LAX/SFO/SEA to Europe is 10-12 hours direct. Stopover routes can break it. Here's the honest sort.
Best US West Coast → Europe stopovers
- Reykjavík (Icelandair): 7h LAX/SFO to KEF, then onward to Europe. Free up to 7-day stopover.
- Toronto / Montreal (via Air Canada): 4-5h, then onward to Europe.
- NYC / Boston (multiple US carriers): Cross-country first, then 7-8h to Europe.
- Tokyo (via JAL/ANA): 11h LAX-NRT, then onward — expensive but breaks both legs.
European stopovers to combine
- Reykjavík: Most popular for West Coast travelers via Icelandair.
- London Heathrow: Major hub. Easy 1-2 day stopover before continuing.
- Frankfurt / Munich: Lufthansa hub. Munich more interesting than Frankfurt.
- Amsterdam: KLM hub. Easy stopover.
Direct flight reality
From LAX, direct flights exist to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, Rome, Madrid. From SFO + SEA, similar coverage. Direct beats stopover for most trips, but Reykjavík via Icelandair is the rare case where stopover saves money + adds an Iceland trip.
Strategy
- Book Icelandair stopover: When booking flight, select multi-day stopover at no extra cost.
- Premium economy: Worth considering for 10+ hour flights.
- Compression socks + sleep aids: Standard for long-hauls.