and popular airlines that serve business class clients.
British Airways
We couldn’t overlook this carrier since British Airways is widely used and favored in the United Kingdom. It stands out with business class flight perks for clients, such as a better experience checking in and a dedicated terminal at London Heathrow. Our British Airways business class review from Abi notes that BA solves a problem many other airlines fail to cover.
The 183-cm long lie-flat beds make it worth it alone.
American Airlines
This carrier is the largest airline on the planet, according to the latest stats. Its great cabin designs, convenient control panels, and friendly crew can rival BA. Plus, the large Dreamliner and Boeing 777 planes are part of their fleet.
What we don’t like is that AA offers practically the same experience in first class as it does in business class.
JetBlue Mint
Now, choosing the best-known and respected airlines is not a must. With the sphere of air travel evolving rapidly and new carriers emerging, you can step away from the traditional AA or BA.
JetBlue Mint has large screens, extra space in suites (even in narrow planes), comfortable beds, sliding doors, and lots of entertainment to keep you busy during the flight.
Catering, onboard service, and check- in can also be a pleasant surprise. All of this remains (for now) at relatively low fares.
Where to Get Advice on the Best Deals Flying from the US to London
Apart from monitoring prices at official websites and being a return client who uses points and loyalty programs, we have a few more tips and tricks up our sleeves.
Here is the best from the web we managed to gather for you.
Use the Business Class Consolidator Tool
If the search for cheap business flights takes you to the Business Class Consolidator, use it to find the best rates for your travel destination. It works simply and effectively: you enter your flight destination, desired time, and dates and wait for experts to get in touch with you.
Next, expect a letter from a travel expert in your inbox. They will find you the most attractive price offers and personal discounts since they have access to not-yet-published rates and use unique prediction and comparison technology.
The tool is accredited by Better Business Bureau (BBB), ASTA, and ARC. In addition, it partners with a large number of airlines, such as Qatar Airways, KLM, Turkish Airlines, Thai, Singapore Airlines, etc. Another great thing about this assistant is that there is no need to make bookings on your own.
For instance, you can find business class flights to London Heathrow Airport just with the online tool. Your travel agent is going to lead you through the process of obtaining fares to London and winning great deals for every part of the trip you planned.
You can find more useful travel websites and resources here.
Use Mistake Fares
Mistake fares appear to be unusually cheap offers that often result from errors. This trick works well for those who don’t mind a fifty-fifty situation: either the flight will take place, and you enjoy an extra cheap business class seat, or it will be cancelled.
Many airlines show grace and don’t deny such tickets, and that’s how it can turn out good for you. With nearly one-seventh of the usual price for a ticket to London, you can enjoy restaurant level meals, fancy drinks, priority onboarding, and comfort for your back on the way. However, mistake fares have become a rare phenomenon, and you really have to hunt for them.
Collect Air Miles and Points and Put Them to Work
Many companies partner with airlines and allow travellers to save on tickets. Credit cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred, The American Express Platinum Card, Capital One Venture Rewards card, or its newer competitor X Rewards credit card, are among some of the most popular.
If you qualify for such a card and want to pay less for a business-class flight to London this year, redeeming miles can save you around 30% of a flight cost.
As a rough rule of thumb, miles are rewarded when you spend $4,000 within the first three months of card use. Different cards offer different mileage, but with Venture, this will equal a bonus of nearly 80,000 miles, which, in turn, is nearly $800 of cash. Each such mile can be redeemed for 1 cent in every travel purchase.
And it’s not just about airplane tickets. Many credit card points also cover the following:
- Taxi rides, such as Uber
- Bus and train tickets
- Hotel stays and in-hotel purchases
- Cruises
- Car rental and parking fees
The great thing is that clients are frequently allowed to pay for a part of a travel purchase or ticket with such miles. That is brilliant, especially if you haven’t collected enough miles yet for the full cost or just don’t want to spend all of them at once.
Using miles is relatively easy. With most credit card providers, you only need to use your account and find where your reward miles are displayed. Next, click ‘Redeem’ or ‘Use miles’ and specify exactly how you want to use them.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, finding the best business class flights to London involves more than just the airline. You also need to factor in the price, timetable and various other techniques. We recommend that you seek a variety of options for flying to London from the United States.
More Travel and Flight Hacks
- Long haul flight essentials – what you need for a more comfortable flight
- The best flight booking hacks for savvy travellers
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- The Cathay Pacific Business Class Review
- The British Airways Business Review: the new Club Suite
- The Virgin Business Class Review: is it worth it?
- The traditional British Airways Business Class Review
- Can laptops go in checked luggage? What you need to know.
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