When is the Los Angeles 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.

LAX to PVG Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Los Angeles to Shanghai flight turbulent?

The LAX–PVG route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LAX to PVG?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 777 · Airbus A350, that's rows 22–40. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The LAX to PVG flight takes approximately 13h 0m, covering 7,444 miles at 38,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

LAX

→

PVG

Los Angeles · Shanghai · 13h 0m

Turb Score

13h 0m

Duration

6,468 nm

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for LAX–PVG

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h13h 0m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LAX–PVG route

The Los Angeles to Shanghai route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 7,444 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 Air China, China Eastern, United Airlines on Boeing 777 · Airbus A350 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 7,444 miles (6,468 nautical miles).

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

Los Angeles to Shanghai Flight Time

How long is the flight from LAX to PVG?

13h 0m

Flight Time

7,444 mi

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 777

Aircraft

The Los Angeles (LAX) to Shanghai (PVG) flight takes approximately 13h 0m, covering 7,444 miles (6,468 nautical miles) at 38,000 feet. The route is operated by Air China, China Eastern, United Airlines. Return flights (PVG to LAX) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on LAX–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 LAX–PVG

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LAX–PVG

Boeing 777

Front

Rows 1–21

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 22–40

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 41+

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

SFO → PVG

San Francisco → Shanghai

Los Angeles → Hong Kong

Moderate

LAX → PEK

Los Angeles → Beijing

See all transpacific flights →

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Passenger Reports

Flew this in May expecting smooth skies based on past experience, but it was noticeably bumpier than usual. About an hour of moderate chop. Seatbelt sign basically stayed on.

Regular traveler · May

Rough patch somewhere over the ocean in May — drinks went everywhere on the row behind me. Probably 45 minutes of actual turbulence. Nothing dangerous but definitely uncomfortable.

Business traveler · May

This was genuinely difficult for me. Real bumps for a long stretch mid-Pacific, seatbelt sign on for what felt like forever. The flight attendants were calm which helped. Got through it.

Nervous flyer · April

All LAX routes→ All PVG routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Los Angeles to Shanghai flight turbulent?

The LAX–PVG route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 60/100.

When is turbulence worst on LAX 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 LAX to PVG?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 777 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 22–40. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from LAX to PVG?

The LAX to PVG flight takes approximately 13h 0m, covering 7,444 miles (6,468 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LAX to PVG?

The main airlines operating this route are Air China, China Eastern, United Airlines, 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