The three major airline alliances are currently fighting for nonstop passengers between London and Shanghai. Oneworld member British Airways and Star Alliance carrier Air China both sell nonstop economy tickets including a checked bag up to 23 kg for roughly €500 (~£437).
SkyTeam member Virgin Atlantic competes with premium economy fares of £721 (~€826) for a nonstop roundtrip, while charging £431 (~€494) for an economy roundtrip with a checked bag. It’s only £391 (~€448) if your status allows you to bring a checked bag – or you don’t need one at all.
Premium Economy prices have dropped by £50 (~€57). The corresponding section has been updated.
Economy Class
You can fly economy class for the following rates:
- British Airways for £411 (~€471) w/o checked bag
- Virgin Atlantic for £431 (~€494) w/o checked bag
- Air China for €532 (~£465) incl. checked bag
- Virgin Atlantic for £471 (~€539) incl. checked bag
- British Airways for £471 (~€539) incl. checked bag
Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to Virgin Atlantic with your selected flight dates. You can also check what the other airlines have to offer on those dates by using our flight search. You need to search for flights from Gatwick to find Air China’s offer.
You can also reach Shanghai from Dublin for just €395.
Premium Economy Class
Since Air China’s Airbus A330 doesn’t feature a premium economy cabin, your choice there is simpler:
- Virgin Atlantic for £720 (~€824)
- British Airways for £867 (~€993)
Again, our calendar previews all flight dates for Virgin’s offer:
Virgin Atlantic uses Boeing 787-9 aircraft on this route, carrying premium economy seats in 2-3-2 seating pattern through the skies, compared to the 3-3-3 in economy class. The very same information is true for British Airways.
Air China schedules an Airbus A330-200 for flights between Shanghai and London-Gatwick. Since the airline is free to use Russia airspace, the travel time with Air China is significantly shorter.
Search & Book
According to the fare rules, Virgin Atlantic’s offers is valid until September 15, 2023. A minimum stay of at least one night from Saturday to Sunday applies. Availbility is extremely good from September 2023 through July 2024, except for a blockout during Chinese New Year in February.
Google Flights helps you find additional flight dates or flights with other airlines. We strongly recommend booking with the airlines, especially when choosing an economy fare including checked bags.
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
Virgin Atlantic issues Economy light tickets in T, economy tickets with checked bags in O and premium economy class flight in K. The cheapest premium economy round trip earns the following mileage:
- 20,098 Miles on Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles
- 17,226 RDM + 2,872 MQD on Delta SkyMiles
- 14,356 Award Miles on LATAM Pass
- 11,484 Award Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 11,484 Award Miles on Singapore KrisFlyer
- 11,484 Miles on Aerolíneas Argentinas AerolíneasPlus
- 11,484 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 11,484 Award Miles + 100 Tier Points on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- 11,484 Miles on Korean Air Skypass
- 11,484 Miles on Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
- 11,484 Miles on Air Europa Suma
- 11,484 Miles on ITA Volare
- 11,484 Miles on Saudia Alfursan
- 11,484 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 8,614 Award Miles + 48 XP on Flying Blue
- Customize Calculation
You can calculate your earnings with the other carriers using our mileage calculator.
- British Airways Economy books in
O - British Airways Premium Economy in
T - Air China Economy in
P
Destination
Hotel prices in Shanghai usually start at roughly €30, depending on the hotel category. Whichever category and hotel you opt for, make sure to get the best price! Our recommendation is to search on booking.com, or even on our own Travel-Dealz hotel search:
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
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