When is the London 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.

LGW to PVG Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the London to Shanghai flight turbulent?

The LGW–PVG route typically experiences smooth turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LGW 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 LGW to PVG?

The LGW to PVG flight takes approximately 11h 40m, covering 5,748 miles at 37,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

LGW

→

PVG

London · Shanghai · 11h 40m

19.9

Turb Score

11h 40m

Duration

4,995 nm

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Smooth

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for LGW–PVG

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h11h 40m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LGW–PVG route

The London to Shanghai route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 37,000 feet, the aircraft encounters the strongest bumps roughly 2–5 hours into the flight. This is clear-air turbulence — no clouds, no visual warning — which makes a pre-flight forecast especially valuable.

The route is served by Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa on Boeing 777 · Airbus A350 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 37,000 feet over a distance of 5,748 miles (4,995 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth.

London to Shanghai Flight Time

How long is the flight from LGW to PVG?

11h 40m

Flight Time

5,748 mi

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 777

Aircraft

The London (LGW) to Shanghai (PVG) flight takes approximately 11h 40m, covering 5,748 miles (4,995 nautical miles) at 37,000 feet. The route is operated by Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa. Return flights (PVG to LGW) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on LGW–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 LGW–PVG

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LGW–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

Other popular routes with turbulence data

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London Gatwick → Madrid

light

LGW → BCN

London Gatwick → Barcelona

light

LGW → FCO

London Gatwick → Rome

light-moderate

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Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

Totally smooth April flight. The seatbelt sign came on once briefly on descent but nothing actually happened. Great trip.

Leisure traveler · April

Was nervous about this flight but honestly didn't need to be. Smooth the whole way, the 11h 40m went by fast.

First-time passenger · April

I always expect the worst on longer flights but this one surprised me. Very little turbulence, only a few small bumps on descent. Manageable even for me.

Nervous flyer · January

All LGW routes→ All PVG routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the London to Shanghai flight turbulent?

The LGW–PVG route typically experiences smooth turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 19.9/100.

When is turbulence worst on LGW to PVG?

Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on LGW 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 LGW to PVG?

The LGW to PVG flight takes approximately 11h 40m, covering 5,748 miles (4,995 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LGW to PVG?

The main airlines operating this route are Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, 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