RM 267 Find Cheap Flights from Manila to Kota Kinabalu – Compare and Save

Only Philippines AirAsia operates flights between Manila and Kota Kinabalu.

Flights from Manila to Kota Kinabalu usually depart from Manila Ninoy Aquino Intl (MNL) and arrive at Kota Kinabalu (BKI).

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

• Philippines AirAsia: 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.

Only Economy class is available on flights from Manila to Kota Kinabalu.

On this route, direct flights are cheaper than stopover options on average. Direct fares average RM 495 return, compared with RM 994 via a stopover through Singapore Changi (SIN).

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge RM 79–RM 405 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 Philippines AirAsia. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A321neo variants.

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

• Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) – 57% of one-stop connections
• Singapore Changi (SIN) – 27% of one-stop connections
• Bandar Seri Begawan Brunei Intl (BWN) – 7% of one-stop connections
• Hong Kong Intl (HKG) – 7% of one-stop connections

Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 20% on the Manila to Kota Kinabalu route. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at RM 482 return on average, while Tuesday is the most expensive at RM 595, a difference of RM 113. 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 Manila to Kota Kinabalu route, 21% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2 hours 9 minutes.

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

• Earliest: departs at 16:15 and lands at 18:23
• Latest: departs at 23:10 and lands at 01:18.

The flight takes about 2h 08m.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 20% above the route average of RM 548. Book 19 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A direct flight from Manila to Kota Kinabalu takes 2h 08m, covering 1,764 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 Manila to Kota Kinabalu are currently higher than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about RM 313, which is 14% above the typical average for this route.

Philippines AirAsia is the only airline operating Manila to Kota Kinabalu flights. 79% of its flights are on 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 Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 8h 32m, compared to 9h 38m via Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) and 14h 48m via Singapore Changi (SIN).

Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around RM 63 for economy cars. Top options include:
• keddy by Europcar
• GREEN MOTION
• Europcar
• KK Rent A Car
• Hertz

Return flights from Manila to Kota Kinabalu range from RM 443 to RM 713, with an average of RM 548 over the past 12 months. Anything below RM 443 counts as a good deal.