Flying from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI): What you need to know
Seoul is home to two main airports that set the stage for your next getaway. Explore your options for reserving a flight from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) flying out of Incheon International Airport (ICN) or Gimpo International Airport (GMP).
Take a direct Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport flight and you'll be in the air for around 5 hours 25 minutes.
Kota Kinabalu International Airport is located in Kota Kinabalu. The city is in the UTC+8 timezone and is one hour behind Seoul.
The most popular route is from Incheon International Airport (ICN) to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI), with 25 direct weekly services. If you want to be on your way right away, the earliest flight from ICN to BKI is the 1:05am AirAsia option. If a later start suits your schedule, the final departure is at 7:50pm with Jeju Air.
Your flight from Seoul to BKI won't wait if you're running late, so don't forget to check in on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead for international travel.
Longer lines at check-in and security are likely if you're travelling during high season, so allow a bit more breathing room. The recommendation for peak periods? Get there up to four hours ahead for international flights and two hours for domestic departures.
Airports in Seoul
Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Go straight to your destination from Incheon International Airport (ICN). Nonstop flights from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) are available from here.
Choose from a variety of airlines offering direct flights from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport departing from ICN. Head off on your trip with any of these:
AirAsia ranks first in bookings for flights from ICN to BKI.
The carrier with the most reliable on-time arrival rate on this route is AirAsia.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling and perhaps even explore a different city. When searching for cheap flights from Seoul to BKI leaving from Incheon International Airport (ICN), deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to find all potential stops. Some popular options include:
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX)
From the centre of Seoul, ICN is around 48 kilometres away. Check the official airport website or use navigation apps to work out the best way to get there.
Catching an early flight from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and get a little more snooze time) by staying at one of these hotels near Incheon International Airport:
54.5% of flights that take off from Incheon International Airport touch down at their destination on schedule.
Gimpo International Airport (GMP)
Fit a stopover into your itinerary at Daxing International Airport (PKX). It's a popular transfer point for flights from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) departing Gimpo International Airport.
The distance from Seoul's city centre to GMP is roughly 16 kilometres. Take into account the available transport options and potential delays when working out the best route to the airport.
Kick off your holiday early with an additional night away from home. Before your Seoul to BKI flight, kick back in one of these hotels close to Gimpo International Airport:
75.94% of all departures from Gimpo International Airport arrive within the expected time frame.
About Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
Consider staying in a hotel close to BKI if you're catching a late flight from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Pick one of these options and end the night sooner:
Grab a Kota Kinabalu International Airport rental car and discover Kota Kinabalu and beyond with your own wheels. NH Travel, Green Motion and Keddy By Europcar are popular outlets to choose from here.
To secure the lowest price, book your ride around one week ahead of your Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport flight.
How to find the cheapest flights from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
Right now, $91 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is $190. Keep in mind fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.
To find cheap flights from Seoul to BKI, book in advance. Airlines usually offer lower prices when tickets are first released.
The 'Whole month' search tool will show you the cheapest Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport tickets across the entire month. It's a good way to snap up a bargain if your plans aren't set in stone.
Save time looking for cheap flight tickets from Seoul to BKI by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification on the app when a lower fare pops up.
Filters make it easier to find a bargain for your flight from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Pick the departure times, carriers and stops that line up with your plans. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to zero in on the cheapest fare fast.
The best time to fly from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
August is the most popular month for flights from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI). Visit Kota Kinabalu in February for a quieter experience.
Lock in a Seoul to BKI flight ticket departing in May if you want to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Kota Kinabalu to range from 24ºC (75ºF) to 31ºC (88ºF).
February has temperatures of between 23ºC (73ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF). Look for cheap tickets from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Kota Kinabalu
Once you've booked your flight from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu International Airport, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Kota Kinabalu:
Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park and Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA) are just a couple of the top attractions to put on your Kota Kinabalu must-do list. Continue your sightseeing adventures at Sipadan Dive Centre Sdn. Bhd..
Explore more of Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu has plenty going for it, but there are so many other parts of Malaysia waiting to be explored. About 225 kilometres east of Kota Kinabalu, a visit to Sandakan will keep you on the go. Check out popular attractions like Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary (Pusat Pemulihan Orangutan), Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Sepilok and Sandakan Rainforest Park.
Tawau is another favourite destination in Malaysia and is around 274 kilometres south-east of Kota Kinabalu. No trip is complete without dropping by D'mount kinabalu adventure, Jungleland and Hot Springs Tawau.