Cheap flights London to Urumqi

September is the cheapest month for this route, and fares stay reasonable through October and November before the winter holidays push them up. Prices are listed for September, October, November, December, January, April and June, so you can weigh the quiet season against school breaks and Chinese public holidays. Midweek departures usually cost less than weekend ones, and Tuesday and Wednesday are the calmest days to travel. Book a few months ahead for summer and around Chinese holidays, when seats on connecting services fill quickly.

Every airline on this route sells a connecting ticket, so the real difference is where you change and what the fare covers. Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines are the Chinese full-service carriers; Cathay Pacific and Swiss are the long-haul names from outside mainland China; Air Astana and Qanot Sharq bring in Central Asian connections; Tianjin Airlines is the lighter option in the group. Full-service fares normally include a checked bag, while the leaner tickets charge for bags and seat selection. Check that both legs sit on one ticket: separate bookings leave you carrying the risk of a missed connection.

Urumqi has a single main airport, set well outside the city, so build in time for the transfer after a long journey. Taxis and airport buses are the usual ways into town; use the official rank rather than a driver who approaches you in the terminal, and agree the fare first. If you land late, check that your hotel is easy to reach at that hour. Keep your passport and any visa paperwork to hand, because document checks are routine on this route. If you are flying onwards within China, leave a generous gap between flights rather than a tight one.

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 Urumqi

4.1 M (2020)

Time zone

UTC+08 (Asia/Shanghai)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport your flight leaves from, since the city's airports sit far apart and moving between them takes hours.
• Confirm how long the connection is and whether both legs are on a single ticket.
• Read the baggage allowance for your exact fare, especially on the lighter carriers.
• Make sure your visa or transit paperwork for China is in order before you pay.
• Compare September fares with the other months listed, because the gap between them can be wide.
• Allow extra time after landing in Urumqi for the transfer into the city.