London to Buenos Aires is a long haul to South America with a real choice: fly non-stop from Heathrow in about thirteen and a half hours with British Airways, or save money on a one-stop itinerary through Madrid or São Paulo. This guide covers who flies the route, what a fair return costs in pounds, and when to book for the best price.
Route: London (LHR) → Buenos Aires, Ministro Pistarini – Ezeiza (EZE)
Distance: approximately 11,100 km (6,900 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 13h 20m southbound, a little longer coming back
Direct flights: Yes — British Airways flies non-stop from Heathrow. One-stop itineraries via Madrid or São Paulo are usually cheaper.
Fares from London to Buenos Aires (GBP)
Argentina’s seasons are the reverse of the UK’s, so the priciest weeks are the southern-hemisphere summer (December–February, peak beach and holiday season) and the UK summer holidays; the cheapest are the southern winter and the shoulder months. The figures below are typical economy return fares in pounds — the lowest are usually one-stop itineraries, with the non-stop British Airways service sitting toward the higher end.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | very high (Argentine summer) |
| February | — | high |
| March | — | medium-high |
| April | — | medium |
| May | — | low-medium |
| June | — | low |
| July | — | medium-high (UK summer holidays) |
| August | — | medium |
| September | — | low-medium |
| October | — | medium |
| November | — | medium-high |
| December | — | very high (holidays) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, the floor is £784 and the connecting median £814 — a tight cluster, with nearly two-thirds of the cheap fares on Avianca at £784–£861. So a return under about £800 is a genuinely good one and there is nothing in the five or six hundreds to wait for. The spread above that is all about the carrier: Iberia via Madrid was the most expensive at £1,028–£2,108, roughly double Avianca. We could not price the British Airways non-stop in this check, so price it directly if flying direct matters.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop (about 13h 20m):
- British Airways — the only non-stop operator, flying Heathrow → Buenos Aires Ezeiza several times a week on the Boeing 787; a full-service fare with a checked bag included on standard tickets.
One-stop (usually the cheapest, about 16–19 hours total):
- Iberia via Madrid — frequent, a short first hop and a single onward flight to Buenos Aires; often the best value.
- Air Europa via Madrid — another competitive one-stop routing through Spain.
- LATAM via São Paulo or Lima — strong South American network and often good fares.
- Lufthansa via Frankfurt and other European carriers — comfortable one-stop options with easy London connections.
Because the one-stop carriers compete hard, they usually undercut the non-stop by £150–£300. If time matters more than money, book British Airways direct; if price is the priority, a single stop through Madrid or São Paulo is the sweet spot.
When to book & how to save
- Book 3–6 months ahead for the best balance of price and choice; long-haul fares to Buenos Aires rarely improve in the final weeks.
- Avoid the peaks: December–February (the Argentine summer) and the UK summer holidays are the busiest and dearest — the southern autumn and winter (April–June) are the cheapest.
- Prefer a European connection (Madrid or Frankfurt) to keep the routing simple and avoid a US transit visa that comes with some American connections.
- Compare all-in prices including bags: full-service carriers to Argentina generally include a checked bag, but the cheapest fare classes may not.
- Consider the seasons the other way round: going in the southern winter means fewer crowds and lower fares if the weather suits your plans.
Arriving in Buenos Aires
Long-haul flights land at Ministro Pistarini International (EZE), usually called Ezeiza, about 35 km south-west of the centre. There is no train, so the usual options are an official airport taxi or pre-booked remise (roughly £25–£40 to the city, agree or pre-pay the fare) or the cheaper Tienda León shuttle bus to its downtown terminal. Domestic flights use the closer Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) by the river, so check which airport any onward flight leaves from — they are on opposite sides of the city.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from London to Buenos Aires?
The non-stop British Airways flight takes about 13 hours 20 minutes southbound (London to Buenos Aires) and a little longer on the return. One-stop itineraries via Madrid or São Paulo typically take 16 to 19 hours in total, depending on the connection.
Are there direct flights from London to Buenos Aires?
Yes. British Airways flies non-stop from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires Ezeiza several times a week. If you would rather save money, one-stop flights with Iberia or Air Europa (via Madrid) or LATAM (via São Paulo) are usually cheaper than the direct service.
How much does it cost to fly from London to Buenos Aires?
A typical economy return runs about £790–£1,030, with the connections spanning £784–£2,108 and a median of £814. The best one-stop deals start at £784 on Avianca; Iberia via Madrid sits at the top. The non-stop and the December–February Argentine summer peak price above this range.
What is the cheapest month to fly from London to Buenos Aires?
May and June are usually the cheapest, in the southern autumn and winter. In the dates we could price, returns started at £784. Avoid December, January and February (the Argentine summer holidays), which are the busiest and most expensive.
Which airlines fly from London to Buenos Aires?
Non-stop: British Airways from Heathrow — it did not appear among the cheapest fares in our check, so price it directly. One-stop, cheapest first: Avianca (£784–£861, nearly two-thirds of the cheap fares), LEVEL (£785–£861), LATAM via São Paulo or Lima (£957–£962) and Iberia via Madrid (£1,028–£2,108, the most expensive on the route — not the bargain it is often assumed to be). Air Europa and Lufthansa also sell the route but did not appear among the cheapest fares when we checked.
Which airport do I fly into in Buenos Aires?
You arrive at Ministro Pistarini International (EZE), known as Ezeiza, the city’s main international gateway about 35 km from downtown. Domestic and some regional flights use the closer Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) instead, so check which airport any onward flight departs from.
How far in advance should I book London to Buenos Aires flights?
Aim to book 3 to 6 months ahead. Long-haul fares to Buenos Aires tend to rise as departure approaches, especially around the December–February southern summer and the UK summer holidays, so early booking almost always wins.
Do I need a visa to fly from London to Buenos Aires?
UK passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays in Argentina of up to 90 days. If your ticket routes through the United States, however, you would need an ESTA or US visa even for a same-airport connection — a European routing via Madrid or Frankfurt avoids that. Always confirm the current entry rules before booking.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
