Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI): what you need to know
Kota Kinabalu's timezone is UTC+8, making Kota Kinabalu 15 hours ahead of San Francisco.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are golden rules for stress-free travel. Show up at the airport on time to catch your SFO to BKI flight.
You can expect longer queues in popular months like August. Arriving up to four hours in advance for an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a good idea.
Consider adding a stopover when booking your ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' to break up your journey, or perhaps see a new city along the way. Here are some options between SFO and BKI:
Incheon International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
Right now, P43,700 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to Kota Kinabalu International Airport flight. The best price for a return plane ticket is P50,719. Keep in mind that fares can change due to demand when booking.
To find cheap tickets from SFO to BKI, book in advance. Airlines tend to offer their best fares when flights are first made available.
Getting cheap flights from San Francisco International Airport to Kota Kinabalu International Airport is easy if you can be flexible with your travel dates. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the best prices across each month and snap up a great deal.
Landing cheap flights from SFO to BKI is a breeze with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when there's a better deal.
Find the ideal flight for you with the help of the filters. To see the 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from San Francisco International Airport to Kota Kinabalu International Airport, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter results by arrival and departure times, airline, and journey duration.
Handy information about San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
When it comes to San Francisco International Airport's on-time performance, data shows 77.36% of flights arrive within the scheduled timeframe.
Central San Francisco to San Francisco International Airport is around 21 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take about 20 minutes to get there if you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing.
Expect a journey time of about 45 minutes when using public transport.
Get your holiday off to a relaxed start by staying near SFO. Whether you're taking an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Kota Kinabalu International Airport or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels have you covered:
Arriving at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
Book a hotel near BKI if you're on a late San Francisco International Airport to Kota Kinabalu International Airport flight. Settle into one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Say yes to new adventures by picking up a Kota Kinabalu International Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from NH Travel, Green Motion or Keddy By Europcar to explore Kota Kinabalu and beyond.
To get the best deal, book your ride from Kota Kinabalu International Airport about one week ahead.
Getting from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) to central Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu International Airport is approximately 8 kilometres from central Kota Kinabalu. Driving there takes about 15 minutes.
When to fly to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
The quietest month for a flight from San Francisco International Airport to Kota Kinabalu International Airport is February, while August is the busiest. Pick the ideal time to go to Kota Kinabalu based on whether you prefer a more relaxed vibe or a faster pace.
The warmest month in Kota Kinabalu is May, with temperatures ranging between 24ºC (75ºF) and 31ºC (88ºF). Lock in your flights from San Francisco International Airport to Kota Kinabalu International Airport in this month if this is the type of weather you like.
February has average temperatures of between 23ºC (73ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF). Search for cheap tickets from SFO to BKI sometime around then if you want to travel when it's cooler.
Explore more of Malaysia
You've seen Kota Kinabalu, now it's time to explore other corners of Malaysia. Journey about 225 kilometres east to Sandakan to check off its must-visit sights. From Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to Sandakan Memorial Park and Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
If you're interested in discovering another corner of Malaysia, head for Tawau, about 274 kilometres south-east of Kota Kinabalu. Teck Guan Cocoa Museum, Tawau Bell Tower (The Belfry) and Masjid Al-Khauthar, Sabindo Tawau, Sabah. Are the start of reasons to visit.
