Cheapest Time to Fly to Shanghai (and the Most Expensive)

Shanghai flight prices can jump fast—mainly because peak travel weeks in China can wipe out the lowest fares early, and long-haul seats don’t stay cheap for long. If you can be flexible by a few days, you can often dodge the worst spikes.

Quick Take

• Cheapest time to fly to Shanghai: late February–March, May (after early May), September (early month), and November–early December
• Most expensive time to fly to Shanghai: Chinese New Year (late Jan–Feb), early October (National Day Golden Week), June–August, and late Dec–early Jan

Cheapest Time to Fly to Shanghai

The best deal windows usually happen when you’re outside the big China travel holidays—and outside the heavy summer travel period.

Late February to March (Post-holiday cooldown)

After the Chinese New Year rush fades, airfare often settles. This is one of the better windows to find lower long-haul pricing into Shanghai Pudong (PVG).

Money-saving tip: Midweek departures: Tuesday–Thursday flights often price better than weekend-heavy dates.
Heads-up: Holiday timing: if Chinese New Year falls later, early-to-mid February can still run expensive.

May (After early May travel)

Early May can spike around holiday travel, but pricing often cools down once that first-week rush ends. Mid-to-late May is a solid target for better fare odds.

Money-saving tip: Timing: shifting your trip to mid-May can drop the price without changing the month.
Heads-up: Heat builds: late May can start feeling warmer and more humid.

Early September (Shoulder-season weeks)

September can be a strong balance—summer demand is easing, and you’re not yet in the early October surge. The earlier part of the month is usually the better bet.

Money-saving tip: Avoid late September: prices can rise as October holiday travel gets closer.
Heads-up: School schedules: some weeks still price higher depending on US travel patterns.

November to Early December (Pre-holiday lull)

This is often one of the most reliable “deal” windows. You’re ahead of late-December travel demand, and airlines often have more open seats.

Money-saving tip: Return timing: flying back before mid-December can protect your total cost.
Heads-up: Route limits: the cheapest options can disappear quickly, especially on the best one-stop routings.

Most Expensive Time to Fly to Shanghai

Shanghai gets most expensive when major China travel weeks overlap with long-haul demand—especially when people are booking last-minute.

Late January to February (Chinese New Year)

This is one of the biggest annual airfare surges. Prices can rise weeks in advance, then spike again around the return rush.

Peak within peak: The week before the holiday and the week after.

Early October (National Day Golden Week)

This is another major surge window. Even if you’re not traveling for the holiday, flights often get expensive because demand is so concentrated.

Peak within peak: Late-September departures and early-October returns.

June to August (Summer travel)

Summer often has a higher price floor—more overall travel demand and fewer truly cheap long-haul seats.

Peak within peak: Late June through early August is often the toughest stretch.

Late December to Early January (Year-end travel)

Holiday travel pushes prices up—especially for trips that include Christmas week and New Year returns.

Peak within peak: Late-December departures + early-January returns.

Want Better Weather Without Peak Flight Prices?

If you want comfortable trip timing without paying top-dollar airfare, these windows are usually your best bets:

• March: often cheaper than April, with more comfortable temperatures
• Mid-to-late May: after the early-May rush, before full summer demand
• Early September: better deal odds than late September
• November: one of the stronger months for lower fares

Best Booking Window for Cheap Flights to Shanghai

Shanghai is the type of long-haul destination where earlier tracking pays off—especially if you want better routing options.

• Low/shoulder seasons: start tracking 3–6 months ahead
• Peak seasons (Chinese New Year, Golden Week, summer, late December): start tracking 6–9+ months ahead

Extra tip: Airport check: Shanghai has PVG (most long-haul international flights) and SHA (more regional/domestic). For most US itineraries, pricing usually centers on PVG—then you can compare how you’ll get to your final spot.

Seasonal Flight Demand Chart for Shanghai

Use this chart as a quick guide to the cheapest vs. priciest months to fly.