China’s lone Skytrax five-star-airline Hainan Airlines is offering a business class deal from Budapest to China starting at just €1,327 (~HUF 516,292). This deal includes 2x23kg checked luggage and all the business class perks. Departures are available in March 2025.
You can reach the following Chinese cities for less than €1,400 and without long layovers:
- Shanghai for €1,327
- Nanjing for €1,327
- Chongqing for €1,329
- Ningbo for €1,333
- Beijing for €1,348
- …and more
If you don’t mind spending more than eight hours in Shenzhen in at least one direction, you can also find discounted tickets to Chengdu, Wenzhou and Xi’An. Star Alliance member Air China offers similar prices on most possible travel dates.
Our search form will forward you to Skyscanner with your selected flight dates. From there, you can proceed to Hainan or check what OTAs have to offer. Flights are available in March 2025.
The flights include a layover in Shenzhen. According to the fare rules, stopovers are also possible there; however, in practice, we were unable to find any correspondingly inexpensive tickets with multiple days of layover.
The long-haul flight from Budapest to Shenzhen and back is operated using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. In Business Class, the seats are arranged in a Reverse Herringbone configuration of 1-2-1, specifically using seats of the Cirrus III type. Similar seats are also used by airlines such as Cathay Pacific and Air France.
Reviews indicate that the onboard product of Hainan Airlines performs very well. The good service and the quality of the meals are particularly praised. The seat is considered solid standard in today’s context, with the usual pros and cons of the Reverse Herringbone configuration. Here are two relevant reviews:
- Review of Hainan Airlines Business Class on the Boeing 787 by The Points Guy
- Review of Hainan Airlines Business Class on the Boeing 787 by Danny en Vera on YouTube
Until December 2025, citizens of 33 countries in Europe may enter China for 30 days without applying for a visa. It is currently unclear if this policy will be continued in 2026.
Search & Book
The duration for which the offer is still available is not specified in the fare rules. We were able to find availability in March 2025. There do not seem to be any restrictions regarding minimum or maximum stay.
On Google Flights, flights with Hainan Airlines are typically not listed or are shown without a price. Instead, it is recommended to search using the ITA Matrix. Use the routing code C: HU+ to display only flights with Hainan Airlines, and select the calendar function to see all departures in March.
We recommend booking directly on Hainan Airlines’ website, but you can find cheaper prices with Skyscanner. However, booking on OTAs has its downsides.
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
The tickets are issued in booking class R (long-haul) and C (flights within China). Here’s an example for a flight to Beijing:
- 16,250 Miles on Alaska Mileage Plan
- 15,062 Award Miles on Etihad Guest
- Customize Calculation
Destination
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
Cover Picture: ©f11photo - stock.adobe.com
Comments (3)
Class R only give 85% to Alaska Mileage Plan.
Thanks, we’ve adjusted the earnings accordingly
Works from FCO as well – similar pricing. And another thing to highlight – you get free stopovers on the in and outbound – so you could do a stopover in ShehZhen (and go to Hong Kong across the border).