When is the Detroit to Shanghai route most turbulent?

Check the monthly chart for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical routes peak during monsoon season.

DTW to PVG Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Detroit to Shanghai flight turbulent?

The DTW–PVG route typically experiences light turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on DTW to PVG?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 777 · Airbus A350, that's rows 20–38. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from DTW to PVG?

The DTW to PVG flight takes approximately 14h 10m, covering 7,122 miles at 37,000 feet.

Is the Detroit to Shanghai flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

DTW

→

PVG

Detroit · Shanghai · 14h 10m

43.8

Turb Score

14h 10m

Duration

6,189 nm

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for DTW–PVG

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h14h 10m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the DTW–PVG route

The Detroit to Shanghai route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 7,122 miles. The Pacific jet stream creates moderate turbulence, typically around 3–7 hours into the flight. The sheer length of the route means passengers experience varying conditions: calm stretches punctuated by bumpy patches.

The route is served by United, American Airlines, Delta on Boeing 777 · Airbus A350 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 37,000 feet over a distance of 7,122 miles (6,189 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion.

Detroit to Shanghai Flight Time

How long is the flight from DTW to PVG?

14h 10m

Flight Time

7,122 mi

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 777

Aircraft

The Detroit (DTW) to Shanghai (PVG) flight takes approximately 14h 10m, covering 7,122 miles (6,189 nautical miles) at 37,000 feet. The route is operated by United, American Airlines, Delta. Return flights (PVG to DTW) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on DTW–PVG

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly DTW–PVG

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on DTW–PVG

Boeing 777

Front

Rows 1–19

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 20–38

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 39+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

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Detroit → Los Angeles

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Passenger Reports

A few bumpy patches somewhere over the ocean, lasted maybe half an hour total. Drink service was paused briefly. Not unusual for this time of year.

Frequent flyer · April

Some light chop mid-Pacific — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in August.

Regular traveler · August

Kids barely noticed the turbulence — just some mild bumps mid-Pacific. Seatbelt sign was on and off a couple times. Nothing dramatic.

Parent traveling with kids · January

All DTW routes→ All PVG routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Detroit to Shanghai flight turbulent?

The DTW–PVG route typically experiences light turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 43.8/100.

When is turbulence worst on DTW to PVG?

Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on DTW to PVG?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 777 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20–38. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from DTW to PVG?

The DTW to PVG flight takes approximately 14h 10m, covering 7,122 miles (6,189 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly DTW to PVG?

The main airlines operating this route are United, American Airlines, Delta, flying Boeing 777 · Airbus A350 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data