Cheap flights from London to Shanghai

September is the cheapest month on this route, and fares usually stay reasonable through the autumn and into early winter before the holiday rush. Spring is mixed: demand lifts around Chinese New Year and the long national holidays in China, when seats fill fast in both directions. Midweek departures, Tuesday to Thursday, tend to undercut weekend ones at either end. For summer travel and the December holidays, book a few months ahead and watch the price calendar instead of guessing.

Several carriers serve this route. Air China, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Tianjin Airlines and Beijing Capital Airlines are full-service, so checked baggage and meals sit inside the fare. Finnair and Gulf Air connect through their home hubs rather than flying nonstop, which stretches the trip but can lower the ticket. AirAsiaX Sdn Bhd is the low-cost option, where the base fare covers little beyond a seat and a cabin bag, so add baggage and seats before comparing. Nonstop and connecting services both exist, so compare total journey time, not just departure.

Shanghai has two airports, and which one you land at shapes your first hour. Pudong International takes most long-haul arrivals and sits well east of the centre, so allow a long transfer by metro, airport bus or taxi. Hongqiao International is closer in, on the western side of the city, and is the easier arrival if your flight lands there. Both are large and busy, and immigration queues slow down at peak times. Check the airport on your ticket before arranging a pickup, since the two are far apart, and keep your address in Chinese characters ready for the driver.

Currency

CNY (¥)

Power sockets

Type A, C, I · 220 V

Language

Putonghua

Emergency number

110, 119, 120

Driving side

right

Calling code

+86

Internet domain

.cn, .中国

Population of Shanghai

24.9 M (2020)

Time zone

UTC+08 (Asia/Shanghai)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport your fare leaves from, because Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and London City are not interchangeable on the day.
• Confirm whether you arrive at Pudong International or Hongqiao International before you book ground transport.
• On low-cost long-haul tickets, add hold baggage and seat selection to the fare before comparing it with a full-service one.
• If your itinerary connects on separate tickets, leave a long buffer and check who rebooks you after a delay.
• Check entry rules for China for your passport and make sure it has enough validity left.