Notes: Flights within Myanmar

·        Booking flights and comparing fares from outside Myanmar is not a simple process. Air Bagan are the only airline with an online booking system. Their online flight schedule doesn’t always match the days that flights actually run, so there can be a bit of trial and error in finding an available flight.
It’s difficult to find schedules and prices for the other airlines from outside Myanmar, and their airfares are often much cheaper than Air Bagan's. Flights with Air Mandalay, KBZ, Yangon Airlines and Asian Wings need to be booked direct with the airline (email, call or walk into an office), or through a travel agent.

·        Be aware that your flight time, or even your airline may change. Keep an eye on your emails or call your travel agent or airline directly the day before. I booked four internal flights with Air Bagan and only flew with them once. My three other flights ended up being with Asian Wings and Yangon Airways. Two of my flight times changed too.

·        When you check in, you’ll be given an airline sticker to wear on your shirt. A visible sticker can help staff get you on the right flight, as boarding announcements can be difficult to understand.

·        At Yangon Airport there’s a staff member who walks around holding up a placard for the flight that’s boarding. He/she will call out the airline, destination and flight number.

·        Seating may be “free” meaning first in best dressed, so if you want to sit with your group, be ready for the boarding call and placard guy/girl. My Asian Wings and Yangon Airways flights had free seating, Air Bagan had assigned seating.

·        Flight paths often include two stops (ie. Heho-Mandalay-Yangon). Make sure you get off at the right airport.

·        All three airlines I flew with provided refresher towels, lollies (sweets/candies) on short flights and a light meal on longer flights.

·        Planes can be small (only 11 rows), and the overhead lockers are… you guessed it… also small! Take as little on board as you can. If you’ve only got carry-on luggage, take something like your bag of toiletries out of your main bag – this worked a treat for me.

·        Many airports are also small, with a basic gate lounge and 1-2 simple cafés or shops selling nibbles. Arrival areas in these airports don’t have a luggage carousel; staff will bring your bags into a waiting area and you will have to hand over your baggage tickets (stapled to your boarding pass at check in) to get your luggage back.



Luggage waiting area in Nyaung U airport.