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Everything you should know

Direct flights
Every day
You can fly direct with AirAsia and Shanghai Airlines. Average duration is 4h 29m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
Top routes
BKI - SHA
Cheapest • 3% average savings
BKI - PVG
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Avoid delays
AirAsia
Most punctual • 89% on-time
Night
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
When to book
6 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 6 weeks in advance save around 35% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
October
Cheapest • 17% price drop
April
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top stopover airports
Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL)
Cheapest • Avg RM 1,133 (return)
Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN)
Shortest trip • 12h 41m (one-way)
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai (BKI-SHA)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai

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BKI  Kota Kinabalu-CN2 London Canonbury
4613 kmmulti-stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
CN2  London Canonbury-BKI Kota Kinabalu
4613 kmmulti-stop
Multiple Airlines
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Thursday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai. It's 6% cheaper than the average day, while Friday is the most expensive, with prices 8% higher.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

•October is the cheapest month to fly from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai at RM 1,074 return.
•February (RM 1,564) and August (RM 1,531) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 45% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai the cheapest?

Flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai are cheapest 6 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 35% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

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Key details for Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai flights

Low season

July
Beat the crowds with an average 53% drop in travellers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 38% increase in travellers.

When to book flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

Your Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking tips.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

    These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai:

    • Earliest: departs at 01:30 and lands at 05:59
    • Latest: departs at 22:30 and lands at 02:59.

    The flight takes about 4h 29m.

  • Which cabin classes can I book on flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

    Two cabin classes are available on flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai:

    • Economy class
    • Business Class

  • How long is a flight from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

    A direct flight from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai takes 4h 29m, covering 4,613 km.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

    Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai flight?

    Return flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai range from RM 1,128 to RM 1,600, with an average of RM 1,294 over the past 12 months. Anything below RM 1,128 counts as a good deal.

  • How expensive are last-minute Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 31% above the RM 1,294 route average. Book 6 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How much can I save by having a stopover when flying from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

    On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average RM 1,133 return via Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL), compared with RM 1,342 for direct.

  • How does on-time performance compare across airlines flying from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

    AirAsia is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Shanghai Airlines has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai flights are:

    • AirAsia: 89% on time
    • Shanghai Airlines: 87% on time
    • Spring Airlines: 81% on time

    On average, flights on this route are punctual 87% of the time.

  • What is the standard checked bag allowance on flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

    There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge RM 162–RM 408 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

  • How are flight departures from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai spread across the day?

    Night is the busiest departure period on Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai flights, with 100% leaving in that window. Morning departures account for 0%, Afternoon flights for 0%, and Evening flights for 0%.

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

    Flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai usually depart from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) and may arrive at several airports in Shanghai area, including Shanghai Pu Dong (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao Intl (SHA).

  • What time of day has the fewest delays on flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

    Night flights have the fewest delays on this route, while evening departures tend to have the most.

  • At what point is a flight considered delayed from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

    A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai route, 13% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 2h 11m.

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai pass through?

    One-stop flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai most commonly connect through:

    • Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) – 72% of one-stop connections
    • Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) – 19% of one-stop connections
    • Fuzhou (FOC) – 9% of one-stop connections

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 13% on flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai. Thursday is the cheapest departure day at RM 1,221 return on average, while Friday is the most expensive at RM 1,400, a difference of RM 180.

    KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to three days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • Which airlines fly from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

    2 airlines operate flights between Kota Kinabalu and Shanghai. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

    • AirAsia
    • Shanghai Airlines

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different stopover airport from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

    Flying via Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 12h 11m, compared to 12h 41m via Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) and 18h 35m via Fuzhou (FOC).

  • What popular places can I visit in Shanghai?

    Some of the most popular sights in Shanghai are People's Square, Shanghai Disneyland, and Shanghai Grand Stage. These are among the most viewed places in Shanghai on KAYAK.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai flights?

    Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

    • AirAsia: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
    • Spring Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
    • China Eastern: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

    Baggage allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

Your guide to booking Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly, and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Thursday departure and avoid flying on Friday. On this route, Thursday flights average RM 1,221, which is about RM 180 less than Friday fares (13% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 6 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 35% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai trip for October. Fares historically average RM 1,074 return in that month – typically RM 490 less than the most expensive month, which is February (based on the last 12 months).
  • For the best chance of arriving on time, fly with AirAsia. Over the past three months, 89% of AirAsia flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai arrived on time, slightly above the route average of 87%. When flights on this route arrive late, they're delayed by an average of 2h 11m, so choosing an airline with strong on-time performance can make a difference if you're on a tight schedule.
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport (KUL) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest stopover option averages RM 1,133 return on this route – about RM 209 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, hotels close to the airport you're flying into can be a convenient option.

    Near Shanghai Pu Dong Airport

    • Dazhong Airport Hotel
    • Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Shanghai Pudong Airport

    Near Shanghai Hongqiao Intl Airport

    • Shanghai Hongqiao Airport Boyue Hotel - Airchina
    • Cordis Shanghai Hongqiao

Prefer to fly direct from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai?

 
Find which airlines fly direct from Kota Kinabalu Airport to Shanghai, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai

Monday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

Tuesday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

Wednesday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

Thursday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

Friday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

Saturday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

Sunday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu

Monday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

Tuesday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

Wednesday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

Thursday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

Friday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

Saturday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

Sunday

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

AirAsia,Shanghai Airlines

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai

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