Tips for Booking Flights to China

Booking your international flight to China is one of the first big steps in planning your trip. Here are practical, up-to-date tips that apply to travelers from all over the world - including Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, Africa and South America.

Best Gateway Cities in China

The easiest and most popular entry points are:

Beijing (PEK / PKX) - Excellent for history-focused trips
Shanghai (PVG) - Best for modern China and great onward connections
Guangzhou (CAN) - Strong option for southern China and Southeast Asia routes
Hong Kong (HKG) - Very convenient with many visa-free options and excellent connections
Chengdu (CTU) - Increasing direct flights from many countries, good for western China

Tip: Consider an open-jaw ticket. This saves time and backtracking.

What's an Open-Jaw Ticket?

An open-jaw ticket is a type of round-trip flight ticket where you fly into one city and fly out of a different city.

Simple example for China:

Fly into Beijing (PEK)
Travel inside China (Beijing → Xi’an → Shanghai)
Fly out of Shanghai (PVG)

You still only buy one ticket, but you don't have to return to the same airport you arrived at. It allows for more logical and efficient routing and the price is similar or the same as a normal round-trip ticket. It allows you to see more of China without wasting time.

To book an Open-Jaw ticket select the "Multi-city" option instead of "one-way" or "return" or "round trip".

Best Routes & Airlines by Region

From North America (USA & Canada)

Best Airlines: United Airlines, Air Canada, Delta, American Airlines, and ANA (All Nippon Airways) via Japan.
Popular Routes: Direct flights from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), New York (JFK), Dallas (DFW), Vancouver (YVR), and Toronto (YYZ) to Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou.
Flight Duration: 12–16 hours direct.

From Europe

Best Airlines: Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, British Airways, SWISS, Finnair, Air China and Turkish Airlines.
Popular Routes: Direct flights from London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, Madrid, and Helsinki to Beijing or Shanghai.
Best Value: Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul) and Finnair (via Helsinki) often offer competitive prices and good service.
Air China Advantage: At the present time (2026) Air China offers some of the shortest flight times from Europe to China because their routes can fly over Russian airspace. This can save 1.5 to 3 hours compared to other airlines that must take longer detours.
Flight Duration: 10–13 hours direct.

From South America

Traveling from South America to China has become easier in recent years:

Best Routing options: Usually via Europe (Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam) or the Middle East (Dubai, Doha).
Key Airlines: Iberia, Air France, KLM, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines.
Main Departure Cities: São Paulo (GRU) and Buenos Aires (EZE) have the most connection options.
Flight Duration: Expect 24–35 hours with 1–2 stops.
Tip: Connections through Madrid are often convenient for South American travelers.
Check for stopover deals - especially useful for South American and African travelers.

What is a Stopover Deal?

A stopover deal means you intentionally have a longer layover (usually 1-3 days) in an intermediate city, often at little or no extra cost. Many airlines offer this as a built-in benefit.

Why this is particularly useful for travelers from South America and Africa:

Flights from these regions to China are very long (24–40+ hours total with connections).
A stopover breaks the journey, reduces fatigue, and can even let you explore another city. You can turn a tiring long-haul trip into a mini two-country adventure.

Popular Stopover Options:

Dubai (Emirates) — Very common and well-organized stopover program. Many South American and African travelers use this route.
Doha (Qatar Airways) — Excellent modern airport with good hotels and free transit tours.
Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) — Great cultural stopover with easy access to the city.
Madrid or Paris — Good options for South American travelers flying with Iberia or Air France.

Tip: Check the airline's official stopover program page. Emirates, Turkish Airlines and Qatar have some of the best stopover programs in the world.

Money Saving, Practical and Booking Tips

Book 3–6 months in advance for the best prices and availability.
Be flexible with dates - shifting by 2-3 days can save hundreds of dollars.
Compare multiple platforms: Kayak, Skyscanner, airline websites, etc. and set price alerts. We usually start with Kayak and go from there.
Consider airlines from the Middle East (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad) which often offer good connections and service for long-haul flights but they currently carry a higher risk of disruption compared to other options
Check baggage allowance carefully.
Check current visa and transit rules for your nationality before booking.
Avoid Peak Travel Seasons - During China's major holidays, Chinese New Year and Golden Weeks, flights, trains, and hotels become very crowded and expensive. Learn more about Chinese Holidays and when to avoid them.
Use Your Reward Miles - Award flights can dramatically reduce or even eliminate the cost of your international ticket.

Using Your Reward Miles

Before buying a ticket with cash, always check your airline reward miles balance (or credit card points that transfer to airlines).

Approximate One-Way Miles Needed (Economy Class, off-peak, from major hubs – 2026 estimates):

From North America:

United Airlines (MileagePlus): 30,000 – 45,000 miles to Beijing or Shanghai from West Coast hubs (SFO, LAX). East Coast (NYC, EWR) usually 40,000 – 55,000 miles.
American Airlines (AAdvantage): Similar range, often 35,000 – 50,000 miles via partners.

From Europe:

Lufthansa / Miles & More: 25,000 – 40,000 miles one-way to Beijing or Shanghai from major hubs (Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, etc.).
Air China (Star Alliance partner): Often competitive availability and can be booked with Lufthansa Miles & More or United miles.

Important Note on Flight Disruptions (2026)

Due to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Russia-Ukraine, airspace restrictions and disruptions continue to affect many routes to China.

Chinese airlines (especially Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern) are still allowed to fly over Russian airspace on many Europe–China routes. This gives them a significant advantage — shorter flight times (often 1.5–3 hours less) and lower fuel costs.

Geopolitical developments in these regions can suddenly change flight permissions or cause operational disruptions leading to last-minute cancellations, re-routing, or significant delays on flights.

Our Advice: Purchase flexible or refundable tickets and have good travel insurance that covers flight disruptions.

Final Advice

A slightly more expensive ticket with fewer connections and better timing can greatly improve the quality of your trip. Take your time choosing flights - it sets the tone for the whole journey.

Once your flights are booked, head over to our Planning Your Trip section for help with visas, itineraries, and other essential advice.