LHR to SCL Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the London to Santiago flight turbulent?

The LHR–SCL route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LHR to SCL?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 787 (296 seats), that's rows 20–33. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from LHR to SCL?

The LHR to SCL flight takes approximately 14h 30m.

Is the London to Santiago flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

LHR

→

SCL

London · Santiago · 14h 30m

Turb Score

14h 30m

Duration

7,221 nm

Distance

39,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for LHR–SCL

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h14h 30m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LHR–SCL route

The London to Santiago route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 39,000 feet, the aircraft encounters the strongest bumps roughly 2–5 hours into the flight. This is clear-air turbulence — no clouds, no visual warning — which makes a pre-flight forecast especially valuable.

The route is served by British Airways, LATAM on Boeing 787 · Boeing 777 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 39,000 feet over a distance of 8,308 miles (7,221 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth.

Turbulence levels on LHR–SCL

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly LHR–SCL

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LHR–SCL

Boeing 787 (296 seats)

Front

Rows 1–19

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 20–33

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 34+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

LHR → EZE

London → Buenos Aires

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Passenger Reports

Moderate turbulence crossing the jet stream — the kind where you're glad you kept your seatbelt on. Lasted about 30-40 minutes, then smoothed out. I've had worse on transatlantic routes.

Frequent flyer · November

The over the Atlantic section was legitimately rough. I was holding on to the armrests. Lasted maybe 40 minutes. One of the flight attendants had to sit down. Not a fun 14h 30m flight but we landed fine.

Solo traveler · October

This was genuinely difficult for me. Real bumps for a long stretch over the Atlantic, seatbelt sign on for what felt like forever. The flight attendants were calm which helped. Got through it.

Nervous flyer · July

All LHR routes→ All SCL routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the London to Santiago flight turbulent?

The LHR–SCL route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 62/100.

When is turbulence worst on LHR to SCL?

Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on LHR to SCL?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 787 (296 seats) (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20–33. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from LHR to SCL?

The LHR to SCL flight takes approximately 14h 30m, covering 8,308 miles (7,221 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LHR to SCL?

The main airlines operating this route are British Airways, LATAM, flying Boeing 787 · Boeing 777 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data