Flying to Tibet can be expensive because it’s hard to reach. The popular Beijing to Lhasa flight costs around 3260 RMB (453 USD) in full price. It’s easy to find a 20% to 30% off ticket for early bird booking.

But do you know there are even cheaper flights just around 1000 RMC (139 USD)?

Using the search engine is not the only way to find cheaper flights to Tibet. With the China's improved transport network, accessing Tibet has become easier and cheaper from west cities, like Chengdu, Chongqing, and Kunming.

To help you find the best deals on flights to Tibet, we’ll share our extensive experience by providing the most effective ways to find cheap flights to Tibet.

1. The cheapest flights to Tibet are from Chengdu, Chongqing, Xining, and Kunming

Flying from a city relatively close to Tibet is one of the best ways to find the cheapest flights. Chengdu, Chongqing, Xining, and Kunming are well located with the closest airports to Tibet and are all fascinating cities in their own right.

Flying from Chengdu to Lhasa is a popular route for many travelers to Tibet, and the cheapest flight from Chengdu to Lhasa is also the fastest, costing just 153 dollars for the 2 hours 20 minutes flight. Flights from Chongqing to Lhasa have some of the best prices. Direct flights lasting 2 hours and 50 minutes are available for as low as 98 dollars. Outside of the low travel season, tickets can still be found for around 167 dollars.

Xining to Lhasa flights take around 2 hours and 15 minutes, and direct flights cost 181 dollars. If you don’t mind flying overnight, there is a cheaper connecting flight from Xining to Lhasa flight, which only costs 95 USD.

Flights from Kunming are generally around 2 hours and 20 minutes long, and the cheapest direct flight costs around 151 dollars. An even cheaper flight is available that includes a stop in Diqing. It costs 132 dollars but takes 8 hours and 10 minutes, including the stopover.

The west cities near Lhasa usually offer the cheapest flights to Tibet.

2. Connecting Flights can be cheaper from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc.

Connecting through a major transportation hub is another way to find cheaper prices. Major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou have many flights daily to cities all over China, making them great places to find cheaper connecting flights to Lhasa.

Generally, you can find a 20% off ticket for direct flights from Beijing to Lhasa that cost 360 dollars, but by connecting through Kunming, you can save money. It’s possible to find cheap flights with one connection for 220 dollars that take around 7 hours. Even cheaper flights are available if you’re willing to travel overnight. For 191 dollars, you can fly through Kunming, but the 16-hour trip requires an overnight layover at Kunming Airport.

Shanghai is a popular arrival point for international tourists, with many connecting flights to Lhasa. The fastest route takes 7 hours and 40 minutes to arrive, with a stop in Xi’an. Tickets can be found for 262 dollars. The cheapest tickets that don’t require overnight travel cost 203 dollars, and connecting through Chongqing takes 7-9 hours, depending on the stopover time. The absolute cheapest can be found for around 152 dollars. This route also connects through Chongqing, where you’ll have to spend the night in the airport during the 11.5-hour journey.

Guangzhou to Lhasa flights via Kunming are reasonably priced without involving overnight travel. For 187 dollars, you can arrive in Lhasa after 11 hours and 35 minutes.

If you choose a cheap flight to Tibet from major hubs, you'll likely have a long layover before reaching Tibet.

3. Don’t wait for the last-minute deals for flights to Tibet

A popular strategy to save money for other destinations is to try and find deals on last-minute tickets. This can easily backfire when traveling to Tibet, and you are unlikely to find a deal that can make it worth the risk. Demand for flight tickets to Tibet is always high, and booking the flight several months in advance is a great way to save money on flights to Tibet. The closer to the flight date, the more expensive it gets, so booking ahead can be a real money-saver.

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4. Fly to Tibet in winter for Off-season Discount

Aside from searching for the cheapest flights available, there are other options to choose from to try and get the lowest cost for your flights to Tibet. The high season for tourism in Tibet runs from June to September, with shoulder seasons that include April to May and October to November. This means the low season, from December to February, is the cheapest time for flights to Tibet. Traveling to Tibet in winter is not as cold as people think, and with fewer tourists traveling to both China and Tibet during the winter months, the trip can be a lot cheaper.

Another good tip for finding cheaper flights to Tibet is to avoid the major holidays in China, such as the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) and the October National Day holiday. Both of these, among others, are times when thousands of Chinese tourists head for the plateau for a break from the daily grind, pushing up flight prices dramatically.

Visiting Tibet in the off-season, you can enjoy a better trip with fewer crowds.

5. Use the best flight search engines

Search engines on the internet are the best tool travelers have for finding cheaper flights to Lhasa from the mainland of China. There are literally thousands of flight search websites to choose from.

The same flight can be offered at various prices, so it's advisable to compare different options. For instance, in our recent search (March 2024), a flight from Chengdu to Lhasa was listed at $377 on Google Flights, $255 on Kayak.com, and $403 on Kiwi.com.

However good the price seems on the comparison website, it is important to check it with the airline and booking agent as well, as there can be changes to the actual price you will pay. Some sites include airport taxes and supplements, while others do not, and you will not know which until you go to book. Prices can also change within hours as demand increases.

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6. Consider budget airlines in China

As with all other countries in the world, China now has several budget airlines where you may be able to get cheaper flights than with the major Chinese airlines such as Air China and Sichuan Airlines. However, as with all budget airlines, there is little to no onboard service, and you pay fees for checked baggage, while carry-on space is extremely limited.

The main Budget Airlines in China are:
● Lucky Airlines - Based out of Kunming; Chinese-only website
● Spring Airlines - Based out of Shanghai; good English website
● West Air - Based out of Chongqing; good English website
● 9 Air - Based out of Guangzhou; Chinese-only website
● China United Airlines - Based out of Beijing Nanyuan airport; Chinese-only website
● Jiangxi Air - Based out of Nanchang; Chinese-only website

Lucky Airlines is one of the budget airlines offering flights to Tibet.

7. Get fare alerts and Newsletters for specific promotions

Once you have decided on the best websites or carriers to get the best prices for your flights to China and Tibet, it is time to ensure you do not miss their best deals.

All the sites have free sign-up options, meaning you can get the latest deals for your saved searches directly to your email or news feed. It is a good idea to opt out of the “receive other promotional offers” when you sign up so your inbox and feed do not get clogged with unrelated offers from partner sites and companies.

8. Use Your Flight Mileage or Travel Point for Discount

If you have credit cards, and many people do these days, it is helpful to sign up for those that offer flight discounts or air miles as part of their promotions. Most major credit cards offer air miles or travel points that accumulate as you spend money using your credit card throughout the year, and these can often make a big difference to the cost of a major long-haul flight such as that to China from Western countries.

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Conclusion

Getting a bargain is an important thing for most people, and nobody wants to pay more than they have to for what they are getting. While grabbing a really cheap flight with a budget airline may save money, they are called “budget” airlines for a reason, and you will get exactly what you pay for - very little.

However, by being aware of the different options you have for finding lower-cost flights to Lhasa from the mainland of China, and maybe even combining several of those hints we gave you together, you can be sure to find the best and cheapest flight for your Tibet tour.