Cheap Flights from Chicago to Shanghai
Chicago (ORD) → Shanghai (PVG) · 14.5–16 hours nonstop
Flights from Chicago (ORD) to Shanghai (PVG) are operated by United, China Eastern and Air China among others, with nonstop service and one-stop itineraries via East Asian hubs. Total journey time is typically 14.5–16 hours nonstop. You depart from Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) and arrive at Shanghai Pudong International (PVG).
| Departure airport | Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) |
|---|---|
| Arrival airport | Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) |
| Main airlines | United, China Eastern and Air China |
| Routing | Nonstop service and one-stop itineraries via East Asian hubs |
| Journey time | 14.5–16 hours nonstop |
| When to book | Three to five months ahead, and further for the November–February high season and the Lunar New Year period |
Flying out of Chicago O'Hare
Chicago O'Hare is United's principal hub and one of the few US airports with meaningful nonstop reach in three directions at once — Europe, the Gulf and Asia. For the Midwest that matters more than it sounds: a traveller from Ohio, Michigan or Wisconsin who would otherwise connect twice can usually reach a single-stop itinerary out of ORD. The Devon Avenue corridor and the western suburbs around Naperville and Schaumburg make this one of the heaviest South Asian travel markets in the country, which keeps competition — and therefore consolidator inventory — unusually good on India routes.
What to know before you fly to Shanghai
Entry requirements for US travellers
Most US citizens need a visa for mainland China, though visa-free transit arrangements exist at Shanghai for some itineraries and the qualifying conditions change periodically. Both the visa and the transit rules should be confirmed with the Chinese embassy or consulate for your dates — this is not a corridor to improvise on.
Best time to go
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most pleasant. Avoid Chinese New Year and the early-October Golden Week, when domestic demand roughly doubles fares and fills seats.
Airports and arrival
Shanghai Pudong (PVG) handles international arrivals; Hongqiao (SHA) is mostly domestic and is a different airport across the city, so check which one an onward flight uses before you book it.
Baggage
Transpacific allowances are generally reasonable, but one-stop routings through Seoul, Tokyo or Taipei can apply the more restrictive of the two carriers' rules. We confirm before booking.
Airlines from Chicago to Shanghai
Itineraries offer nonstop service and one-stop itineraries via East Asian hubs.
Getting the best price to Shanghai
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Chicago to Shanghai — frequently asked questions
Fares on the Chicago–Shanghai route vary widely by season and how far ahead you book. We do not publish an estimate we have not measured for this pair; call our agents and they will quote the live consolidator fare for your dates.
Carriers on this route include United, China Eastern and Air China. Others serve it on one-stop itineraries, and the cheapest is not always a name you would expect — the lowest fare we have tracked here was on a carrier outside that list more than once. Itineraries offer nonstop service and one-stop itineraries via East Asian hubs, and total journey time runs about 14.5–16 hours nonstop. Which carrier is cheapest changes with the season and the fare bucket rather than staying fixed, which is why we compare them all on every quote.
Plan on 14.5–16 hours nonstop from Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), including time on the ground if your itinerary connects.
Book three to five months ahead, and further for the November–February high season and the Lunar New Year period.
Yes — this route has nonstop service, with nonstop service and one-stop itineraries via East Asian hubs. Nonstop is not always the cheapest option: a one-stop itinerary on the same dates is frequently a few hundred dollars less, and on a journey of 14.5–16 hours nonstop that trade is worth pricing rather than assuming. Frequencies change by season, so call us for what is actually flying on your dates.
O'Hare (ORD) handles essentially all of Chicago's international traffic; Midway (MDW) is domestic and mostly Southwest. For long-haul the choice is made for you, but if your itinerary starts with a domestic positioning flight it is worth checking whether it lands at the same airport your international departure leaves from — a Midway arrival and an O'Hare departure is a cross-city transfer, not a connection.
Every US itinerary here connects at least once, which means the cheapest headline fare and the best trip are often different bookings. Agents can also hold and combine fares across carriers — an open-jaw into one city and out of another — which most consumer booking sites either cannot price or price badly. SkyKaro's agents are reachable 24/7, and nothing is charged until an agent has confirmed the itinerary and the price with you.