A business class flight, non stop from Los Angeles to China (Shanghai), takes just over 12 hours. Flights with 1, 2 or 3 stops will add many hours of travel time to the trip.
Ideally, a direct / non stop flight is the ideal situation for most people. However, there can be benefits of taking a flight with a stopover.
When planning your trip to China, you need to know that there are over 30 major airports in China. Most people know of Beijing and Shanghai, China is a huge country, and your conference / expo may be hundreds of miles away.
Check out this list of Airports serving major cities in China.
Major Airports in China
| Airport Name | City | IATA Code |
| Beijing Nanyuan Airport | Beijing | NAY |
| Beijing Capital International Airport | Beijing | PEK |
| Tianjin Binhai International Airport | Tianjin | TSN |
| Beijing Daxing International Airport | Beijing | PKX |
| Taiyuan Wusu Airport | Taiyuan | TYN |
| Baita International Airport | Hohhot | HET |
| Zhoushuizi Airport | Dalian | DLC |
| Taoxian Airport | Shenyang | SHE |
| Taiping Airport | Harbin | HRB |
| Shanghai Pudong International Airport | Shanghai | PVG |
| Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport | Shanghai | SHA |
| Nanjing Lukou Airport | Nanjing | NKG |
| Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport | Hangzhou | HGH |
| Ningbo Lishe International Airport | Ningbo | NGB |
| Wenzhou Longwan International Airport | Wenzhou | WNZ |
| Fuzhou Changle International Airport | Fuzhou | FOC |
| Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport | Xiamen | XMN |
| Yaoqiang Airport | Jinan | TNA |
| Yantai Penglai International Airport | Yantai | YNT |
| Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport | Zhengzhou | CGO |
| Wuhan Tianhe International Airport | Wuhan | WUH |
| Changsha Huanghua International Airport | Changsha | CSX |
| Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport | Guangzhou | CAN |
| Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport | Shenzhen | SZX |
| Guilin Liangjiang International Airport | Guilin City | KWL |
| Nanning Wuxu Airport | Nanning | NNG |
| Haikou Meilan International Airport | Haikou | HAK |
| Sanya Phoenix International Airport | Sanya | SYX |
| Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport | Chongqing | CKG |
| Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | Chengdu | CTU |
| Longdongbao Airport | Guiyang | KWE |
| Kunming Changshui International Airport | Kunming | KMG |
| Xi’an Xianyang International Airport | Xi’an | XIY |
Los Angeles to China Ticket Prices
All of the major American and Chinese airline are offering business class tickets on this popular LAX to China flight route. The prices listed in the table below, are a sample for business class flights during the Summer months of 2021.
The price for tickets are currently very high due to China’s closure of their border to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Once China starts allowing foreigners back in, you will see more direct flights, and better prices for business class tickets.
Many people started flying via Vancouver Canada to get better prices.
| Airlines | Direct Flights / Stops | Business Class |
| Air Canada / China Southern | 2 Stops | $5800 |
| ANA | 2 Stops | $9300 |
| Asiana / Korean | 2 Stops | $12000 |
Business Class from Los Angeles to China
Typically, we will find many options for nonstop Business Class flights to China. Currently, the best option for a direct flight is with Air China or China Southern via Vancouver.
Air China flies the popular Boeing 777, and they call the business class seats “Capital Pavilion“. That sounds alot better than their First Class which is called the Forbidden Pavilion. The Business Class seats are a nice size of 75 inches (6.2 feet) long and 21 inches wide. They are practically lie flat at a technical 170 degrees. If you remember from Geometry class in 10th grade, 180 degrees is a straight line. Air China is a Star Alliance member airline.
Los Angeles to China Business Class
Types of Business Class
There are different types of business class sections of airplanes, and many times the price is the same for lower quality. It is smart before buying your ticket, to gain some depth knowledge of the various types of Business Class.
Domestic American Business Class
When flying in the continental United States, you flight can be as long as 6 hours, or as short as 30 minutes. Major Airlines have recently upgraded their planes, along with special names for Business Class.
Each airline has their own unique names for the various class of service. JetBlue makes it simple with their Mint Class.
Delta on the hand offers: Delta One, Delta Premium Select, First Class, Delta Comfort Plus. Which one of those is actually the business class you are looking for?
International Business Class
When traveling across the ocean, many people assume they will be getting a lie flat seat in business class. This is not always the case. Many airlines are still flying planes with business class seats that are not fully flat.
An airline like Etihad offers a world class Business Class, with unique seating configurations for couples and single travelers. Their cabins offer seats in both directions, so that you are not tripping over your neighbors feet.
It is always important to ask your travel coordinator, to be sure you are getting the business class experience you are expect.
