RM 241 Find Cheap Flights from Kuala Lumpur Airport to Kota Kinabalu – Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport to Kota Kinabalu:

• Earliest: departs at 05:35 and lands at 08:16
• Latest: departs at 22:30 and lands at 01:11.

The flight takes about 2h 41m.

Two cabin classes are available on flights from Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport to Kota Kinabalu:

• Economy class
• Business Class

A direct flight from Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport to Kota Kinabalu takes 2h 41m, covering 2,621 km.

No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need another form of identification, such as a driving licence.

Return flights from Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport to Kota Kinabalu range from RM 369 to RM 663, with an average of RM 491 over the past 12 months. Anything below RM 369 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 31% above the RM 491 route average. Book 25 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average RM 367 return via Sibu (SBW), compared with RM 492 for direct.

Malaysia Airlines is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Firefly has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport to Kota Kinabalu flights are:

• Malaysia Airlines: 89% on time
• Firefly: 74% on time
• AirAsia: 62% on time

On average, flights on this route are punctual 74% of the time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge RM 15–RM 408 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

The Airbus A320-100/200 family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by AirAsia. Other aircraft seen on the route include Boeing 737-800 variants.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport to Kota Kinabalu flights, with 44% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 28%, Evening flights for 20%, and Night flights for 8%.

One-way fares from Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport to Kota Kinabalu are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about RM 279, which is 12% below the typical average for this route.

Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around RM 70 for economy cars. Top options include:

• keddy by Europcar
• GREEN MOTION
• Europcar
• MKAZ
• Suria Car Rental

Flights from Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport to Kota Kinabalu usually depart from Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) and arrive at Kota Kinabalu (BKI).

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

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 Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport to Kota Kinabalu route, 26% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 2h 15m.

One-stop flights from Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport to Kota Kinabalu most commonly connect through:

• Singapore Changi (SIN) – 68% of one-stop connections
• Bandar Seri Begawan Brunei Intl (BWN) – 11% of one-stop connections
• Miri (MYY) – 11% of one-stop connections
• Sibu (SBW) – 6% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 10% on flights from Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport to Kota Kinabalu. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at RM 474 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at RM 523, a difference of RM 49.

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

4 airlines operate flights between Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport and Kota Kinabalu. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• AirAsia
• Malaysia Airlines
• Batik Air
• Firefly

Flying via Sandakan (SDK) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 5h 14m, compared to 5h 15m via Tawau (TWU) and 7h 29m via Sibu (SBW).

Among airlines operating Kuala Lumpur Intl Airport to Kota Kinabalu flights:

• Malaysia Airlines: offers free seat selection
• AirAsia: offers free seat selection
• Batik Air: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

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

• Malaysia Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• AirAsia: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Batik Air: 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.

For those who are being dropped off at the airport, you can use the Long-Term Car Park for free (up to 30 minutes) to set down, and from there you can take one of the regularly-running shuttle buses to the main terminal. If you’re driving to the airport and want to leave your car there for the duration of your trip, the car park costs RM 32 per day approx.

From the airport, you can take either a taxi or a bus to Kota Kinabalu. Taxis operate on a coupon system so you don’t have to worry about the meter during your trip. You can purchase a coupon at the desk on Level 1 for a set price of RM 30 approx. Alternatively, you can take the bus, with a one-way ticket costing RM 5 approx.

There are two Plaza Premium Lounges that you can access for a fee. The one for domestic flights is located in the domestic terminal near gate A10. Inside, you’ll find plenty of comfortable seating, good Wi-Fi, and complimentary food and drink. Shower facilities are also available. Prices start at RM 160 approx. for 2hr.