RM 245 Find Cheap Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu – Compare and Save

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

• Earliest: departs at 05:35 and lands at 08:16
• Latest: departs at 22:15 and lands at 00:56.

The flight takes about 2h 41m.

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

• Economy class
• Business Class

A direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu takes 2h 41m, covering 2,608 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 to Kota Kinabalu range from RM 371 to RM 662, with an average of RM 490 over the past 12 months. Anything below RM 371 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 31% above the RM 490 route average. Book 24 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average RM 366 return via Sibu (SBW), compared with RM 490 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 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.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu flights, with 41% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 30%, Evening flights for 22%, and Night flights for 7%.

One-way fares from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about RM 284, which is 10% 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 to Kota Kinabalu may depart from several airports in Kuala Lumpur area, including Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) and Kuala Lumpur Subang (SZB). Flights usually 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 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 to Kota Kinabalu most commonly connect through:

• Singapore Changi (SIN) – 69% of one-stop connections
• Bandar Seri Begawan Brunei Intl (BWN) – 9% of one-stop connections
• Miri (MYY) – 9% 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 to Kota Kinabalu. Friday is the cheapest departure day at RM 473 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at RM 522, 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 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 6h 29m via Johor Bahru Sultan Ismail Intl (JHB).

Among airlines operating Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu flights:

• AirAsia: offers free seat selection
• Malaysia Airlines: 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:

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