Travelling from Seattle to Shanghai: what you need to know
Get your holiday planning started by considering where you'll board your flight from Seattle to Shanghai. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Lake Union Sea Plane Base Airport (LKE) are the main airports in Seattle.
When it comes to working out where to land in Shanghai, Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) are the chief entry points.
Around 13 hours 10 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct Seattle to Shanghai flight.
Shanghai's timezone is UTC+8, which makes Shanghai 15 hours ahead of Seattle.
With seven flights a week between the two airports, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is the most popular route. Board the earliest flight from Seattle to Shanghai with Delta Air Lines at 11:20. If you'd like to get more out of your day before taking off, the latest flight from SEA to PVG is with Delta Air Lines at 12:40.
Give yourself enough time to catch your Seattle to Shanghai flight. Generally, it's best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months such as July, you'll want to get to the airport earlier than usual. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for an international flight whenever you're travelling during peak periods in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Seattle to Shanghai
To secure cheap Seattle to Shanghai flights, book your trip six months ahead of your planned departure.
Schedule your trip for September. That's the best month for landing an awesome deal on plane tickets from Seattle to Shanghai. If you're open to different travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across each month.
There's no need to check every day to see if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll notify you when there's a better deal on cheap flights from Seattle to Shanghai.
Tailor your flights using filters. Select your departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' Seattle to Shanghai flights.
Flying from Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
If you're looking for a direct flight from Seattle to Shanghai, you can depart from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Get from SEA to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) in one seamless journey.
Lock in your Seattle to Shanghai plane tickets with Delta Air Lines. This carrier is a popular option for direct flights from SEA.
Think about adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper Seattle to Shanghai flight. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Take a break (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these airports:
Haneda Airport (HND)
Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Narita International Airport (NRT)
SEA is about 18 kilometres from central Seattle. If you're catching a cab, driving or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're taking public transport, expect the trip time to be around 55 minutes.
Have an early flight from Seattle to Shanghai? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays close to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport:
81.27% of flights leaving Seattle-Tacoma International Airport touch down at their destination on time. With its strong on-time stats, you're unlikely to be delayed when taking off from SEA.
Arriving in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to central Shanghai takes about 50 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 32 kilometres away.
It typically takes 40 minutes to get there on public transport.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from Seattle to Shanghai. Check in to one of these accommodation options near PVG instead:
Grab a Shanghai Pudong International Airport rental car and explore parts of Shanghai that most visitors tend to miss. Find your perfect set of wheels with Hertz.
Reserve your vehicle from Shanghai Pudong International Airport a few weeks in advance to get the lowest price. If you're planning to travel during a busy period, you may want to book your Seattle to Shanghai flight even earlier.
PVG is situated at No.300 Qihang Road.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
As soon as your flight from Seattle to Shanghai has landed, you can reach the city centre in about 20 minutes by car. Central Shanghai is roughly 13 kilometres from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).
There are some comfortable places to lay your head close to SHA. Tuck yourself in after your Seattle to Shanghai flight at one of these well-located options:
Why work around someone else's schedule? Pick up a Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport rental car and stay in control of your journey. Book a set of wheels here with Hertz.
Generally, the sooner you book, the better the deals and selection of vehicles. Reserve your ride from SHA once your travel dates are set.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport can be found at 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.
Best time to go to Shanghai
April is the quietest month for flights from Seattle to Shanghai, while April is the busiest. Choose the best time to visit Shanghai based on whether you prefer a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.
Book a Seattle to Shanghai ticket departing in August if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Shanghai to range from 23ºC (73ºF) to 34ºC (93ºF).
For cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Seattle to Shanghai in January when temperatures average between -1ºC (30ºF) and 10ºC (50ºF).
More about Shanghai
When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Shanghai right here. Browse these options as soon as you've locked in your flight from Seattle to Shanghai:
All great adventures should include a little sightseeing. The Bund Sightseeing Avenue, Yu Garden and Shanghai Tower are attractions you won't want to skip in Shanghai.
Explore more of China
You've visited Shanghai, now it's time to discover other parts of China. Travel around 274 kilometres west to Nanjing to tick off its must-visit sights. From Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum to Nanjing City Wall and Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, your itinerary will be busy.
If you're interested in discovering another well-known destination in China, head for Suzhou, about 80 kilometres west of Shanghai. Lotus Peak, Tianpingshan and Shangfang Tower are among its highlights.