Malaysia Flights FAQ
Fourteen questions we are asked most often about flying within Malaysia: how this site works, where the fares come from, what to expect at the airport, and the two things that surprise visitors — Kuala Lumpur's second airport, and immigration on the way to Borneo.
Table of Contents
Booking and Managing Flights
What does this site do?
Flight Malaysia lists the timetable of every domestic route in the country, one page per route: which airlines fly it, on which days, at what times, and what the fare has been. When you have chosen a flight, we hand you to our booking partner to buy it.
Do you sell tickets?
No. When you choose a flight you are transferred to our booking partner, kiwi.com, to complete the purchase. We hold no bookings and take no payment. Fares are shown in Malaysian ringgit.
Where do the fares on this site come from?
We collect them from our booking partner and keep the cheapest we saw for each flight. They tell you what a route usually costs; they are not a live quote for your dates. Every page says when its figures were collected, and the price you pay is the one shown at the moment you book.
How far ahead should I book?
Domestic fares in Malaysia are at their lowest well in advance and climb sharply in the last two weeks. Around the school holidays, Hari Raya and Chinese New Year the flights between the peninsula and Borneo sell out completely, not just expensively. If you are travelling then, book as early as you can.
Can I change or cancel a flight I booked?
That is between you and whoever issued the ticket: kiwi.com if you booked through a link here, or the airline if you booked direct. We cannot see your booking or alter it. Keep the confirmation email you were sent; it carries the reference you will be asked for.
At the Airport
How early should I arrive for a domestic flight?
Airlines in Malaysia generally close check-in 45 to 60 minutes before a domestic departure. Ninety minutes ahead is comfortable at Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu or Kuching; an hour is plenty at a small airport. For the rural flights in Sarawak, ask locally — those aircraft leave when they are loaded.
What is the difference between KLIA and klia2?
They are two terminals of the same airport, Kuala Lumpur International (KUL), about two kilometres apart and joined by a shuttle train. AirAsia uses klia2; the other airlines use the main terminal. They are not one building, so allow real time if you are connecting between them.
How much luggage can I take?
In the fares we recorded, hand baggage was 7 kg on most Malaysian airlines and 5 kg on some of Batik Air Malaysia's, and checked baggage ran from 10 kg to 25 kg depending on the airline and the fare bought. The cheapest fare usually carries the smallest allowance. Check your own ticket, because allowances change and ours are a snapshot.
Do I need a passport for a domestic flight?
Malaysians fly on their identity card. Visitors should carry a passport: it is the identification that is always accepted, and it is required at immigration if you are flying to Sabah or Sarawak.
Travelling in Malaysia
Which airports serve Kuala Lumpur?
Two. Kuala Lumpur International (KUL), whose two terminals handle most flights, and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah at Subang (SZB), which is closer to the city and handles Firefly's turboprops and some Batik Air Malaysia services. They are about an hour apart by road, so check which one your flight actually uses.
Do I need to clear immigration flying to Sabah or Sarawak?
Yes. Both states run their own immigration control, so a flight from the peninsula to Kota Kinabalu or Kuching is a domestic flight that still passes through immigration when it lands. Have your passport or identity card ready, and expect a stamp or an entry permit.
How do I reach the small airstrips in Sarawak?
Through Miri, which is the hub for the rural air service. From there small aircraft fly to Bario, Long Banga, Long Akah, Long Lellang, Long Seridan, Marudi, Mulu, Limbang, Lawas and Mukah, mostly once or twice a day. Ba'kelalan is reached from Bario or Lawas rather than from Miri. Seats are few and the flights depend on the weather, so they fill early.
Which is the busiest airport after Kuala Lumpur?
By the number of places you can fly to non-stop, Miri comes second in our data, because of the rural network, and then Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Kuala Lumpur reaches 23 destinations, Miri 15, and Kota Kinabalu and Kuching 12 each.
Is the train or the bus a real alternative to flying?
On the peninsula, sometimes. The electric train between Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Butterworth is fast and comfortable, and once you count getting to the airport and waiting in it, the times are close. Between the peninsula and Sabah or Sarawak there is no practical alternative: it is a flight.