Flying from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI): What you need to know
Begin your journey at one of Kuala Lumpur's main airports, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) or Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB). Check out your options for booking a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) departing from either of these.
Expect to be travelling for 2 hours 40 minutes. On average, that's the time it takes for a direct Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport flight.
Kota Kinabalu (where Kota Kinabalu International Airport is located) and Kuala Lumpur share the UTC+8 timezone. You can plan your trip without factoring in timezone differences.
The most popular route is from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI), with 168 direct services every week. If you're looking to take off without delay, the earliest flight from KUL to BKI is the 6:05am AirAsia service. If a later start suits your schedule, the final departure is at 11:40pm with AirAsia.
For hassle-free travel, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to board your flight from Kuala Lumpur to BKI.
With more people on the move during high season, it's smart to get to your terminal even earlier. Two hours for domestic flights and up to four for international trips will allow extra time for delays.
Airports in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
You can jump on a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) departing from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL).
At KUL, you'll find a good selection of carriers offering direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport, such as:
The most frequently booked airline between KUL and BKI is AirAsia.
The carrier with the best on-time arrival rate on this route is Malaysia Airlines.
The journey from central Kuala Lumpur to KUL takes around 1 hour by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or get a cab, you'll cover the 64 kilometres in 1 hour 5 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Want a stress-free start to your break? Stay near Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Whether you're boarding an early flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are just what you're after:
When it comes to Kuala Lumpur International Airport's on-time performance, 58.65% of flights complete their journey on time.
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB)
You can book a direct Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) plane ticket out of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB). See if flying from SZB works better for your plans.
When setting off from SZB, you can pick from a variety of airlines that operate direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to BKI. Reach cruising altitude with one of these carriers:
Firefly takes the lead in bookings on the SZB to BKI route.
You can reach SZB from the centre of Kuala Lumpur in approximately 25 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The journey by public transport takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes to travel the 24 kilometres or so.
Taking off bright and early? Think about checking in to one of these hotels near Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport the day before your Kuala Lumpur to BKI flight:
67.97% of all departures from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport stick to their scheduled arrival time.
About Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
Have a late flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport? Don't let it leave you bleary-eyed. Stay at one of these hotels near BKI and hit the lights earlier:
Travel at your own speed with a Kota Kinabalu International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from NH Travel, Green Motion or Keddy By Europcar and chase adventure across Kota Kinabalu and beyond.
Lock in the best rate by reserving your vehicle around one week ahead of your Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport flight.
How to find the cheapest flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
R 520 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. A return flight starts from R 1,119. These fares can change based on availability and demand.
To score cheap flights from Kuala Lumpur to BKI, book your plane ticket 11 months ahead of your departure date.
Plan your trip for April. That's the best month for scoring a great bargain on Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport tickets. If your travel dates are flexible, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across each month.
Locking in a cheap plane ticket from Kuala Lumpur to BKI is a breeze with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when there's a better deal.
Find a cheap flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport by using filters. Choose your ideal departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
It's time to figure out when to book your flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI). August is when most people travel to Kota Kinabalu. If you're all about a more relaxed kind of trip, go in February.
Lock in a Kuala Lumpur to BKI plane ticket departing in May if you want to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Kota Kinabalu to range from 24ºC (75ºF) to 31ºC (88ºF).
February has temperatures of between 23ºC (73ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF). Look for cheap tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about Kota Kinabalu
Once you've booked your flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu International Airport, find a hotel that offers a good mix of location and comfort. Make one of these options your base for exploring Kota Kinabalu:
Your Kota Kinabalu visit should come with a side of sightseeing. Big-name attractions that should be on your list include Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA) and Sipadan Dive Centre Sdn. Bhd..
Explore more of Malaysia
Sandakan is just one of the many cities in Malaysia waiting to be discovered once you've seen Kota Kinabalu. Around 225 kilometres away to the east, its top attractions include Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary (Pusat Pemulihan Orangutan), Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Sepilok and Sandakan Rainforest Park.
Tawau is another essential stop in Malaysia and is around 274 kilometres south-east of Kota Kinabalu. No trip is complete without seeing D'mount kinabalu adventure, Jungleland and Hot Springs Tawau.
