Travelling from London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI): What you need to know
Kota Kinabalu International Airport is located in Kota Kinabalu. The city operates on the UTC+8 timezone and is eight hours ahead of London.
To ensure you catch your flight from London to BKI, leave plenty of time to check in and find your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
Be prepared for longer queues during popular months like July and other peak seasons. Arriving up to four hours in advance for an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a good idea.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Consider adding a stopover to find cheap flights from London to BKI. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Take a break from travelling at one of these popular airports:
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
LHR is around 24 kilometres from central London. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take 45 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're using public transport, expect the journey time to be around 25 minutes.
Want a hassle-free start to your trip? Stay near London Heathrow Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are just the thing:
Of all flights departing from London Heathrow Airport, 78% land on schedule at their destination.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Make the most of your holiday with a stopover on your flight from London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Check out these connections between London Gatwick Airport and BKI:
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
LGW is around 48 kilometres from central London. It takes 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get to the airport driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour 20 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before boarding your London to BKI flight? Unwind in a hotel near London Gatwick Airport before your holiday officially begins. These stays have a room with your name on it:
London Gatwick Airport is known for its commitment to punctuality. 82% of flights taking off from here keep to their planned arrival schedule.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
From central London, STN is around 56 kilometres away. It'll take you roughly 1 hour 5 minutes to get there by car and 45 minutes or so if you use public transport.
Take the 'what ifs' out of departure day — stay near London Stansted Airport and know you'll get to the terminal with time to spare. Get comfy at one of these hotels the day before if you've booked an early London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport flight:
STN has a stellar on-time arrivals rating of 80%, so you can count on your flight to stay on schedule and touch down when it should.
About Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
Book a hotel near BKI if you're catching a late flight from London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Check in to one of these accommodation options and be in bed sooner:
To lock in the lowest price, reserve your ride around one week ahead of your London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport flight.
Getting from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) to central Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu International Airport is roughly 8 kilometres from central Kota Kinabalu. How long it takes to get there in a taxi or car hire will depend on the time of day. Do some research before your trip.
Travelling by public transport will take you around 35 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
$571 is the lowest price for a one-way ticket from London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. A return flight starts at $1,091. These fares can change based on demand and availability.
Don't leave things to the last moment. You're more likely to walk away with cheap flights from London to BKI if you book in advance. Airlines often have some great early bird discounts.
Cheap London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport tickets are easier to find when you have flexibility in your schedule. Try using the 'Whole month' tool to compare fares across each month and then pick the cheapest day.
You don't need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know the moment a new deal shows up on plane tickets from London to BKI.
Save money on your flight from London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport by using the search filters. Choose your ideal duration, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
It's time to figure out your travel dates for your flight from London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI). February is the peak month for travel to Kota Kinabalu. If you prefer a quieter vibe, go in December.
The warmest month in Kota Kinabalu is May, with temperatures ranging between 24ºC (75ºF) and 31ºC (88ºF). Lock in your London to BKI plane ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
Look for cheap tickets from London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport in February if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 23ºC (73ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF).
More about Kota Kinabalu
Start your Kota Kinabalu trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from London to Kota Kinabalu International Airport, browse our selection of accommodation options including:
Your Kota Kinabalu trip should come with a bit of sightseeing. Highlights you won't want to miss include Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA) and Manukan Island.
Explore more of Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu has loads to offer, but there are so many other corners of Malaysia waiting to be explored. Around 225 kilometres east of Kota Kinabalu, a visit to Sandakan will keep your itinerary busy. Start with leading sights like Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Sepilok and Sandakan Rainforest Park.
If you're looking to explore another major stop in Malaysia, consider Tawau, about 274 kilometres southeast of Kota Kinabalu. Hot Springs Tawau, Teck Guan Cocoa Museum and Batu payung are key highlights.