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$866+ Cheap flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Shanghai, China

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 6/19. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — SHA
Feb 26 — Mar 51
Thu 2/26
Thu 3/5
1 adult, Economy
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Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to Shanghai

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to Shanghai
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Des Moines to Shanghai. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on January 27, 2026.

This Cathay Pacific deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/25. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cathay Pacific is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 3/210:04 am
DSM
-
SHA
2 stops36h 16m
Multiple Airlines
Mon 3/910:30 pm
SHA
-
DSM
2 stops38h 10m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/25$1,074
This Cathay Pacific deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/25. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cathay Pacific is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 3/1010:04 am
DSM
-
SHA
2 stops37h 16m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 3/174:35 pm
SHA
-
DSM
2 stops38h 44m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/25$1,086
This Cathay Pacific deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cathay Pacific is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 8/293:49 pm
DSM
-
PVG
2 stops37h 01m
Multiple Airlines
Sat 9/2612:20 pm
PVG
-
DSM
2 stops44h 41m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/27$1,162
This Cathay Pacific deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/25. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cathay Pacific is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 3/1110:04 am
DSM
-
PVG
2 stops37h 26m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 3/187:10 am
PVG
-
DSM
2 stops38h 44m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/25$1,299
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/25. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 3/1111:17 am
DSM
-
PVG
1 stop40h 08m
American Airlines
Wed 3/186:25 pm
PVG
-
DSM
1 stop37h 32m
American Airlines
Deal found 1/25$1,316
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/25. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 3/115:30 am
DSM
-
PVG
2 stops24h 15m
United Airlines
Wed 3/188:55 pm
PVG
-
DSM
3 stops32h 12m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/25$1,325
This Cathay Pacific deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/24. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cathay Pacific is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 3/53:08 pm
DSM
-
SHA
2 stops31h 12m
Multiple Airlines
Thu 3/1210:30 pm
SHA
-
DSM
2 stops37h 04m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/24$1,339
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 8/293:15 pm
DSM
-
PVG
2 stops20h 20m
ANA
Fri 9/251:35 am
PVG
-
DSM
2 stops23h 25m
ANA
Deal found 1/27$1,395
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 8/296:20 am
DSM
-
PVG
1 stop20h 00m
Delta
Sat 9/2610:00 am
PVG
-
DSM
1 stop23h 45m
Delta
Deal found 1/27$1,397
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 3/137:27 pm
DSM
-
PVG
1 stop31h 58m
American Airlines
Fri 3/206:25 pm
PVG
-
DSM
1 stop37h 32m
American Airlines
Deal found 1/27$1,413
This Ovago deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/24. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Ovago is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 6/93:15 pm
DSM
-
PVG
2 stops40h 25m
ANA
Sun 7/58:25 am
PVG
-
DSM
2 stops42h 46m
ANA
Deal found 1/24$1,416
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/26. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 5/196:30 pm
DSM
-
PVG
2 stops31h 50m
Delta
Tue 6/165:30 pm
PVG
-
DSM
2 stops29h 45m
Delta
Deal found 1/26$1,488

Find flight deals from Des Moines to Shanghai

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Des Moines (DSM) to Shanghai (CN2). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated January 27, 2026.

Round-trip from

$1,074
(Cathay Pacific)

One-way from

$866
(Mytrip)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$1,220
From Des Moines to Shanghai
Search Deals
One-way flight from Des Moines to Shanghai
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 17% potential increase in price ($296 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 5% potential price decrease ($76 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in January 2026
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Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Des Moines to Shanghai that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated January 27, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to Shanghai that are best for you.

Fly from

Des Moines

Fly to

Shanghai

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesShanghai

DSM - SHA

DSMSHA

Des Moines

Mon 3/2

10:04 am-12:20 pm

2 stops36h 16m

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Mon 3/9

10:30 pm-10:34 pm

2 stops37h 04m

$1,074

Des MoinesShanghai

DSM - SHA

DSMSHA

Des Moines

Tue 3/10

10:04 am-12:20 pm

2 stops37h 16m

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Tue 3/17

4:35 pm-6:19 pm

2 stops38h 44m

$1,086

Des MoinesShanghai

DSM - PVG

DSMPVG

Des Moines

Wed 3/11

10:04 am-12:30 pm

2 stops37h 26m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Wed 3/18

7:10 am-8:54 am

2 stops38h 44m

$1,299

Des MoinesShanghai

DSM - PVG

DSMPVG

Des Moines

Wed 3/11

11:17 am-4:25 pm

1 stop40h 08m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Wed 3/18

6:25 pm-6:57 pm

1 stop37h 32m

$1,316

Des MoinesShanghai

DSM - PVG

DSMPVG

Des Moines

Wed 3/11

5:30 am-6:45 pm

2 stops24h 15m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Wed 3/18

8:55 pm-4:07 pm

3 stops32h 12m

$1,325

Des MoinesShanghai

DSM - SHA

DSMSHA

Des Moines

Thu 3/5

3:08 pm-12:20 pm

2 stops31h 12m

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Thu 3/12

10:30 pm-10:34 pm

2 stops37h 04m

$1,339

Des MoinesShanghai

DSM - PVG

DSMPVG

Des Moines

Tue 6/9

3:15 pm-8:40 pm

2 stops40h 25m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Sun 7/5

8:25 am-2:11 pm

2 stops42h 46m

$1,416

Des MoinesShanghai

DSM - PVG

DSMPVG

Des Moines

Tue 5/19

6:30 pm-3:20 pm

2 stops31h 50m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Thu 6/18

5:30 pm-10:15 am

2 stops29h 45m

$1,488

Des MoinesShanghai

DSM - PVG

DSMPVG

Des Moines

Tue 5/19

6:30 pm-3:20 pm

2 stops31h 50m

Shanghai Pu Dong

Wed 6/17

5:30 pm-5:09 pm

2 stops36h 39m

$1,488

Des MoinesShanghai

DSM - SHA

DSMSHA

Des Moines

Wed 3/11

3:26 pm-3:20 pm

2 stops34h 54m

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl

Wed 3/18

1:35 pm-6:19 pm

2 stops41h 44m

$1,494

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/24

Showing 1-10 of 20 results
1
2

Best time to book a flight from Des Moines to Shanghai

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Shanghai from Des Moines with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Des Moines to Shanghai
No data available for this route at this time. Please check back soon.

Reviews of airlines servicing Shanghai

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Shanghai. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Shanghai. Reviews last updated January 27, 2026.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from Des Moines to Shanghai, such as Delta and United Airlines. You can also see how each airline stacks up in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Delta
7.9
Good
8,119 reviews

Crew

8.5

Food

7.2

Comfort

7.9

Overall

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.8

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Jim,Nov 2025

AVL - ATL

The exit row seats without a seat in front are great for leg room but don’t have a fold out entertainment console so you’re forced to use the screen several feet in front of you (there is, at least, a remote). Best to bring a tablet loaded with entertainment or a book.
Delta
7.9
Good
8,119 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
8,119 reviews

Crew

8.5

Food

7.2

Comfort

7.9

Overall

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.8

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Jim,Nov 2025

AVL - ATL

The exit row seats without a seat in front are great for leg room but don’t have a fold out entertainment console so you’re forced to use the screen several feet in front of you (there is, at least, a remote). Best to bring a tablet loaded with entertainment or a book.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,205 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
8,119 reviews

Crew

8.5

Food

7.2

Comfort

7.9

Overall

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.8

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Jim,Nov 2025

AVL - ATL

The exit row seats without a seat in front are great for leg room but don’t have a fold out entertainment console so you’re forced to use the screen several feet in front of you (there is, at least, a remote). Best to bring a tablet loaded with entertainment or a book.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Des Moines to Shanghai. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airport do you fly from for flights from Des Moines to Shanghai?

    For a flight from Des Moines to Shanghai, you will be flying from Des Moines. Des Moines (DSM) is just 3.6 mi from the center of the city. Des Moines is the only Des Moines airport and it handles 0 outbound flights to Shanghai per day. 2 airlines have flights to Shanghai from Des Moines on a regular basis.

  • How long is the flight from Des Moines to Shanghai?

    For as low as $1,325, American Airlines can have you in Shanghai from Des Moines in 24h 15m. There are 6925 mi between Des Moines and Shanghai. Both multi-stop and nonstop flights can be found to your destination and back.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Des Moines to Shanghai round-trip?

    Flying on Delta is currently your cheapest option to Shanghai, with prices starting at $1,149. Another option worth looking into is United Airlines, starting at $1,408 round trip. Users have found that Delta is 18% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Des Moines to Shanghai that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Des Moines to Shanghai flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Des Moines to Shanghai?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Des Moines to Shanghai.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Des Moines to Shanghai?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Des Moines to Shanghai by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

See more FAQs

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Top 2 airlines flying from Des Moines to Shanghai

Discover the top 2 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines to Shanghai. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated January 27, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
DeltaCheapest$1,149Average$1,934FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$1,408Average$1,926FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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