Flying from Beijing to Los Angeles: what you need to know
Beijing has two main airports where you can kick off your trip. Check out your options for reserving a flight from Beijing to Los Angeles flying out of Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX).
When it comes to working out where to land in Los Angeles, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY) are the chief entry points.
Hop on a direct Beijing to Los Angeles flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 12 hours 40 minutes.
Los Angeles's timezone is UTC-8, making Los Angeles 16 hours behind Beijing.
With seven weekly flights between the two airports, Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the busiest route. Hop on the first flight from Beijing to Los Angeles with United Airlines at 11:45. If you'd like to make the most of your day before jetting off, the last departure from PEK to LAX is with Air China at 22:00.
Give yourself enough time to get on your Beijing to Los Angeles flight. As a general rule, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months such as August, you'll want to get to the airport earlier than normal. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for international flights when you fly during a peak period in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Beijing to Los Angeles
Don't leave everything to the last moment. You're more likely to get cheap Beijing to Los Angeles flights if you book early. Airlines often have some fantastic early bird discounts.
Finding cheap plane tickets from Beijing to Los Angeles is easy if you can be flexible with your travel dates. Try using the 'Whole month' search function to see the lowest fares across each month and score an awesome deal.
Never miss a deal on cheap flights from Beijing to Los Angeles by creating a Price Alert. You'll get an email or notification through the app when a special offer becomes available.
Select your preferred arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines by using the filters. Alternatively, sort your Beijing to Los Angeles flight results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest.'
Flying from Beijing
Beijing Capital Airport (PEK)
If you're searching for a direct flight from Beijing to Los Angeles, you can leave from Beijing Capital Airport (PEK). Fly from PEK to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) without any stops.
Reserve your Beijing to Los Angeles plane tickets with Air China. This carrier is a top choice for direct flights from PEK.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling — and possibly even visit a new city. When browsing Beijing to Los Angeles flights departing from Beijing Capital Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Some popular options include:
Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT)
The journey from central Beijing to PEK takes about 50 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a taxi, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 45 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Catching an early flight from Beijing to Los Angeles? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these hotels near Beijing Capital Airport:
81% of flights leaving Beijing Capital Airport reach their destination on time. Given its strong performance rating, you're unlikely to experience delays when taking off from PEK.
PEK's address is Capital Airport Rd.
Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX)
Get the most out of your holiday with a stopover on your Beijing to Los Angeles flight. Visit friends or family or tick another city off your list. Whatever you choose to do, here's where you can stop between Beijing Daxing Airport and Los Angeles:
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
Xiamen Airport (XMN)
Kansai International (Osaka) Airport (KIX)
On public transport, you can travel from central Beijing to PKX in around 45 minutes. The airport is roughly 40 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 50 minutes.
Get your holiday started early with an additional night away from home. Before your flight from Beijing to Los Angeles, unwind in one of these hotels near Beijing Daxing Airport:
Beijing Daxing Airport has earned its reputation for punctuality. 87% of flights leaving here keep to their planned arrival schedule.
Arriving in Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to central Los Angeles takes around 35 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 19 kilometres away.
Getting there by public transport typically takes 1 hour.
Consider staying in a hotel close to LAX if you're coming in on a late flight from Beijing to Los Angeles. Pick one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Go wherever you want, whenever you want with a Los Angeles International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Hertz and find adventure across Los Angeles and beyond.
To secure the lowest price, book your ride from Los Angeles International Airport around one week ahead of your Beijing to Los Angeles flight.
You'll find LAX at One World Way.
Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY) is roughly 27 kilometres from central Los Angeles. After your flight from Beijing to Los Angeles, it takes approximately 35 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a taxi or ride-share.
The trip will take roughly 1 hour 15 minutes on public transport.
After your flight from Beijing to Los Angeles, tuck yourself in at a hotel near VNY. These are some comfortable options that'll help you sink into relaxation mode:
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or waiting in a long taxi line. Grab a Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport rental car and take your journey in whatever direction you like. Check out the rates and availability from Budget, Dollar and Hertz.
Typically, the sooner you book, the better the deals and choice of vehicles. Reserve your ride from VNY as soon as you've confirmed your plans.
Best time to go to Los Angeles
July is the busiest month for flights from Beijing to Los Angeles. To escape the crowds, head to Los Angeles in March.
The warmest month in Los Angeles is August, with temperatures ranging between 16ºC (61ºF) and 32ºC (90ºF). Lock in your Beijing to Los Angeles ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
If you want cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Beijing to Los Angeles in February when temperatures average between 6ºC (43ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF).
More about Los Angeles
Once you've booked your flight from Beijing to Los Angeles, take your pick from prime hotels that put you close to the action. Make one of these options your base for exploring Los Angeles:
All great journeys should include a little sightseeing. Hollywood Sign, Universal Studios Hollywood and Hollywood Bowl are essential stops on your Los Angeles itinerary.
Explore more of the United States
You've visited Los Angeles, now it's time to explore other parts of the United States. Travel around 177 kilometres southeast to San Diego to check off its must-visit sights. From San Diego Zoo to Balboa Park and USS Midway Museum, there's plenty to keep you on the go.
San Jose is another favourite destination in the United States and is around 499 kilometres northwest of Los Angeles. No trip is complete without dropping by Winchester Mystery House, The Tech Interactive and Santa Clara Valley.