Flying from Shanghai to San Diego: what you need to know
Get your holiday planning started by considering where you'll board your flight from Shanghai to San Diego. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) are the two main airports in Shanghai.
Touch down at San Diego's primary gateway, San Diego International Airport (SAN).
To ensure you catch your flight from Shanghai to San Diego, allow plenty of time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
Delays at check-in and security are more likely if you're travelling during high season, so allow even more breathing space. A good general rule for peak times? Arrive up to four hours early for international flights and two hours for domestic departures.
You'll need an embassy visa for United States if you hold a passport from China and are travelling for tourism purposes. Travel documentation and visa requirements can change. So before you lock in those cheap flights from Shanghai to San Diego, check with your airline as well as the destination country's local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information.
Flying from Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to break up your journey — and maybe even visit a new city. When browsing flights from Shanghai to San Diego leaving from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Popular options include:
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Narita International Airport (NRT)
Central Shanghai to PVG is approximately 56 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take you about 49 minutes to reach there if you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving.
Want a convenient hotel close to Shanghai Pudong International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Shanghai to San Diego, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure gate:
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Split up your flight from Shanghai to San Diego with a stop so you can freshen up or tick another place off your list. Some great stopovers between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and San Diego include:
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Narita International Airport (NRT)
SHA is around 14 kilometres from central Shanghai. It'll take 21 minutes or so to reach the terminal driving from the city centre.
Get your holiday started early with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from Shanghai to San Diego, take it easy in one of these hotels near Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport:
Arriving in San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Diego International Airport (SAN) to central San Diego is approximately 5 kilometres. It'll take you about 9 minutes to get to the centre driving.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey of about 20 minutes.
Consider staying in a hotel near SAN if you're catching a late flight from Shanghai to San Diego. Select one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) is roughly 56 kilometres from the centre of San Diego. Following your flight from Shanghai to San Diego, expect a drive time of approximately 39 minutes to get to the heart of the city.
You can also travel using public transport, which will take about 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and relax at a hotel close to CLD. Here are a few options where you can check in after your flight from Shanghai to San Diego:
How to find the cheapest flights from Shanghai to San Diego
At the moment, R 8,061 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Shanghai to San Diego. The cheapest price for a return flight is R 18,396. Remember fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.
It's usually best to book early if you're looking for cheap tickets from Shanghai to San Diego. That's because flight prices are based on demand, which tends to increase closer to departure.
If you're flexible with your trip dates, try using the 'Whole month' search tool. It'll show you the cheapest price in every month when looking for a ticket from Shanghai to San Diego.
Finding a cheap ticket from Shanghai to San Diego is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as the price has dropped.
Use filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Shanghai to San Diego, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter by departure and arrival times, airline, and number of stops.
Best time to go to San Diego
It's time to plan your dates for your flight from Shanghai to San Diego. July is the most popular month for a trip to San Diego. If you like a quieter vibe, go in May.
The warmest month in San Diego is August, with temperatures ranging between 17ºC and 28ºC. Book your flights from Shanghai to San Diego in this month if this is the type of weather you like.
February has average temperatures of between 7ºC and 23ºC. Look for cheap tickets from Shanghai to San Diego sometime around then if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about San Diego
Start your San Diego trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from Shanghai to San Diego, browse our range of hotels including:
All great journeys should include a little sightseeing. San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum and SeaWorld San Diego are must-visits when exploring San Diego.
Complete your San Diego trip with a car rental
Explore our lineup of car rentals once you've found your hotel and cheap flight from Shanghai to San Diego. Whether you're searching for a compact ride, spacious sedan or even something that'll turn heads, you can easily compare companies in one go to find the best deal.