Cheap Flights from Seattle to Shanghai
Seattle (SEA) → Shanghai (PVG) · 12–14 hours nonstop
Flights from Seattle (SEA) to Shanghai (PVG) are operated by Delta, China Eastern, Xiamen Air and Korean Air among others, with nonstop service and one-stop itineraries via Seoul. Total journey time is typically 12–14 hours nonstop. You depart from Seattle–Tacoma International (SEA) and arrive at Shanghai Pudong International (PVG).
| Departure airport | Seattle–Tacoma International (SEA) |
|---|---|
| Arrival airport | Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) |
| Main airlines | Delta, China Eastern, Xiamen Air and Korean Air |
| Routing | Nonstop service and one-stop itineraries via Seoul |
| Journey time | 12–14 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 Seattle–Tacoma
Seattle–Tacoma is the Pacific Northwest's long-haul gateway and, like San Francisco, it is geographically well placed for anything crossing the Pacific. SEA's Asian and Gulf service means travellers from Bellevue, Redmond and the wider Eastside can usually reach India or Southeast Asia with one stop. The regional catchment is large — much of Oregon, Idaho and Alaska feeds through SEA — so booking early matters more here than the airport's size would suggest.
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 Seattle to Shanghai
Itineraries offer nonstop service and one-stop itineraries via Seoul.
Getting the best price to Shanghai
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Seattle to Shanghai — frequently asked questions
Fares on the Seattle–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 Delta, China Eastern, Xiamen Air and Korean Air. 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 Seoul, and total journey time runs about 12–14 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 12–14 hours nonstop from Seattle–Tacoma International (SEA) 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 Seoul. 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 12–14 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.
Sea-Tac (SEA) is the region's only significant airport, with Paine Field serving a handful of domestic routes. SEA's international departures and its domestic concourses are connected by an underground train, and the airport has grown faster than its footprint — the security wait is the part travellers underestimate.
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.