Flights China - flight hacks for Chinese destinations
Flights to Beijing in China. Book plane tickets online to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK).

China is open to international tourism

After three years of border restrictions, China has fully reopened to foreign visitors – including tourists. On 15 March 2023, the country resumed issuing all categories of visas for foreigners. Travelers entering China are still required to take a Covid test 48 hours before departure and to fill in the results in their customs health declaration forms.

Transiting through Chinese airports is permitted.

Please note that the official travel advisory for the People’s Republic of China issued by the US State Department recommends reconsidering any travel to the country, including Hong Kong and Macao due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws. There is a risk of exit bans and wrongful detention of foreign nationals by the Chinese government. Travelers may be detained without access to their country’s consular services and may be subjected to prolonged interrogations and extended detention without due process of law.

Arriving in Shanghai

  • If you are flying to Shanghai from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airportShanghai Pudong Airport PVG or Shanghai Hongqiao Airport SHA.

    PVG is located in the Pudong New Area, about 30 km (18.6 miles) east of Shanghai's city center. It is the larger of the two airports, serving most of the international flights to and from Shanghai. SHA is in Hongqiao, about 13 km (8 miles) to the west. It's smaller than PVG, mainly focusing on domestic flights, regional flights to nearby Asian countries, and some international flights to a few destinations. The two airports are connected by various transportation options, including metro, bus, and taxi services. It's around 45 km (28 miles) by road from PVG to SHA
    .

    These are also the best (and the cheapest) airports to fly into Shanghai. As they are used by many airlines serving the same routes, the competition for passengers is fierce – with decreased airfare as a result.
  • Once in Shanghai, take advantage of frequent intercity flights operated by domestic airlines such as China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Air China, Hainan Air, Beijing Capital Airlines, Grand China Air, Lucky Air, Shanghai Airlines, Spring Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and Tianjin Airlines. Those in-country carriers typically offer lower fares, operate from smaller airports located closer to city centers (you save on ground transportation), and provide flexible schedules – with a wide range of departure times.
  • Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations near Shanghai can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Jeju Air, Scoot, Tigerair Taiwan, and VietJet Air. If you have a layover in Shanghai and plan to fly only a short distance to one of its neighboring countries, these budget airlines are an excellent way to save money. However, the “no-frills” carrier may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support. You may not even get to choose your seats, unless you pay extra.

Airports of Shanghai

Best airports to fly into Shanghai: Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Shanghai has two large international airports – Shanghai Pudong Airport PVG and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport SHA. PVG is located in Pudong New Area, about 30 km (18.6 miles) east of Shanghai's city center, while SHA is in Hongqiao, about 13 km (8 miles) to the west. It's around 45 km (28 miles) by road from PVG to SHA.
Things to know before flying to Shanghai
Airlines flying to Shanghai9 Air Co, Air Canada, Air Changan, Air China, Air France, Air Macau, Air New Zealand, AirAsia X, ANA, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, Chengdu Airlines, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, China United Airlines, Colorful Guizhou Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Donghai Airlines, El Al Israel Airlines, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airlines, EVA Air, Finnair, Fuzhou Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Hainan Airlines, Hebei Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Japan Airlines, Jiangxi Airlines, Juneyao Air, Kalitta Air, KLM, Korean Air, Kunming Airlines, LATAM, Loong Air, Lucky Air, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, National Airlines, Okay Airways, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Qingdao Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, SAS, Saudia, Shandong Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spring Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Suparna Airlines, SWISS, Tap Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air, Tianjin Airlines, Tibet Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Uni Air, United Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, West Air, Xiamen Airlines
Airlines of China (full-service)China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Air China, Hainan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, XiamenAir, Shandong Airlines, Juneyao Airlines

Airlines of China (low-cost)China United Airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines, Spring Airlines, 9 Air, Chengdu Airlines, China Express Airlines, Grand China Air, Colorful Guizhou Airlines, Fuzhou Airlines, Jiangxi Air, Loong Air, Lucky Air, Okay Airways, Qingdao Airlines, Suparna Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Tibet Airlines, West Air
Airports in ShanghaiShanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Regular price (roundtrip)✈ €800 – €1200 (from Europe)
✈ $1100 – $1600 (from USA)
Flight hacks 40% — 80% off regular fare
Airline promotionsSee ticket sales & promos available for flights departing from March to May

Book cheap flights in the region

The cheapest time to fly to Shanghai

The cheapest time to fly to Shanghai is between November and March (while avoiding public holidays like Chinese New Year). These are the winter months, with cold and dry weather and temperatures dropping as low as -15°C (5°F). As there are not many tourists visiting Shanghai, this is the best time to look for deals on flights and hotels.

If you are looking for warmer weather, you will find affordable flights to Shanghai in early Spring (March – April) or late fall (September – October).

Top gateway cities in China

China has four large international airports. Your first contact with the country will most likely be at one of these gateway cities: Beijing (a top tourist city with the biggest airport in China), Hong Kong (with many English speakers, and familiar standards of life, it’s a good city to “acclimatize” to China), Shanghai (144-hour visa-free stay policy makes it a great option for a stopover), and Guangzhou (one of China’s oldest cities, with a convenient ferry transport to Hong Kong and Macau).

These are also the largest hubs of China’s air travel, offering plenty of choices for domestic flights to all major cities within the country.

Know your time zone

When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket and boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.

Being almost as wide as the continental United States, China geographically covers five time zones. However, China has only one official time zone across the country – CST (China Standard Time) – the decision made by the Communist Party to enhance “national unity”.

CST is 8 hours ahead of UTC. It means that Shanghai is 13 hours ahead of New York and 2 hours behind Melbourne). Unlike western countries, China does not follow daylight saving time.

Download a VPN app

When it comes to media censorship, China is one of the world leaders – it seems to have a problem with freedom of speech and certain online content. In the last years, thousands of websites have been banned temporarily or permanently, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo, Telegram, and Wikipedia. Google and most of its free tools (Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Drive, etc) will not be available when traveling to Shanghai – this will also affect any app or website that uses Google login.

Solution? If you want to keep access to your favorite websites while staying in Shanghai, you should download a VPN app for your smartphone and laptop. By hiding your location, it will allow you to bypass government censorship and freely access all blocked content. Make sure to install it before you arrive – VPN websites and Google Play are blocked, so you can’t download any Android apps when you are already in Shanghai.

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Flights to Shanghai from United States and Canada

  • There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Shanghai. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Shanghai, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. There are plenty of direct flights to Shanghai from major North American cities like Dallas, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle in the US or Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. All travelers from the US and Canada arrive at Shanghai Pudong Airport PVG – currently, there are no direct flights to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport SHA. Non-stop flights between the US/Canada and Shanghai are operated by Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines
  • Shanghai is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Shanghai with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta ATL, Dallas DFW, Denver DEN, Chicago ORD, Los Angeles LAX, Las Vegas DFW, Miami MIA, Seattle SEA, Houston IAH, New York JFK, and San Francisco SFO in the United States and Toronto YYZ, Vancouver YVR, Calgary LAS, and Montreal YUL in Canada.
  • The best airlines to fly to Shanghai from the US and Canada are: Air Canada, Air China, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, EVA Air, and United Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
  • For long-haul flights, the type of aircraft you choose can make a huge difference to your overall comfort on board – especially if you’re flying economy. The best aircraft have comfier seats with more legroom, WiFi, superior entertainment systems, and a better passenger experience in every cabin in general. When booking a flight to Shanghai, look for the airlines that use wide-body planes designed for long-haul flights, such as Airbus A350 (best choice), A380, A320neo, or Boeing 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner.

Shanghai from US & Canada
plane ticket prices in 2023/24

Real-time economy class airfares to Shanghai from the US and Canada. Shown are the top three deals for flights departing in the coming months (March to November).

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There is no Uber nor Grab in Shanghai

Uber launched in China in early 2014, but due to difficulties in gaining a meaningful market share, it decided to take a passive role by selling its local operations to DiDi. The popular Asian super-app Grab never entered the China market.

However, getting around Shanghai is quite convenient thanks to the DiDi Rider app, which works similarly to Uber and Grab. DiDi Rider is the main ride-hailing app in China, letting you hail a private car or a taxi and automatically pay the fare when your ride ends. Only registered drivers with a special license can offer rides in accordance with the law introduced by The Ministry of Transport.

You can download the DiDi Rider app for Android or iOS before arriving in Shanghai.

Plan for airline delays

Unfortunately, flight delays in China are not uncommon, so be prepared. If you are booking a domestic flight from Shanghai that connects to an international flight, make sure you’ve got plenty of time before your international flight takes off. This can save you a lot of stress on the day of travel.

Always keep at least one change of clothes and a toothbrush in your carry-on – just in case your flight gets seriously delayed and you will have to spend the night in the hotel.

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Flights to Shanghai with stopover

Direct flights to Shanghai are, of course, much less hassle than flights that require one or more connections. However, they tend to be more expensive. In a trade-off between convenience and cost, the best option is often to opt for a flight with one layover.

So if you’re looking at a long-haul trip with at least one connection, rather than simply transiting an airport, why not take this opportunity to plan a longer stopover? A stopover is a prolonged layover — more than 24 hours — and it won’t only break up your long journey but will also become a legitimate part of your vacation. If you’re prone to severe jet lag, a one or two-day stopover would help minimize its adverse effects.

When booking flights, many airlines allow you to include a free stopover en route to your final destination in Shanghai. Those flights are usually cheaper than non-stop (direct) flights, and you can often choose your stopover at no additional cost — just by looking for multi-city flights with longer layovers.

Big cities in Asia and Pacific are known for their rich culture and history — making them a great idea for a stopover during a longer journey. Here are a few suggestions for a stopover while en route to Shanghai.

Some airlines openly advertise stopovers and offer significant discounts and travel perks for passengers to break up their trips: free luxury hotel stays, complimentary domestic flights, or exclusive rates for activities. Start checking for stopover deals to Shanghai with government-owned airlines (as they are looking to attract tourists to give the country economic benefits) — such as Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines. Almost every airline’s website has multi-city search functionality, often hidden inside the one-way/return/multi-city switch.

A well-chosen stopover will not only turn one vacation into many but also save you several hundred dollars in airfare. The available stopovers to Shanghai will depend on your initial destination (Europe, North America, Asia, etc) and the airline you are flying with. For most airlines, the best free stopover offer will be at their main hub.

Flights to Shanghai from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe

  • There are no direct flights from Europe to Shanghai — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Direct flights from Europe to Shanghai are around 9-12 hours long, depending on your departure airport. Only the largest European hubs have direct connections to Shanghai: Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Helsinki, London, Milan, Paris, Rome, and Vienna. These non-stop long-haul flights are operated by large carriers such as Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Xiamen Airlines
  • Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Shanghai include Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Hainan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, SAS, and Virgin Atlantic.
  • Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Shanghai from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Use European low-cost airlines such as RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to fly to the hub, then save hundreds of euros by taking a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination.

    We recommend checking prices for flights to Shanghai from these European airport hubs: London LHR and Manchester MAN in the United Kingdom, Frankfurt FRA and Munich MUC in Germany, Paris CDG and Nice NCE in France, Amsterdam AMS in the Netherlands, Madrid MAD and Barcelona BCN in Spain, Rome FCO and Milano MXP in Italy, Brussels BRU in Belgium, Copenhagen OSL in Denmark, Oslo OSL in Norway, Stockholm ARN in Sweden, Zurich ZRH in Switzerland, Lisbon LIS in Portugal, Vienna VIE in Austria, Warsaw WAW in Poland, Prague PRG in Czech Republic, and Dublin DUB in Ireland.

European airports with the cheapest flights to Shanghai

Find the lowest prices for flights to Pudong Airport and Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai from the major airports in Europe — London, Dublin, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Lyon, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, Stockholm, Geneva, Helsinki, Zurich, and others.

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How to book SuperDeals?

At the Air Traveler Club, our go-to solution for finding cheap airfares to Shanghai is Google Flights. Every time we send SuperDeals to our 110,000 members (see some examples), we include links to Google Flights so that each deal can be booked immediately.

Google Flights then showcases various options for booking the deal: you can almost always book directly with the airline (by cutting out the middleman) or – alternatively – with an OTA that offers the same flight at a similar price. Once you have chosen your booking option, you will be redirected to the external website where you can finalize your ticket purchase.

One of Google Flights’ standout features is a color-coded bar that appears underneath the booking options. It provides a visual representation of the price in comparison to the typical fare (for the same route, class, and airline) – indicating whether it is lower, average, or higher.

Booking deals with Google Flights: price history
A visual representation of the flight price. In this example, the SuperDeal saves more than 50% compared to the regular fare.

If the marker falls within the green zone (“price is low”) don’t hesitate to secure this deal as it is significantly – 40% to 80% – cheaper than average and unlikely to drop further.

For more details on how to book deals on Google Flights, check out this video:

YouTube video

If you are not Air Traveler Club subscriber yet, you’re missing out on SuperDeals (we often send deals to Shanghai). Signup now to start saving 40–80% on flights. It’s free!

Last-minute flights to Shanghai. The real cost of convenience.

Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Shanghai almost always never works out. The convenience of being able to book a flight on the fly is a dangerous game of chance, and you will most likely end up paying significantly higher than booking in advance.

Last-minute flight cost spike
Late booking penalty: The flight prices rise as departure draws near. Last-minute flights are almost always more expensive than booking in advance.

The common perception may be that airlines decrease ticket prices to fill empty seats as the departure date approaches. However, the truth is that airfares depend on demand. Based on years of research and current customer data, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. They are also well aware that people are willing to pay a premium for flights they need to take immediately. To make the most money, the airline will sell its cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.

Occasionally, airlines can put some seats on sale to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates around peak travel times tend to sell out quickly.

Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight to Shanghai is around 60-90 days before the departure date.

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Domestic air travel from Shanghai

Most domestic routes in China are operated by local airlines. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Wuhan, and Xi'an from Pudong Airport and Hongqiao Airport, you’ll be flying with one of these domestic air transport companies: China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Air China, Hainan Air, Beijing Capital Airlines, Grand China Air, Lucky Air, Shanghai Airlines, Spring Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and Tianjin Airlines. In most cases, it is the best (the fastest, the most convenient, and the cheapest) way to travel around the country.

If you plan to fly domestically from Shanghai check the latest prices here, then book your flight ticket online.

Flights to Shanghai from Australia and New Zealand

  • Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Shanghai. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australia/New Zealand to Asia are operated by large regional carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Etihad, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.

    Direct flights and flights with one layover to Shanghai are available from all major airports in Australia – Sydney SYD, Brisbane BNE, Melbourne MEL, Perth PER, Adelaide ADL, Cairns CNS, Gold Coast OOL, Canberra CBR, and in New Zealand – Auckland AKL, Wellington WLG, Christchurch CHC, Queenstown ZQN, Dunedin DUD.
  • In terms of cost-savings, we recommend flying from Australia and New Zealand to a major Asian hub and then booking a flight to your final destination in Shanghai with a regional budget airline. Among the low-cost airlines that fly into Shanghai are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Jeju Air, Scoot, Tigerair Taiwan, and VietJet Air.

    Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Shanghai. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia.

Prices of flights to Shanghai from Australia and New Zealand

Real-time economy class fares to Shanghai from major airports in Australasia — from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide in Australia, and from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch in New Zealand.

Prices in Australian Dollar.

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Fly half-price (or less!) from Australia and New Zealand to Shanghai:

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Get cheaper business class by bidding on airline upgrades

A growing number of airlines are auctioning upgrades to their business class seats. Once you book your economy ticket to Shanghai, you can offer to pay a bit more in an attempt to get a premium seat. 2-3 days before your flight, visit the airline website and place a “blind” bid for an upgrade by providing your Booking Reference number.

There’s usually a minimum bid amount. If you win the auction, you’ll be informed by email, and your seat will be upgraded.

Among the airlines that allow bidding for seat upgrades are: Air Canada (AC Bid), Air New Zealand (OneUp), Cathay Pacific (Upgrade Bid), Etihad Airways (Bid To Upgrade), Fiji Airways (Bula Bid), Garuda Indonesia (BidUpgrade), Hawaiian Airlines (Bid Up), LATAM (Cabin Upgrade),  Lufthansa (Bid Upgrade), Royal Jordanian (Go Crown), Qantas (Bid Now), SAS (SAS Upgrade), Singapore Airlines (mySQupgrade), SriLankan Airlines, and Virgin Australia (UpgradeMe).

Why should you book an early morning flight to Shanghai

It is a seemingly simple but often overlooked strategy: fly at dawn for smoother travel and cheaper tickets. Booking an early morning flight to Shanghai can pay off in numerous ways:

  1. Cheaper airfares. Early morning flights – between 4 am and 8 am – are usually cheaper than other day schedules. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand – most people are not willing to go to the airport so early.
  2. Lower chance of delay. The thin traffic in the morning leads to fewer delays – all the flights from the night before have already landed, and there is no other air traffic to contend with. Air traffic and delays get worse throughout the day – starting around 8-10 am and reaching a peak at 4-6 pm. If you are flying to Shanghai with a connecting flight, arriving on time at your layover airport may be critical to catching your next flight!
  3. Fewer crowds at the airport. By heading to the airport before rush hour, you can at least halve the time spent in city traffic. With fewer travelers at the airport, there will be no long lines at the check-in and security, and waiting areas will be less crowded.

    Early morning flights
    Taking an early morning flight is the best way to avoid crowds at the airport
  4. Less turbulence. Early morning flights offer a smoother ride, with less turbulence. Thunderstorms and unstable air, which can cause turbulence (including its worst kind – convective turbulence) are more likely to occur in the afternoon.
  5. Fresher crew. You’ll be flying with a crew that has had a good night’s sleep and is mentally ready to provide better service and ensure a safer flight experience.
  6. Cleaner plane. On its first flight of the day, your aircraft will be as sanitary as possible. Airlines generally take extra care to thoroughly clean planes between flights, but boarding that morning flight gives you the greatest chance of a spotless plane.

Looking for the best deals for Shanghai? Check different departure airports.

Airlines often have varying prices for flights to Shanghai from different airports – even if they are in close proximity to one another. So don’t limit yourself to just your nearest airport. The neighboring cities may have lower-priced flights that include a layover at Shanghai, or may even have direct flights that are more budget-friendly.

For example, if you’re looking to fly from Paris to Shanghai, it may be worth checking prices for flights departing from London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Rome. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to these hubs, but domestic low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for less than €100.

The same goes for long-haul flights to Shanghai from anywhere in the world. By broadening your search to include neighboring airports, you may discover lower-priced options that can save you hundreds of euros!

Book flights from many departure airports
By entering more than one departure city in the flight search engine (at the top of this page), you can quickly find the airport with the cheapest flights to your destination
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Flights to Shanghai from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia

  • Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Shanghai look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
  • Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Shanghai will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
  • Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting China and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsiaCebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.

Flights from major Asian airports to Shanghai

Asia is home to some of the busiest and most connected airports in the world. All major Asian airports have convenient and frequent flights to Shanghai — including Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.

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Fly now, pay later

Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans for flights have become a popular trend in the travel industry, allowing travelers to book flights and pay in installments. Among the airlines that offer this option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. They partner with external financial companies to offer their loan services on the checkout page.

The BNPL plans come with varying terms and fees. Some may be interest-free but have fees for late-payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR).

When considering BNPL financing for your flight to Shanghai, it’s crucial to carefully evaluate the pros and cons, and thoroughly review the terms and conditions.

Proof of onward travel – a simple hack

Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from China to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.

The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of China and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.

Confirmed flight ticket reservation
Proof of onward travel: confirmed flight ticket reservation (source: OnwardTicket)

Lost luggage prevention: Essential tips

Every year, airlines handle millions of bags, and a small percentage of these bags never make it to their final destinations. Globally, airlines mishandle around 0.7% of bags checked in, which translates to seven bags out of every 1,000. Losing the luggage on your trip to Shanghai can be a frustrating and stressful experience, but there are steps you can take to minimize the risk of this happening to you.

  1. Use GPS-Trackers. A luggage tracking device such as Apple AirTag or Samsung Galaxy SmartTag comes with a smartphone app and is an excellent way to locate your bag if it goes missing.

    Flights: lost baggage prevention
    Apple AirTag and Samsung SmartTag are small, trackable devices that can be attached to the check-in luggage
  2. Label your luggage with your name, address, phone number and the name of your destination airport in Shanghai. Put these details inside the case as well.
  3. Remove old tags. Tags are printed with a barcode for identification and tracking, so the old tags from previous flights can confuse baggage handlers and conveyor belt scanners.
  4. Avoid tight layovers. Give yourself and your luggage time to get aboard the next plane by picking a flight to Shanghai with a longer layover.
  5. Don’t overstuff your suitcase. Heavy bags are more likely to get damaged and stuck on the belts, causing the bag to be misdirected.
  6. Make your bag stand out. After arrival at Shanghai airport, most people just want to grab their luggage and get out of the airport as soon as possible. In their haste, a case of mistaken identity can sometimes occur.
  7. Take a picture of your bag and the contents, and keep it on your phone. This can be helpful if you need to make a claim for lost or damaged items.
  8. Use a TSA-approved luggage lock. This will secure your bags and will help deter theft.
  9. Keep your valuables in your hand luggage. The airline liability is notoriously low (around €1,000 in most cases) and it usually doesn’t reflect the actual value of the baggage content.
  10. Consider purchasing travel insurance. It can act as a safety net as it can often cover the full value of your luggage. Travel insurance may also reimburse you for any emergency purchases you need to make while you wait.

Hidden-city ticketing hack

Hidden-city ticketing is a less-known money-saving tactic where you buy a plane ticket with a layover, with the intention to get off at the layover rather than the final destination. For example, a flight from New York to Tokyo might be $600, but a similar flight from New York to Singapore with a layover in Tokyo might be only $350. Choosing the latter and ending the trip in Tokyo would save you $250.

It seems counterintuitive that a fare from A to C via B could possibly be cheaper than a simple fare on a shorter route from A to B. However, airlines use dynamic, computer-driven price models calculated with little human intervention, and such deals happen quite often.

Booking a hidden city ticket isn’t as easy as booking a standard itinerary. There are some things to be aware of: (1) don’t check baggage — bring only hand luggage that can fit under the seat or an overhead compartment; a large checked bag will end up in the final destination C; (2) don’t use it for return flights — airlines often void any subsequent tickets if any segment of the first ticket is missed; (3) Do not overuse this tactic with the same airline — hidden-city ticketing is legal but airlines don’t like it and may try to punish you; (4) Don’t associate your frequent flyer account — the airline might invalidate any miles you’ve accrued with them.

How to find hidden-city tickets? The easiest way is to use Skiplagged website, which was designed for unearthing hidden-city deals — give them a try for your flight to Shanghai.

Hidden-city ticketing flight hack
An example of a hidden-city ticketing flight hack. The layover city is actually our final destination (source: Skiplagged).