Flying from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI): What you need to know
Planning your vacation begins with figuring out where you'll leave from in Shanghai. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is the city's main airport, so explore your options for reserving a flight from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) taking off from here.
Expect to be in the air for 4 hours 35 minutes. That's the average duration of a direct Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport flight.
Kota Kinabalu (where Kota Kinabalu International Airport is located) and Shanghai share the UTC+8 timezone. Same timezone means no confusion when scheduling your trip.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) is the busiest route. You can select from 14 direct weekly services between PVG and BKI.
Your flight from Shanghai to BKI won't wait if you're running late, so show up at the airport on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead when you're flying internationally.
You'll likely experience bigger queues during popular months such as February and other peak periods. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for a domestic departure is a good idea.
Airports in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
You can jump on a direct flight from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) out of Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).
At PVG, you'll find a variety of airlines that offer direct flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport, such as:
Shanghai Airlines is the airline with the highest passenger demand for flights from PVG to BKI.
AirAsia stands out as the most punctual carrier on this route, with 89.74% of services arriving as scheduled.
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to take a break from traveling and possibly even explore another city. When searching for cheap flights from Shanghai to BKI departing from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to find all potential stops. Your journey might pause in:
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX)
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (WUH)
PVG is about 48 kilometers from central Shanghai. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the center, it'll take 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the journey time to be around 50 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport? Avoid the stress of rushing to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by picking one of these stays near Shanghai Pudong International Airport:
Shanghai Pudong International Airport gets high marks for its on-time performance. 82% of flights that depart PVG arrive at their destination as scheduled.
PVG is located at No.300 Qihang Road.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Split up your flight from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport with a stop so you can stretch your legs or cross another place off your list. Top stopovers between Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and BKI include:
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX)
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
On public transport, you can travel from central Shanghai to SHA in around 40 minutes. The airport is roughly 14 kilometers away, and getting there by car takes approximately 30 minutes.
Taking off bright and early? Think about checking in to one of these accommodation options near Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport the day before your Shanghai to BKI flight:
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport has a reputation for reliability and timeliness. 85% of flights departing here arrive right when they're supposed to.
You'll find SHA at 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.
About Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
Have a late flight from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport? Don't let it steal your sleep. Stay at one of these hotels near BKI and fast-forward to bedtime:
Booking your vehicle around one week in advance of your Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport flight can help you secure the lowest rate.
Getting from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) to central Kota Kinabalu
The center of Kota Kinabalu is about 8 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Travel times by cab or car rental will vary based on traffic conditions, so do some research before you go.
It'll take around 35 minutes when traveling by public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
AED 324 is currently the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Return flights start from AED 718. These fares may change depending on demand.
Book four months before flying. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from Shanghai to BKI.
Schedule your trip for September. That's the best month for landing the biggest deals on Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport tickets. If you're flexible with your travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
Snapping up a cheap plane ticket from Shanghai to BKI is easy with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as prices go down.
Tailor your trip using filters. Select your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
The best time to fly from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
It's time to decide your travel dates for your flight from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI). February is the busiest month to visit Kota Kinabalu. If you like things a bit more low-key, head there in December.
When booking your Shanghai to BKI plane ticket, consider the type of weather you enjoy. May is the warmest month in Kota Kinabalu, with temperatures ranging from 24ºC (75ºF) to 31ºC (88ºF).
February has temperatures of between 23ºC (73ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF). Look for cheap tickets from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Kota Kinabalu
When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Kota Kinabalu right here. Explore these hotels as soon as you've locked in your flight from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu International Airport:
Your Kota Kinabalu visit should come with a side of sightseeing. Leading attractions worth exploring include Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA) and Manukan Island.
Explore more of Malaysia
Sandakan is just one of the many cities in Malaysia waiting to be explored after you've seen Kota Kinabalu. Around 225 kilometers away to the east, its best attractions include Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Sepilok and Sandakan Rainforest Park.
Tawau is another favorite destination in Malaysia and is around 274 kilometers southeast of Kota Kinabalu. No journey is complete without experiencing Hot Springs Tawau, Teck Guan Cocoa Museum and Batu payung.
