Cheap flights from London to Xiamen

September is the cheapest month on this route, and it's a comfortable one — the summer rush is over and fares stay low into the autumn. Prices are listed from October through March as well, so you can weigh a winter trip against a summer one. Midweek departures usually cost less than Friday or Sunday flights. Steer clear of Chinese New Year and the big holiday weeks in China, when the route fills with people heading home. For the cheap months, book a few months ahead rather than last minute.

Ten carriers fly this route: Xiamen Airlines, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Tianjin Airlines from China, plus British Airways, Lufthansa, Finnair and Austrian from Europe. Direct flights exist, so a single-hop itinerary is possible; the alternative is a connection, which stretches the journey but can bring the fare down. What you get for your money is set by the fare you pick rather than the airline name, so compare baggage, seat selection and change rules before you decide between a Chinese and a European carrier.

Xiamen has one airport, and it sits close enough to the city that the transfer is short — a taxi or ride-hailing car is the simplest way in, especially if you land after dark. In daylight, ask about the metro and bus links at the arrivals hall before you commit to a cab. Have your onward address written down in Chinese characters, since drivers may not read English. If you're continuing to another Chinese city, check whether one ticket covers the whole trip or whether you collect your bags and check in again.

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 Xiamen

5.2 M (2020)

Time zone

UTC+08 (Asia/Shanghai)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport your fare leaves from — the city has five, and crossing between them takes time.
• Confirm whether your itinerary is direct or has a stop, and how long the layover runs.
• Look at what your fare includes for baggage, seats and changes before you pay.
• If you book the legs separately, leave a generous gap in case the first flight slips.
• Sort your passport and Chinese visa or transit permission well before departure.
• Book early for September, the cheapest month, and compare it against the winter fares on the price calendar.