Practical tips
- If you are flying to Kuala Lumpur from abroad, you will most likely land at its main international airport—Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)
KUL— the main international airport of Kuala Lumpur, located approximately 50 km (31 miles) south of the city center. KLIA serves most major airlines and international flights to Kuala Lumpur.
Adjacent to KLIA (around 1,5km), there's a "twin" airport called KLIA2 (Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2), which shares the same IATA code:KUL. KLIA2 is a low-cost carrier terminal designed to cater to the growing number of budget airlines in the region (AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Jetstar, Scoot). KLIA and KLIA2 terminals are separate entities - passengers must go through immigration control at one before traveling to the other. The distance between the two terminals can be easily covered by a 3-minutes train journey (KLIA Ekspres, cost RM4.50 / USD 1) or 10-minutes ride by free shuttle bus .
- Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, FlyNas, Jetstar, Scoot, and VietJet Air.
Flights to Kuala Lumpur
from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Kuala Lumpur. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Kuala Lumpur, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop.
- Kuala Lumpur is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Kuala Lumpur with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL, DallasDFW, DenverDEN, ChicagoORD, Los AngelesLAX, Las VegasDFW, MiamiMIA, SeattleSEA, HoustonIAH, New YorkJFK, and San FranciscoSFOin the United States and TorontoYYZ, VancouverYVR, CalgaryLAS, and MontrealYULin Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Kuala Lumpur from the US and Canada are: Air Canada, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
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What is the best time to book flights to Kuala Lumpur?
The best time to book flights to Kuala Lumpur is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Kuala Lumpur flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Airfare prices for Kuala Lumpur flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales.
Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats.
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays including holidays in Malaysia. If you must travel during peak times, book your flight well in advance.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Kuala Lumpur less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up.
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Kuala Lumpur, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. This is the “Prime Booking Window.” After some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 a.m.) flight. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand—most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Flights to Kuala Lumpur from Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Kuala Lumpur — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Direct flights options are limited. Currently, only Malaysia Airlines operate non-stop flights to Kuala Lumpur from Europe (from London Heathrow to KLIA, around 13 hours flight time). Flying with any other airline involves a change of plane in the Middle East or elsewhere in Asia
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Kuala Lumpur include Air France, British Airways, SWISS, Emirates, Etihad Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
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The cheapest time to fly to Kuala Lumpur
Seasons in Malaysia differ from one side of the peninsula to the other. However, December to February and June to August may be considered the high tourist seasons. If you want to visit Kuala Lumpur during this time, be prepared to book your tickets well in advance.
The low season is between March and June, when the country experiences the worst rains and low humidity. As the rain tends to drive tourists away, it is the best time to look for cheap flights to Kuala Lumpur.
It’s easy (and worth it!) to get to Malaysian Borneo
Malaysia consists of two parts: Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, divided by the South China Sea. The main cities are in the Peninsular part, while Malaysian Borneo is genuinely an adventure paradise. It has world-famous diving sites in Sipadan and Mabul, trekking and climbing routes at Mount Kinabalu, wild orangutans in Batang Ai National Park, and so on.
The easiest way to get between the two parts is by plane, as the flights are frequent and affordable (around $50 one way). Most flights to Borneo depart from Kuala Lumpur, either from KLIA or KLIA2 terminals, and you can fly directly into Kota Kinabalu in Sabah or Kuching in Sarawak with an average flight time of around 2 hours. Flying from other destinations, such as Langkawi or Penang, will require a layover in Kuala Lumpur.
The routes are served by local budget carriers AirAsia and Malindo Air, and by the national carrier Malaysia Airlines.
Duty-free rules
Malaysia is serious about the duty-free concession. There is a limit for bringing in certain items. Alcoholic drinks such as wine, spirits or beer cannot exceed one liter per person, and you can carry only 200 cigarettes. You are also only allowed to bring three pieces of new clothing and one pair of new shoes.
Anything above those limits must be declared – at the Kuala Lumpur airport, head to the Red Lane to declare your goods.
Use low-cost carriers to fly cheap around Malaysia
Flying around the region is relatively inexpensive if you choose local budget airlines. Many Malaysian domestic flights are operated by low-cost carriers AirAsia, Firefly, and MASwings (a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines).
When flying within Malaysia, many connections between regional airports require a change of plane in Kuala Lumpur – it can make flying less of a time-saver than it might seem.
Avoid Malaysian public holidays
Big holidays and events such as Ramadan or Chinese New Year will certainly affect your trip to Kuala Lumpur. Accommodation prices during large holidays go up and transportation may be limited. Prices also skyrocket during such national holidays as Hari Merdeka (31 August), Wesak Day (10 May), and Hari Raya Puasa (May). Try to avoid school holidays in May, June and August.
Adjust your travel dates to avoid expensive tickets, or arrive early if you wish to enjoy the festivals in Malaysia.
Know your time zone
When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket to Kuala Lumpur and on the boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.
Malaysia observes Malaysia Time (MYT) all year, which is UTC+8 time zone. As a result, clocks in Kuala Lumpur are 7 hours ahead of London and 12 hours ahead of New York. MYT does not have an associated daylight saving time.
Avoid currency exchange kiosks at airports
Airports are infamous for making an exuberant amount of money from their currency exchanges due to the extremely high margins, and Kuala Lumpur airports are no exception. Airport kiosks usually charge higher fees which are sometimes hidden within the poorer exchange rates they offer – their business is based on charging extra for being a convenient, last-minute option.
Plan ahead and exchange some money for Malaysian ringgits at home.
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for Emirates, AirAsia, Singapore Airlines, and others).
When it comes to Twitter, there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@SingaporeAir”). The customer care team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.
Domestic flights from Kuala Lumpur
Most domestic routes in Malaysia are operated by local carriers. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Langkawi, Malacca, George Town, Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu, Johor Bahru, Alor Setar, and Kuching from KLIA, you’ll likely fly with one of these domestic airlines: Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, AirAsia X, Batik Air, Firefly, MASwings, MYAirline, and SKS Airways.
This is often the best transportation method, providing speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Local airlines often offer multiple daily flights to key destinations, providing flexibility in scheduling and competitive pricing. They also serve smaller regional airports, enabling access to a wider range of Malaysian destinations.
Flights to Kuala Lumpur
from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Kuala Lumpur. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australasia to Asia are operated by large international carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Kuala Lumpur. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia. - Airfare costs can vary widely depending on the route and the airline’s pricing strategy. To find the cheapest flight to Kuala Lumpur, compare ticket prices from various international airports in Australia – Sydney
SYD, BrisbaneBNE, MelbourneMEL, PerthPER, AdelaideADL, CairnsCNS, Gold CoastOOL, CanberraCBR, and in New Zealand – AucklandAKL, WellingtonWLG, ChristchurchCHC, QueenstownZQN, and DunedinDUD. - For optimal savings, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a key Asian hub, then connect to Kuala Lumpur via a regional low-cost carrier. Among budget airlines that fly to Kuala Lumpur are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, FlyNas, Jetstar, Scoot, and VietJet Air.
For the first leg, use the budget carriers that fly out of Australian airports, leveraging sales and promotions they run frequently: AirAsia (connects with Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore), Cebu Pacific (Manila), Jetstar (Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo), Scoot (Singapore), VietJet Air (Ho Chi Minh City), Bamboo Airways (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing), and Batik Air (Jakarta, Singapore).
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Flights to Kuala Lumpur
from major hubs in Asia
- Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Kuala Lumpur look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Kuala Lumpur will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Malaysia and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
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Flights to Kuala Lumpur dataset
