Oneworld member British Airways and Star Alliance carrier United Airlines engage in competitive pricing for nonstop premium tickets between their respective hubs London-Heathrow and San Francisco. Both airlines sell tickets as low as £1,305 (~€1,518) for two 10-hour rides across the pond.
Worldwide travel restrictions are in place to slow the spread of Covid-19. We strongly recommend gathering detailed information about the travel and quarantine restrictions that apply to your desired origin and destination.
A good start is the International Air Transport Association (IATA) website. It provides current updates on a country’s immigration policies. Even better, the Covid-19 Travel Regulations Map is one of the most useful tools you can find.
While United Airlines currently plans to use Boeing 777 aircraft featuring their new Polaris business class cabin, BA’s schedule sees an Airbus A380 operating the flight. Since this offer is most attractive in 2021 and no schedule is currently set in stone, this might very well change.
Search & Book
Both carriers offer a similar set of fare rules. Both fares are set to expire on September 30, 2020 and are valid for weekday departures in both directions. The minimum stay of one night from Saturday to Sunday is identical, too. The main difference is that BA’s fare rules don’t restrict the travel period, while United’s offers sees it end on December 31, 2021. Availabilty is fairly good with both carriers.
We recommend using Google Flights to find suiting flight dates. Further, we strongly recommend booking directly with an Oneworld or Star Alliance carrier to make sure everything goes as smooth as possible.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Mileage
British Airways issues these tickets in booking class I. In addition to 16,060 Avios, you can earn 280 tier points in British Airways Executive Club with these flights. Your mileage accrual with other carries should look roughly like this:
- 26,770 Award Miles + 16,062 Elite Qualifying Miles on Alaska Mileage Plan
- 16,062 Avios + 280 Tier Points on British Airways Executive Club
- 16,062 Avios + 1,000 Elite Points on Iberia Plus
- 16,062 Miles on American AAdvantage
- 16,062 Points on Finnair Plus
- 16,062 Avios on Aer Lingus AerClub
- 13,386 Avios + 70 Qpoints on Qatar Privilege Club
- 13,386 AsiaMiles + 150 Club Points on Asia Miles
- 13,386 Miles on Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- 13,386 Award Miles on LATAM Pass
- 13,386 Miles on Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer
- 13,386 Miles on Royal Jordanian Royal Club
- 13,386 Miles on SriLankan FlySmiLes
- 10,708 Points + 16 Elite Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
United Airlines tickets these flight in booking class P. You can earn the following award mileage in these Star Alliance frequent flyer programs:
- 16,062 Award Miles + 2,142 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 16,062 Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 13,386 Miles on EVA Infinity MileageLands
- 13,386 Miles on TAP Miles&Go
- 13,386 CV Points on Vistara Club Vistara
- 11,778 Award Miles on Emirates Skywards
- 10,708 Miles on Asiana Club
- 10,708 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 10,708 Award Miles + 400 Points on Miles&More
- 10,708 Award Miles + 2,142 Tier Miles on Azul TodoAzul
- 10,708 Miles on Copa ConnectMiles
- 10,708 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 10,708 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 10,708 Miles on Singapore KrisFlyer
- 10,708 Miles on Thai Royal Orchid Plus
- 10,708 Miles on Avianca LifeMiles
- 10,708 Miles on Aegean Miles+Bonus
- 10,708 Avios on Aer Lingus AerClub
- 10,708 Miles on Egyptair Plus
- 7,496 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
Information & Tips for USA
The USA offers many sights, natural wonders and cultural significance. Thanks to numerous airlines offering flights across the Atlantic, it is always pretty inexpensive to get there. Alternatively, you can also cross the Atlantic by boat.
Immigration, ESTA & Visa Requirements
The USA has one of the strictest entry regulations in the world. Most EU citizens, among others, are lucky to be able to participate in the so-called Visa Waiver Program. If you get an electronic entry permit (ESTA) for approximately €20, you don’t need a visa for entry.
The Best Time to Visit
Due to its sheer size, the perfect time to visit the USA varies greatly from region to region. In winter, Florida is very popular due to the mild temperatures. In the summer the West and East Coasts are flooded by tourists which drives up the prices for hotels and flights and during the Indian Summer in late autumn New England is a very popular destination. The hurricane season between July and September can be dangerous in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Florida and the southern states are regularly struck by these tropical storms. Blizzards occur from the East Coast to the Midwest during the winter months and regularly put air traffic and public life on hold.
Currency
The US dollar is widely used throughout the world and accepted as a currency in most tourist hotspots worldwide. That being said, carrying cash isn’t necessary in the US, all you need is a credit card! These are very common in the USA and are accepted pretty much everywhere without any issues. If you already have a credit card in your wallet, you should make sure that it does not charge a foreign currency fee if possible. Carrying a few dollars in cash doesn’t hurt though. You might need cash e.g. for the bus ticket if you want to buy it directly from the driver. Most of the time you even have to give exact change.
Finding the Best eSIM Plan
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as Knowroaming and Ubigi. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for the USA 🇺🇸 Compared
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Information & Tips for San Francisco
The city on the Pacific coast in California captivates with unique buildings like the Golden Gate Bridge but also with the serenity, enlightenment and cultural diversity of the population.
Best Time to Visit
Temperatures in San Francisco are quite warm and moderate all year round. But in winter you have to expect to get more rain. The best months for traveling are April to October.
Top 3 Sights
Golden Gate Bridge: There are only a few buildings that say ‘USA’ as much as the bridge that connects with San Francisco to Sausalito. You can pass the bridge either by car, on foot or by bike. The latter is highly recommended because it is somewhat tricky to get on the bridge by foot. When planning your trip, you should always check the weather forecast, as the bridge is often covered in thick fog. This might be great for taking spectacular pictures of the bridge, but passing it could be rather disappointing due to the limited visibility.
Alcatraz Island: You can reach the legendary prison island, on which Al Capone was imprisoned, by ferry. You can book tickets on the official website. Attention: Other sites that also offer tickets are only re-sellers who charge excessive prices. It is worth to book the tickets in advance because especially during high season the ferry can be full due to the limited number of seats.
Fisherman’s Wharf: An excellent place to start your visit to San Francisco. This old part of town – once the Little Italy of San Francisco – is famous for its shops, restaurants and the beautiful atmosphere by the water. It’s a nice place to walk around and get a taste of the city. It’s also a starting point for tours with spectacular views of the city.
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