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 (~€1,494) 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:
- 16,062 Points on Finnair Plus
- 16,062 Avios + 250 Tier Credits 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
- 13,386 Miles on Alaska Mileage Plan
- 10,708 Points + 16 Elite Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- Customize Calculation
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 Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 16,062 Points + 3,212 SQC on Air Canada Aeroplan 2026
- 13,386 Miles on EVA Infinity MileageLands
- 13,386 Miles on TAP Miles&Go
- 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 Miles on Singapore KrisFlyer
- 10,708 Miles on Thai Royal Orchid Plus
- 10,708 Award Miles + 5,354 Tier 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
- Customize Calculation
Information & Tips for USA
The United States offers a wide range of tourist sights, from national parks like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon to cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. The currency is the U.S. dollar (USD), and card payments are widely accepted. Prices vary by region but can be high in major cities, especially for accommodation and dining. Weather differs greatly across the country—winters can be harsh in the north, while the south often stays mild; summers are generally hot and humid in many areas.
The U.S. transport infrastructure is highly car-dependent, especially outside major cities. Urban centres like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco have functional public transit, but many other cities have limited options. Between cities, domestic flights are common for long distances, while intercity buses and Amtrak trains cover some routes, though often with slower speeds and less frequency compared to other countries. Without a car, getting around can be inconvenient in many parts of the country.
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:
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Information & Tips for San Francisco
San Francisco is known for its iconic sights, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the lively neighbourhoods like Chinatown and the Mission District. The currency used is the U.S. dollar (USD), and credit cards are widely accepted. The city is known for its high price level, especially for accommodation and dining in tourist areas, though there are budget-friendly options. The weather is mild year-round, with cool, foggy summers and chilly winters, making it a comfortable destination to visit throughout the year.
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
→ All Dealz for San Francisco