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Cheap Flights from Washington D.C. to Shanghai

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Compare Washington D.C. to Shanghai flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Shanghai

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Flight deals from Washington D.C. to Shanghai

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Washington D.C. to Shanghai? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
Shanghai.R 9,160 per passenger.Departing Sat, 26 Jul.One-way flight with Spirit Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Spirit Airlines, departs from Baltimore Washington International on Sat, 26 Jul, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 9,160, select.
Shanghai.R 10,258 per passenger.Departing Wed, 24 Sep.One-way flight with Spirit Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Spirit Airlines, departs from Baltimore Washington International on Wed, 24 Sep, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 10,258, select.
Shanghai.R 10,474 per passenger.Departing Tue, 5 Aug.One-way flight with Spirit Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Spirit Airlines, departs from Baltimore Washington International on Tue, 5 Aug, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 10,474, select.
Shanghai.R 10,494 per passenger.Departing Thu, 7 May.One-way flight with EgyptAir.Outbound indirect flight with EgyptAir, departs from Washington Dulles on Thu, 7 May, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 10,494, select.
Shanghai.R 10,527 per passenger.Departing Tue, 18 Nov.One-way flight with EgyptAir.Outbound indirect flight with EgyptAir, departs from Washington Dulles on Tue, 18 Nov, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 10,527, select.
Shanghai.R 11,621 per passenger.Departing Fri, 2 Jan.One-way flight with Turkish Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Turkish Airlines, departs from Washington Dulles on Fri, 2 Jan, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 11,621, select.
Shanghai.R 11,844 per passenger.Departing Thu, 26 Jun.One-way flight with Spirit Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Spirit Airlines, departs from Baltimore Washington International on Thu, 26 Jun, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 11,844, select.
Shanghai.R 12,792 per passenger.Departing Mon, 9 Feb.One-way flight with Alaska Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Alaska Airlines, departs from Washington Ronald Reagan on Mon, 9 Feb, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 12,792, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Washington D.C. to Shanghai

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Washington D.C. to Shanghai flights are currently cheapest in July.
May
from R 15,602
Jun
from R 11,910
Jul
from R 9,211
Aug
from R 10,532
Sep
from R 10,315
Oct
from R 14,143
Nov
from R 10,586
Dec
from R 13,415
Jan
from R 11,685
Feb
from R 12,863
Mar
Find prices
Apr
Find prices

Alternative Washington D.C. to Shanghai routes

Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from Washington D.C. to Shanghai? You could fly into the following airports instead.

Washington D.C. to Shanghai: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundR 9,160
Cheapest month to flyJuly

Finding cheap flights from Washington D.C. to Shanghai: Frequently asked questions

There are 2 airports in Shanghai: Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai Pudong.
The best price we found for a return flight from Washington D.C. to Shanghai is R 19,445. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
Currently, there are no airlines that fly direct from Washington D.C. to Shanghai. But we found flights with one or more stops from R 19,552.
As of May 2025, there are no flights flying from Washington D.C. to Shanghai.
The cheapest month to fly from Washington D.C. to Shanghai is usually May 2025.
If you're flying from Washington D.C., the cheapest airport near Shanghai is Shanghai Pudong – which is 32.7 km away from the centre of Shanghai. We've found flights into this airport from R 19,445.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from Washington D.C. to Shanghai on Tuesday, 16 September 2025.
No airlines currently offer direct flights between Washington D.C. and Shanghai. Most routes have one or more stops.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Shanghai but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Shanghai is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
In May, the average temperature is usually around 19°C. August is typically the warmest month in Shanghai, when it usually averages around 29°C. You can expect the least rain in December. The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging 4°C. The rainiest month is June.
The cheapest airline that flies to Shanghai is Air Canada .

Flying from Washington DC to Shanghai: what you need to know

  • Organising your flight from Washington DC to Shanghai begins with finding the right airport to start your holiday. Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) are the main departure points in Washington DC.

  • When working out where to arrive in Shanghai, Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) are the major entry points.

  • Shanghai is 12 hours ahead of Washington DC and follows the UTC+8 timezone.

  • For a relaxed travel experience, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to board your Washington DC to Shanghai flight.

  • If you're getting away during a popular month like February, get to the airport even earlier. It's smart to arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours ahead of domestic departures. Security lines will be longer during peak periods like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.

How to find the cheapest flights from Washington DC to Shanghai

  • Don't wait until the last moment. You're more likely to get cheap Washington DC to Shanghai flights if you book ahead. Airlines often have some amazing early bird rates.

  • The 'Whole month' tool will show you the cheapest plane tickets from Washington DC to Shanghai across the month. It's an easy way to snap up a bargain if your trip dates aren't set in stone.

  • Spend less time searching for cheap flights from Washington DC to Shanghai by setting up a Price Alert. You'll get an email or notification through the app when a new low fare is offered.

  • Select your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops by using the filters. Alternatively, sort your Washington DC to Shanghai flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'

Flying from Washington DC

Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)

  • Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to break up your trip — and possibly even explore another city. When searching for Washington DC to Shanghai flights leaving from Ronald Reagan National Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Top options include:

    • Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

    • O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

    • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

  • The journey from central Washington DC to DCA takes about 45 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or get a cab, you'll cover the 6 kilometres in 15 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.

  • Want a relaxed start to your break? Stay near Ronald Reagan National Airport. Whether you're taking an early flight from Washington DC to Shanghai or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are just the thing:

  • 76.44% of flights that leave from Ronald Reagan National Airport reach their destination on time.

  • You'll find DCA at 1 Aviation Circle.

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

  • Break up your Washington DC to Shanghai flight with a stop so you can freshen up or tick another place off your list. Some popular stopovers between Washington Dulles International Airport and Shanghai are:

    • Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

    • O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

    • Incheon International Airport (ICN)

  • IAD is around 40 kilometres from central Washington DC. It takes 50 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.

  • You're going on holiday, so why not spend an extra night away from home? Think about kicking back in one of these accommodation options near Washington Dulles International Airport the day before your flight from Washington DC to Shanghai:

  • Washington Dulles International Airport has an on-time performance of 74.39%. This figure reflects how often flights that leave from this airport arrive at their destination on schedule.

  • You'll find IAD at 1 Saarinen Circle.

Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

  • Booking a ticket from Washington DC to Shanghai with a stop or two can give you more departure time choices on top of cheaper fares. When leaving from Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), here are a few places you can detour to on your way to Shanghai:

    • O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

    • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

    • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

  • BWI is around 40 kilometres from central Washington DC. Driving from the city centre to the terminal takes about 50 minutes. If you're considering public transport, you can expect a journey of around 1 hour 30 minutes.

  • Skip the morning rush on departure day — stay close to Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport and know you'll make it to your boarding gate with time to spare. Check in to one of these hotels the day before if you're catching an early Washington DC to Shanghai flight:

  • The on-time performance rate of BWI is 77.13%. To put it simply, that's how often flights that depart this airport arrive at their final stop as planned.

Arriving in Shanghai

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)

  • Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) is roughly 13 kilometres from central Shanghai. Following your flight from Washington DC to Shanghai, it'll take you approximately 20 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.

  • There are some comfortable places to lay your head close to SHA. Unwind after your Washington DC to Shanghai flight at any of these perfectly located options:

  • Pick up a Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport rental car and unlock a world of freedom with your own set of wheels. Hertz is just moments from arrivals, so you can drive off without missing a beat.

  • Pick the vehicle you actually want, not just what's available, by booking your ride from SHA before your arrival. You'll also avoid paying more than you have to, especially when the airport is busy.

  • The address for Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.

Best time to go to Shanghai

  • It's time to figure out your travel dates for your flight from Washington DC to Shanghai. April is the most popular month to visit Shanghai. If you want a more relaxed vibe, go in April.

  • Before locking in your Washington DC to Shanghai tickets, think about what kind of weather you prefer. August is the warmest month in Shanghai, with temperatures ranging from 23ºC (73ºF) to 34ºC (93ºF).

  • January sees average temperatures of between -1ºC (30ºF) and 10ºC (50ºF). Look for cheap flights from Washington DC to Shanghai around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.

More about Shanghai

Explore more of China

  • Nanjing is just one of the many places in China waiting to be discovered after you've experienced Shanghai. Around 274 kilometres to the west, its top attractions include Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing City Wall and Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall.

  • Suzhou is another essential stop in China and is around 80 kilometres west of Shanghai. No journey is complete without seeing Lotus Peak, Tianpingshan and Shangfang Tower.

Plan the rest of your trip from Washington D.C. to Shanghai

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.