On the SIN-ICN route there are generally 5 daily flights, 4 on SQ metal and 1 on OZ metal, but I believe each codeshares with the other on all flights. Unless OZ does a major aircraft switch on BKI-ICN, J on any of the SQ aircraft for SIN-ICN route would be better than this OZ regional from BKI. And it's a long enough flight that you'd want to max out comfort opportunities. So that's a point in favor of flying KCH-SIN-ICN instead of KCH-BKI-ICN. But it may come down to what's available for award seats in the date range she needs on the long intra-Asia and TPAC parts. To me, the most important criteria for the separately-purchased short hops is reliability, as the flights are short enough that flying a ratty old J cabin or even economy, isn't too much of a sweat.

went with Singapore
 

For anyone who is following along with another one of Susie's vacation adventures, I decided to go with the SiIN option. We will buy a flight from Kuching to Singapore, and I have seats on SQ 608 SIN-ICN at 12:10am. MH 647 will work, 8:40-10:05. That gives us 2 hours to transit at SIN airside as the luggage will be interlined. Cost looks to be ~$88.00 each.

With this being an overnight flight we can save on one night's hotel room expense.

A wise choice. Enjoy the trip.

Agreed. Remember to post a trip report. ;)

I now have to figure out the plan for where to go and what to see and do for 11 nights/12 days in Malaysian Borneo. We'll arrive BKI on May 9 at 12:20am and depart from KCH to SIN on May 20, with a 3 night/3 day stopover in Seoul.
I have some ideas and will start a new planning thread after we get back from our Bali/Java Indonesia vacation that will be in August.

Gotta love those frequent flier miles!

What do you intend to do in Malaysian Borneo?

Do you plan to climb Mount Kinabalu? ;)

I've been to Kota Kinabalu a couple of times. I guess, Mt K is really one of the highlights.

I was not planning on going to or climbing Mt Kinabalu. My sister, who visited Borneo last year, says Mulu National Park is a must do. Because of limited flights getting there, that could chew up 3 days of the trip. it's not an easy place to get to.