For those of you going or have gone to Mirauk U, what time was your flight from Rangon to Sittwe? Do you think a flight arriving in Sittwe at 1:45 s too late because the boat would arrive in Marak U after dark.?

Shelley there seems to be an early morning flight to Sittwe during high season. My understanding is that SM is booking me on that connecting to a private boat to Mrauk U...so arriving there in early afternoon.

Shelly, we asked for the Air Mandalay flight which (last year's schedule) arrived in Sittwe at 12:25. (The Air Bagan flgiht got in at 2:15.) Zaw said that with the Air Mandalay flight, we could get to Mrauk U before dark. So we are keeping our fingers crossed that the flight schedule will be similar enough that our plan will work.

(Can you believe how much work it is to book a trip to Burma?!)

No, Kathy I cannot believe how much work has been involved. The planning has taken hours a day for the last month. SM put us on an Air Bagan flight that arrives in Sittwe at 1:45. Why in the world would they do that? It just necessitates more emails back and forth and more work for everyone, since there is no way I am leaving Sittwe on that boat at 2:45 or 3PM.

Ask SM about an earlier flight.

They told me that part of the problem is that the airlines change their schedules with little forewarning. I am aware that despite all of our well-laid plans at the last minute the airline schedule may change and throw it all up in the air again.

Oh good, I am glad it is not just me! I find this way more work than any other trip I have planned. I am not used to having someone else do the bookings etc so all the emails back and forth seem very time consuming compared to just doing it all myself on the internet.

Do believe that the airlines change schedules with little warning. When we were there we had a whole airline stop flying 2 days before we were supposed to use them with just over a weeks notice!
Keep plugging away it is all worth it to visit Burma!

I did ask SM for an earlier flight and am awaiting their reply.

All this back and forth reminds me why I like a good group tour. Choose the itinerary that suits you, pay your money, and go. However, the problem with Myanmar is that there were no tours that suited me, so I guess I will just have to continue with the emails til everything gets sorted out.

It will get sorted out and the trip will all be worth it!

I have quite a library of books on Burma. While I love doing research and background reading for trips, I've never done more than I have for my trips to Burma! The fact that there is only one current guidebook makes it more difficult.

This weekend is another get ready for Burma push - we'll be working on our visas.

When I checked recently, the Mandalay Air winter timetable showed a Yangon-Sittwe flight daily at 7:00am arriving Sittwe at 8:25. I have just checked again and now the winter timetable has been updated, showing daily departures at 11:00, 11:15 or 11:30am depending on the day.

Maybe by the time I travel it will have changed. I too have again written to SM to ask for the earliest flight in the day on Jan 21st. I hope to hear back overnight from SM.

You are looking at the Air Mandalay website? My experience in 2009 was that the schedules shown on the various websites were pure fantasy. Only the schedule from the travel agent bore any resemblence to reality. And it wasn't until October that I got confirmation of the flight schedule for November.

Maybe the websites have improved.

Isn't it frustrating. Just when you think all is settled and you can move on to other things, like planning other trips, work, etc., you find all is not settled. I can't imagine how frustrating this must be for the travel agents who have to deal with this also.

Yup. Burma operates in a different universe than the rest of us.

Kathie. Yes the revised schedule is from Air Mandalay's site. I did not know it was unreliable. If it is in fact correct, the flight on Saturday (the day I travel) departs Yangon at 11:30 and arrives Sittwe at 12:55.....so hopefully enough time to get to Mrauk U before dark.

I'll report on what I hear from SM....but I'm sure you're on top of that yourself regarding your own plans.

Given that the time you found isn't far off from what Santa Maria gave me, I'd guess it's about right - with the caveat that all of the airlines tend to change times capriciously!

Just heard back from SM. On the Monday I travel, there is an Air Kanbbawza flight that leaves at around 8am. Originally, I did not want to fly on this new airline, but I think I will take my chances on this flight to get to Mirak U early. I now realize that all this could change by the time I travel.

shelleyk,

You also have to factor in delays and/or early departurse as well. From my own experiences, flights during the winter months have a big chance of delay due to fog or smog. I don't recall your travel dates but always have a plan B!

Shelly as you are totally understanding flexablility is important in Burma. Our flight in Sittwe was on time but the day we flew out the incoming flight was 2 hours late due to weather which meant of course that we were 2 hours or more late on lur flight. Just roll with it!!

SM put all my flights on the new airline. I am a bit hesitant as well, but hopefully they have been flying a while by the time I get there in Jan.