RM 329 Find Cheap Flights from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu – Compare and Save

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

• AirAsia
• Jeju Air
• Jin Air

Flights from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu may depart from several airports in Seoul area, including Seoul Gimpo Intl (GMP) and Incheon Intl (ICN). Flights usually arrive at Kota Kinabalu (BKI).

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
• Jeju Air: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Jin Air: 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 Seoul to Kota Kinabalu.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average RM 820 return via Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL), compared with RM 1,130 for direct.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge RM 54–RM 406 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

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

• Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) – 46% of one-stop connections
• Shanghai Pu Dong (PVG) – 32% of one-stop connections
• Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) – 7% of one-stop connections
• Fuzhou (FOC) – 7% of one-stop connections

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

On the Seoul to Kota Kinabalu route, being flexible with your departure day can save you up to 13%. Sunday is the cheapest day at RM 1,052 return on average, while Wednesday is the most expensive at RM 1,207 – a RM 154 difference. Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Seoul to Kota Kinabalu flights, with 50% leaving in that window. Evening departures account for 50%, Afternoon flights for 0%, and Night flights for 0%.

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

• Earliest: departs at 06:05 and lands at 11:25
• Latest: departs at 19:50 and lands at 01:10.

The flight takes about 5h 20m.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 3% below the route average of RM 1,130. Booking late can sometimes save money on this route, but inventory is limited.

A direct flight from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu takes 5h 20m, covering 5,929 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.

Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, return flight prices on this route showed a wide range, from about RM 719 to RM 4,665. That means the highest observed fare was about 6x higher than the lowest one.

One-way fares from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about RM 342, which is 36% below the typical average for this route.

Flying via Shanghai Pu Dong (PVG) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 9h 20m, compared to 13h 12m via Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) and 15h 14m via Hong Kong Intl (HKG).

Kota Kinabalu is 1 hour behind Seoul (Malaysia Time vs Korean Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

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 Seoul to Kota Kinabalu range from RM 919 to RM 1,379, with an average of RM 1,130 over the past 12 months. Anything below RM 919 counts as a good deal.