Cheap Flights from Chicago (CHIA) to Shanghai (CSHA)

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Flight deals from Chicago to Shanghai

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Chicago to Shanghai? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from £667. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Shanghai.£624 per passenger.Departing Mon, 20 Apr, returning Mon, 4 May.Return flight with Spirit Airlines and Cathay Pacific.Outbound indirect flight with Spirit Airlines, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Mon, 20 Apr, arriving in Shanghai Hongqiao.Inbound indirect flight with Cathay Pacific, departs from Shanghai Hongqiao on Mon, 4 May, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £624, select.

Shanghai.£667 per passenger.Departing Mon, 20 Apr, returning Mon, 27 Apr.Return flight with Spirit Airlines and Cathay Pacific.Outbound indirect flight with Spirit Airlines, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Mon, 20 Apr, arriving in Shanghai Hongqiao.Inbound indirect flight with Cathay Pacific, departs from Shanghai Hongqiao on Mon, 27 Apr, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £667, select.

Shanghai.£690 per passenger.Departing Mon, 17 Aug, returning Sat, 5 Sep.Return flight with Spirit Airlines and Spring Japan.Outbound indirect flight with Spirit Airlines, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Mon, 17 Aug, arriving in Shanghai Hongqiao.Inbound indirect flight with Spring Japan, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Sat, 5 Sep, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £690, select.

Shanghai.£735 per passenger.Departing Thu, 30 Apr, returning Wed, 16 Sep.Return flight with Spirit Airlines and Spring Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Spirit Airlines, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Thu, 30 Apr, arriving in Shanghai Hongqiao.Inbound indirect flight with Spring Airlines, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Wed, 16 Sep, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £735, select.

Shanghai.£741 per passenger.Departing Sun, 3 May, returning Mon, 25 May.Return flight with Air Canada.Outbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Sun, 3 May, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Mon, 25 May, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £741, select.

Shanghai.£795 per passenger.Departing Fri, 29 May, returning Tue, 9 Jun.Return flight with WestJet and Jetstar Japan.Outbound indirect flight with WestJet, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Fri, 29 May, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Jetstar Japan, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Tue, 9 Jun, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £795, select.

Shanghai.£811 per passenger.Departing Mon, 17 Aug, returning Mon, 24 Aug.Return flight with Frontier Airlines and Philippine Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Mon, 17 Aug, arriving in Shanghai Hongqiao.Inbound indirect flight with Philippine Airlines, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Mon, 24 Aug, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £811, select.

Shanghai.£813 per passenger.Departing Wed, 13 May, returning Wed, 8 Jul.Return flight with Air Canada.Outbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Wed, 13 May, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Wed, 8 Jul, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £813, select.

Shanghai.£814 per passenger.Departing Thu, 17 Sep, returning Mon, 21 Sep.Return flight with Air Canada.Outbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Thu, 17 Sep, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Mon, 21 Sep, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £814, select.

Shanghai.£819 per passenger.Departing Thu, 25 Feb, returning Mon, 1 Mar.Return flight with Korean Air.Outbound indirect flight with Korean Air, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Thu, 25 Feb, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Korean Air, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Mon, 1 Mar, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £819, select.

Shanghai.£828 per passenger.Departing Wed, 29 Apr, returning Mon, 29 Jun.Return flight with Air Canada.Outbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Wed, 29 Apr, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Mon, 29 Jun, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £828, select.

Shanghai.£831 per passenger.Departing Tue, 6 Oct, returning Thu, 15 Oct.Return flight with Cathay Pacific.Outbound indirect flight with Cathay Pacific, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Tue, 6 Oct, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Cathay Pacific, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Thu, 15 Oct, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £831, select.

Shanghai.£843 per passenger.Departing Mon, 30 Mar, returning Wed, 15 Apr.Return flight with Air India and Hong Kong Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Air India, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Mon, 30 Mar, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Hong Kong Airlines, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Wed, 15 Apr, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £843, select.

Shanghai.£846 per passenger.Departing Thu, 29 Oct, returning Fri, 13 Nov.Return flight with Korean Air and Vietnam Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Korean Air, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Thu, 29 Oct, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Vietnam Airlines, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Fri, 13 Nov, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £846, select.

Shanghai.£853 per passenger.Departing Mon, 23 Mar, returning Thu, 26 Mar.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Mon, 23 Mar, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Thu, 26 Mar, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £853, select.

Shanghai.£860 per passenger.Departing Mon, 4 Jan, returning Sun, 17 Jan.Return flight with Turkish Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Turkish Airlines, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Mon, 4 Jan, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Turkish Airlines, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Sun, 17 Jan, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From £860, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Chicago to Shanghai

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Chicago to Shanghai flights are currently cheapest in April.

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Direct flights from Chicago to Shanghai

Alternative Chicago to Shanghai routes

Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from Chicago to Shanghai? You could fly into the following airports instead.

Shanghai Hongqiao

9 miles from central Shanghai

ClosestCheapest

from £624

Search flights

Shanghai Pudong

20 miles from central Shanghai

from £629

Search flights

Chicago to Shanghai: Flight information

The things to know before you go.

Cheapest flight found	£624
Cheapest month to fly	April
Average flight time	15 hrs, 34 mins
Most popular airline	Air China
Average flights per week	57

Check out these Shanghai hotels

Ready to plan your stay? Other travellers rate these Shanghai hotels for cleanliness, service and location.

Shanghai Pujiang Shendu Highway Atour Hotel

11.72 miles from city centre

£35

Per night

Huhua Grand Hotel

15.00 miles from city centre

£54

Per night

Kimpton Qiantan Shanghai by IHG

5.33 miles from city centre

£207

Per night

Shanghai Pujiang Shendu Highway Atour Hotel

11.72 miles from city centre

£35

Per night

Huhua Grand Hotel

15.00 miles from city centre

£54

Per night

Kimpton Qiantan Shanghai by IHG

5.33 miles from city centre

£207

Per night

Explore top-rated hotels

Finding cheap flights from Chicago to Shanghai: Frequently asked questions

How many airports are there in Shanghai?

There are 2 airports in Shanghai: Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai Pudong.

How much are return flights from Chicago to Shanghai?

The best price we found for a return flight from Chicago to Shanghai is £626. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.

How long does it take to fly from Chicago to Shanghai?

15 hours and 34 minutes is the average flight time from Chicago to Shanghai.

Which airlines fly direct from Chicago to Shanghai?

Air China, China Southern and China Cargo fly direct from Chicago to Shanghai.

How many flights are there a week from Chicago to Shanghai?

As of March 2026, there are 228 flights per week flying from Chicago to Shanghai.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Chicago to Shanghai?

The cheapest month to fly from Chicago to Shanghai is usually April.

Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in Shanghai?

If you're flying from Chicago, the cheapest airport near Shanghai is Shanghai Hongqiao – which is 8.6 miles away from the centre of Shanghai. We've found flights into this airport from £626.

Which upcoming date is cheapest to fly from Chicago to Shanghai on?

After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from Chicago to Shanghai on Monday, 20 April 2026.

Can I get a direct flight from Chicago to Shanghai?

Yes – the average flight time is 15 hours and 34 minutes.

How can I get the best flight deal from Chicago to Shanghai?

We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Shanghai but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.

When is the best time to book flights to Shanghai?

We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Shanghai is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.

What’s the weather like in Shanghai?

In March, the average temperature is usually around 9°C. August is typically the warmest month in Shanghai, when it usually averages around 29°C. You can expect the least rain in December. The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging 4°C. The rainiest month is June.

Which is the cheapest airline to fly from Chicago to Shanghai with?

The cheapest airline that flies to Shanghai is Spirit Airlines .

Travelling from Chicago to Shanghai: what you need to know

There are two main airports you can start your trip from in Chicago. Explore your options departing from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) when reserving your flight from Chicago to Shanghai.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) are Shanghai's chief entry points.
The average time for a direct Chicago to Shanghai flight is 14 hours 50 minutes.
The timezone in Shanghai is UTC+8, which is 13 hours ahead of Chicago.
The busiest route for flights from Chicago to Shanghai is from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG). There are three services every week between these two airports. If you want to get going as soon as possible, the earliest flight from ORD to PVG is the 10:00 United Airlines option. If you have other commitments or plans on your day of travel, the latest available service is at 11:00 with United Airlines.
Give yourself enough time to get on your Chicago to Shanghai flight. Generally, it's best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You can expect longer lines during popular months like August. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a wise move.

How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Shanghai

Lock in cheap Chicago to Shanghai flights by booking five months ahead. Based on our research, that's the ideal time frame for picking up a bargain.
August is the best month for scoring an amazing deal on a plane ticket from Chicago to Shanghai. If you're looking to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for each month.
There's no need to check every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll tell you as soon as a better deal is available on cheap flights from Chicago to Shanghai.
Tailor your trip using filters. Pick your ideal departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' Chicago to Shanghai flights.

Flying from Chicago

O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

Depart from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) on a nonstop flight from Chicago to Shanghai. From ORD, you can fly directly into Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).
Reserve your Chicago to Shanghai plane tickets with United Airlines. This airline is a popular option for direct flights from ORD.
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to break up your journey — and perhaps even explore a different city. When searching for Chicago to Shanghai flights leaving from O'Hare International Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Popular options include:
- Haneda Airport (HND)
- Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
The journey from central Chicago to ORD takes around 55 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a cab, you'll cover the 26 kms (16 miles) in 35 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Want a relaxed start to your break? Stay near O'Hare International Airport. Whether you're taking an early flight from Chicago to Shanghai or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are ideal:
When it comes to the on-time performance of O'Hare International Airport, data shows 74.85% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
ORD's address is 10000 West O'Hare.

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)

Break up your Chicago to Shanghai flight with a stop so you can freshen up or cross a new place off your list. Popular stopovers between Chicago Midway International Airport and Shanghai are:
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
MDW is about 14 kms (9 miles) from central Chicago. It takes 20 minutes or so to get to the airport by car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.
Want to enjoy an extra night away before your flight from Chicago to Shanghai? Unwind in a hotel near Chicago Midway International Airport before your trip officially starts. These stays are calling your name:
Chicago Midway International Airport has an on-time performance rate of 78%. This figure gives an insight into how frequently flights departing from this airport make it to their destination on schedule.
You'll find MDW at 5700 South Cicero.

Arriving in Shanghai

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

The distance from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to central Shanghai is roughly 32 kms (20 miles). It'll take you around 50 minutes to reach the centre driving.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 40 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Chicago to Shanghai, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing not long after at one of these hotels near PVG:
Enjoy the freedom to roam with a Shanghai Pudong International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Hertz to explore parts of Shanghai that don't always get the spotlight.
Reserve your ride from Shanghai Pudong International Airport several weeks ahead to get the best possible rate. If you're going away during a peak period, it's a good idea to book your Chicago to Shanghai flight even earlier.
PVG is situated at No.300 Qihang Road.

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)

After your flight from Chicago to Shanghai has touched down, you can reach the city centre in about 20 minutes by car. Central Shanghai is roughly 13 kms (8 miles) from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).
There are some great places to call home for the night near SHA. Settle in and get cosy after your Chicago to Shanghai flight at any of these perfectly located options:
Grab a Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport rental car and experience more with your own set of wheels. Hertz is just moments from your arrival gate, so you'll be on the road in a flash.
Typically, the earlier you book, the more you save and the better your options. Reserve your ride from SHA as soon as you've confirmed your plans.
You can find Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.

Best time to go to Shanghai

April is the busiest month for flights from Chicago to Shanghai. To steer clear of the crowds, go to Shanghai in April.
Lock in a Chicago to Shanghai ticket departing in August if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Shanghai to range from 23ºC (73ºF) to 34ºC (93ºF).
Look for cheap flights from Chicago to Shanghai in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -1ºC (30ºF) and 10ºC (50ºF) on average.

More about Shanghai

When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the most popular stays in Shanghai right here. Check out these options after you've booked your flight from Chicago to Shanghai:
The Bund Sightseeing Avenue and Yu Garden are just two of the top attractions to put on your Shanghai itinerary. Keep the sightseeing going at Shanghai Tower.

Explore more of China

You've visited Shanghai, now it's time to explore more of China. Travel around 170 miles west to Nanjing to check off its popular sights. From Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum to Nanjing City Wall and Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, there's plenty to keep you on the go.
If you're eager to discover another well-known destination in China, head for Suzhou, about 50 miles west of Shanghai. Lotus Peak, Tianpingshan and Shangfang Tower are key reasons to visit.