As the capital of China, Beijing is a metropolis city offering plenty of international and domestic flights, including the flight to Lhasa. Therefore, for foreign tourists planning to travel to Tibet, it is convenient for you to fly directly to Beijing from your own country without any complicated transfer and then take the flight to Lhasa from Beijing. The flight time from Beijing to Lhasa is about 4 hours and 15 minutes for direct flights and 7.5 hours for connecting flights. If you want to know more details about the Beijing Tibet tour, Tibet Horizon is a good assistant you can turn to.

Airports in Beijing

Beijing Capital International Airport

Located about 26 km northeast of the capital city of China, Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is currently the biggest airport in China and the second busiest airport in the world. The airport is connected to Beijing city by airport express train, shuttle bus and taxi services.

Airport Express Train - a convenient way: Beijing Airport Express Train offers a rapid rail transfer between the downtown area and Beijing Capital International Airport. The single journey only takes 36 minutes and costs $4.
Airport Shuttle Bus - also a good option: The shuttle buses at Beijing Capital International Airport operate 13 routes heading to different areas in the city. The bus trip normally takes around an hour and costs $4. And, the shuttle bus is less frequent compared with airport express trains.
Taxi - the most expensive way: To get a taxi from Beijing city center to Beijing Capital International Airport, it normally takes about an hour if there are no traffic controls or jams. The taxi fare is around $15 by day and around $22 by night, because of the night service surcharge after 23:00.

Beijing Daxing International Airport

Located 31 miles from the center of the capital, Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) is an imposing construction of 7.5 million square feet arranged in the shape of a six-pointed star. Four options are listed to get to Beijing Daxing International Airport from Beijing city center.

High-speed Train - a fast and commercial way: The Beijing - Xiong'an intercity railway (Beijing section) links Beijing Daxing International Airport and Beijing West Railway Station. The high-speed trains need about 20-35 minutes to traverse the distance. The fare is $11-13 for business seats, $6-7 for first-class seats, and $3-5 for second-class seats.
Daxing Airport Express - a convenient way: You can transfer to Metro Line 10 from downtown Beijing to Caoqiao Station and then take Daxing airport express to get to the airport. The whole journey from Caoqiao Station to the airport is only takes 20 minutes and costs $5.
Airport Shuttle Bus - a feasible option: Daxing Airport is served by 6 bus lines. Lines 1-5 connect the airport to the major Beijing hubs while Line 6 operates during the night shift. The journey from the center of Beijing to the airport takes approximately 80 minutes and bus fares are $6.
Taxi - not recommended: The taxi will get you from downtown Beijing to Daxing airport in about 80 minutes, with the average fare to be $30 without taking into account the possible waiting-time surcharges. However, you should always be aware of the notorious Beijing traffic jams.

Lhasa Gonggar Airport

Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA) is in Jiazhulin Town in Gonggar County, Shannan District, Tibet Autonomous Region. Located on the south bank of the magnificent Yalu Tsangpo River at an altitude of 3,600 meters, it is the major Tibetan airport connecting holy Lhasa City to the other major cities in China and the rest of the world. Unlike many airports with several terminals in the Chinese Mainland, there is only one terminal building with one entrance and one exit in the Gonggar Airport. You won’t get lost once you are at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport, since you’ll have to take the only exit to get out.

Tibet Horizon offers you the airport pick-up service for free.

Beijing Lhasa Flight

Compared with taking the train from Beijing to Lhasa, you can save more time on the way to have sightseeing around the historic city of Beijing and enjoy your wonderful trip in Tibet.

Beijing to Lhasa Flight Schedule and Ticket Price

Currently, there are three direct flights to Lhasa from Beijing. It takes about 4.5 hours for the nonstop flight, and the full price of the economy class is about $300 on average. The connecting Beijing to Lhasa flights usually transit through Chengdu, Kunming, Chongqing, etc. Here is the Beijing to Lhasa flight schedule for your reference, and you can ask our travel consultant for detailed airfare, schedule, and book Beijing to Lhasa flight ticket for you.

Lhasa to Beijing Flight Schedule and Ticket Price

On the return trip, there are also three non-stop flights flying from Beijing to Lhasa. Other Beijing to Lhasa flights have a transition in Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, etc. The below schedules are only for reference. Please feel free to contact us if you need the detailed flight schedules.

Necessary Documents for Beijing to Tibet Flight

Besides your passport and China Visa, you need to prepare the Tibet Travel Permit which is mandatory for all foreign travelers to Tibet. However, you cannot apply for Tibet Travel Permit on your own. You need to entrust an authorized local travel agency like Tibet Horizon to do the application before departure. With our help, you will get the Tibet Travel Permit without going through any troublesome application procedure.

More FAQs about Flying to Lhasa from Beijing

How to book my Beijing Lhasa flight tickets?

Flight tickets from Beijing to Lhasa can be booked at online websites, such as Booking.com, Expedia, Ctrip, Qunar, etc. You can also buy the ticket from the airports in China or flight re-sellers. As a better option, you can let Tibet Horizon book your flight tickets. We are always keeping up with the latest flight news and usually can book the ticket at a cheaper price. Besides that, our user-friendly platform has a range of Beijing Tibet tour packages tailored to suit your preferences. Whether you are eager to immerse yourself in Tibet’s breathtaking landscapes or pursue an efficient and effective business travel experience, we’ve got you covered.

How to Board Beijing to Lhasa Flight?

Ensure you arrive at Beijing Daxing International Airport or Beijing Capital International Airport with plenty of time to spare, typically two hours before departure, with all the documents needed for flying to Lhasa.

Upon your arrival at the airport, find the check-in counter for your airline. You need to show your passport together with your Tibet Travel Permit to the clerk, and they will give you a boarding pass that shows the flight number, boarding time, boarding gate, destination, and seat number. If you have baggage to check, this should also be done during check-in.

Next, go through the security check and wait for your plane. Pay attention to the airport announcements or the latest updates on the screen so you don't miss your boarding time.

When boarding, you should show your boarding pass and the Tibet Travel Permit to the attendant at the boarding gate and find your assigned seat on the plane.

Then, after 4-8 hours in the air, your plane will touch down at Lhasa Gonggar Airport. Stay calm and listen for instructions from the announcements as you disembark.

How to get to my hotel after arriving at Lhasa Gonggar Airport?

Upon reaching Lhasa Gonggar Airport, please follow the directions to the baggage claim area to retrieve your checked luggage. If you book your Tibet tour with us, you can enjoy our shuttle service between your hotel and the airport for free. In this case, when you arrive in Lhasa, our tour guide will meet you at the exit and transfer you to the reserved hotel. We prioritize punctuality, ensuring that you reach your destination on time.

Will I suffer from altitude sickness when flying from Beijing to Tibet?

Beijing is at 43.5 meters above sea level while Lhasa is at 3650 meters. Therefore, when flying to Tibet, you are likely to suffer from altitude sickness. However, some steps can be taken to better adjust to the higher altitude and experience fewer symptoms. For example, take some preventive medicine before your flight. After arriving in Lhasa, proceed calmly and avoid doing heavy exercises. Drink more water and avoid taking showers for the first two days in Tibet. Maintain a calm demeanor and spend several days in Lhasa before continuing on to higher altitudes. Besides, if your symptoms get worse while resting, you should tell our tour guide and we’ll help transfer you to the hotel or hospital to seek medical attention immediately.

Beside Lhasa Gonggar Airport, which airports in Tibet can I travel to by plane from Beijing?

Beside Lhasa Gonggar Airport, there are another four airports in Tibet. They are Shigatse Peace Airport (RKZ), Nyingchi Mainling Airport (LZY), Chamdo Bangda Airport (BPX), and Ngari Gunsa Airport (NGQ). But there are only a few flights to these four airports, and only Nyingchi Mainling Airport has non-stop flights from Beijing.

Conclusion

Taking the flight from Beijing to Lhasa is a very convenient way of traveling into Tibet. The direct Beijing Lhasa flight takes about 4 hours and 15 minutes to reach the plateau every day. If you want to reserve more time for exploring the highlights in your Beijing Tibet tour, then the direct flight is the best choice. Whenever you have any questions or need assistance during the preparation for a journey to Tibet, our professional and friendly team is always ready to help. We believe our worry-free service can guarantee you a smooth and delightful Tibet trip from Beijing!