Flying from London: what you need to know
London is the best-connected city on the planet for international flights, and it's not just because of Heathrow. Between LHR, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and City Airport, you have access to an absurd number of carriers and route options. The trick is knowing which airport to use.
Heathrow (LHR) is the premium airport — British Airways' home base, plus every major long-haul carrier. Fares tend to be highest here, but the route coverage is unmatched. Gatwick (LGW) is the sweet spot: Norwegian, EasyJet, and WOW's successors operate transatlantic routes at lower price points, plus charter airlines cover the Mediterranean.
Stansted (STN) and Luton (LTN) are Ryanair and Wizz Air territory — your portal to Europe for £20-50 each way if you pack light. These airports are further from central London (45-60 minutes by train/bus), but the savings can be enormous.
Transatlantic fares from London are consistently the cheapest from any European capital. London to New York drops below £300 roundtrip regularly. Budget long-haul carriers like Norse Atlantic, JetBlue (yes, JetBlue now flies to London), and PLAY add genuine pressure on British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
For Asia, London has outstanding nonstop coverage. Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, JAL, ANA, and Emirates all compete alongside BA. Premium economy and business class fares see significant discounting in January.
Pro tip: set flexible date alerts. London's sheer carrier count means there's almost always a sale happening somewhere — you just need to catch it.