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Planning cheap flights Santiago de Chile to London? Return fares start from around $700 when you book early and fly in the shoulder season — and with a nonstop journey time near 14 hours, this is one of the world’s longest city pairs, so getting the booking right matters. Search and book with TopTravelCentre to see every airline, nonstop and one-stop, in a single results list.
London is the biggest South America–Europe market after Madrid and Lisbon, which means real competition and, if you’re flexible, real bargains.
Airlines flying Santiago to London
- LATAM operates the only nonstop on the route, Santiago to London Heathrow, in about 14 hours 20 minutes. Newer aircraft, full service, and usually the fastest door-to-door option.
- Iberia via Madrid — historically the cheapest routing. Santiago–Madrid is a LATAM/Iberia duopoly with daily frequencies, then a short hop to Heathrow.
- British Airways via São Paulo (GRU) — overnight to Brazil, then BA’s GRU–LHR service.
- Air France via Paris or KLM via Amsterdam — solid one-stop options with European networks behind them.
- American via Miami or United/CO via Houston — North American routings; longer in the air but occasionally the cheapest during European peak season.
Check the total layover, not just the headline fare. The Madrid connection is efficient at 2–3 hours; US routings add long transit times and require clearing US transit rules.
Departure and arrival airports
Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) is one of South America’s smoothest airports, despite ongoing expansion works. International departures concentrate in the evening — arrive three hours ahead, as check-in and emigration queues build between 8 pm and midnight when the Europe-bound wave leaves. The airport is 20–25 minutes from Las Condes by taxi or Uber; the airport bus is a cheap alternative to the centre.
London Heathrow (LHR) receives the LATAM nonstop and most European connections. The Elizabeth Line reaches central London in about 40 minutes; the Piccadilly line is slower but cheaper; a taxi costs £60–80 into the city. If your one-stop itinerary ends at Gatwick (LGW) instead, the Gatwick Express reaches Victoria in 30 minutes. Always confirm which London airport your ticket uses — the city has five, and they are not interchangeable on the day.
How much it costs
Indicative round-trip fares Santiago to London:
- Low season (March–May, November): from $700–850
- Shoulder (September–October, February): from $800–950
- Peak (June–August, mid-December–January): from $1,050 and up
One-way fares start from around $480. Chileans can enter the United Kingdom visa-free for tourism stays up to six months (an ETA electronic authorisation is now required — apply online before flying).
Cheapest time to fly Santiago to London
- Best months: April, May and November. London is grey but cheap, and airfare drops $200+ versus summer.
- Avoid: July and August, plus mid-December–January when Chilean summer holidays and European summer overlap.
- Best days to depart: midweek — Tuesday through Thursday. Friday and Sunday departures carry a clear premium on this route.
- Booking window: 10–16 weeks ahead. Ultra-long-haul fares from Chile move slowly down then jump; the last 5 weeks before departure are expensive.
Money-saving tips
- Take the Madrid stop. Breaking the journey in Madrid is regularly $100–200 cheaper than the LATAM nonstop, and 14 hours in one go is brutal anyway — many travellers prefer the split.
- Alert on a month view. Set your search to flexible dates and wait for a return under $850; those windows appear a few times per month.
- Price São Paulo as a split. Buying Santiago–São Paulo and São Paulo–London separately can beat through-fares, but leaves you unprotected on missed connections — only do it with a long buffer.
- Check South America off-peak demand. Fares spike around Chilean holidays (Fiestas Patrias in September, Christmas). Shifting a week avoids the surge.
- Travel light or pay online. On long-haul economy fares, prepaying a checked bag online is roughly half the airport price on several carriers.
FAQ
Is there a nonstop flight from Santiago to London? Yes. LATAM flies Santiago–Heathrow nonstop, around 14 hours 20 minutes.
How long is the flight from Santiago to London? The nonstop is about 14.5 hours. One-stop itineraries via Madrid, São Paulo or Paris total 17–21 hours.
Do Chileans need a visa for the UK? Not a visa for tourism up to six months, but an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is required — apply via the official app before departure.
What’s the cheapest month to fly? November and late April, with return fares from around $700.
Which London airport should I choose? Heathrow for the nonstop and best transport links; Gatwick often appears on cheaper one-stop itineraries.
Book your Santiago–London flight
Book 10–16 weeks ahead, fly midweek in April, May or November, and weigh the nonstop against a Madrid connection. Run your search on TopTravelCentre and grab the fare while it’s low.