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Find Cheap Flights from Sydney to Shanghai – 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 30m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
Top routes
SYD - SHA
Cheapest • 19% average savings
SYD - PVG
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Avoid delays
China Eastern
Most punctual • 85% on-time
Night
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
When to book
20 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 20 weeks in advance save around 21% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
February
Cheapest • 22% price drop
April
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top stopover airports
Haikou Meilan Intl (HAK)
Cheapest • Avg $659 (return)
Taipei City Taiwan Taoyuan Intl (TPE)
Shortest trip • 14h 06m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Sydney to Shanghai (SYD-SHA)

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

Recent return flight deals from Sydney to Shanghai

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

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

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

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

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Saturday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Sydney to Shanghai. It’s 2% cheaper than the average day, while Sunday is the most expensive, with prices 10% higher.

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

•February is the cheapest month to fly from Sydney to Shanghai at $811 return.
•December ($1,614) and July ($1,389) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 99% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from Sydney to Shanghai the cheapest?

Flights from Sydney to Shanghai are cheapest 20 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 21% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

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Key details for Sydney to Shanghai flights

Low season

July
Beat the crowds with an average 55% drop in traveller numbers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 49% increase in traveller numbers.

When to book flights from Sydney to Shanghai

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

Your Sydney to Shanghai flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking tips.

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

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

    • Earliest: departs at 08:50 and lands at 19:20
    • Latest: departs at 21:30 and lands at 08:00.

    The flight takes about 10h 30m.

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

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

    • Economy class
    • Premium Economy Class
    • Business Class

  • How long is a flight from Sydney to Shanghai?

    A direct flight from Sydney to Shanghai takes 10h 30m, covering 12,680 km.

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

    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 Sydney to Shanghai flight?

    Return flights from Sydney to Shanghai range from $763 to $1,411, with an average of $1,044 over the past 12 months. Anything below $763 counts as a good deal.

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

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 12% above the $1,044 route average. Book 20 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

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

    On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average $659 return via Haikou Meilan Intl (HAK), compared with $1,290 for direct.

  • How does on-time performance compare across airlines flying from Sydney to Shanghai?

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

    • China Eastern: 85% on time
    • Qantas Airways: 82% on time
    • Juneyao Airlines: 70% on time

    On average, flights on this route are punctual 82% of the time.

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

    Morning is the busiest departure period on Sydney to Shanghai flights, with 34% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 33%, Night flights for 33%, and Evening flights for 0%.

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

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

  • What time of day has the fewest delays on flights from Sydney to Shanghai?

    Night flights have the fewest delays on this route, while morning departures tend to have the most.

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

    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 Sydney to Shanghai route, 18% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 2h 13m.

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

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

    • Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) – 43% of one-stop connections
    • Hong Kong Intl (HKG) – 20% of one-stop connections
    • Xiamen Gaoqi Intl (XMN) – 13% of one-stop connections
    • Chengdu Tianfu Intl (TFU) – 5% of one-stop connections

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

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 11% on flights from Sydney to Shanghai. Saturday is the cheapest departure day at $1,032 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $1,156, a difference of $124.

    Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

  • Which airlines fly from Sydney to Shanghai?

    2 airlines operate flights between Sydney and Shanghai. 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 Sydney to Shanghai?

    Flying via Taipei City Taiwan Taoyuan Intl (TPE) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 14h 06m, compared to 14h 07m via Xiamen Gaoqi Intl (XMN) and 14h 48m via Hong Kong Intl (HKG).

  • What is the time difference between Sydney and Shanghai?

    Shanghai is 3 hours behind Sydney (China Time vs Eastern Australia Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • What popular places can I visit in Shanghai?

    Some of the most popular sights in Shanghai are People's Square, Shanghai Disneyland, and Jing An Park. These are among the most viewed places in Shanghai on KAYAK.

  • Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on Sydney to Shanghai flights?

    Among airlines operating Sydney to Shanghai flights:

    • Juneyao Airlines: offers free seat selection

    Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

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

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

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

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

Your guide to booking Sydney to Shanghai 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 Saturday departure and avoid flying on Sunday. On this route, Saturday flights average $1,032, about $124 less than Sunday fares (11% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 20 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 21% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Sydney to Shanghai trip for February. Fares historically average $811 return in that month – typically $804 less than the most expensive month, which is December (based on the last 12 months).
  • For the best chance of arriving on time, fly with China Eastern. Over the past three months, 85% of China Eastern flights from Sydney to Shanghai arrived on time, slightly above the route average of 82%. When flights on this route arrive late, they're delayed by an average of 2h 13m, so choosing an airline with strong on-time performance can make a difference if you're on a tight schedule.
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Haikou Meilan Intl Airport (HAK) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest stopover option averages $659 return on this route – about $631 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, hotels close to the airport you're flying into can be a convenient option.

    Near Shanghai Pu Dong Airport

    • Dazhong Airport Hotel
    • Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Shanghai Pudong Airport

    Near Shanghai Hongqiao Intl Airport

    • Shanghai Hongqiao Airport Boyue Hotel - Airchina
    • Cordis Shanghai Hongqiao

Prefer to fly direct from Sydney Kingsford Smith to Shanghai?

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

Direct departures

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

Direct returns

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

More options for your flight from Sydney to Shanghai

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

Car hire in Shanghai
Hotels in Shanghai
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