Xi’An, China: €1,459 Non-Stop Shanghai Airlines Business Class from Budapest

China Eastern Airlines‘ subsidiary Shanghai Airlines currently offers discounted business class tickets for its nonstop service from Budapest to Xi’An in China. The city is famous for the tomb of China’s first emperor Qing Shi Huang and the terracotta army guarding his grave. Lounge access and two checked bags of 23kg each are included in the fare. Prices start at €1,459 (~HUF 567,648) for a roundtrip. Departures are scattered between September 2025 and May 2026.

Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to Skyscanner with your selected flight dates. From there, you can proceed to China Eastern’s website or check what OTAs have to offer, as they sell these tickets up to €100 cheaper.

Flights are operated by a Shanghai Airlines Boeing 787-8. These planes have a modern business class product, with lie-flat-seats in a 1-2-1 pattern in their business class section.

Search & Book

According to the fare rules, these tickets are available without any restrictions, as there is no sales or travel period, nor a minimum stay. Departures are scattered between September 2025 and May 2026. You need to buy your tickets at least 7 days before departure to get the lowest fare.

Google Flights helps you find additional flight dates. While purchasing premium tickets directly from the airline is advisable, China Eastern’s website can be very clunky and difficult to handle. You might want to consider purchasing tickets from an online travel agency instead. It is cheaper, but does not come without risks:

Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?

More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:

Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.

If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.

This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.

Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.

This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.

Miles & Points

Tickets are issued in booking class I. For your accrual, it is important if your ticket features a FM (Shanghai Airlines) or MU (China Eastern) flight number. A Shanghai Airlines ticket earns the following:

While a China Eastern tickets are credited by far more programs:

Destination

Information & Tips for Xi’An

Xi’an was once known to the world as Chang’an and stands as one of the great ancient capitals of China. While modern hubs like Beijing and Shanghai now hold the political and economic spotlight, Xi’an possesses a historical gravitas that is arguably unmatched. It served as the imperial seat for numerous powerful dynasties and was the eastern terminus of the legendary Silk Road, a legacy far deeper than any modern skyline. The local currency is the Chinese yuan (CNY), with mobile payments like Alipay and WeChat Pay being the standard, although cash is still widely accepted. The city offers great value, with famously delicious and inexpensive street food and reasonably priced accommodations. Xi’an has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons: hot summers and cold winters, so it’s wise to pack in layers, especially for the cooler spring and autumn months which are ideal for visiting.

We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as eSIM4Travel, RedteaGo, and Textr. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:

The Best eSIM Plans for China 🇨🇳 Compared

→ All Dealz for Xi’An

Cover Picture: ©victor zastol'skiy - stock.adobe.com