Flight from Chengdu when starting from chongqing

Question

If I have an afternoon international flight departing Chengdu TFU at like 3pm what time would I have to leave chongqing to make the flight? Would be flying China Air business class.

Answer

For an international flight departing Chengdu Tianfu Airport (TFU) at around 3:00 PM, you will need to account for several factors when planning your departure from Chongqing.

Firstly, Chengdu Tianfu is approximately 300–320 km from Chongqing, and the travel time depends on your chosen mode of transport:

High-speed train: The fastest trains from Chongqing North Station to Chengdu East Station take about 2 hours. From Chengdu East to Tianfu Airport, add roughly 1 hour by taxi or airport shuttle. So total travel time: ~3–3.5 hours. Trains to Chengdu TFU airport are limited, so train + taxi/shuttle is more common.
Flight from Chongqing Jiangbei Airport to Chengdu TFU: Direct domestic flights take about 1 hour. Factor in airport arrival 1.5–2 hours before departure. Total travel time: ~3–3.5 hours including transit to Chongqing airport.
Private car or taxi: Driving directly takes approximately 4–5 hours, depending on traffic.

For an international departure at 3:00 PM and considering China Air business class check-in:

International check-in usually opens 3 hours before departure. For 3:00 PM, aim to arrive by 12:00 PM at TFU.
Work backward with travel time: If taking a high-speed train, leave Chongqing by 8:30–9:00 AM. If flying from Chongqing, catch a morning flight around 10:00–11:00 AM. If driving, leave around 7:30–8:00 AM to allow buffer for traffic or delays.

Additional tips:

China Air business class often allows priority check-in and lounge access, which saves some time at the airport, but don’t cut your schedule too short.
Always check domestic flight/train schedules in advance, especially since flights between Chongqing and Chengdu TFU are limited compared to Chengdu Shuangliu (CTU).
Consider staying overnight in Chengdu if your schedule is tight to reduce risk of missing the international flight.

In summary, to comfortably make your 3 PM international flight from Chengdu TFU when starting in Chongqing, plan to leave Chongqing no later than 8:30–9:00 AM if taking the train, 10:00–11:00 AM if flying, or 7:30–8:00 AM if driving.