Skip to flight searchSkip to main content
Airline banner image
China United Airlines logo

Search & book flights with China United Airlines

Instant booking confirmation
Cancellation Protection available
Expert customer service

Buy China United Airlines Flights with Alternative Airlines

China United Airlines is positioned as a mass-market economy airline, and is a low-cost carrier with headquarters in the Fengtai District of Beijing.

China United Airlines was originally founded in 1986 as part of the Chinese military but ceased flying between 2003-2005. It began operations again in 2005 with Shanghai Airlines as it's primary stakeholder. Although the airline is no longer related to the Chinese military, it still is able to use a number of military airports. China United Airlines became a low-cost airline in 2014 in order to keep up with the latest trends in the aviation industry.

In October 2010, Shanghai Airlines underwent a joint reorganisation with China Eastern Airlines. Today, the airline is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines.

Looking to book China United Airlines flights in English?

With Alternative Airlines you can make your China United Airlines reservations in English! Count on us to provide you with a safe and secure booking service in English. Our expert customer service team is also here to help you with any queries surrounding your reservation. Enter your desired destination into the search bar above to find your China United Airlines flights in English today.

Baggage Policy

Your baggage allowance will vary depending on the cabin you fly to.

Carry-on Baggage

The hand baggage allowance for your China United Airlines flight will vary according to the class fare purchased. To find out your baggage allowance for your China United Airlines flight, please consult your travel itinerary. But as a guide, in most instances, passengers are entitled to 10kg of free carry-on.

Checked Baggage

A passenger's baggage allowance will vary according to the ticket fare and destinations. But in general, economy passengers will need to pre-purchase checked baggage - or purchase allowance (additional fees) at the airport. Checked baggage will have to fit within maximum dimensions of no more than 40cm x 60cm x 100cm.

Cabin Classes

China United Airlines has 1 cabin class, Economy Class.

Economy Class

The airline is a LCC, meaning services such as checked baggage and in-flight meals will have fees.

Facilities

There is an in-flight magazine for entertainment, with on-board duty-free shopping available. On-board WiFi is not available.

Meals

Water (bottled) is available for free on flights. There is no complimentary meal. Depending on the route, a number of meal options are available for purchase. Passengers can bring their own snacks on-board. There are no special meal options available.

What are Seats Like?

Seats are basic but comfortable, with padded headrests and armrests and drop-down trays. Seats are configured in a 3-3 formation.

Seat Selection

Online seat selection is available for some flights on certain routes from Beijing Airport. This will be confirmed during the booking process.

Check-In

Find out about China United Airlines' check-in policy, including check-in closing and opening times.

Online Check-in

Online check-in is only available for flights departing from Beijing Airport. This can be completed through the China United Airlines webpage. Note that sometimes the airline will close its online check-in function - when this happens, check-in will need to be undertaken at the airport.

For all other routes, online check-in is not currently available, and will need to be completed at the airport.

Airport Check-in

Passengers flying with China United Airlines are recommended to arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to flight departure to make sure they have plenty of time to check-in for their flight. Check-in closes 40 minutes before departure.

Frequent Flyer Programme

China United Airlines does not offer a frequent flyer program.

Airline Alliance

China United Airlines is not part of an airline alliance.

Country flags

Destinations that China United Airlines flies to

China United Airlines flies to a vast amount of destinations, below is a table showing of all its destinations:

Alternatives to China United Airlines

The following airlines operate similar routes to China United Airlines:

More than 100,000 happy customers per year

Trustpilot 5-star

This was my first booking and I used Alternative Airlines twice on this trip. I must say by far the best online booking experience ever.

Dee

Reviewed on Trustpilot

Buy now, pay later

Buy your flights now and pay later

No way, really?! Yes! We’ve partnered with some amazing BNPL payment providers to allow you to pay for your flights over time, with ease.

Hub Airport

Beijing Daxing International Airport

China United airlines was the only airline that used Beijing Nanyuan Airport as its hub. The airport is a military airbase that is also used as a secondary airport for the city of Beijing. Airlines that will operate out of Beijing Daxing include Xiongan Airlines and Beijing Capital Airlines.

Fleet

The China United Airlines fleet includes 8 Boeing 737-700 and 29 737-800 aircraft. Previously, the airline operated 2 Tupolev T-154M aircraft.