Seattle to London got busier in 2026. Alaska Airlines started its own daily nonstop to Heathrow in May, joining British Airways, Delta and Virgin Atlantic, so Seattle–Tacoma now has four airlines and around three departures a day to London. The flight takes about 9 hours 25 minutes, and London is eight hours ahead of Seattle for most of the year. This page covers the flights, the arrival, and the practical question of getting from Heathrow to wherever you are staying.
Airports Taxi UK is a London airport transfer company. We meet Seattle flights at Heathrow with a name board in arrivals, track each flight so the driver is there when you actually land, and charge a fixed fare agreed when you book. A saloon from Heathrow to central London currently costs £67 one way, and there is a full price table below.
Seattle to London Flights
All four nonstop airlines fly from Sea-Tac to Heathrow. British Airways usually has the earliest departure of the day, in the early afternoon, and Delta has one of the latest, in the evening. Alaska’s flight leaves Seattle at 9.40pm and is scheduled to land at Heathrow at 3.05pm the next day. That is a good arrival time if you want to check straight in and go to bed at a normal London hour.
| Airline | Heathrow terminal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | Terminal 3 | Daily since May 2026, Boeing 787-9 |
| British Airways | Terminal 5 | Earliest departure from Seattle |
| Delta | Terminal 3 | Evening departure |
| Virgin Atlantic | Terminal 3 | Joint business with Delta |
Three of the four arrive at Terminal 3, which makes things simple, but BA is at Terminal 5, on the other side of the airport. Alaska and BA are both oneworld members, so a ticket bought through one can put you on the other’s plane. The terminal follows the operating airline. With us, just give the flight number when you book and the driver will go to the right arrivals hall.
Choosing Your Flight
With the new Alaska service, fares on the Seattle to London route have more competition than they used to. Compare all four airlines on the dates you want, and look at the arrival time as well as the price. An afternoon BA departure lands in London early the next morning, which gives you a full first day but a long wait before hotel check-in. The evening departures land in the afternoon, which fits check-in better but leaves less of the day.
Alaska members may be able to use miles on BA and the other oneworld airlines, and Delta SkyMiles work on Virgin Atlantic. If you are loyal to one programme, that may decide it.
UK Entry Rules
Americans need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation to visit. It costs £20, and you apply through the UK ETA app or on GOV.UK. Most people get an answer within minutes, but you should apply at least three working days before you fly. Airlines will not let you board without one. It is valid for two years, or until your passport expires if that comes sooner.
At Heathrow, US passport holders can use the eGates at border control. Children under 10 must use the staffed desks with their family. After that, you collect your bags and go through customs.
Landing at Heathrow
Coming out of customs, you walk into the arrivals hall, and that is where your driver will be waiting with your name on a board. We track your flight, so if you land 40 minutes early after a tailwind over Greenland, or late after a slow start at Sea-Tac, the driver adjusts. The meeting time allows for passport control and baggage reclaim. If your bag has not arrived, report it at the baggage desk and then call us, and the driver will wait.
Once you meet, the driver takes your trolley to the car in the short-stay car park next to the terminal. It is a short walk, under cover for most of the way.
Heathrow to Central London by Car
The drive from Heathrow to central London takes 45 to 75 minutes. The route is usually the M4 and A4 through Chiswick and Hammersmith, then on through Kensington or Knightsbridge. Morning arrivals meet the rush hour inbound, and afternoon arrivals, including the Alaska flight, can meet the start of the evening rush. The fare is fixed when you book, so it does not go up if the traffic is slow.
Taxi Prices From Heathrow
These are the fixed one-way fares our booking system is quoting for Heathrow to central London (Trafalgar Square). Your own price depends on your address and the date and time, and the booking form at the top of this page shows it before you confirm.
| Vehicle | Takes up to | One-way fare |
|---|---|---|
| Saloon | 4 passengers, 2 large cases | £67 |
| Estate | 4 passengers, 4 large cases | £74 |
| Executive | 3 passengers, 2 large cases | £87 |
| People carrier (MPV) | 6 passengers, 4 large cases | £86 |
| 8 Seater | 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £86 |
| Executive Minivan | 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £114 |
For a hotel in Kensington, a saloon is about £59. For the City and Liverpool Street, it is about £79. Booking the return at the same time takes 5% off the return leg.
Business Trips From Seattle
A lot of Seattle travellers are heading to tech and aerospace offices, and not all of them are in central London. Many large companies have offices in the Thames Valley west of London, around Reading, Slough and Maidenhead, which are much closer to Heathrow than central London. A car from the airport is the easiest way there, and the drive is usually well under an hour. In London itself, the main tech areas are King’s Cross, Shoreditch, Paddington and Canary Wharf.
Our executive cars suit business travel, and we can email a receipt for your expense claim. If several colleagues are flying on different airlines, we can book separate pickups for each flight, or one larger vehicle if they land close together.
Train or Taxi From Heathrow
For one person with light luggage, the train is cheaper. The Heathrow Express runs non-stop to Paddington in about 15 minutes, and the Elizabeth line carries on through the West End to the City and Canary Wharf. The Piccadilly line reaches central London in around 50 minutes. A taxi makes more sense for families and groups, since one fare covers the whole car. It also suits heavy luggage and hotels that are not close to a main station.
Families and Groups
A saloon takes four passengers but only two large cases. For a family with long-haul luggage, an estate (four passengers, four cases) or a people carrier (six passengers, four cases) is more comfortable. Our 8-seater and executive minivan each take eight passengers with eight cases, and for sports teams, school groups and wedding parties we run 12-seater and 16-seater minibuses. Child seats are free to request. Just tell us the ages when you book.
Connecting at Heathrow to Somewhere Else
Not everyone on the Seattle flights is staying in London. Some are connecting to Europe or elsewhere in the UK. If your onward flight leaves from Heathrow and you stay airside, you do not go through UK passport control, and you do not currently need an ETA. If your next flight is from Gatwick, or you have separate tickets and need to collect bags and check in again, you will go through passport control and need the ETA. For the Gatwick connection, a car takes around an hour to 90 minutes around the M25. A saloon is currently about £88, and our Heathrow to Gatwick taxi page has the details. Allow at least four hours between landing at Heathrow and departing from Gatwick on separate tickets.
For travel on within England, cars to Oxford, Bath, the Cotswolds and the south coast are all possible straight from the airport. The booking form will give you a fixed fare for any address.
Your First Day in London
After a nine-hour flight and eight time zones, keep the first day easy. If you land in the morning, leave your bags at the hotel, get outside, walk in one of the parks and eat lunch at London time. If you land in the afternoon, a walk and an early dinner near the hotel is plenty. The main sights will still be there tomorrow. See our things to do in London page for ideas that work on a tired first day.
- Contactless cards and phone wallets work on the Tube and buses.
- London weather changes quickly, so pack a light rain jacket, much as you would in Seattle.
- UK plugs are type G, so bring an adaptor.
Returning to Seattle
Flights from Heathrow to Seattle mostly leave between late morning and late afternoon. Aim to be at the terminal three hours before departure. From central London, a pickup four hours before the flight usually works; from the Thames Valley, a little less. Give us your flight number when you book and we will suggest a time and drop you at the right terminal.
Questions About Seattle to London
How long is the flight from Seattle to London?
About 9 hours 25 minutes to Heathrow, and around 10 hours back to Seattle.
Which terminal does Alaska use at Heathrow?
Terminal 3, the same terminal as Delta and Virgin Atlantic. British Airways uses Terminal 5.
How much is a taxi from Heathrow to central London?
£67 for a saloon and £74 for an estate, fixed when you book.
Can you take me to Reading or Slough instead?
Yes. Enter the address in the booking form for a fixed price. Both are much closer to Heathrow than central London.