Shanghai Pudong International is one of the most connected gateways in China, about 30 kilometers from downtown, making it a strong launchpad for cheap flights from Shanghai across Asia, Europe, and North America. With two large terminals and a satellite concourse, recent expansions have added more gates and boarding bridges to handle growing demand and keep journeys moving smoothly.
Travelers pick Pudong for its wide choice of departure times and destinations, clear signage, and a steady flow of both leisure and business traffic. That breadth of choice pairs well with Kiwi.com Travel Hacks and self transfer itineraries, which combine separate tickets to reach places not offered on a single carrier.
If carrier changes stop your trip, the Kiwi.com Guarantee can step in to keep you moving, and automatic check in plus 24 by 7 instant chat support reduce pre flight stress. For a big trip out of China, Pudong’s scale and flexibility help you find a plan that fits your timing and budget.
From quick regional breaks to long haul adventures, routes from Shanghai cover it all. Schedules and flight times are examples and subject to change.
Closer to home, demand is steady for East Asia and Southeast Asia city breaks such as Tokyo, Seoul, and Singapore, while beach and food fans flock to Bangkok for weekend flights from Shanghai and short getaways, popular for their frequent services and easy flight times.
Europe is well covered from Pudong, with nonstop options to London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam. For instance, Shanghai to London operates with a flight time around 12 hours 15 minutes on some services, and Shanghai to Paris is a staple for culture seekers and business travelers. Lufthansa has operated Shanghai to Frankfurt nonstop in about 12 hours 15 minutes, and British Airways has operated Shanghai to London Heathrow in a similar time frame, as examples and subject to change. Across the Pacific, travelers look to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Dallas for visits, study, and work, chosen for family ties, onward connections, and strong business links, with frequencies that can vary by season.
Timing matters. Prices and availability change frequently, and the best time to book flights from Shanghai depends on season and route.
Peak demand in Shanghai typically runs from April to October, with extra crowds around the early May and early October Golden Week holidays. The quieter months from November to March often bring more deals, subject to change. For short haul trips, a booking window around 4 to 6 weeks out is a good starting point, and for long haul, look 8 to 12 weeks ahead where possible, especially for school holidays or major events.
Let prices come to you with a Set a Price Alert. Kiwi.com will track fare changes and notify you when the cost moves, so you can jump on cheap one way flights from Shanghai without constant checking. Planning a multi city loop through Asia or Europe, use the Nomad Search Tool to input several destinations and find an efficient route in a flash. If you are flexible, explore self transfer itineraries and other Travel Hacks to uncover options other sites might miss. All examples are subject to change.
Most international departures from Shanghai use Pudong, a major long haul gateway with extensive domestic and regional links. Airlines flying from Shanghai include home carriers such as China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines, along with international airlines like Lufthansa and British Airways on select routes, subject to change.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport PVG ICAO ZSPD sits about 30 kilometers from the city center. It has Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 plus a satellite concourse, with T1 handling mostly domestic services and T2 handling international and some domestic flights. Metro Line 2 runs directly to the airport from the city in about 1 hour, the Maglev train 磁浮列车 from Longyang Road covers the airport leg in about 8 minutes at very high speed, and taxis from downtown typically take 30 to 40 minutes in normal traffic, all subject to change.
Facilities include airline and independent lounges, family friendly spaces such as nursing rooms and play areas, and accessible services like wheelchair assistance and barrier free restrooms. Pudong sees a mix of full service carriers and price focused airlines on various routes, allowing you to compare products and fares to match your needs. Kiwi.com can combine separate carriers into one self transfer itinerary when that opens better timing or pricing, and add the Kiwi.com Guarantee for extra reassurance. If carrier changes affect your trip, Disruption Protection offers instant compensation as Kiwi.com Credit, plus automatic check in and 24 by 7 instant chat support for hassle free help.