Find Cheap Flights from Shanghai to Sydney – Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Direct flights
Every day
You can fly direct with China Eastern and Juneyao Airlines. Average duration is 10h 17m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
Top routes
SHA - SYD
Cheapest • 16% average savings
PVG - SYD
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Avoid delays
China Eastern
Most punctual • 86% on-time
Evening
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
When to book
24 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 24 weeks in advance save around 66% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
December
Cheapest • 35% price drop
January
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
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Top stopover airports
Qingdao Jiaodong Intl (TAO)
Cheapest • Avg $597 (return)
Xiamen Gaoqi Intl (XMN)
Shortest trip • 13h 34m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Shanghai to Sydney

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from Shanghai to Sydney

Multiple Airlines Logo
CN2  London Canonbury-SYD Sydney Airport
12680 kmmulti-stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
SYD  Sydney Airport-CN2 London Canonbury
12680 kmmulti-stop
Multiple Airlines
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for Shanghai to Sydney flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights from Shanghai to Sydney with more confidence.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Shanghai to Sydney?

Sunday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Shanghai to Sydney and is 22% cheaper than the average day. Thursday is the most expensive day with flight prices 13% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Shanghai to Sydney?

•December is the cheapest month to fly from Shanghai to Sydney at $786 return.
•January ($1,545) and September ($1,511) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 96% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are prices from Shanghai to Sydney the cheapest?

Flights from Shanghai to Sydney are cheapest 24 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 66% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

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Key details for Shanghai to Sydney flights

Low season

April
Best time to beat the crowds (12% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (27% more expensive on average)

When to book flights from Shanghai to Sydney

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Shanghai to Sydney based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

Your Shanghai to Sydney flight questions, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking questions.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Shanghai to Sydney?

    These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Shanghai to Sydney:

    • Earliest: departs at 00:10 and lands at 10:27
    • Latest: departs at 20:45 and lands at 07:02.

    The flight takes about 10h 17m.

  • Which cabin classes can I book on flights from Shanghai to Sydney?

    Three cabin classes are available on flights from Shanghai to Sydney:

    • Economy class
    • Premium Economy Class
    • Business Class

  • How long is a flight from Shanghai to Sydney?

    A direct flight from Shanghai to Sydney takes 10h 17m, covering 12,680 km.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Shanghai to Sydney?

    Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Shanghai to Sydney flight?

    Return flights from Shanghai to Sydney range from $903 to $1,604, with an average of $1,217 over the past 12 months. Anything below $903 counts as a good deal.

  • How expensive are last-minute Shanghai to Sydney flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 44% above the route average of $1,217. Book 24 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How much can I save by having a stopover when flying from Shanghai to Sydney?

    On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average $597 return via Qingdao Jiaodong Intl (TAO), compared with $1,412 for direct.

  • How does China Eastern's on-time performance compare to other airlines on Shanghai to Sydney flights?

    China Eastern is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Juneyao Airlines has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Shanghai to Sydney flights are:

    • China Eastern: 86% on time
    • Juneyao Airlines: 70% on time
    • Qantas Airways: 55% on time

    On average, flights on this route are punctual 80% of the time.

  • How are flight departures from Shanghai to Sydney spread across the day?

    Evening is the busiest departure period on Shanghai to Sydney flights, with 66% leaving in that window. Night departures account for 33%, Morning flights for 1%, and Afternoon flights for 0%.

  • Which car hire options are available at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD)?

    Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around $14 for economy cars. Top options include:
    • Bargain Car Rentals
    • East Coast Car Rentals
    • EverythingFleet
    • YESDRIVE CAR RENTAL
    • No Birds

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Shanghai to Sydney?

    Flights from Shanghai to Sydney may depart from several airports in Shanghai area, including Shanghai Pu Dong (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao Intl (SHA). Flights usually arrive at Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD).

  • How do delay rates compare for morning and evening flights from Shanghai to Sydney?

    Evening flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

  • At what point is a flight considered delayed on the route from Shanghai to Sydney?

    A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Shanghai to Sydney route, 20% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2 hours 1 minute.

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Shanghai to Sydney pass through?

    One-stop flights from Shanghai to Sydney most commonly connect through:

    • Hong Kong Intl (HKG) – 34% of one-stop connections
    • Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) – 24% of one-stop connections
    • Xiamen Gaoqi Intl (XMN) – 10% of one-stop connections
    • Beijing Capital (PEK) – 9% of one-stop connections

    Hong Kong Intl (HKG) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Shanghai to Sydney?

    On the Shanghai to Sydney route, being flexible with your departure day can save you up to 31%. Sunday is the cheapest day at $958 return on average, while Thursday is the most expensive at $1,376 – a $419 difference. Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

  • Which airlines are available on the route from Shanghai to Sydney?

    2 airlines operate flights between Shanghai and Sydney. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

    • China Eastern
    • Juneyao Airlines

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different stopover airport from Shanghai to Sydney?

    Flying via Xiamen Gaoqi Intl (XMN) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 13h 34m, compared to 14h 29m via Singapore Changi (SIN) and 14h 56m via Hong Kong Intl (HKG).

  • What is the time difference between Shanghai and Sydney?

    Sydney is 2 hours ahead of Shanghai (Eastern Australia Time vs China Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • What popular places can I visit in Sydney?

    Some of the most popular sights in Sydney are Sydney Opera House, Star Casino, and Capitol Theatre. These are among the most viewed places in Sydney on KAYAK.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Shanghai to Sydney flights?

    Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

    • Juneyao Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
    • China Eastern: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
    • Qantas Airways: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Business Class

    Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so travellers should check the fare details before booking.

Your guide to booking Shanghai to Sydney flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly, and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Sunday departure instead of Thursday. On this route, Sunday flights average $958 – about $419 less than Thursday (30% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 24 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 66% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Shanghai to Sydney trip for December. Fares historically average $786 return in that month – typically $758 less than the most expensive month, which is January (based on the last 12 months).
  • If arriving on time is high on your priority list, China Eastern is the strongest pick on this route. 86% of China Eastern flights from Shanghai to Sydney arrived on time in the past 3 months, slightly above the route's average on-time arrival rate of 80%. When flights on this route do arrive late, the average delay is 2 hours1 minute, so choosing an airline with strong on-time performance can make a difference on tight schedules.
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Qingdao Jiaodong Intl Airport (TAO) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest stopover option averages $597 return on this route – about $815 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.
    - Travelodge Hotel Sydney Airport
    - Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel
    - ibis budget Sydney Airport

Prefer to fly direct from Shanghai to Sydney Kingsford Smith?

 
Find which airlines fly direct from Shanghai to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Shanghai to Sydney Kingsford Smith

Monday

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

Tuesday

China Eastern

China Eastern

Wednesday

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

Thursday

China Eastern

China Eastern

Friday

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

Saturday

China Eastern

China Eastern

Sunday

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Sydney Kingsford Smith to Shanghai

Monday

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

Tuesday

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

Wednesday

China Eastern

China Eastern

Thursday

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

Friday

China Eastern

China Eastern

Saturday

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

China Eastern,Juneyao Airlines

Sunday

China Eastern

China Eastern

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from Shanghai to Sydney

Complete your trip to Sydney with a hotel stay or car hire

Car hire in Sydney
Hotels in Sydney
Holidays in Sydney