Find Cheap Flights from London to Shanghai – Compare and Save

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

• Earliest: departs at 10:30 and lands at 22:09
• Latest: departs at 22:00 and lands at 09:39.

The flight takes about 11h 39m.

Four cabin classes are available on flights from London to Shanghai:

• Economy class
• Premium Economy Class
• Business Class
• First Class

Prices vary by airline.

A direct flight from London to Shanghai takes 11h 39m, covering 5,713 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.

Return flights from London to Shanghai range from £538 to £797, with an average of £647 over the past 12 months. Anything below £538 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 13% above the £647 route average. Book 11 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average £406 return via Xiamen Gaoqi Intl (XMN), compared with £679 for direct.

Air China is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while China Eastern has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on London to Shanghai flights are:

• Air China: 97% on time
• China Eastern: 91% on time
• British Airways: 88% on time

On average, flights on this route are punctual 91% of the time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge £36–£76 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

Morning is the busiest departure period on London to Shanghai flights, with 40% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 20%, Evening flights for 20%, and Night flights for 20%.

Flights from London to Shanghai may depart from several airports in London area, including London City (LCY), London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR), London Luton (LTN), London Southend (SEN) and London Stansted (STN), with arrivals available at airports in Shanghai such as Shanghai Pu Dong (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao Intl (SHA).

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route, while evening departures tend to have the most.

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 to Shanghai route, 9% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 2h 36m.

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

• Helsinki-Vantaa (HEL) – 25% of one-stop connections
• Manama Bahrain Intl (BAH) – 12% of one-stop connections
• Beijing Daxing Intl (PKX) – 10% of one-stop connections
• Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) – 7% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 10% on flights from London to Shanghai. Monday is the cheapest departure day at £626 return on average, while Thursday is the most expensive at £695, a difference of £69.

KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to three days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

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

• China Eastern
• British Airways
• Air China

Flying via Beijing Capital (PEK) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 15h 22m, compared to 15h 43m via Zurich (ZRH) and 15h 45m via Frankfurt am Main (FRA).

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

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.

Among airlines operating London to Shanghai flights:

• Air China: offers free seat selection

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

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
• British Airways: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

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