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Everything you should know

Direct flights
You can fly direct with IndiGo, Air India, and China Eastern. Average duration is 5h 24m
FAQs
FAQs
Top airlines
Most flights • 7 per week
Best reviews • 8.2 score
Airline reviews
+1
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 22 weeks in advance save around 44% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 11% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights to Shanghai

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals to Shanghai

Multiple Airlines Logo
DEL  Delhi Indira Gandhi Airport-CN2 London Canonbury
6854 kmmulti-stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
CN2  London Canonbury-DEL Delhi Indira Gandhi Airport
6854 kmmulti-stop
Multiple Airlines
Multiple Airlines Logo
BOM  Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport (Mumbai)-CN2 London Canonbury
8097 kmmulti-stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
CN2  London Canonbury-BOM Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport (Mumbai)
8097 kmmulti-stop
Multiple Airlines
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for India to Shanghai flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights from India to Shanghai with more confidence.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Shanghai?

Thursday is the cheapest day to fly to Shanghai at ₹ 47,217 return on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Saturday is the most expensive at ₹ 56,526.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Shanghai?

•April is the cheapest month to fly to Shanghai with an average price of ₹ 45,777 return.
•August (₹ 57,965) and December (₹ 54,990) are the most expensive.
•Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Shanghai?

Morning flights to Shanghai are the cheapest at ₹ 51,152 return on average. Evening flights are the most expensive at ₹ 52,591.

When are flights to Shanghai the cheapest?

Flights to Shanghai are cheapest 22 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 44% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Key details for flights to Shanghai

Low season

January
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 3% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly (6% more expensive on average)

When to book flights to Shanghai

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to Shanghai based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

Your questions about flights to Shanghai, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking questions.

  • How do I know if a flight to Shanghai is a good deal?

    A good deal on a flight to Shanghai is around ₹ 41,531 return. This fare is in the lowest 25% of return flight prices searched on KAYAK, averaged across the cities most often searched as origins by KAYAK users.

  • Which airports serve Shanghai?

    Flights to Shanghai arrive at: Shanghai Pu Dong (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao Intl (SHA).

  • How expensive are last-minute flights to Shanghai?

    Last-minute fares to Shanghai – booked within 2 weeks of departure – run 20% above the average return fare of ₹ 51,381.

  • What is the difference between the most popular and the most frequent airline at Shanghai?

    IndiGo operates the most flights from India to Shanghai at 7 per week, while Vietnam Airlines is the airline most often selected by KAYAK users searching for flights from India to Shanghai. The two are often different because flight volume reflects an airline's schedule, while popularity reflects traveller choice.

  • Which airports serve Shanghai and the surrounding area?

    Flights to Shanghai can arrive at several major airports serving the metro area, including Shanghai Pu Dong (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao Intl (SHA).

  • How much is a taxi to Shanghai city centre from the airports?

    If you would prefer to avoid public transport after your flight, taxis are available for hire in the taxi ranks outside of each airport’s arrivals area. Since Hongqiao Airport is closer, taxis will generally be more affordable, with fares around CNY 75-85 (₹766-869). Taxis from Pudong Airport will be more expensive at around CNY 150-190 (₹1532-1942).

  • Which airport is most convenient for Shanghai city centre?

    Both Pudong Airport and Hongqiao Airport are located conveniently for Shanghai city centre, with both offering direct metro access and bus connections. The trip from Pudong Airport to People’s Square is longer than the trip from Hongqiao Airport, but if you’re staying on the East side of Shanghai, Pudong is the more convenient choice.

  • Which Shanghai airport has more budget flights?

    Due to the fact that Pudong Airport handles most of the international flights coming into and departing from Shanghai, you can find more flights with budget airlines there. Airlines like Thai Lion Air often offer connections to Pudong Airport via transfer in Singapore when flying from major hubs in India like Mumbai and Delhi.

  • Are there connections to regional trains at Pudong Airport?

    For passengers travelling on throughout China after their flight to Shanghai, there are several possible connections to regional trains. Trains all over the region, as well as the country, leave from Shanghai Railway Station. You can reach Shanghai Railway Station by metro or bus transfer.

Your guide to booking Shanghai flights

From booking to airport arrival, find tips to help you plan your flight with more confidence.
  • For the best chance at a low fare to Shanghai, aim to book around 22 weeks before you fly. That window historically saves about 44% versus last-minute pricing based on KAYAK booking data over the last 12 months.
  • For flights to Shanghai, recent KAYAK data shows that stronger deals tend to be around ₹ 41,531 return. If you see a fare below that threshold, it's a good deal – book before the price climbs back up.
  • If you can choose when to go, aim to travel to Shanghai in April. Return fares historically average ₹ 45,777 that month – typically the cheapest month to travel based on the last 12 months.
  • Before you book:

    • Check the route's typical price range so you can spot a deal.
    • Confirm baggage fees and seat selection costs on budget carriers.
    • Verify whether you need any travel documents beyond an ID.
    • Pick a departure airport, since your nearest may not be the cheapest origin.
  • Shift your departure to morning to save up to ₹ 1,440 per return. Morning flights to Shanghai average ₹ 51,152 compared to ₹ 52,591 for afternoon flights. See the time-of-day chart above for the full breakdown.
  • Bag allowances vary by airline, fare type, cabin class, and route. On flights to Shanghai, some airlines may include bags at no extra cost. For example, China Eastern includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class, Air India includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class, and IndiGo includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class. Always check the fare details before booking, since bag policies can change by ticket type.
  • Once you arrive in Shanghai, a few great places to start are People's Square, Shanghai New International Expo Centre, and Jing An Park. These are popular with first-time visitors and can give you a good feel for the area.
  • When booking flights to Shanghai, there are two potential airports that you could be flying into – Shanghai Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport, which both handle large volumes of international flights. Both airports are located just outside of the city centre, with Pudong Airport along the coast to the East and Hongqiao to the West.
  • Flights to Shanghai often have a layover in either Singapore or Beijing, depending on which airport you’re flying into. Booking early will give you your choice of layover city, just in case you would like to get out and see the sights. Both airports have easy transit options, so you can narrow the choice either by layover or the part of the city you’re staying in.
  • The majority of international flights arrive at Pudong Airport. To get to the city centre from Pudong Airport via public transport, you can take Shanghai Metro Line 2. Line 2 offers connections to several areas and destinations within central Shanghai. Fares for the metro start at around CNY 3-8 (₹31-82).
  • Buses to Shanghai city centre are frequent and offer direct connections with some of the city’s most popular areas, including People’s Square, Jing’an Temple and Disney. Buses come approximately every 15-25 minutes, with fares ranging from CNY 16-30 (₹164-307), and direct shuttle buses to central areas in the city costing around CNY 68 (₹695).
  • Getting to the city centre from Hongqiao Airport is also quite manageable on public transport. Hongqiao Airport is served by the same metro line that serves Pudong Airport, with connections between the two possible if necessary. The fare is the same for a connection to the city centre from Hongqiao Airport, with a trip time of around 35 minutes.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to Shanghai

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with to Shanghai? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.2
Singapore AirlinesOverall score based on 1620 reviews
8.3Boarding
8.7Crew
7.8Food
8.0Comfort
8.1Entertainment
Airline reviews

On schedule, courteous, and efficient. Old aircraft with not so nice lavatories.

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Sept 2026
Read more Singapore Airlines reviews

On schedule, courteous, and efficient. Old aircraft with not so nice lavatories.

Food was excellent.. better if there are more movies selection.

Had picked seats while booking tickets but airlines reshuffled the seats without informing and we were again left with the worst possible seats on the return journey. terrible experience.

Overall the airline tried to give excellent service. The wheelchair service was bad at SFO. My baggage was also delayed but I thank them for taking the trouble to find it and deliver it to my home.

Airline should consider adding a small meal at the last leg of the flight, right now there is 7 hours of no meal break.

The food wasn’t good at all. I skipped meals .

Loved the airline with the exception of their carry on limitations. They enforce a strict 7 kilo limit for carry on baggage which is ridiculous. We traveled from SFO to SIN with carry on with no difficulty yet when we checked in Delhi they forced us to check the carry on bags. The weight of our carry on bags were 11 and 12 kilos and while they exceeded the limitations set by Singapore Airlines they were well under weight limitations set by may other carriers. Interestingly my wife and I were each allowed two 22 KG bags to check in addition to the 7 kg carry on for a total weight of 102 KG's. Our total weight with the one bag we planned to check and our two carry ons was 46 kgs.

Crews were very caring and polite. Washroom was surprisingly clean. Overall experience was good , only food choices was very limited. Thanks

Food option Hindu veg to Hindu non veg request was unheard

A 16 hour flight from Singapore to Los Angeles had only 2 meals. It would be great to have 3 meals.

Overall, very pleased with this flight. Boarding could be better because boarding was announced without a microphone so people didn’t know to line up until we heard the staff walking around to announce it. Also, had to stand in line for 10’ before we started moving. My husband who is impatient and cannot stand for too long did not like this. The rest of the flight- crew, food, and entertainment were very good.

Boarding was too soon because we arrived 10’ after boarding began and they were already giving ‘final call’. We just made it. We were at gate 35 minutes before the flight. Also, the departure communication board did not list the flight at all so we didn’t know boarding had already started.

The flight boarded and departed pretty much on time as it’s just a one hour flight there is no food or entertainment so I marked that at the neutral but they do offer water and I’m sure if you needed some food you could bring your own onboard. This was our third internal flight with Vietnam Airways and I recommend them.

Food and welcome services were good , however we experienced issues with the entertainment system and poor headsets

Average, not more then that. Cannot compete with Singapore Airlines

I bought the front row seat and made and early online check in but they changed my seat to the back row without prior notice. The inflight meal was too poor, only a piece of small finger food. The boarding is a disaster, everyone is stuffed in a bus in chaos. Doesnt worth the money at all.

I am a bit upset with the check in counter, I signed up a wheelchair for my mom so they wouldn’t grant us her boarding pass. We got to the airport a couple of hours earlier and they had us wait and no one ever gave us her boarding pass or the wheelchair, I had to go back and complain when it was already time for our flight to board. Since we got their earlier, I could have easily pushed my mom myself and we could have relaxed and went to the lounge while waiting… when I finally got someone to help us he couldn’t explain how and why they dismissed us in the first place.

No space in between the seats as per them the average height of human is 5’3” and weight as 55, so seats are designed as per the same. Also, the aircraft was dirty and full of insects

Flight was good but they cancelled return direct flight so they provide us connecting flight through hanoi

VN661 flight, the A321 seats are starting to show heavy sign of wear and tear

Everything was good; they still provided a sandwich snack. Good crew

The legroom in economy on an A321 is wholly inadequate for a 6’3” man. Deeply dissatisfied.

If there is any negative rating for kayak and also for Cathay Pacific or the dealer I used I would give all of them -1000000000000000 I will never ever use kayak again you scammers you rip me off with everything

I do not think there was much that could have been done to make it better. The delayed flight was due to bad weather. The turbulent patches were very unavoidable. Am simply thankful that there were no sudden and / or sharp drops during the flight. I do extend my compliments to captain Marcus I believe was his name and the rest of the crew. They all did an excellent job. My only question is whether I get a refund since the seats I had chosen and paid for were reassigned.

Flight was kept super cold. I was shivering and had to layer up.

The vegan oriental option was disappointing. The regular vegan option was okay but we've had better.

Indian Vegetarian food was bland and I had to repeatedly ask for Salt. Movie selection is out dated.

Selected ovo lacto meal because I’m ok with milk products but not any meat. It was terrible. We had the same selection back in October when we had traveled and it was pretty good at that time. It was gross this time.

Crew was very good, but could have checked on us when meals were not being served also.

The employees are very nice and good. The delay due to the aircraft is not a good thing. Planning for such problems should be an easy task.

Basic long haul decent price but U pay for what you get. Over 5hrs of transit and terminal was pretty bare with nothing much to do except the lounge

Business Class window seat on my Shanghai to Venice route was broken and could not be converted into a bed which has to switch to a narrow aisle seat instead

It was just fine. The sirlines did live up fully to my expectation.

While boarding at PVG, there was a ticket checking by the gate, then there was another ticket checking right at the bottom of the escalator, which created quite a dangerous congestion. Don't understand why the duplication?

I was traveling alone with an infant, so the crew was incredibly helpful. Both the international and subsequent domestic flights were impeccable.

The flight was delayed by 2 hours, although to their credit they delayed my connecting flight so people could reach it. Also their site is a nightmare to navigate on a phone. Everything else was good.

China Eastern as a member of Sky Alliance airlines should have the same standards overall of their partners, Besides the seats comforts everything else is bellow the standard for a business class travelers.

2 parts to the journey. First leg covered in a newer plane with decent staff + POOR FOOD QUALITY but the second half didn’t leave a positive impression at all as the plane itself was an older built and the crew didn’t serve properly. Language is an issue with China Eastern flights as always, but unmotivated crew just makes it even bad.

Small plane with only two lavatories at the back. You must have a good plan to use it before or after the meal, if you make a bad decision, you will end up with standing in front of the toilet for a while till the food carts empty. The good thing is even there’s a slightly delayed, the plane is still arriving on time which is superb!!

Excellent! I had read some negative reviews but I found out that it was not all was not true! The staff was courteous and helpful. The flight take off and landing was nice & easy. The food was good! I asked for a second and I got it easily and without an attitude! All was wonderful!

The quality of service in AI Express was much better than Air India

Old plane, got upgraded to “first class”, shaky and squeaky seats, too many announcements, crew was absent but over friendly when interacting.

Air India Express operates as a separate airline, so it says. Air India Express is a subsidiary of Air India and is part of the Tata Group, which acquired a 100% stake in the airline. (https://www.tata.com/business/air-india-express). Yet Air India express is not a member of Star Alliance, so Star Alliance gold members do not receive the benefits they would had they traveled on a mainline Air India flight. Even though it's a subsidiary of Air India, which is a Star Alliance airline. Very frustrating.

When landing in Hyderabad, the pilot made a hard landing. Everyone in the plane were shocked. The captain landed the plane hard and felt as if we were going to be thrown out from our seats. It was surprising the captain didn't apologize or make an announcement about. Again a surprise no crew acknowledge this. This was an odd experience!

I appreciated a meal on the shorter flight. It was slightly delayed with no announcement but I was able to determine what was happening.

I don't think there were entertainment options (short flight) - which is why I gave the 'ok' sign. Didn't make a diff in my flight experience either way, however

Really old air craft, broken seats and tray tables. Entertainment screens don’t work. Charging ports didn’t work.

Poor, pilot flew as if he was in hurry and had to coverup for wasted time

seats were not comfortable, entertainment was not working and food could be much better, given the airline calls itself full service and india's flag carrier.

The planes did not have charging jacks for phones or lap tops and there are no monitors for movies. On the flight from Delhi to Hyderabad I was the last person in First asked for a meal choice and only one meal was available so I had no choice.

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