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

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

• Earliest: departs at 04:05 and lands at 08:41
• Latest: departs at 20:00 and lands at 00:36.

The flight takes about 4h 36m.

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

A direct flight from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu 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.

Return flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu range from RM 1,263 to RM 1,873, with an average of RM 1,546 over the past 12 months. Anything below RM 1,263 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 15% above the RM 1,546 route average. Book 19 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average RM 1,432 return via Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), compared with RM 1,551 for direct.

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 Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu flights are:

• AirAsia: 93% on time
• Shanghai Airlines: 85% on time
• Spring Airlines: 72% on time

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

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge RM 102–RM 408 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

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

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 Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu may depart from several airports in Shanghai area, including Shanghai Pu Dong (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao Intl (SHA). Flights usually arrive at Kota Kinabalu (BKI).

Evening flights have the fewest delays on this route, while afternoon 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 Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu route, 13% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 2h 14m.

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

• Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) – 83% of one-stop connections
• Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) – 8% of one-stop connections
• Fuzhou (FOC) – 8% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 24% on flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu. Sunday is the cheapest departure day at RM 1,351 return on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at RM 1,756, a difference of RM 404.

Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

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

• AirAsia
• Shanghai Airlines

Flying via Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 9h 01m, compared to 10h 57m via Fuzhou (FOC) and 12h 06m via Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL).

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

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