Why Is Booking Tickets To Lhasa So Complicated?

As others have commented, as a non-Chinese passport holder you will need a "Tibet permit" to enter Tibet province. Licensed travel agents in China can apply for this permit on behalf of you (if you contact a travel agent outside China, they will-have to- to contact their local partners in China). However, in order for the travel agent to be able to apply for the permit for you, you will need to book travel arrangements with them for your trip to Tibet. Otherwise they won't and can't arrange the permit for you. The permit can be issued at the earliest 30 days before travel to Tibet, and the agent will need a copy of your China visa to apply for the permit.

In order to qualify as travel arrangements that enable the agent to apply for a Tibet permit for you, you will need to at least book a driver and licensed tour guide for every day spent outside Lhasa, and a licensed tour guide for every day spent in Lhasa.

One person can be enough to constitute a group. (However travelling cost is lower if you join a group.) Tourists travelling on regular passports can have a travel agent apply for the permit for them, diplomatic passport holders, or travellers with a military or journalist background for example can't.

You will need the original permit to enter any plane bound for Lhasa (if I remember correctly, it gets checked at least three times at the airport, at check-in, security and before boarding) and a copy of the permit to board a train bound for Lhasa.

Unless you have a Chinese ID airlines and OTAs are not allowed to issue tickets to Lhasa, unless you provide them with proof of the Tibet permit. If you get a ticket issued, but fail to provide the permit within a certain timeframe after ticketing, the ticket will be cancelled.

The most scenic part of the train trip to Lhasa is probably the part between Lhasa and Xining, about 24 hours. There is a 48 hours train between Lhasa and Beijing, but tickets starting in Beijing are hard to get especially in the peak season and the first 24 hours if starting from Beijing are not actually that pretty (if you expect mountain views etc.).

Direct Flights between Beijing and Lhasa are almost always at full fare during the main travelling season, don't expect discounts of more than 10%, if at all.
Flights from Xi'an, Chengdu, Lijiang or Zhongdian and Chongqing are sometimes cheaper.

If I remember correctly these "real" direct flights without stopovers in Chongqing f.e. are only scheduled in the peak travelling season, which is usually from May to about mid October.

Btw, a permit is required no matter from where to you enter Tibet. If that hasn't changed, your visa for China will also have to be issued in Nepal, to apply for the permit, if you choose to travel overland from Nepal.

All of the above is to my best knowledge, however things may have changed. Hope this helps, happy travels!

I'd suggest booking flights from the U.S. to Chengdu, and then book flights from Chengdu to Lhasa. There is more competition in Chengdu to Lhasa than Beijing or Shanghai, also routing is better. It also depends on when you are traveling, from May to Oct it is peak season in Tibet, so prices are generally extortionate. The regulations regarding foreigners entering Tibet are also fluid and changing all the time, the best thing to do is getting your permit through a local qualified agent/tour guide. Ctrip can do the trick for booking revenue tickets, but again this is best done through a local agent. If you can book award tickets on Star Alliance, e.g. Air China flights from Chengdu to Lhasa, that's the best way forward. Award availability however, very much depends on the time/date of departure. My sense is if you could schedule your trip after the first week of October, before the end of the year, that will get you much availability than going during summer peak season.

I flew SYD-LXA via PEK and CTU in Dec. 2016 one way for 20K economy using Mileage Plus miles on Air China. RIP Good old days of the generous United/AirChina redemption chart! The issue was getting from PEK to LXA where the flight was a good 8 hours late with little explanation even at the CA first class lounge (shout out to Priority Pass).
Eventually we took off to CTU where the plane was only supposed to make a quick stop and passengers to LXA remain onboard. However, due to the low yield, CA made up a story about weather conditions and cancelled the flight. Fortunately the locals on our flight knew that there was no weather issue and CA was just trying to merge our flight into the next CTU-LXA flight scheduled about 12 hours later. Negotiations ensued and somehow my Mileage Plus award ticket enabled me to travel on a Tibet Airlines flight from CTU to LXA 2 hours later with the rest of the affected passengers who demanded flying that same night. In fact, I’m very thankful for the group of Tibetans who include myself and another tourist in their negotiations with the airline. On my way home, I flew CA’s horribly expensive (AU$400+) LXA-KTM 40min leg since reedeming miles was not a logical option since China and Nepal are on different continents. Tibet is fascinating and make sure you go beyond Lhasa to experience such a unique place on earth.

"However word of caution, the train is in fact pressurized – ie: it won’t help you in adjusting for the altitude difference gradually; there is literally no difference in arriving in LXA stepping off a plane or a train."

This is a very common misconception with the Lhasa trains; they are actually not pressurized, as in an aircraft. Instead, additional oxygen is pumped into the train car to help compensate for the thinner air; however, some still feel effects from the altitude. In any case, I totally agree this is the way to go!

Since you mentioned that you enjoy hiking, one option is to go to Nepal, do some hiking and then fly to Lhasa from Kathmandu. It is a short flight but will still cost about 500. The visa process for entering Tibet from Kathmandu is different than from mainland China. You will have to apply for the visa at Kathmandu through a travel agency who will obtain a invitation letter from their Chinese counterpart. The travel agency will take care of everything for a nominal fee.

Hi, we booked a flight on Air China from Shanghai that was about the same duration. Our initial plan was to take the train to Tibet but we did not have the time.

Have you spoken with the Tibetan travel guide that you are booking? They may be able to help. When we went in fall 2015, we were required by the Chinese govt to use a Tibet based guide to get our visas and to be with us during our trip. They helped us think through travel options. We used Explore Tibet which is actually run by Tibetans.

I was in Chengdu and Xi’an earlier this year and prices from both cities were fairly reasonable, though more expensive than other intra-China flights. I believe award availability through on CZ using SkyMiles was also an option. I checked with many tour operators and most if not all offered flight bookings as well, so you might want to research that option. Ultimately I ended up going to some of the Stans rather than Tibet, so I can’t provide any intel into the in-“country” experience. Good luck!

For Lhasa it might be wise to travel to a city nearby that has a relatively high altitude to acclimate more than you could coming from a lowland city (even though you won't be fully acclimated no matter where you go). Otherwise your first couple days in Lhasa may be rough. Then use a local travel agency or someone that has good experience dealing with Lhasa / China in general to book the flight to and from Lhasa to whatever city you choose to pre-acclimate. That same agency / person will get your permit to go to the city. Additionally, This might be the one flight where you may have to forego getting a good deal.

We went to Tibet and stayed at the St Regis in 2012. We didn’t get the Tibet travel permit permission until a few days prior to our flight to Lhasa! So I’d not assume you will get that permit (though the St Regis suggested that booking them helps). Any political turmoil that might occur in China or Tibet around your trip can impact the Tibet travel permits for foreigners.

We booked our flights through a Chinese tour agency and flew from Shangri-La (Zhongdian) Airport after a stay nearby and in Lijiang (about 3 hours drive). I HIGHLY recommend traveling to Tibet via Lijiang and Zhongdian for several reasons: (1) elevation at Zhongdian is 11,000 and that at Lijiang is 8000 feet, allowing you to acclimate a bit before reaching Lhasa’s 13,000 feet and the concomitant elevation sickness and/or basic weariness/exhaustion you almost certainly will suffer if you arrive from sea level cities, (2) Lijiang is one of the most beautiful towns in all of China, even despite recent tourism spikes, (3) the famous and beautiful Tiger Leaping Gorge is on the 3 hr drive between Lijiang and Zhongdian anyway, and (4) Zhongdian is basically the sub-Tibetan plateau, and it feels and looks a lot like Tibet—in case your Tibet travel permit isn’t authorized and you aren’t allowed to fly to Tibet!

We did Lhasa as a side-trip from Lijiang (which is an absolutely stunning destination and UNESCO World Heritage Site). Sichuan airlines sells relatively cheap one-ways LJG-LXA. Sit on the left side of the aircraft, as the entire flight essentially tracks the edge of the Tibetan Plateau for nearly its entire length.

We then used UA miles to book an award from Lhasa. Air China to KTM, then TG onwards. The flight from LXA to KTM provides the best views of Everest of just about any flight that exists. Absolutely stunning.

1. You should take the train (at least on the way to Lhasa). It's worth it. Start in Xining, to cut the time to 24 hours and to the most interesting part. You could also consider spending a couple days around Xining, which has a fair amount of interest itself, particularly if you get out to some of the Tibetan monasteries in the countryside.
2. Steve is right that Chinese domestic flights usually don't have their lowest prices until relatively close to departure. You don't have to wait until the final 3-4 weeks. But you should at least wait until a couple months in advance.

NOOOOOOOO,
DON'T GO THERE !!!!!!

Ur post about how you support the Marriott twitter liked one free - tibet tweet, can easily be redeemed as signs of interfering China's autonomy and pro-tibet.

Now u r thinking of visiting there? Very risky move I would say. You could end up in jail or maybe just disappeared.

U need to get a permit to entering Tibet first, and if don't followed a group tour, it would be a huge challenge for u to get it.

If I say Katy Perry and Justin Bieber get rejected for even going to China.

I say your chances of going to Tibet is SLIM.

James

The St Regis offer butler service and they have a clinic which offer free oxygen tank for elite members, their butler is also nice.

Lucky

You’ve reviewed how bad several Chinese carriers are and both for the state and business operators, they wouldn’t want to disturb the peice in tension-filled Tibet.

After u go through custom entering China, there will be a even harder customer for entering Tibet, China treat it with even tighter regulations.

If u do decide to go there, remember don’t shower nor work out during the first 48 hrs otherwise u could be sick the whole journey.

Just go the super cheap economy fare as it is cheap and its all on the same airline and at least you earn points,status and miles as Xiamen Air are sky team so you can credit them to Delta also check Xiamen business class pricing for that itinerary though that would be expensive and you have already reviewed Xiamen air business class also I think I speak for many readers on this blog in saying we would all love a long haul economy review also in this case it is not about reviewing airlines and the journey but about the destination and experiencing Tibet and reviewing the St Regis

Personally I would love to read a Long haul economy review from you. Sometime we need to suffer for our art!

On another note, please check the visa requirements for China. I know you need a special permit to visit Lhasa which is also far from simple to obtain. At least that was the case till last year.

Another option would be to fly into Katmandu and drive all the way to Lhasa. It will probably spare you the horror of Long-haul economy since there are plenty of cheap biz fares on ME3 carriers and the drive itself is supposed to be among the most scenic on earth.