British Airways LHR LAX BA281
British Airways · Live forecast
LHR → LAX
BA281 · Aug 17, 2026 · 11:40 BS
85
Calm Score
"A smooth ride ahead - sit back and enjoy."
11h 15m
Duration
4,730 nm
Distance
40,000 ft
Cruise Altitude
HIGH
Confidence
Turbulence comfort along route
Comfort score combines turbulence probability with intensity, higher means rougher
Smooth Light Moderate Severe

Notifications not available
Your flight departs in less than 6 hours. The forecast is unlikely to change significantly at this point.

💙
We know turbulence can feel scary - especially on long flights. This report is built for you: what bumps feel like, when they happen, and why they don't put the aircraft in danger. Many passengers feel exactly the same way.
Right now on your route
Live pilot reports from aircraft flying LHR → LAX
10 pilot reports along this route
10 / 10
Reporting smooth
0 / 10
Light turbulence
0
Moderate or worse
Latest pilot reports
Smooth
ARP ASA180 6003N03013W 0714 F390 6000N03000W 0715 5800N02000W MS42 319/30 KT N784HA DDL XXF 170714 L94A
3m ago
Smooth
ARP DHK314 5928N03220W 0711 F320 5901N04000W 0739 5731N05001W MS48 079/40 KT GDHMC DDL XXH 170712 F52A
6m ago
Smooth
ARP DLH489 6149N05311W 0710 F390 6158N05000W 0721 6158N04000W MS42 237/20 KT DAIXT DDL XXH 170710 J46A
7m ago
Smooth
ARP ROU2102 6054N05024W 0708 F350 6100N05000W 0710 6300N04000W MS49 232/32 KT CFSDW DDL UAK 170708 F47A
9m ago
Smooth
ARP BAW86 6122N03247W 0705 F380 6100N03000W 0716 6000N02000W MS48 183/25 KT GYMMS DDL KUS 170706 F15A
12m ago
AI-powered flight briefing
17,000 data points analyzed · HIGH confidence
Your Flight

We analysed more than 17,000 data points along your route from London Heathrow Airport, London to Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles.

Your Journey Beta

1 hour 30 minutes, 2 hours, and 2 hours 20 minutes into the flight: Some moderate bumps expected.
The crew may adjust altitude or ask you to stay seated during these sections.
The rest of the flight should be smooth.

Your route takes you crossing the North Atlantic Ocean, over the Rocky Mountains, and over the Sierra Nevada – these areas can sometimes cause turbulence.

Smooth Flight

We're expecting smooth conditions throughout your flight. You can sit back and relax.

Takeoff

Takeoff should feel smooth with possible light bumps, with calm conditions around the airport.

Winds Aloft

Winds at cruising altitude are about 56 knots. These winds may delay arrival by up to 66 minutes.

Landing

Landing should feel a bit bumpy on descent with typical approach conditions.

You're in Safe Hands

If you feel nervous at any point, remember that turbulence is expected, safe, and part of normal flying. The crew is monitoring everything, and the aircraft is built to handle far more than anything you will feel. Have a safe and calm flight.

Relaxation Exercises
ZeroTurb Index (ZTI): Powered by our turbulence prediction algorithm combining atmospheric Richardson Number, wind shear analysis, temperature gradients, and geomagnetic activity. Learn more
Live data from ECMWF global forecast models · 12 atmospheric pressure levels · Updated every 6 hours
Flight Timeline 11h 15min
Maximum turbulence expected per segment
Takeoff
Light
0:30-1:00
Light
1:00-1:30
Moderate
1:30-2:00
Moderate
2:00-2:30
Moderate
2:30-3:00
Light
3:00-3:30
Light
3:30-3:59
Light
3:59-4:28
Light
4:28-4:57
Light
4:57-5:26
Light
5:26-5:55
Smooth
5:55-6:24
Smooth
6:24-6:53
Smooth
6:53-7:22
Light
7:22-7:51
Light
7:51-8:20
Light
8:20-8:49
Light
8:49-9:18
Light
9:18-9:47
Light
9:47-10:16
Light
10:16-10:45
Light
Landing
Moderate
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Severe
Longer bars indicate higher turbulence intensity. Values shown are the maximum for each time segment.
Airport conditions
Live weather at departure and arrival
LHR London Heathrow Airport - Departure
Wind
9 kt (280°)
Sky
Scattered
Temperature
19°C
Conditions
VFR - Clear conditions, no delays expected
LAX Los Angeles International Airport - Arrival
Wind
12 kt (260°)
Sky
Scattered
Temperature
20°C
Conditions
VFR - Clear conditions, no delays expected
Your flight details
Departure timing and aircraft information
Morning Flight Departure
Time of day
Morning Flight
Tip
Morning flights typically experience smoother conditions as the atmosphere is more stable and thermal turbulence hasn't yet developed.
When
Today
Data sources & our approach
ZeroTurb's Custom Algorithm: Our proprietary ZeroTurb Index (ZTI) combines three meteorological indices weighted by their predictive accuracy - giving you transparent, passenger-focused turbulence probability instead of vague categories.

This forecast integrates data from:

Disclaimer: This forecast is for informational purposes only. Always consult official aviation weather sources and follow ATC guidance.

Fly this route, calmly Game · Beta A calming mini-game, not a forecast. Glide LHR → LAX through soft clouds, nothing to crash into.