RM 398 Find Cheap Flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai – Compare and Save

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

• Shanghai Airlines
• AirAsia
• Spring Airlines

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).

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

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

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

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

• Economy class
• Business Class

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average RM 1,152 return via Fuzhou (FOC), compared with RM 1,324 for direct.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge RM 169–RM 407 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

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

• Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) – 71% of one-stop connections
• Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) – 22% of one-stop connections
• Fuzhou (FOC) – 7% of one-stop connections

Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 11% on the Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai route. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at RM 1,208 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at RM 1,346, a difference of RM 138. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

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 3 months, with delays averaging 2 hours 11 minutes.

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%.

Some of the most popular sights in Shanghai are Nanjing Road, People's Square, and People's Square Metro Station. These are among the most viewed places in Shanghai on KAYAK.

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

• Earliest: departs at 01:30 and lands at 06:06
• Latest: departs at 22:50 and lands at 03:26.

The flight takes about 4h 36m.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 37% above the route average of RM 1,281. Book 6 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A direct flight from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai takes 4h 36m, covering 4,613 km.

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.

One-way fares from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai are currently in line with typical prices for this route. Average one-way fares are about RM 775.

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: 86% on time
• Spring Airlines: 83% on time

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

Night flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

Flying via Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 11h 59m, compared to 12h 55m via Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) and 18h 03m via Fuzhou (FOC).

Return flights from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai range from RM 1,133 to RM 1,566, with an average of RM 1,281 over the past 12 months. Anything below RM 1,133 counts as a good deal.