How Much Does It Cost to Fly from the US to China in 2025?

The cost to fly from the U.S.A. to China varies considerably depending on a variety of factors. On average, the one-way Economy cabin ticket ranges approximately from $652-$900, with its round-trip tickets starting from  $1098. However, these prices usually fluctuate from peak to shoulder seasons, i.e., during the Chinese New Year and autumn months, respectively.

Moreover, the approximate cost on this route is directly proportional to the arrival and departure cities, direct and connecting flights, taxes imposed, time of booking, and flexibility of tickets.

This blog explicitly explains all the essential components, such as the best US airports to fly from, a peek into the taxation system, accompanied by booking tips. The details mentioned below can be quite advantageous for passengers planning their trip from the US to China. 

How much does a Ticket to China cost from the USA?

The exact cost of a flight ticket to China varies depending on several factors. This includes the airline one is travelling from, the city of departure and arrival, the chosen route, the type of flight, and so on. To provide an overview of the airfare, an average cost breakdown of renowned US cities is presented here based on ticket-class divisions. 

City of DepartureCity of ArrivalOne-way TripRound TripCabin Class
New York (East Coast)Beijing$652 – $900$1098 – $1164Economy
Washington D.C. (East Coast)Xiamen$581-$834$1106 – $1394Economy
Los Angeles (West Coast)Shanghai$1006- $1304$1116 – $1356Premium Economy
San Francisco (West Coast)Guangzhou$419 – $815$943-$1511Premium Economy
Chicago Shanghai$2707 – $3738$8826 – $9538Business Class
MinneapolisBeijing$3765-7384$6036-$11405 Business Class

The prices may vary drastically during the peak Summer season and the festive season of the Chinese New Year. These high prices are usually borne by the East Coast customers, with prices going up to $1,400-$2,000 for economy class.

Moreover, this year’s 40-day Chinese New Year celebrations also set a prominent record with the ‘Civil aviation sector recording some 90.2 million passenger trips and 739,000 flights between Jan.14 and Feb. 22’, as highlighted by Yicai Global.

The direct flights to China are also comparatively fewer post-pandemic and operate from major US cities such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Boston, and Washington D.C.  These direct flights are more expensive because of the comfort and luxuries equipped in them as compared to connecting flights. 

Are Direct Flights available from the USA to China in 2025?

Various airlines operate direct flights from the USA to China in 2025. Although the number of direct flights covering the USA to China route is quite low compared to pre-pandemic times.

The airlines that are beginning to offer direct flights to US flyers willing to travel to China are listed here. Moreover, the frequency of flights undertaken by them is also mentioned:

Name of the AirlinesDeparture AirportArrival AirportFlight Frequency
Air ChinaNew York, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)5 Flights per week
Air ChinaLos Angeles International Airport (LAX)Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)4 Flights per week
United AirlinesLos Angeles International Airport (LAX)Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)3 Flights per week
United AirlinesSan Francisco International Airport (SFO)Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)3 Flights per week
American AirlinesDallas Fort Worth International (DFW)Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)5 Flights per week

To know more about the flag carrier of China and the frequent flyer of this route, travellers can also read ‘Is Air China a good airline?’.

Understanding the Tax and Fee Structure

The cost to fly from the USA to China is a bit more expensive because of a plethora of taxes imposed by the United States Government and the Chinese Taxation System.

Passengers couldn’t usually distinguish between the actual base fare and the taxes imposed upon it because, in most cases, the ticket fare is inclusive of all the taxes and fees imposed by the authorities.  

To make it comprehensible for the passengers, a detailed breakdown of the Taxation and Fee Structure is provided below:

Name of the TaxValue added 
U.S. International Departure Tax$19.70
U.S. Passenger Security Fee$5.60 per one-way trip
Civil Aviation Development Fund (Charged by the Chinese Government)$13
U.S. Federal Transportation Tax7.5% of the Base Fare

For more clarity, it can be explained with an example:

If a person is travelling from Washington D.C. to Xiamen. The base fare of the flight ticket is somewhere around $750. If the above-given taxes are added, the cost will rise to $119.05 in this case. This will lead the total amount to be $750 + $119.05 = $869.05. 

This case study highlights that the cost of travel from the United States to China is directly proportional to several important taxes and maintenance fees. This section can be quite beneficial for American customers planning their next trip to China.

Travellers can also gain more insights about such airlines by reading ‘7 Best Airlines that fly to China’. 

Conclusion

It can be concluded that the approximate cost to fly from the USA to China is directly associated with a variety of factors. An average air ticket on this route can cost somewhere around $652-$900 one-way for Economy Class.

The round-trip’s airfare might go up to $1098 – $1164 for Economy Class. To avail benefits and prominent discounts, the travellers should book in advance, stay flexible with their dates, refer to the competitive prices, and the Low Fare Calendars.

This blog highlights the additional taxes and fees added to the tickets for more clarity. The post-pandemic recovery is leading to a visible expansion of airlines on the USA-China route, increasing direct flights. 

The data given above can be extremely advantageous for customers willing to know the precise cost of flights from the U.S.A. to China in 2025.  

FAQs

How much does it approximately cost to fly from the U.S.A. to China in 2025?

It approximately costs $652-$900 for one-way Economy Class and $1098 – $1164 for a round-trip from the U.S.A. to China. 

Is it cheaper to fly from the USA to China?

It is not really cheaper to fly from the USA to China. Although the cost of the ticket is reasonable for connecting flights offered by some airlines.

Is it easier for the students to fly to China from the United States of America?

It is not that easy for USA flyers to go to China like it was before. The primary reason behind this is the stringent visa policy issues, complex air routes, expensive tickets and so on. 

Will Trump’s tariffs make it easier for U.S. travellers to fly to China in 2025? 

Trump’s tariffs might not have a direct effect on the U.S. travellers going to China in 2025. 

Are taxes added to the airfare ticket of the USA flyers going to China?

Yes, some of the taxes are added to the airfare ticket of the USA flyers going to China. A comprehensive list of those is presented above.

THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Eiland