With near 50 years flying experience, visiting Tibet by air has become the most popular way for accessing Tibet. The advantage for visiting Tibet by air is obvious. The travel duration is shortened to 2 hours from Chengdu, and 4 hours from Beijing. It is an exciting experience when you overlook the extending Himalayan mountians in the plane.
There is one international flight for Tibet, which is Lhasa/Kathmandu, carried by Air China with 2 flights a week in winter season and daily flights in summer season. There are about 20 internal air routes connecting Tibet with other inland Chinese cities. Five Chinese airlines carry internal Tibet flights.
They are Air China, Sichuan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airline,China Hainan Airline and China Shenzhen Airlines, flying to and from Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet autonomous region from inland cities, Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, Diqing, Lanzhou(please see below Tibet flight schedule).
Among these cities, Chengdu has the most frequent Tibet flights with over 10 flights every day in summer and over 5 flights every day in winter season, so that PTT as well as many tourists take Chengdu as the most ideal gateway into Tibet. And when you take flight to Tibet in Chengdu, you can take some time to visit Giant Panda and the historical sites with over 3000-long-history there.
The leading plane for Tibet flights is Air Bus 319 and Boeing 757. Most air planes were renovated before taking into use to fit for severe cold air, lack of oxygen, the rough and complicated geographic environment.
Besides Lhasa Gongar Airport(3800m), there are other two internal airport, Nyinchi Airport(3000m) and Chamdo Airport(3240m). Most of Tibet flights will arrive and depart from Lhasa Gongar Airport, including the flight to and from Kathmandu. The flight between Chengdu and Nyingchi was operated from summer 2006, carried by Air China. And there are also flight between Chengdu and Chamdo, the only airport in eastern Tibet. As the flght for Chamdo is not regular, please contact us if you’d like to book the air tickets at least 20 days before departure.
Please see below more information about Tibet airport and thelatest Tibet flight schedule.

Tibet Flights TIPS

1. About E-ticket in China.
(In fact, all the China’s airlines have been using E-ticket system since January 1st, 2007, rather than the paper ticket used to be. Therefore, when the passenger has paid for the ticket, the airlines input personal information to their computers. In this case, the passenger only need to show valid personal identification card or passport when boarding, and air ticket is not required. In other words, you do not need to get air ticket at all unless some exceptions of certain flights which are still issued as paper tickets or you want to keep the ticket. If you do need, you can go to fetch the ticket at the place mentioned in the Confirmation Letter. If you need us delivering ticket to you, delivery fees will be asked according to the delivery time and place. When you get your ticket, please check immediately whether your name and passport number are printed right.)

2. Tip for getting air ticket with low price
(The key problem for you is to know the common practice of issuing air tickets of Chinese domestic airlines and grasp the best period to issue air ticket. China’s economy is in a period of transition, somewhere between the state-controlled and free-market system. Airlines will generally not publish the actual prices for domestic flights until 20days prior to travel. Therefore 25-20 days prior to travel should be a proper period for you to get air ticket with a good discount commonly, but risks of non-available of ticket for the rapid selling out are also accompanying. For guests who plan to book air ticket one month or even longer prior travel, ticket is available with guarantee generally, but maybe with a little discount or even no discount.
It is only a small tip for your reference, and it may not fitful for some touristy air routes in high travel season. Anyway Pandatours’ travel advisor will conduct you to get air ticket as lower-price as possible.)

3. Air fare is composed by three parts.
Total air fare for domestic flight= actual air fare+ domestic airport tax+ domestic fuel extra charge
Actual air fare: it is the fare printed in the air ticket. As the stipulation of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China in 2002, the price printed on the ticket must indicate the actual price paid for the ticket. Generally discount is available for advanced booking.
Domestic airport tax: it is 50RMB/P per flight segment. Children under 12 years old do not need to pay for airport tax. The airport tax is 10RMB/P per flight segment if you are taking pint-sized aircraft as C2B, D328, ATR, CARJ, EM4, HAW, MA60, SF34, DHC84 and YN7 which are mainly used for branch air routes, for example, Chengdu—Chongqing, Chengdu—Xichang. The International (including Hongkong, Macau and Taiwan) airport tax is 90RMB/P per flight segment.
The tax can not be discounted.
Domestic fuel extra charge: As the stipulation of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, Chinese domestic airlines are allowed to charge fuel extra charge from Aug 1, 2005. The latest rates public by airlines are 40RMB/P per flight segment for the flying distance less than 800km, and 80RMB/P per flight segment for the flying distance of 800km and above. The charge can not be discounted.

4. General rules of baggage
General rules of baggage
Baggage indicates other personal property and the articles that passengers carry for comfortable wearing and convenient using.
Categories of baggage
Baggage carried by Air China, according to the transportation responsibility, can be classified into checked baggage and unchecked baggage.
Checked baggage packaging
Checked baggage must be packaged, locked and bound. It can endure some pressure, unload and transport safely under normal operating conditions. It also should abide to the following conditions:
A .Travel box, travel bag and handbag should be locked to avoid stealing.
B .More than two bags can not be bundled into one.
C .Other articles can not be inserted on baggage.
D .Bamboo basket, net bag, rope, straw bag, plastic bag can not wrap the baggage.
E .Passenger names, detailed address, phone number should be written in and outside the baggage.

Unchecked baggage (free carry-on articles)
Unchecked baggage should be suitable for placing into the closed overhead compartment or under the seat.
A .Free carry-on baggage should not exceed 10kg in weight for every first class and business class passenger, and should not exceed 5kg in weight for every economy class passenger.
B. Every Passenger of first class and business class can carry two pieces of articles; every passenger of economy class can only carry one piece. Each free carry-on article maximum dimension should not exceed 55×40×20cm in size.
C. The baggage exceeding the above free baggage allowance should be checked.

Checked baggage
Limitation of baggage weight and volume
Weight concept
A. Each baggage’s maximum weight should not exceed 59kg, and its maximum dimension should not exceed 100×60×40cm. The baggage exceeding the above allowance should be transported as freight not baggage.
B. Each baggage’s minimum weight should not be less than 2kg, and its minimum dimension should not be less than 30×10×20cm. the baggage that exceeding the above allowance can not be transported as checked baggage alone.
Piece concept
A. Each baggage’s maximum weight should not exceed 32kg, and the sum of triple length should not exceed 203cm; the baggage exceeding the above allowance, should ask for Air China’s approval first.
B. Each baggage’s minimum weight should not be less than 2kg, and its minimum dimension should not be less than 30×10×20cm; the baggage exceeding the above allowance can not be transported as checked baggage alone.
Articles that can not be transported as baggage
The following articles can not be carried in baggage or as passenger’s checked or carry-on baggage. Dangerous articles, guns (excerpt hunting gun and sport gun), instruments of soldiers and police (include major accessories), supervised knife, active
animals and fresh, corrosive articles (such as Durians, seafood).
Articles that can not be transported as checked baggage
The following articles that need to be taken care of should be carried as passenger’s unchecked baggage instead of being carried in baggage or as passenger’s checked baggage. As to the damage caused by passenger violating this specification, Air China will only declare the liability according to general checked baggage.
A. Important document, commercial document and files, travel certificates.
B. Stocks, currency, bill, and jewelry
C. Valuable mental and its products
D. Antiques and paintings
E. Corrosive, fragile and frail articles
F. Samples, printings out of press and scripts
G. Electronic products, digital products and video’s primary fittings.
H .Mobiles, walkmans, computer hardware and software
I. Medicines passenger should take timely.
The articles which are not suitable for carrying into cabin will be dealt with as follows:
A. Additional seats can be paid for according to baggage occupying seats.
B. The baggage can be checked in according to exempting responsibility, but the passenger would like to declare the responsibility.
WEIGHT CONCEPT
Coverage
The articles excerpt those fit for piece concept are suitable for weight concept.
Free baggage
A The free baggage for passenger with adult or children ticket: 40kg per first class passenger, 30 kg for business class passenger, 20kg for economy class passenger.
B The free baggage for passenger with infant ticket is 5kg and a folder infant carrying basket; if the cabin is big enough, the infant carrying basket can be carried into cabin after chief attendant approves.
PIECE CONCEPT
Free baggage
A. Passenger with adult or children ticket in first class and business class can check in two pieces of baggage free and the sum of each baggage’s triple length should not exceed 158cm; Passenger with adult or children ticket in economy class can check in two pieces of baggage free. The sum of each baggage’s triple length should not exceed 158cm and the sum of the two baggage’s triple length should not exceed 273cm. each above baggage’s weight should not exceed 32kg.
B. Passenger with infant ticket can check in a baggage free, the sum of whose triple length should not exceed 115cm. he or she can also check in a folder infant carrying basket free, if the cabin is big enough, and take it into cabin after chief attendant approves.
Excess baggage charge
Excess baggage charge should be 1.5% of the most expensive cost of direct, single, adult, economy trip.
Baggage compensation
Domestic airlines:
One-time payment to compensate passengers if delaying baggage results in passengers staying over without baggage.
Domestic airlines: RMB100
If checked baggage is partly damaged or lost, payment to compensate will be provided according to the damage weight. It would not exceed RMB 100 per kg. However, if the value of baggage per kg is less than RMB100, the actual value will be compensated.
If the baggage is damaged, the airline company will pay for it according to the value that the baggage loses or pay for the expense of repair; if the baggage case is broken, the compensation will be no more than 100RMB/kg according to the weight of the case.
International flight: transact according to correlative regulations of international flight.

Flight Number	Airlines	Departure	Arrival	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Type Of Airplane	Stopover	Flight
CA4445	Air China	Chengdu	Lhasa	07:20	09:20	757	0	.....6.
CA4401	Air China	Chengdu	Lhasa	07:50	09:40	330	0	1234567
CA4447	Air China	Chengdu	Lhasa	15:00	17:00	319	0	1234567
CA4403	Air China	Chengdu	Lhasa	08:10	10:00	319	0	1234567
CA407	Air China	Chengdu	Lhasa	07:10	09:45	319	0	2.4.6.7
3U8657	Sichuan Airlines	Chengdu	Lhasa	08:00	09:50	319	0
3U8901	Sichuan Airlines	Chengdu	Lhasa	08:20	10:10	319	0
3U8697	Sichuan Airlines	Chengdu	Lhasa	13:55	15:50	319	0
CA4112	Air China	Beijing	Lhasa	09:00	14:40	330	Chengdu	1234567
MU2335	Eastern Airlines	Shanghai	Lhasa	08:10	15:20	319	Xi’an	12357
MU5837	Eastern Airlines	Kunming	Lhasa	07:00	10:35	737	Diqing	1234567
3U8633	Sichuan Airlines	Chongqing	Lhasa	07:45	09:55	319	0	123467

Flight Number	Airlines	Departure	Arrival	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Type Of Airplane	Stopover	Flight
CA4446	Air China	Lhasa	Chengdu	10:05	11:55	757	0	.....6.
CA4402	Air China	Lhasa	Chengdu	10:50	12:40	330	0	1234567
CA4448	Air China	Lhasa	Chengdu	17:50	19:40	319	0	1234567
CA4404	Air China	Lhasa	Chengdu	11:00	12:55	319	0	1234567
CA408	Air China	Lhasa	Chengdu	15:00	16:50	319	0	2.4.6.7
3U8658	Sichuan Airlines	Lhasa	Chengdu	10:45	12:40	319	0	1234567
3U8902	Sichuan Airlines	Lhasa	Chengdu	11:00	12:55	319	0	1234567
3U8698	Sichuan Airlines	Lhasa	Chengdu	16:40	18:35	319	0	1234567
CA4111	Air China	Lhasa	Beijing	15:55	21:30	330	Chengdu	1234567
MU2336	Eastern Airlines	Lhasa	Shanghai	16:10	22:00	319	Xi’an	12357
MU5838	Eastern Airlines	Lhasa	Kunming	11:25	15:00	737	Diqing	1234567
3U8634	Sichuan Airlines	Lhasa	Chongqing	10:40	12:35	319	0	123467

Note:
1. The above air ticket fare is full  price with tax for single way. The USD fare is only for your reference. The exchange rate is 1USD=7.35RMB.
2. The schedule shown above are the direct flights to and from Lhasa, there maybe more Tibet flgihts adding in the shedule in summer high season, please contact PTT travel advisor for exact flight information.
3. You can see most flights are carried by Southwest sub-company of Air China (it’s preface is China Southwest Airlines, and which is incorporated with Air China in 2002. CA is the international code of Air China), the head office of southwest sub-company is in Chengdu which make us easier to book air tickets for you to and from Lhasa than travel agencies in other areas. While as the regulations of Tibet Tourism Bureau and Air China, foreign tourists and Taiwanese need to show the Tibet Travel Permit when buying air tickets or train tickets, so do as our indication, and we will make the air tickets as well as travel permit ready for you. 

You can book air ticket for Tibet from PTT. Please contact us and PTT’s travel advisor will reply to you within 24 hours after getting your request.