When is the Houston 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.

IAH to SHA Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Houston to Shanghai flight turbulent?

The IAH–SHA route typically experiences light turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on IAH to SHA?

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 IAH to SHA?

The IAH to SHA flight takes approximately 14h 55m, covering 7,571 miles at 37,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

IAH

→

SHA

Houston · Shanghai · 14h 55m

37.9

Turb Score

14h 55m

Duration

6,579 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 IAH–SHA

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h14h 55m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the IAH–SHA route

The Houston to Shanghai route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 7,571 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 7,571 miles (6,579 nautical miles).

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

Houston to Shanghai Flight Time

How long is the flight from IAH to SHA?

14h 55m

Flight Time

7,571 mi

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 777

Aircraft

The Houston (IAH) to Shanghai (SHA) flight takes approximately 14h 55m, covering 7,571 miles (6,579 nautical miles) at 37,000 feet. The route is operated by United, American Airlines, Delta. Return flights (SHA to IAH) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on IAH–SHA

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 IAH–SHA

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on IAH–SHA

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

Other popular routes with turbulence data

IAH → LAX

Houston → Los Angeles

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

Flew Houston–Shanghai in April, had some light turbulence in the middle portion of the flight. Brief and nothing concerning. This route is usually fine.

Business traveler · April

Some light chop over the North Pacific — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in January.

Regular traveler · January

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

Frequent flyer · January

All IAH routes→ All SHA routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Houston to Shanghai flight turbulent?

The IAH–SHA route typically experiences light turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 37.9/100.

When is turbulence worst on IAH to SHA?

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 IAH to SHA?

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 IAH to SHA?

The IAH to SHA flight takes approximately 14h 55m, covering 7,571 miles (6,579 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly IAH to SHA?

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