Seattle to Beijing (SEA–PEK) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

SEA Airport Page →
5,393 mi airlines 2/wk
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Flight Schedule 2 flights Verified 3h ago
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  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
HU496
HU Hainan
789
11:00 AM
MDT
3:30 PM+1
CST
13h 30m
M T W T F S S
Prices
HU495
HU Hainan
789
1:25 PM
CST TT2
9:00 AM
MDT
10h 35m
M T W T F S S
Prices

No flights match your filters.

No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.

1-STOP
2-STOP Loading...
Seattle to Beijing
1 carrier, 2 flights/week nonstop.
1 Airlines 2 Flights/wk 5,393 mi 13h 30m nonstop +14h ahead 28 1-stop hubs

SEA–PEK is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. Hainan Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 5,393 miles in approximately 13h 30m. Beyond nonstop, 28 hubs offer 1-stop connections.

Airline Landscape

All carriers operating nonstop SEA–PEK service, compared side by side.
Airline Freq/wk Aircraft Duration Dep OTP Alliance Codeshares
HU Hainan Airlines 2 789 13h30 77%
Aircraft on this route
789 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner – HU
Alliance coverage
Unaffiliated: HU (2 flights/wk, 100%)
OTP based on airport-level delay snapshots. Duration ranges reflect seasonal/directional variation.

Weekly Schedule Pattern

Nonstop flight frequency by day of week, SEA to PEK direction.
Mon
0
flights
Tue
1
flight
Wed
0
flights
Thu
0
flights
Fri
0
flights
Sat
1
flight
Sun
0
flights
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
1
Nonstop flights
2
Outbound / wk
2
Return / wk

Connection Landscape

Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for SEA to PEK.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
28
Hubs
~14h
Fastest
~41h
Longest
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
1,928
Candidates
Two-stop connections loaded in the connections tab above.
Connections computed from published schedules with minimum connection time verification. Use the interactive explorer above the fold to filter by airline, tier, and layover time.

On-Time Performance

What to expect at each end of your journey.
Outbound
SEA → PEK
77%
Generally reliable. Most flights run on time.
Departing
77%
Return
PEK → SEA
89%
Generally reliable. Most flights run on time.
Arriving
89%
OTP = percentage of flights arriving within 15 min of schedule. Based on airport-level delay snapshots. SEA delays →

Travel Essentials

Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
+14h
Beijing is 14 hours ahead of Seattle.
SEA: MDT · PEK: CST

When it's 6:00 PM in Seattle, it's 8:00 AM (next day) in Beijing.
Distance & Flight Time
5,393 mi / 8,679 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 13h 30m.
Visa & Entry

US passport holders can enter China visa-free for stays up to 30 days under a temporary policy running through December 31, 2026. This covers tourism, business visits, and transit. No advance application is needed. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry.

For stays beyond 30 days, a standard visa from a Chinese embassy or consulate is required before departure. Separate 144-hour and 72-hour visa-free transit programs exist at select airports for travelers continuing to a third country.

Getting to SEA

Link Light Rail runs from downtown Seattle (Westlake station) to the airport in 38 minutes ($3.50 peak). Trains run every 6–12 minutes during peak hours from 5am to 1am. Ride-shares run $30–50 from downtown; SR-99 and I-5 can be heavily congested southbound during afternoon rush (3–7pm).

Sound Transit 574 express bus serves Tacoma ($2.50–4). Sounder commuter rail connects Tacoma to the airport area via a shuttle.

Getting from PEK

Airport Express to Dongzhimen takes 16 minutes (¥25) and connects to Metro Lines 2 and 13 for central Beijing. Running 6am to 11pm from T2 and T3. It bypasses road congestion regardless of traffic conditions.Taxis use the meter; central Beijing runs ¥80–120 from the airport. Didi ride-hailing is available and widely used. Airport express buses (¥25–30) serve multiple city zones. T3 (international hub) and T2 are connected by a free inter-terminal bus if not airside. Note: Beijing has two airports; Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX) are not connected by convenient transport.

Beijing Climate

Humid continental climate with cold, dry winters (−8 to 2°C) and hot summers (28–35°C). The primary flight disruption risks are winter fog and smog (November–February, heavily air quality-dependent), summer thunderstorms (July–August), and spring sandstorms from the Gobi Desert (March–May) that can reduce visibility rapidly.

Fall (September–October) brings clear skies and minimal disruptions. The 2022 Winter Olympics improved Beijing's snowfall preparedness. Fog and smog remain serious delay causes through winter.

SEA–PEK Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Seattle to Beijing route.
Route details
Distance5,393 mi / 8,679 km
Flight time13h 30m
Time difference+14 hours
Airlines (nonstop)1
Weekly flights2 out / 2 return
1-stop connections28 hubs
Origin: SEA
IATA / ICAOSEA / KSEA
TimezoneAmerica/Boise
Passengers/yr52.6M
Elevation433 ft / 132 m
Destination: PEK
IATA / ICAOPEK / ZBAA
TimezoneAsia/Shanghai
Passengers/yr67.3M
Elevation116 ft / 35 m

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SEA to PEK flights.
Nonstop flights from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport take approximately 13h 30m. The route covers 5,393 miles.
1 airline operates nonstop service: Hainan Airlines.
There are approximately 2 nonstop flights per week from SEA to PEK. The return direction has about 2 weekly flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through ANC, HKG, YYZ, PVG, LUX, FCO, MNL, TPE, NRT, FRA, AMS, LHR, LAX, MUC, ICN, IAD, HND, YVR, SFO, DXB, JFK, CDG, ORD, CKG, PVR, SIN, IST and DUB. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Beijing is 14 hours ahead of Seattle.
Yes, return flights from PEK to SEA are available. Use the direction toggle at the top to view the return schedule.
Click the 'Search Flights' button to check availability and prices on Google Flights. You can also compare airlines and schedules on this page to find the best option.
See the On-Time Performance section for the latest delay data at both airports. This shows departure and arrival reliability to help you plan.
Route data is updated regularly from official airline schedules. On-time performance data comes from recent airport delay snapshots.

Flights from SEA to PEK

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) are connected by nonstop service from Hainan Airlines. With 2 weekly departures, this is a regularly served route.

SEA to PEK Flight Duration and Schedule

Nonstop flight time from SEA to PEK ranges from 13 hours 30 minutes. The route covers a distance of 5,393 miles (8,679 km). There are approximately 2 weekly flights outbound and 2 return, totaling 4 flights per week in both directions.

Connecting Options and Alternatives

28 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 14 hours via ANC. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.