Miles Calculator
London to San Francisco distance: LHR to SFO
Distances calculated on the WGS-84 model of the Earth
The great-circle distance from London (LHR) to San Francisco (SFO) is 5,368 miles (8,638 km). A nonstop flight would take about 10h 55m in the air. The distance is the same in both directions, so San Francisco to London is also 5,368 miles.
At a glance
| From | London Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| To | San Francisco International Airport, United States |
| Distance | 5,368 miles, 8,638 km, or 4,664 nautical miles |
| Return trip | 10,735 miles (17,276 km) |
| Estimated flying time | About 10h 55m nonstop, each way |
The shortest path curves north to about 65°N, well above either airport, which is why it looks curved on a flat map. Flying times are estimates for a nonstop flight; schedules vary by airline and direction, mainly because of the jet stream, and not every route has a nonstop service.
Miles you could earn on this route
Programmes that reward distance credit a percentage of the miles flown, set by the fare you book. Here's what that means on LHR–SFO:
| Earning rate | Typical fares | One way | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% | Cheapest economy on some airlines | 1,342 | 2,684 |
| 50% | Discounted economy | 2,684 | 5,368 |
| 75% | Standard economy | 4,026 | 8,052 |
| 100% | Flexible economy, many premium economy fares | 5,368 | 10,736 |
| 125% | Premium economy, discounted business | 6,709 | 13,418 |
| 150% | Business | 8,051 | 16,102 |
| 200% | First | 10,735 | 21,470 |
Which rate applies depends on the airline and programme; see how to find your fare class. Programmes that reward spending instead, such as United, Delta, American Airlines and British Airways, give the same miles whatever the distance, based on the fare you pay.
How far a return trip gets you towards status
Credited at 100% of the distance, a typical rate for flexible economy, one return trip on this route earns 10,736 miles towards status. Against the targets for mid-tier alliance status in some distance-based programmes:
| Programme and tier | Alliance status | Target (12 months) | One return trip | Return trips needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KrisFlyer Elite Gold | Star Alliance Gold | 50,000 | 21% | 5 |
| Turkish Airlines Elite | Star Alliance Gold | 40,000 | 27% | 4 |
| Royal Jordanian Gold Sparrow | oneworld Sapphire | 40,000 | 27% | 4 |
| Vietnam Airlines Platinum | SkyTeam Elite Plus | 50,000 | 21% | 5 |
Real earning varies by fare and airline, and some programmes also have minimums per flight or count flights instead. For your exact fare and tier, use the status calculator.
Why an airline may show a different distance
This figure is the shortest path between the two airports on the WGS-84 model of the Earth. Some programmes use industry distance tables between cities or round their figures, so the distance they credit can differ by a few miles.