PVG vs LTN — Shanghai or London?

Verdict

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) scores higher overall at 8.0/10 versus London Luton Airport (LTN) at 6.8/10.

Score comparison

Metric	Shanghai Pudong International Airport	London Luton Airport
FlightLogic Score	8.0	6.8
On-Time Performance	7.8	6.6
Passenger Experience	8.0	6.7
Facilities & Comfort	8.3	7.0
Lounge Score	8.5	6.9
City	Shanghai	London
Country	China	United Kingdom
Terminals	2 terminals (T1 and T2)	1 main terminal
Annual passengers	70M+	18M+

Operational comparison

Transport links, lounge access, connection times, and UK261 eligibility — verify locally before travel.

Policy	PVG — Shanghai	LTN — London
Rail / public transport	—	—
To city centre	—	—
Lounge day pass	—	—
Min. connection time	—	—
Primary hub carriers	—	—

Detailed profiles

Shanghai, China · PVG · #1 in this comparison

Shanghai Pudong International Airport

2 terminals (T1 and T2) · 70M+ passengers/year

8.0 / 10

How good is Shanghai Pudong International Airport?

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) scores 8.0/10 (Excellent) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (7.8), passenger experience (8.0), and facilities (8.3). Lounge quality rates 8.5/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Shanghai Pudong PVG scores 8.0/10 on FlightLogic with lounge score 8.5/10. Terminal 1 Star Alliance; Terminal 2 China Eastern/SkyTeam. Maglev to city in 8 min. Verify PVG vs SHA Hongqiao on ticket. See /guides/shanghai-airport-lounge-guide-2026.

FlightLogic Score 8.0 Excellent

On-time 7.8 Departure reliability

Experience 8.0 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 8.3 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 8.5 Lounge quality

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance

7.8

Passenger Experience

8.0

Facilities & Comfort

8.3

Lounge score 8.5/10

Highlights

Terminal 1 serves Star Alliance (Air China, United, Lufthansa); Terminal 2 serves China Eastern and SkyTeam partners
China Eastern and Air China First/Business lounges among Asia's largest airline clubs
Maglev train to Longyang Road in 8 minutes — fastest airport-to-city link in the world
Common one-stop for UK–China and UK–Australia on China Eastern and partner metal

Overview

China Eastern and Star Alliance hub — Terminal 1 and 2 satellite design with strong premium lounges for UK–China and UK–Asia routings via Shanghai.

Terminal 1 and 2 lounge access

Terminal 1 hosts Star Alliance carriers with Air China and partner lounges. Terminal 2 serves China Eastern — China's largest airline at PVG — with extensive First and Business lounges.

Inter-terminal transfers require landside transport or shuttle — not airside. Connections between Star Alliance and SkyTeam metal require immigration unless on protected interline.

UK traveller notes

UK passport holders typically need a visa for China unless qualifying for 144-hour transit visa-free in Shanghai — verify current immigration rules before planning a layover exit.

Compare PVG against Beijing PEK (/airports/beijing) and Hong Kong HKG (/airports/hkg) for UK–Asia routing — PVG strong for China domestic connections; HKG for Oneworld.

London, United Kingdom · LTN · #2 in this comparison

London Luton Airport

1 main terminal · 18M+ passengers/year

6.8 / 10

How good is London Luton Airport?

London Luton Airport (LTN) scores 6.8/10 (Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (6.6), passenger experience (6.7), and facilities (7.0). Lounge quality rates 6.9/10. See full airport guide →

In short

London Luton (LTN) is rated 6.8/10 on FlightLogic — primarily an easyJet hub. Thameslink to St Pancras ~30 min. Clubrooms for Priority Pass. UK261 covers all departures. See /guides/luton-airport-lounge-guide-2026.

FlightLogic Score 6.8 Good

On-time 6.6 Departure reliability

Experience 6.7 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 7.0 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 6.9 Lounge quality

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance

6.6

Passenger Experience

6.7

Facilities & Comfort

7.0

Lounge score 6.9/10

Highlights

easyJet's primary London hub alongside Gatwick — dense Europe and Mediterranean network
Thameslink reaches London St Pancras in ~30 minutes — direct link to Eurostar and central London
Clubrooms lounge accepts Priority Pass — pre-book recommended at peak banks
UK261 applies to all LTN departures including easyJet and Wizz Air

Overview

London's fourth airport and easyJet's primary London base — single-terminal design, Thameslink to St Pancras, and Clubrooms lounge for Priority Pass holders.

easyJet hub and low-cost operations

Luton is easyJet's largest London base, handling dense European and Mediterranean leisure traffic from London's northern corridor. Wizz Air also operates significant schedules. For UK travellers chasing lowest fares, LTN often undercuts Gatwick on the same routes — but factor in Thameslink rail costs and easyJet baggage fees.

UK261 compensation applies to all flights departing Luton regardless of fare paid. A 3+ hour arrival delay on a UK-regulated flight triggers £220–£520 per passenger if the delay was the airline's fault.

Getting to central London

Thameslink runs to St Pancras International every 10–15 minutes at peak, taking ~30 minutes. East Midlands Railway also serves Luton Airport Parkway. DART shuttle connects terminal to Parkway station in ~4 minutes.

Compare LTN against Stansted (/airports/stansted) and Gatwick (/airports/gatwick) for your route — Luton wins on easyJet frequency; Gatwick wins on Virgin long-haul and lounge depth.

FAQ

Which is better, Shanghai Pudong International Airport or London Luton Airport?

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) scores higher overall at 8.0/10 versus London Luton Airport (LTN) at 6.8/10.

Which has better lounges, PVG or LTN?

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) scores higher for lounges at 8.5/10, versus London Luton Airport at 6.9/10.

Which airport is more on-time, PVG or LTN?

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) has stronger on-time performance at 7.8/10 versus London Luton Airport (LTN) at 6.6/10.