Gimpo to Shanghai Hongqiao Direct Flights 2026: Booking & Baggage Tips

When you're looking for Shanghai flights,

you naturally start with the cheapest options, right? Haha.

I also initially focused solely on the price,

but my perspective shifted when I started considering the flight times too.

While there were cheaper tickets flying into Pudong,

they often involved early morning or late-night arrivals/departures,

or confusing baggage allowances that required a second look.

On the other hand, direct flights from Gimpo to Hongqiao,

even if the price went up slightly to the ~$370 range,

departed during the day and included checked baggage,

making them seem much more convenient for a short trip.

Especially for a 3-night, 4-day itinerary,

a few hours difference on the first and last days can make a huge impact, right?!

So, let me tell you all about the Gimpo-Hongqiao direct flights,

including November and December prices, baggage details,

and even flight+hotel discounts:D

1. Gimpo-Hongqiao Direct Flights

The flights I looked into this time were

direct flights with China Eastern Airlines from Gimpo Airport

straight to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport.

I actually flew China Eastern once before when I went to Shanghai.

Honestly, before taking the flight,

I thought it would be similar to domestic low-cost carriers,

but once I was on board, I actually found China Eastern to be quite good! Haha.

First off, even on a short Shanghai route, they serve an in-flight meal...!

The taste was just okay, though, haha.

But it was pretty surprising that they offered a meal

on such a short flight.

And the biggest reason I would consider flying China Eastern again

is the 23kg checked baggage allowance...!

That's a massive perk, haha!

If you do a bit of shopping in Shanghai

and start adding snacks or souvenirs,

your suitcase weight can quickly pile up, right?

The Gimpo-Hongqiao flight I looked into this time also

included 8kg for carry-on baggage

and up to 23kg for checked baggage.

Low-cost carriers might seem cheap at first,

but once you start adding checked baggage,

the price often ends up climbing.

But with an in-flight meal and

a generous 23kg allowance included,

if the price difference isn't too significant,

I'd definitely fly China Eastern, haha!

Plus, this particular itinerary

departs from Gimpo during the day and arrives in Hongqiao,

which makes the timing quite ideal for a short trip like a 3-night, 4-day Shanghai getaway.

🔎 Check Gimpo Airport-Hongqiao Direct Flight Times

2. November & December Flight Prices

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November, December Flight Comparison

Category	November	December
Itinerary	11/13~16	12/3~6
Departure	Gimpo 12:00 → Hongqiao 12:55
Return	Hongqiao 08:00 → Gimpo 11:00	Hongqiao 17:00 → Gimpo 19:50
Price	~$372	~$385
Carry-on Baggage	8kg
Checked Baggage	23kg

It was ~$12 more expensive than November,

but for that small difference,

I'd definitely be more drawn to the December timings, haha!

In November, the return flight

is at 8 AM, meaning you'd have to head straight to the airport

almost directly from your hotel.

But in December, with a 5 PM departure,

you can enjoy lunch on your last day and explore a bit more, right?

For a difference of around ~$12,

I'd definitely choose to maximize my travel time...!

Prices change in real-time, so

If your itinerary is similar to the dates I looked at,

be sure to check the current round-trip prices again.

👇 Check Gimpo-Shanghai Hongqiao Flight Prices

3. Flights + Hotel

I was just about to book the flight ticket,

but then I thought, why not include the hotel too?

And wow, you absolutely *have* to compare these prices! Lol.

Based on November 13-16,

a hotel near Shanghai People's Square on Nanjing East Road

would have been ~$625 if booked separately,

but when I looked at it as a flight + hotel package, it was ~$528.

That's a difference of ~$97...!

For December 3-6,

the savings at Hotel Chalet Shanghai were even bigger.

Booking separately was ~$734,

but the flight + hotel package showed it at ~$583,

a difference of ~$152.

Of course, not all hotels showed such significant drops.

For some, like the Grand Hyatt,

the difference was only around ~$15.

But for others, like the Radisson, it was over ~$74,

so there was quite a bit of variation depending on the hotel.

So, rather than assuming a package is always cheaper,

it's most accurate to pick the hotel you want to stay in

and compare the package price with booking it separately.

Since you'll need a hotel in Shanghai anyway,

I personally wouldn't just book the flight immediately;

I'd definitely check the flight + accommodation package first! Lol.

Especially for a 3-night stay,

a difference of over ~$74 can feel like a really big deal.

👇 Compare Shanghai Flight + Hotel Prices

4. 3% Discount Code

But wait, there's more! Hehe.

Trip.com flights

can also benefit from a 3% discount code.

Discount Code

3HAFLT3

This code gives you a discount of up to ~$9,

so be sure to enter it before payment.

Since flight prices are already in the ~$370 range,

every dollar counts, right? Lol.

If it were me, I'd check the flight price,

then look at the bundled flight + hotel price,

and finally, at the payment stage,

I'd apply the discount code to compare the final total.

Just a heads-up, discount codes

might vary in applicability depending on the time of booking or specific conditions,

so always double-check your final payment amount.

🔎 Book Shanghai Flights with a 3% Discount

5. What's the Best Itinerary?

If you only look at the lowest prices,

there were even cheaper flights than Gimpo-Hongqiao.

However, I'm not a fan of itineraries where you depart or arrive in the early morning,

making you awkwardly use up a hotel day. T_T

Especially if you arrive early in the morning on your first day of travel,

you have to worry about hotel check-in and getting around,

and if your flight is in the early morning on your last day,

you have to calculate your airport travel time from the day before.

Since the flight time to Shanghai isn't very long,

it's actually better to consider the time it takes to get to the airport,

and the time to travel from the airport to the city center upon arrival.

In that regard,

a schedule departing from Gimpo in the daytime and arriving at Hongqiao

might not be the absolute cheapest,

but it seems like a great option for maximizing your travel time.

Especially if you're going for a short trip, like 3 nights and 4 days,

I'd definitely prioritize the flight times over the absolute lowest price, haha!

6. Booking Review

After thoroughly comparing Shanghai flight tickets this time,

I realized that the absolute cheapest ticket isn't always the best solution.

For direct flights from Gimpo to Hongqiao,

November prices started around ~$370,

and December was in the ~$378 range.

These prices also included 23kg of checked baggage.

If it were me, between November and December,

since the price difference isn't significant,

I'd be more drawn to the December itinerary for its better return flight times.

And if you haven't booked your hotel yet,

don't just pay for the flight ticket separately.

Definitely compare the flight + hotel package prices too, haha!

In the itineraries I looked at,

there were hotels with price differences of ~$74, or even over ~$148...!

Finally, make sure to apply any 3% discount codes,

and choose the combination that gives you the best final price.

If you're planning a 3-night, 4-day trip to Shanghai,

start by checking the Gimpo-Hongqiao flight times,

compare prices including hotels,

and don't forget to look for discount codes, haha!