Star Alliance member SAS is selling very cheap tickets to Shanghai from various European cities. Even if you add around €90 to the price for luggage, you’d still be getting a sweet deal for a European airline. Even flying non-stop from Copenhagen is possible for only €456.
You can fly from the following airports:
- From Riga: €402
- From Oslo: €411
- From Stavanger: €414
- From Bergen: €414
- From Brussels: €435
- From Copenhagen: €456 (non-stop)
Our calendar displays most available dates for all the mentioned routes. You can either be redirected to Skyscanner (around €20 cheaper) or to SAS (better if you need luggage):
You would first fly to Copenhagen, from where an Airbus A350 would fly you to Shanghai. The flight takes around 11 hours to China, and almost 14 hours on the way back.
From December 2023 through December 2025, citizens of 11 countries in Europe may enter China for 15 days without applying for a visa, including e.g. Belgium, France and the Netherlands. This does not, however, include e.g. British, Norwegian, Danish or Latvian citizens!
As you may have notices, most airports mentioned in this deal are rather up north. If you live in Europe’s south, this China Eastern deal to China may be more suitable for you:
Search & Book
The fare rules merely mention a minimum stay of 6 days (or a Sunday), and that you have to fly before June 30. You can find the exact available dates on Google Flights, and then either book directly on SAS’ website (a good choice if you want to add luggage), or save around €20 by booking through Skyscanner.
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 all issued in booking class L. Usually, you’ll roughly get 1200 points at Eurobonus if you book the Smart fare, or 480 points if you book the light fare.
As SAS is leaving the Star Alliance and joining SkyTeam next month, it is still completely unclear if you’ll be able to earn miles at other frequent flyer programs.
Destination
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
Cover Picture: © chungking - Fotolia.com