Firefly changed date to following day in Borneo

[warrior01]

I was due to fly with Firefly from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan on 14th September but the airline has changed the flight to the following day!

I need to be in SDK by 11am on the 14th to meet a driver to take me on the 3+ hour drive to a jungle lodge that it took me 2 years to get a reservation at. I’m coming off a flight from Mulu at 13.45 in Kota Kinabalu on 13th Sept and can’t find any flights to get me to SDK after then on the 13th.

6 months of planning a once in a lifetime trip is in jeopardy! Any advice much appreciated.

[SamG]

Air asia? Look like they have a 2.45pm flight you’d likely make (airport is tiny) and then book the 6.25am as the backup? cheap hotels in either place

You have my sympathies I had a trip out to the Perhentian islands trashed by crazy Firefly & Malindo schedule changes at the last minute and there is very little you can do about it , I had to push expedia to get a refund and pay much higher prices & change my arrangements to recover the trip

[Seagull]

+1 for the BKI-SDK Air Asia flight. I’ve taken it a few times and worked very well and on time.

[char123]

There is also a bus. Of course not as convenient or as quick as a flight. But they are plentiful (I always book in advance) and will get you there in the timeframe needed

[warrior01]

Thanks for the suggestions all.

I have a feeling I’ll have to check my cabin bag on the flight from MZV to BKI because of MASwings cabin bag sizes, which I assume wouldn’t give me enough time to get the bag and get back through security (and take the bag on Air Asia as cabin), even if it is a small airport. I don’t think my legs could take 7+ hours on a bus.

Might need to get the 6.25am flight on the 14th and wait around in Sandakan for a few hours when I arrive.

[The real Swiss Tony]

Depends where the lodge is but is it feasible to fly to Lahad Datu instead? That still connects.

For what it’s worth if you do have to go land side, you will use the domestic end of BKI which is pretty compact as I recall.

And if you are waiting at SDK, i’d suggest that you don’t do that at the airport. There is very little there. Not sure what’s open early but the lodge can presumably advise of a hotel to get a cab to for breakfast.