£276 Find Cheap Flights from London Gatwick Airport to Shanghai – Compare and Save

Among airlines operating London Gatwick Airport to Shanghai flights:

• Air China: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

2 airlines operate flights between London Gatwick Airport and Shanghai. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• China Eastern
• Air China

Flights from London Gatwick Airport to Shanghai usually depart from London Gatwick (LGW) and may arrive at several airports in Shanghai area, including Shanghai Pu Dong (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao Intl (SHA).

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• China Eastern: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Air China: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so travellers should check the fare details before booking.

Three cabin classes are available on flights from London Gatwick Airport to Shanghai:

• Economy class
• Premium Economy Class
• Business Class

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average £441 return via Zhengzhou (CGO), compared with £649 for direct.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge £35–£35 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

One-stop flights from London Gatwick Airport to Shanghai most commonly connect through:

• Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) – 34% of one-stop connections
• Manama Bahrain Intl (BAH) – 18% of one-stop connections
• Beijing Capital (PEK) – 15% of one-stop connections
• Zhengzhou (CGO) – 10% of one-stop connections

Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

On the London Gatwick Airport to Shanghai route, being flexible with your departure day can save you up to 15%. Saturday is the cheapest day at £598 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at £699 – a £101 difference. Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the London Gatwick Airport to Shanghai route, 9% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2 hours 30 minutes.

Morning is the busiest departure period on London Gatwick Airport to Shanghai flights, with 67% leaving in that window. Evening departures account for 33%, Afternoon flights for 0%, and Night flights for 0%.

Some of the most popular sights in Shanghai are People's Square, Yu Yuan Garden, and Shanghai Disneyland. These are among the most viewed places in Shanghai on KAYAK.

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from London Gatwick Airport to Shanghai:

• Earliest: departs at 10:30 and lands at 21:54
• Latest: departs at 22:00 and lands at 09:24.

The flight takes about 11h 24m.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 19% above the route average of £634. Book 7 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A direct flight from London Gatwick Airport to Shanghai takes 11h 24m, covering 5,730 miles.

Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

One-way fares from London Gatwick Airport to Shanghai are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about £301, which is 21% below the typical average for this route.

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

Flying via Zurich (ZRH) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 15h 13m, compared to 15h 59m via Beijing Capital (PEK) and 16h 17m via Milan Malpensa (MXP).

Shanghai is 7 hours ahead of London Gatwick Airport (China Time vs British Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Return flights from London Gatwick Airport to Shanghai range from £522 to £769, with an average of £634 over the past 12 months. Anything below £522 counts as a good deal.