Where can I rent a car after landing at Kota Kinabalu International Airport?

Cars provide a flexible and more convenient way of moving around Kota Kinabalu. It might thus be best if you consider booking your rental car online through Kota Kinabalu International Airport and picking it up immediately after you land. You can find the car rental desks past the baggage claim area. Thrifty, Green Matrix, and Hertz offer courtesy shuttles from the terminal to their off-airport locations.

What is the best way to connect from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to the city center?

The choice of travel from Kinabalu International Airport to the city may depend on your budget, urgency or comfort. There are buses serving this route and departing every 30 minutes. If you miss the bus, you can hop onto Minivan Number 17, which is slightly faster. However, taxis are the most reliable and quickest, as they operate 24/7, and get there in under 15 minutes.

Do flights from JKF and BKI accept passengers with pets?

With several animal relief areas in every terminal at JKF, you won’t have a problem bringing your furry family member on this trip. Those departing via Terminal 4 will find these spaces outside the terminal and post-security on the B Concourse between Gates B31 and B33.

Are JKF and BKI accessible to disabled passengers?

Both the departure and destination airports cater to the needs of disabled travelers and persons with limited mobility. There is a wheelchair service upon request, and all the standard amenities are accessible, including toilets and bathrooms. Lastly, you will find friendly airport agents ready to guide you through the high-traffic areas.

What is the difference between the most popular and the most frequent airline at Kota Kinabalu?

United Airlines operates the most flights from the United States to Kota Kinabalu at 0 per week, while Cathay Pacific is the airline most often selected by KAYAK users searching for flights from the United States to Kota Kinabalu. The two are often different because flight volume reflects an airline's schedule, while popularity reflects traveler choice.

How far is Kota Kinabalu from downtown Kota Kinabalu?

Kota Kinabalu is 3.9 mi from downtown Kota Kinabalu.

How do I know if a flight to Kota Kinabalu is a good deal?

A good deal on a flight to Kota Kinabalu is around $954 round-trip. This fare is in the lowest 25% of round-trip prices searched on KAYAK, averaged across the cities most often searched as origins by KAYAK users.

What is the cheapest flight to Kota Kinabalu?

Los Angeles to Kota Kinabalu is the cheapest route at $716 round-trip, found in the past 5 days on KAYAK. KAYAK data shows this is also the most popular route.

How much is a flight to Kota Kinabalu?

On average, a round-trip flight from the United States to Kota Kinabalu costs $1,238, based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months. Round-trip fares from Los Angeles average $814, while San Francisco runs a bit higher at $931.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Kota Kinabalu?

Monday is the cheapest day to fly to Kota Kinabalu at $1,153 round-trip on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Friday is the most expensive at $1,429.

What’s the cheapest month to fly to Kota Kinabalu?

•November is the cheapest month to fly to Kota Kinabalu with an average price of $889 round-trip. •December ($1,865) and June ($1,778) are the most expensive. Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Kota Kinabalu?

Afternoon flights to Kota Kinabalu are the cheapest at $1,173 round-trip on average. Evening flights are the most expensive at $1,532.

What is a good deal for flights to Kota Kinabalu?

Flights under $954 are considered a good deal. 25% of KAYAK users found round-trip flights to Kota Kinabalu at or below these prices, with the lowest fares from: •Los Angeles $727 •San Francisco $869 •Seattle $921.

What are the most popular airlines flying to Kota Kinabalu?

Cathay Pacific is the most popular airline flying to Kota Kinabalu among KAYAK users, followed by China Eastern and Korean Air.

$423 CHEAP FLIGHTS to Kota Kinabalu in 2026/27

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Cheapest round-trip

$716

Typical prices: $954-$1,558

China Eastern

Thu 11/15Sat 11/24

LAX - BKI • 1 stop

Cheapest one-way

$423

Typical prices: $567-$839

Multiple Airlines

Fri 11/30

SFO - BKI • 2 stops

Top airlines

Korean Air

Best reviews • 8.4 score

Airline reviews

Top routes

LAX - BKI

Cheapest • 39% average savings

NYC - BKI

Most popular

Insights

When to travel

November

Cheapest • 28% price drop

August

Most popular

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Cheap Flights to Kota Kinabalu

Cheap flights to Kota Kinabalu from top airlines, updated regularly. Compare round-trip, one-way, direct and last-minute deals.

Round-trip

One-way

All Flight Deals

Sun, Nov 15 - Tue, Nov 24

11:30 am - 12:30 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

21h 00m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

1:30 am - 9:05 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 35m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

$716China Eastern

Sun, Nov 15 - Mon, Nov 23

11:30 am - 12:30 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

21h 00m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

1:30 am - 9:05 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 35m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

$718China Eastern

Mon, Nov 16 - Mon, Nov 23

11:30 am - 12:30 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

21h 00m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

1:30 am - 9:05 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 35m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

$718China Eastern

Mon, Nov 16 - Mon, Nov 23

6:00 am - 12:30 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

26h 30m2 stops San Francisco Shanghai Pu Dong

1:30 am - 9:05 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 35m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

$761Multiple Airlines

Tue, Jan 26 - Wed, Feb 24

11:05 am - 12:35 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

21h 30m1 stop Hong Kong Intl

1:30 am - 9:20 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 50m1 stop Hong Kong Intl

$778Cathay Pacific

Tue, Jan 26 - Wed, Feb 24

11:05 am - 12:35 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

21h 30m1 stop Hong Kong Intl

1:30 am - 9:20 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 50m1 stop Hong Kong Intl

$779Cathay Pacific

Mon, Nov 16 - Tue, Nov 24

7:00 am - 12:30 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

25h 30m2 stops San Francisco Shanghai Pu Dong

1:30 am - 9:05 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 35m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

$801Multiple Airlines

Mon, Jan 11 - Mon, Jan 25

11:05 am - 10:00 amSFO San Francisco-BKI Kota Kinabalu

30h 55m2 stops Tokyo Narita Kuala Lumpur Intl

10:00 pm - 9:20 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-SFO San Francisco

27h 20m2 stops Kuala Lumpur Intl Tokyo Narita

$859Multiple Airlines

Tue, Jan 26 - Fri, Feb 26

10:05 pm - 10:50 pmLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

32h 45m1 stop Singapore Changi

2:40 pm - 7:55 pmBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

21h 15m2 stops Kuala Lumpur Intl Singapore Changi

$881Singapore Airlines

Tue, Jan 26 - Thu, Feb 25

10:05 pm - 10:50 pmLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

32h 45m1 stop Singapore Changi

2:40 pm - 6:10 pmBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

43h 30m2 stops Kuala Lumpur Intl Singapore Changi

$881Singapore Airlines

Sun, Nov 15 - Tue, Nov 24

11:30 am - 12:30 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

21h 00m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

1:30 am - 9:05 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 35m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

$716China Eastern

Sun, Nov 15 - Mon, Nov 23

11:30 am - 12:30 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

21h 00m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

1:30 am - 9:05 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 35m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

$718China Eastern

Mon, Nov 16 - Mon, Nov 23

11:30 am - 12:30 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

21h 00m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

1:30 am - 9:05 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 35m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

$718China Eastern

Mon, Nov 16 - Mon, Nov 23

6:00 am - 12:30 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

26h 30m2 stops San Francisco Shanghai Pu Dong

1:30 am - 9:05 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 35m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

$761Multiple Airlines

Tue, Jan 26 - Wed, Feb 24

11:05 am - 12:35 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

21h 30m1 stop Hong Kong Intl

1:30 am - 9:20 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 50m1 stop Hong Kong Intl

$778Cathay Pacific

Tue, Jan 26 - Wed, Feb 24

11:05 am - 12:35 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

21h 30m1 stop Hong Kong Intl

1:30 am - 9:20 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 50m1 stop Hong Kong Intl

$779Cathay Pacific

Mon, Nov 16 - Tue, Nov 24

7:00 am - 12:30 amLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

25h 30m2 stops San Francisco Shanghai Pu Dong

1:30 am - 9:05 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

23h 35m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong

$801Multiple Airlines

Mon, Jan 11 - Mon, Jan 25

11:05 am - 10:00 amSFO San Francisco-BKI Kota Kinabalu

30h 55m2 stops Tokyo Narita Kuala Lumpur Intl

10:00 pm - 9:20 amBKI Kota Kinabalu-SFO San Francisco

27h 20m2 stops Kuala Lumpur Intl Tokyo Narita

$859Multiple Airlines

Tue, Jan 26 - Fri, Feb 26

10:05 pm - 10:50 pmLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

32h 45m1 stop Singapore Changi

2:40 pm - 7:55 pmBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

21h 15m2 stops Kuala Lumpur Intl Singapore Changi

$881Singapore Airlines

Tue, Jan 26 - Thu, Feb 25

10:05 pm - 10:50 pmLAX Los Angeles-BKI Kota Kinabalu

32h 45m1 stop Singapore Changi

2:40 pm - 6:10 pmBKI Kota Kinabalu-LAX Los Angeles

43h 30m2 stops Kuala Lumpur Intl Singapore Changi

$881Singapore Airlines

Price, demand and travel trends for flights to Kota Kinabalu

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

Prices

Airlines

What is the cheapest flight to Kota Kinabalu?: Los Angeles to Kota Kinabalu is the cheapest route at $716 round-trip, found in the past 5 days on KAYAK. KAYAK data shows this is also the most popular route.
How much is a flight to Kota Kinabalu? Average and cheapest price for all round-trip flights to Kota Kinabalu from each origin found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 12 months.: On average, a round-trip flight from the United States to Kota Kinabalu costs $1,238, based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months. Round-trip fares from Los Angeles average $814, while San Francisco runs a bit higher at $931.
What is the cheapest day to fly to Kota Kinabalu?: Monday is the cheapest day to fly to Kota Kinabalu at $1,153 round-trip on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Friday is the most expensive at $1,429.
What’s the cheapest month to fly to Kota Kinabalu? To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last 12 months for flights to Kota Kinabalu, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, then takes the median of all values for each month.: •November is the cheapest month to fly to Kota Kinabalu with an average price of $889 round-trip.
•December ($1,865) and June ($1,778) are the most expensive.

Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.
What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Kota Kinabalu? Average price for all round-trip flights depending on time of departure, seen by users on KAYAK in the last 12 months.: Afternoon flights to Kota Kinabalu are the cheapest at $1,173 round-trip on average. Evening flights are the most expensive at $1,532.
What is a good deal for flights to Kota Kinabalu?: Flights under $954 are considered a good deal. 25% of KAYAK users found round-trip flights to Kota Kinabalu at or below these prices, with the lowest fares from:
•Los Angeles $727
•San Francisco $869
•Seattle $921.

Find deals

Our travel experts

Robert Schrader

Expert on Japan Airlines and China Eastern

One of the web's original travel bloggers, Robert launched his first site Leave Your Daily Hell in 2009. Since then, he's expanded into destination niche sites (one each for Japan, Thailand and Taiwan), in addition to having written for the inflight magazines of Singapore Airlines and Korean Air. Overall, he's visited nearly 100 countries, and flies business as often as possible.

Gabriel Leigh

Expert on Turkish Airlines

Gabriel is a writer and video creator. As senior content producer for Flightradar24 and Monocle’s transport correspondent, he keeps a close eye on aviation in particular. He has also written travel articles for the likes of The New York Times. Born in New York but raised around the world, he now lives in Sweden. He’s been to 75 countries, flying 2.3 million miles on 113 airlines and through 234 airports in the process.

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on China Southern

An avid traveler and aviation expert who has visited 173 countries, all 50 states and seven continents, Ramsey Qubein flies nearly 400,000 miles a year. As a North Carolina-based freelance journalist for publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, USA Today and Bloomberg among others, he explores the latest trends in aviation, hospitality, cruises and business.

John Walton

Expert on Asiana Airlines

Independent aviation journalist John Walton took his first flight at eight weeks old and hasn’t stopped travelling since. A world-renowned expert in airlines and the passenger experience, he writes in depth on aviation, is a resident expert on travel in Japan and France, and offers a uniquely queer perspective on travelling the world.

Chris Dong

Expert on Singapore Airlines

Chris is a consumer travel reporter covering aviation, trending travel news, hotels, and loyalty programs—all for leading global publications like Travel + Leisure, The Washington Post, AFAR, and more. In addition to writing, Chris is a video host for Travel + Leisure, giving consumers an inside look at the latest in air travel.

Low season	June
High season	August
Cheapest flight	$423

Beat the crowds with an average 25% drop in travelers.

The most popular month to fly with an average 31% increase in travelers.

One-way flight from San Francisco to Kota Kinabalu

When to book flights to Kota Kinabalu

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to Kota Kinabalu based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.

Estimated round-trip price

KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. The information is for flights to Kota Kinabalu based on your location. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

How do I know if a flight to Kota Kinabalu is a good deal?
A good deal on a flight to Kota Kinabalu is around $954 round-trip. This fare is in the lowest 25% of round-trip prices searched on KAYAK, averaged across the cities most often searched as origins by KAYAK users.
How far is Kota Kinabalu from downtown Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu is 3.9 mi from downtown Kota Kinabalu.
What is the difference between the most popular and the most frequent airline at Kota Kinabalu?
United Airlines operates the most flights from the United States to Kota Kinabalu at 0 per week, while Cathay Pacific is the airline most often selected by KAYAK users searching for flights from the United States to Kota Kinabalu. The two are often different because flight volume reflects an airline's schedule, while popularity reflects traveler choice.
Where can I rent a car after landing at Kota Kinabalu International Airport?
Cars provide a flexible and more convenient way of moving around Kota Kinabalu. It might thus be best if you consider booking your rental car online through Kota Kinabalu International Airport and picking it up immediately after you land. You can find the car rental desks past the baggage claim area. Thrifty, Green Matrix, and Hertz offer courtesy shuttles from the terminal to their off-airport locations.
What is the best way to connect from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to the city center?
The choice of travel from Kinabalu International Airport to the city may depend on your budget, urgency or comfort. There are buses serving this route and departing every 30 minutes. If you miss the bus, you can hop onto Minivan Number 17, which is slightly faster. However, taxis are the most reliable and quickest, as they operate 24/7, and get there in under 15 minutes.
Do flights from JKF and BKI accept passengers with pets?
With several animal relief areas in every terminal at JKF, you won’t have a problem bringing your furry family member on this trip. Those departing via Terminal 4 will find these spaces outside the terminal and post-security on the B Concourse between Gates B31 and B33.
Are JKF and BKI accessible to disabled passengers?
Both the departure and destination airports cater to the needs of disabled travelers and persons with limited mobility. There is a wheelchair service upon request, and all the standard amenities are accessible, including toilets and bathrooms. Lastly, you will find friendly airport agents ready to guide you through the high-traffic areas.

For flights to Kota Kinabalu, a good round-trip fare is around $954. If you find a fare below that, you're getting a strong deal.
If your travel dates are flexible, consider flying to Kota Kinabalu in November. Round-trip fares historically average $889, making November the cheapest month to travel based on KAYAK data from the last 12 months.
Before you book:

• Check the route's typical price range so you can spot a deal.
• Confirm baggage fees and seat-selection costs on budget carriers.
• Verify whether you need any travel documents beyond ID.
• Pick a departure airport, since your nearest may not be the cheapest origin.
Shift your departure to noon to save up to $359 per round-trip. Noon flights to Kota Kinabalu average $1,173 compared to $1,532 for afternoon flights.
Travelers from the United States to Kota Kinabalu use John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) as their main departure port. John F. Kennedy Airport operates the highest frequency of flights from the U.S. to Kota Kinabalu compared to O'Hare International Airport (ORD), and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), which also serve as departure stations to Kota Kinabalu.
Suppose you are in Downtown New York and want to connect to John F. Kennedy Airport to in time for your flight to Kota Kinabalu, you will find the train as a cheaper and more convenient option, taking about 51 minutes to get there. For a quicker option, consider taking a taxi which takes about 23 minutes to cover the distance.
If you arrive at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) late at night, it might be best if you booked a room at one of the nearby hotels before proceeding to your next destination. Typically, such hotels provide complimentary shuttles to and from the airport to make your movement easier, especially if you have heavy luggage.
When booking flights from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Kota Kinabalu, you will find a wide range of carriers that operate one-stop or two-stop flights along this route. Usually, these layovers are at their hubs. For instance, Malaysia Airlines transits through Kuala Lumpur, while Emirates Airline makes a stopover in Dubai.
Those planning to fly with the first flight from John F. Kennedy Airport to Kota Kinabalu should consider relaxing at a nearby hotel. Plan and book a room at TWA Hotel, the online on-site property New York's JFK International Airport.

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Everything you should know

Cheap Flights to Kota Kinabalu

Cheap flights to Kota Kinabalu from top airlines, updated regularly. Compare round-trip, one-way, direct and last-minute deals.

Price, demand and travel trends for flights to Kota Kinabalu

What is the cheapest flight to Kota Kinabalu?

How much is a flight to Kota Kinabalu?

What is the cheapest day to fly to Kota Kinabalu?

What’s the cheapest month to fly to Kota Kinabalu?

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Kota Kinabalu?

What is a good deal for flights to Kota Kinabalu?

What are the most popular airlines flying to Kota Kinabalu?

Expert advice for your flight to Kota Kinabalu

Key details for flights to Kota Kinabalu

Low season

High season

Cheapest flight

When to book flights to Kota Kinabalu

Your questions about flights to Kota Kinabalu, answered

Your guide to booking Kota Kinabalu flights

More options for your flight to Kota Kinabalu

Complete your trip to Kota Kinabalu with a hotel stay or car rental

Information on the airport you'll fly into in Kota Kinabalu

Cabin class types available on flights to Kota Kinabalu

Flights from local origins to Kota Kinabalu

Flights to other popular destinations

Find deals for your return flight