Peak season:
China has special festivals and events all throughout the year across the whole country so finding cheap flights to China can be a difficult feat to achieve. The busiest months are generally from October to December when the weather is hot. You’ll need to book your flights to China well in advance to save money on your flight tickets, especially if you are thinking of visiting during a festival or special day. The Chinese New Year is something that will stay with you for life, however, securing cheap flight tickets can be almost impossible so make sure to take this into account when you are searching for flights to China.
Off season:
Both the peak season and the off season vary depending on the part of China you are planning to fly into however as a rule of thumb expect to find the cheapest flights to China during the Winter. You’ll find better value flight tickets during Spring and Autumn and benefit from a lower tourist season for a lot of China, however, Autumn will provide you with fantastic weather and a lot less crowds.
You’ll find the best time to book your flights to China vary a lot depending on where in China you are planning to visit. Wherever it is you decide you should aim to secure your flight tickets at least 3 or 4 months in advance or earlier if you can. If you’re on a budget then definitely avoid special events and festivals as these will see the price of your flight tickets increase dramatically. Autumn is a great time to visit and you’ll find cheap flights to China are easier to come by, especially if you do some planning in advance and secure your flight tickets well ahead of time. Flexibility is key to trying to find the cheapest flights to China so if you can pick and choose virtually any major destination as well as any date then you should be able to find some great deals. Generally sitting on the right hand side of the plane offers you the best views on your flights to China and a reverse seat on the journey home however this can vary slightly depending on where exactly you’re flying to.
Flights from London to Hong-Kong, China: 11 hours 35 minutes.
Flights from Manchester to Shanghai, China: 12 hours 55 minutes.
Flights from Birmingham to Hong-Kong, China: 14 hours 00 minutes.
Flights from Glasgow to Shanghai, China: 13 hours 10 minutes.
Virgin Atlantic, Air China, China Eastern and British Airways among several others all provide flights to China. Due to the sheer distance and length of the journey you’ll struggle to find really cheap flights to China however the airline can vary the price slightly. That said the increased fee for flight tickets will normally be for slightly better comfort onboard the plane. Virgin Atlantic has a great range on in-flight entertainment as well as high levels of comfort and service. British Airways are also a good choice thanks to the complimentary food and drink they provide for the duration of the flight. Once you’ve settled on a location in China you can start comparing the different airlines to find one that offers you the best value for money whilst still providing comfort and customer service.
Hong-Kong:
The Airport Express is the quickest and easiest method of transport to get you to the city from the airport, taking around 25 minutes and running as often as every 10 minutes. The only other way would be to jump in a taxi outside of the airport but these can get very expensive, especially if you have a lot of baggage with you as you have to pay for each piece you with to take with you. If you’re considering a trip to Hong Kong then take a look at this detailed article and discover everything and anything about this magical city.
Shanghai:
The airport is around 30km away from downtown and there are a couple of options to choose from to help you get there. Firstly is the bus service. There are around 10 different airport buses that provide routes to the city; however buses in Shanghai can be very crowded and often difficult to understand without prior experience. Another option is the train which operates most of the day and only takes 8 minutes. It’s fast and hassle free once you’ve got your bearings of where to get off. Don’t get this confused with Subway Line 2, which also goes to the city but requires you to change over to a different shuttle during the journey. Taxis are another option and are relatively popular for travelling throughout Shanghai however you might find it easier to get to train to and from the airport and then rely on the taxis for any transportation throughout the city.