Enter the local departure and arrival dates and times, with the time zone at each airport. The calculator works out the actual flight time, allowing for the time difference.
Results are estimates for planning. Check the figures before you make a financial or health decision.
How the Flight duration works
Tickets show local times, so subtracting one from the other gives the wrong answer when the airports are in different time zones. The tool corrects this in three steps:
- It converts the departure time to UTC by subtracting the departure time zone’s offset.
- It does the same for the arrival time.
- The flight time is the gap between the two UTC times.
It also shows both times in UTC, the total minutes and the time zone difference.
The time zone boxes are UTC offsets, so choose the offset that applies at that airport on that date. The UK is UTC+0 in winter and UTC+1 in summer, and other countries change their clocks on different dates, so check the offset carefully.
If the arrival comes out before the departure, the tool tells you to check the dates and zones. A result over 20 hours is flagged as unusual. It measures the gap shown on your ticket, which includes taxiing.
Tips and common mistakes
The commonest mistake is the wrong date or offset, especially for flights that cross midnight or the date line. Check the arrival date on your ticket. Look up the offset for both airports on the travel date, as daylight saving changes it. If you only know the distance, use the flight time from distance tool for an estimate. Winds can make real flight times differ.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I just subtract the two local times?
Because the airports may be in different time zones. The calculator converts both times to UTC first, so the gap is the true time in the air and on the ground.
Which time zone offset should I choose?
The UTC offset at each airport on the day of travel. For London that is UTC+00:00 in winter and UTC+01:00 in summer.
Does the result include taxiing?
It is the time between the departure and arrival times on the ticket, which normally run from leaving the gate to reaching the gate or landing, depending on the airline.