Looking for the cheapest time to fly to China? Let me help you save a few bucks!
Flights are one of the biggest purchases for any overseas trip.
And if you’re headed for China, airfares can vary greatly depending on where you’re flying from and the month you travel.
I’ve flown to China many times, and I’ve learned a few tricks along the way to save some money.
I’d like to share them with you, so you can have a good time and get a good deal.
1. Fly in the winter
Shanghai isn’t too bad in the winter. Image by Maoyunping on Shutterstock.
If you don’t mind traveling in December, January or February, then fly to China in the winter.
The north of the country (e.g. Beijing) is particularly icy, but cities in southern China like Guangzhou and Hong Kong are comfortable with temperatures no lower than 11°C (51°F).
Even Shanghai, which is on the central east coast of China, is bearable in winter. There’s no snow.
You can also find cheap flights in spring or autumn. The key is to avoid the peak summer season in the middle of the year.
2. Fly on Sunday
A fairly empty airline cabin. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.
When I recently booked China flights, I noticed that Sunday was by far the cheapest.
This suited me, so I snapped up the tickets.
This isn’t always the case though, so check a wide range of days on the booking platform you use. It also helps if you’re not too stuck to a particular airline or booking site.
The key is to be flexible with your travel dates if you want to save money.
It’s a good idea to book a few months in advance if you want to save even more.
Here’s the sweet spot, according to major booking sites:
- Kayak: at least 35 days in advance
- Skyscanner: 45-60 days in advance
- Expedia: 60-120 days in advance.
I recently got a great deal on flights to China (flying Premium Economy – woop!!) and I bought the tickets about 100 days ahead.
I recommend you start looking early and set up price alerts.
3. Fly during the day
Often, the most expensive long-haul flights are evening flights, where you sleep on the plane and arrive in China the following day.
I’m not 100% sure why this is, but I’d hazard a guess it’s because people like spending the day packing and doing last-minute things before getting to the airport in the late afternoon.
This demand causes evening airfares to surge, making the daytime flights a little easier on the hip pocket.
(Side note: take a look at my China packing list – it’s the most comprehensive one you’ll find.)
4. Fly outside the major holidays
A busy airport terminal in Xi’an during summer holidays. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.
The three biggest holiday periods you should avoid are:
- Spring Festival, which runs for about a week in January or February depending on the lunar calendar (you can check dates here)
- National Day, also known as Golden Week, in early October
- Summer school holidays throughout July and August.
In all my experience traveling around China, July and August have been the most unpleasant times to travel to the southern provinces, where it’s crazy humid.
But even in the north, like in Beijing, summers can be unbearably hot.
Also, tourist attractions across the country are more packed in the middle of the year.
So, you’re actually doing yourself a favor by avoiding travel at this time.
5. Fly when you have points
If you’ve accrued mileage points, then why not use them for your trip to China?
Admittedly, I’ve never done this as I’m not a member of any frequent flyer program. I prefer to shop around for the cheapest flights or best connections, rather than be stuck to one airline.
But I know some people who love points, so I’ve included this as a reminder.
Let me know in the comments below if you recommend a great program. I can be persuaded.
6. Book with an aggregator
This one is not so much about the cheapest time to fly to China, but the cheapest way.
In my experience, Trip is the best flight aggregator (online travel agency) because it specializes in China. The other ones don’t, or the sites aren’t in English.
Tap on the button below to find some of the cheapest China flights.
I’ve lost count how many bookings I’ve made using Trip. They also have great deals on hotels, and sell high-speed train tickets too.
If you don’t mind spending more time in the air (and airports), then indirect flights can be much cheaper than direct flights.
Other options include Kayak and Skyscanner. I tend to agree with this Redditor that Google Flights sucks.
7. Fly with a Chinese airline
I flew with Juneyao Airlines from Shanghai to Taiwan. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.
Airline competition is crazy right now, and international flights to China are no exception.
This is great for people like you and me wanting to snatch cheap tickets!
I’ve found that the majority of flights to China from where I’m from, Australia, are much cheaper when you fly with a Chinese airline.
The major ones to look out for are:
- Air China (the national carrier which is often pricier than the others)
- China Southern
- China Eastern
- Hainan Airlines
- Xiamen Air.
If you’re a bit of an airline snob, you may not like the food or in-flight entertainment which is geared towards local Chinese tastes.
You can read more of my helpful tips for China here.
8. Book a no-frills ticket
Domestic connecting flights in China are usually affordable. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.
To finish off this list, here’s another method to save on your China flights.
If you just want to get from A to B (or should that be C for China?), consider flying with a budget airline.
I’ve compiled a list of Chinese airlines which may help, but basically if the airfare is dirt-cheap and you’ve never heard of the airline, then chances are it’s a budget airline.
Some of the cheapest include:
- Sichuan Airlines (Chinese)
- Beijing Capital Airlines (Chinese)
- Scoot (Singaporean)
- AirAsia X (Malaysian).
These may not operate from your nearest airport, but if you’re visiting other countries (e.g. Singapore) while you’re overseas then they’re worth looking into.
A few years back, I booked a Melbourne to Qingdao flight with Beijing Capital Airlines. It only cost US$300, which is an insanely cheap airfare for that distance.
However, the customer service was poor and the in-flight experience was terrible (you can read about my experience here).
Having said that, I arrived in one piece. And that’s the main thing, right?
If I’ve managed to save you a few dollars, then mission accomplished! Let me know if you have any of your own travel hacks. And don’t forget to use Trip for cheap China flights:
Keep discovering China
- Best China hotel booking app
- US citizens traveling to China
- Singaporean citizens visiting China
- How long is a flight to China
Main image credit: Jeffry Surianto on Pexels.
FAQ about cheapest time to fly to China
When is the cheapest month to fly to China?
The winter months (December, January, February) are generally the cheapest months to fly to China, but not always. The key is to book ahead, compare different booking sites, and avoid Chinese holidays.
When is the best time to fly to China?
I’d say spring or fall, as that’s when the weather is the most pleasant in most corners of China. The best time is not necessarily the cheapest time though.
Are nonstop flights to China the cheapest?
They’re usually not the cheapest fares. If you don’t mind spending more time getting to China by airport hopping, you can enjoy lower prices on your flight.
What is the cheapest Chinese airline?
Low cost carriers that have international flights include Spring Airlines and Beijing Capital Airlines, but there’s also Scoot which is Singaporean based and flies into China. Domestic flights in China are often cheap especially Spring Airlines.
What is the most expensive Chinese airline?
Usually, the biggest full-service airlines are the most expensive, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, and Xiamen Air. But you should always compare flight prices because sometimes there are good sales.
