Flying from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Shanghai: what you need to know
Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located in Durham. Following the UTC+8 timezone, Shanghai is 13 hours ahead of Durham.
To avoid rushing for your RDU to Shanghai flight, leave plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Arriving two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
Be prepared for longer queues during popular months like June. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for a domestic departure is a wise move.
Think about adding a stopover to potentially find a cheaper plane ticket from RDU to Shanghai. All you need to do is uncheck 'Direct flights only' during your search. Give yourself a breather (and maybe even a better deal) by stopping at one of these connecting airports:
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Located around 16 kilometres from the centre of Durham, RDU can be reached in about 20 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey on public transport will take roughly 45 minutes.
Booked an early flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Shanghai? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays close to RDU:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Raleigh-Durham International Airport, data shows 78% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
How to find the cheapest flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Shanghai
₹ 51,892 is currently the lowest price for a one-way Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Shanghai flight. A return plane ticket starts from ₹ 109,784. These prices may change depending on demand.
Booking early is often the key to scoring a cheap flight from RDU to Shanghai. Fares tend to rise as seats fill up, so the closer you get to departure, the more you'll likely spend on your ticket.
The 'Whole month' search tool will show you the cheapest tickets from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Shanghai across the entire month. It's a good way to snap up a bargain if your trip dates aren't set in stone.
Picking up a cheap flight from RDU to Shanghai is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic notifications and we'll get in touch when a deal gets even better.
Tailor your trip with filters. Choose your preferred departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Shanghai.
Airports in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is around 48 kilometres from central Shanghai. If you're opting for a ride-share or a taxi, the drive will take roughly 1 hour 5 minutes.
Travelling to the centre on public transport typically takes 50 minutes.
If you have a late flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Shanghai, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these accommodation options near PVG:
Reserve your vehicle from Shanghai Pudong International Airport several weeks in advance of your flight from RDU to Shanghai. If you're planning to travel during a peak period, book even earlier to lock in the best possible deal.
PVG is located at No.300 Qihang Road.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) is around 14 kilometres from central Shanghai. Following your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Shanghai, it'll take you around 30 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a taxi or ride-share.
You can expect the journey to take roughly 40 minutes on public transport.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and unwind at a hotel close to SHA. Here are a few options where you can check in after your RDU to Shanghai flight:
In general, the sooner you book, the better the prices and vehicle selection. Secure your ride from SHA as soon as you know your dates.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is located at 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.
Best time to go to Shanghai
February is the busiest month for flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Shanghai. To avoid the crowds, head to Shanghai in December.
The warmest month in Shanghai is August, with temperatures ranging between 23ºC and 34ºC. Lock in your Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Shanghai plane ticket then if that's the weather you find most pleasant.
January has average temperatures of between -1ºC and 10ºC. Look for a cheap ticket from RDU to Shanghai around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Shanghai
After booking your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Shanghai, choose a hotel that puts you right where the action is. Make one of these options your base for exploring Shanghai:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be tricky to work out where to start. Shanghai Tower, Shanghai Museum and The Bund Sightseeing Avenue are top sights which should be on any well-planned Shanghai itinerary.
Explore more of China
You've done Shanghai, now it's time to explore more of China. Journey around 274 kilometres west to Nanjing to tick off its top attractions. From Nanjing City Wall to Zijin Tower and Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, your itinerary will be busy.
Around 241 kilometres southwest of Shanghai, Puyang is another essential stop in China. Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Xuanlushan Scenic Area, Xianhua Mountain and Minsheng Flower Sea.
