Are direct flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai always the best option?

Direct flights offer convenience and save travel time, but they are not always the most economical choice. Flights with layovers can often be more affordable, though they extend your journey. Consider your priorities for time versus cost when deciding.

Can flexible travel dates help on Johannesburg to Shanghai flights?

Yes, being flexible with your travel dates can significantly impact flight prices. Mid-week travel or flying during the off-peak season often results in lower fares. Adjusting your departure or return by a few days may unlock better deals.

What extra costs should I check before booking Johannesburg to Shanghai flights?

Before booking, always check for potential extra costs such as baggage fees, seat selection charges, and in-flight services. Some airlines may also charge for meals or entertainment. Understanding these additional expenses helps you calculate the true cost of your trip.

Flights From Johannesburg

To Shanghai

Cheap Flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai

Browse current best options from Johannesburg. Become a member to unlock all deals and get alerts when new deals appear.

Deals from

Johannesburg

RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Shanghai

Prices updated 2 days ago

405 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Jul 26, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Johannesburg to Shanghai

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Johannesburg to Shanghai

2026-09-11 – 2026-09-17
JNB - Shanghai
94% AI deal score
$1,167
$681
Round trip
2026-09-09 – 2026-09-20
JNB - Shanghai
93% AI deal score
$1,121
$687
Round trip
2026-09-12 – 2026-09-20
JNB - Shanghai
93% AI deal score
$1,141
$697
Round trip
2026-09-12 – 2026-09-19
JNB - Shanghai
94% AI deal score
$1,173
$697
Round trip
2026-10-13 – 2026-10-22
JNB - Shanghai
93% AI deal score
$1,150
$697
Round trip
2026-10-13 – 2026-10-23
JNB - Shanghai
93% AI deal score
$1,145
$699
Round trip
2026-09-12 – 2026-09-21
JNB - Shanghai
93% AI deal score
$1,137
$706
Round trip
2026-10-13 – 2026-10-24
JNB - Shanghai
92% AI deal score
$1,141
$776
Round trip
2026-09-11 – 2026-09-28
JNB - Shanghai
92% AI deal score
$1,118
$779
Round trip
2026-11-07 – 2026-11-21
JNB - Shanghai
91% AI deal score
$1,032
$797
Round trip

Johannesburg to Shanghai: Overview

Insights for flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai

The journey from Johannesburg to Shanghai covers a substantial distance of 11,786 km, classifying it as a long-haul route. This considerable distance means that itineraries typically involve multiple connections.

For travelers seeking cheap flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai, fares typically range from $1009–$2063, with a median of $1647. Right now, current fares are below the typical level, and approximately 17% of recent fares were classified as a good price. New deals appear almost daily, offering frequent opportunities to find competitive prices.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Johannesburg to Shanghai? The most affordable months to fly are June, with a median fare of $879, followed by July at $975, and November at $987. These months offer significantly lower median prices compared to the overall typical range.

Most itineraries for flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai connect at least once, with 0% of recent fares being non-stop. The majority of connecting itineraries typically involve 2 stopovers, which contributes to longer overall travel times.

How long is the flight from Johannesburg to Shanghai? A typical journey from Johannesburg to Shanghai, including connections, takes approximately 45h 50m. This extended duration reflects the long-haul nature of the route and the necessity of multiple stopovers.

How much is a round trip from Johannesburg to Shanghai

Regular price: $1,021 - $1,714

Prices are currently below the regular range.

Regular prices for flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai typically range from $1021 to $1714. The current lowest deal is $684 with Singapore Airlines for travel from Sep 11-Sep 17.

now $684

Low $1,021

High $1,714

The cheapest time to fly from Johannesburg to Shanghai

The cheapest month to fly from Johannesburg to Shanghai is June, with a median price of $879. The most expensive month is February, with a median price of $2144. Flight prices are generally lower from January to December.

June

Cheapest

Flights from $879

February

Most Expensive

Flights from $2,144

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai

Singapore Airlines

Etihad Airways

Qatar Airways

Emirates Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Johannesburg to Shanghai

Sat, Aug 1

⌛ Last-Minute

JNB - Shanghai

Johannesburg (JNB) - Shanghai (PVG)

Emirates Airlines

$1,470

$1,038

One-way

Fri, Aug 7

⌛ Last-Minute

JNB - Shanghai

Johannesburg (JNB) - Shanghai (PVG)

Qatar Airways

$1,392

$904

One-way

Sun, Aug 9

⌛ Last-Minute

JNB - Shanghai

Johannesburg (JNB) - Shanghai (PVG)

Emirates Airlines

$1,285

$900

One-way

Thu, Aug 13

⌛ Last-Minute

JNB - Shanghai

Johannesburg (JNB) - Shanghai (PVG)

Qatar Airways

$1,205

$888

One-way

Mon, Aug 17

⌛ Last-Minute

JNB - Shanghai

Johannesburg (JNB) - Shanghai (PVG)

Qatar Airways

$1,227

$830

One-way

Mon, Aug 17

⌛ Last-Minute

JNB - Shanghai

Johannesburg (JNB) - Shanghai (PVG)

Qatar Airways

$1,214

$836

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai

18 nights

Dec 26 - Jan 13

$1,471 → $800

46%

17 nights

Dec 26 - Jan 12

$1,470 → $800

46%

17 nights

Dec 27 - Jan 13

$1,470 → $800

46%

16 nights

Dec 28 - Jan 13

$1,468 → $800

46%

Popular Airports to fly from Johannesburg to Shanghai

Johannesburg - Shanghai route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are below the typical level

Recent fares from Johannesburg to Shanghai are below the typical level, with deals around $684.

📅 Best time to fly

June is historically the cheapest month to fly

Historically, June is the cheapest month to fly from Johannesburg to Shanghai, with a median price of $879.

⏱️ Flight duration

Flights are typically long-haul with 2 stopovers

Flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai are long-haul, typically lasting 45h 50m with 2 stopovers.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant on this route

Connecting flights are dominant, with frequent deals available from various providers.

🏆 Airline highlight

Singapore Airlines offers the most deals

Singapore Airlines has the most deals for flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai, with 37 direct deals.

🎯 Booking tip

Good prices are available 17% of the time

Good prices for Johannesburg to Shanghai are available 17% of the time over the next 90 days.

Johannesburg main airports to depart from

O. R. Tambo International (JNB)

Cheapest

O. R. Tambo International is a good option for flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai.

📍 ~20 km from Johannesburg city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$671

Shanghai main airports to arrive at

Shanghai Pudong International (PVG)

Cheapest

Shanghai Pudong International Airport is a good option for flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai.

📍 ~30 km from Shanghai (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$671

Airports nearby Shanghai used as alternative

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International (HGH)

Cheapest

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International is a major international hub with excellent high-speed rail connectivity to Shanghai.

📍 ~180 km from Shanghai (reachable by high-speed rail)

💸 Flights from ~$815

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Shanghai

90% AI deal score

$4,655

$3,635

Save $1,020

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Shanghai

To find more affordable flights, consider being flexible with your travel dates and times. Comparing prices across different airlines and booking sites can also help you identify better deals. Look out for layovers, as these flights are often more budget-friendly.

Booking in advance can often secure better prices, especially for international routes. However, last-minute deals can sometimes appear, so it's wise to monitor price trends. Generally, planning ahead provides more options and potentially lower fares.

Comparing nearby airports can sometimes reveal different flight options and prices. While it may require additional travel to and from these airports, the potential savings on airfare can be significant. Always factor in the total cost and convenience.

Related routes

More routes from Johannesburg

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Johannesburg to Shanghai: Overview

Insights for flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai

How much is a round trip from Johannesburg to Shanghai

Regular price: $1,021 - $1,714

Prices are currently below the regular range.

Regular prices for flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai typically range from $1021 to $1714. The current lowest deal is $684 with Singapore Airlines for travel from Sep 11-Sep 17.

now $684

Low $1,021

High $1,714

The cheapest time to fly from Johannesburg to Shanghai

June

Cheapest

Flights from $879

February

Most Expensive

Flights from $2,144

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai

Singapore Airlines

Etihad Airways

Qatar Airways

Emirates Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Johannesburg to Shanghai

Sat, Aug 1

⌛ Last-Minute

JNB - Shanghai

Johannesburg (JNB) - Shanghai (PVG)

Emirates Airlines

$1,470

$1,038

One-way

Fri, Aug 7

⌛ Last-Minute

JNB - Shanghai

Johannesburg (JNB) - Shanghai (PVG)

Qatar Airways

$1,392

$904

One-way

Sun, Aug 9

⌛ Last-Minute

JNB - Shanghai

Johannesburg (JNB) - Shanghai (PVG)

Emirates Airlines

$1,285

$900

One-way

Thu, Aug 13

⌛ Last-Minute

JNB - Shanghai

Johannesburg (JNB) - Shanghai (PVG)

Qatar Airways

$1,205

$888

One-way

Mon, Aug 17

⌛ Last-Minute

JNB - Shanghai

Johannesburg (JNB) - Shanghai (PVG)

Qatar Airways

$1,227

$830

One-way

Mon, Aug 17

⌛ Last-Minute

JNB - Shanghai

Johannesburg (JNB) - Shanghai (PVG)

Qatar Airways

$1,214

$836

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Johannesburg to Shanghai

18 nights

Dec 26 - Jan 13

$1,471 → $800

46%

17 nights

Dec 26 - Jan 12

$1,470 → $800

46%

17 nights

Dec 27 - Jan 13

$1,470 → $800

46%

16 nights

Dec 28 - Jan 13

$1,468 → $800

46%

Popular Airports to fly from Johannesburg to Shanghai