British Airways is currently offering discounted business class fares on flights from Spain to Shanghai. Tickets for a round-trip from Barcelona and Madrid to China are available at prices starting at €1,125. The fare is available almost daily up until July 2021.
Worldwide travel restrictions are in place to slow the spread of Covid-19. We strongly recommend gathering detailed information about the travel and quarantine restrictions that apply to your desired origin and destination.
A good start is the International Air Transport Association (IATA) website. It provides current updates on a country’s immigration policies. Even better, the Covid-19 Travel Regulations Map is one of the most useful tools you can find.
British Airways will fly you to its hub in London Heathrow, where you’ll have a layover. And a rather short one in most cases. The carrier will operate a Boeing 777 on the long-haul flights. Unfortunately, this is not one of the routes on which British Airways will offer the new Club Suite.
But even the older business class product is solid. Although it does not offer direct aisle access to all passengers. To get a better idea of what BA’s Club World is like, check out this review:
We expect further shakeups in the airline industry over the following months. Some services might be cancelled, aircraft changed or downgraded. The schedule we describe may very well change.
Search & Book
The fare rules state that this deal is available until September 30, 2020 for all flights past January 1, 2021. And in fact, we’ve been able to find excellent availability until May 2021. From June onwards, prices increase just a little to €1,144.
The minimum stay requirement is the night from Saturday to Sunday, and you can spend up to 12 months in China with this fare.
Google Flights (instructions) will display availability and prices correctly. Use the tool to find your preferred dates and then have our flight search compare prices for you. We recommend booking directly on the carrier’s website. British Airways offers the cheapest tickets themself anyway.
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.
Mileage
Tickets for feeder flights will be issued in booking class J, the one for the long-haul route in booking class I. The earning rate will be somewhere between 100% and 350%(!), depending on the frequent flyer program you’ve signed up for. Besides, the BA Executive Club will credit you with 360 tier points. Here’s what you can expect to earn on select programs:
- 22,432 Points on Finnair Plus
- 22,432 Avios + 350 Tier Credits on Aer Lingus AerClub
- 16,958 Avios + 102 Qpoints on Qatar Privilege Club
- 16,958 AsiaMiles + 200 Club Points on Asia Miles
- 16,958 Miles on Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- 16,958 Award Miles on LATAM Pass
- 16,958 Miles on Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer
- 16,958 Miles on Royal Jordanian Royal Club
- 16,958 Miles on SriLankan FlySmiLes
- 16,958 Miles on Alaska Mileage Plan
- 14,086 Points + 26 Elite Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- Customize Calculation
Information & Tips for China
China offers a wide range of sights, from historical landmarks like the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, and the Forbidden City to modern cities like Shanghai and scenic areas such as Zhangjiajie and Guilin. The currency is the Chinese yuan (CNY), and mobile payments via apps like Alipay and WeChat Pay are widely used, though cash is still accepted. Prices vary—major cities can be moderate to expensive, while rural areas are generally more affordable. Weather conditions differ greatly by region, with cold winters in the north, hot, humid summers in the south, and a generally best travel period in spring or autumn.
China has a highly developed transport system, especially in urban and coastal areas. Most major cities have extensive metro networks that are cheap, efficient, and easy to navigate with English signage. For travel between cities, the high-speed rail network is one of the most advanced in the world, connecting even distant regions quickly and reliably. In rural or less-developed areas, transport options can be more limited and slower, but basic bus or train connections are usually available.
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 China
Information & Tips for Shanghai
Shanghai is known for its stunning skyline, with landmarks like the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Bund, and the futuristic Pudong district. The city also offers cultural sights like the Yuyuan Garden and the Shanghai Museum. The currency is the Chinese yuan (CNY), and credit cards are widely accepted. Shanghai is a relatively expensive city, particularly in tourist areas, but affordable options are available for food and accommodation. The weather is humid subtropical, with hot, rainy summers and mild winters, making the best time to visit during spring and autumn when temperatures are more comfortable.
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 Shanghai