yestravel

We are trying to work out the best way to do this itin. We will arrive in BKK from Burma and would like to leave that day to Nan. (I realize air schedules may change between now and this winter.) Right now it looks like we could arrive on our flight from Burma to DMK at 14:40 on Air Asia. Do you think we'd be ok if we booked a flight on Nok air leaving at 17:30 to Nan?
What about if we flew into DMK from Burma and wanted to go to CM both flights on Air Asia? What would be the shortest transfer time we should allow? Is it possible to book multi city flights on Air Asia? I didn't see how to do this.

Still trying to figure out transportation from Nan to CM.
Thanks!

Hanuman

I am not familiar with this airline as well but I did find this article: http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/...y-for-take-off

I will ask some friends who are execs at Thai Airways for their opinion on Kan Air.

If all else fail, the driving time between Nan and Chiang Mai is only 5 or 6 hours.

For Air Asia you cannot book multi city flights as they are low cost but you can easily book one way tickets and sort of combine them much like a multi city or destination ticket. Nok Air is also a very good low cost airline so don't hesitate to use them or combine them with Air Asia.

DMK is surprisingly very convenient so I would say the almost 3 hours transit time should be plenty IMO. There is always a risk of delays but IMO you should be OK.

Kathie

Remember that Air Asia will not transfer your luggage to another flight - even another Air Asia flight. Coming from Burma, you will have to go through passport control, pick up your luggage, go through customs, then go to the Air Asia check-in desk, check in your luggage, then through security before you go to your connecting gate.

As long as your flight is on time, you should be ok.

yestravel

Thanks to both of you. I really appreciate how helpful you both are.

@Hanuman - we thought of driving between CM and Nan, but don't want to drive it both ways and so far I haven't seen one way rentals. There is also the bus option - about 6 hours.
So Kan Air "founded by a debt-collecting firm" - that's interesting! Anything you learn about them would be great to know.

@Kathie -- for some reason I totally spaced the passport control and customs, so thank you for the reminder. RE Burma -- at your suggestion we are hoping to fly into Yangon, pay SM and fly on to Mandalay. What would be your recommendation on how much time we need to allow between flight?

Hanuman

DMK has very short lines and waiting time for both passport control and customs. Departure level is only 1 floor right above where you exit the custom area of arrival and again, very few people in line to check in.

For the domestic check-in you are only require to do that 1 hour before the departure time. From exiting the plane from your Myanmar flight, going through passport control, customs and collecting your luggage will take you around 20 minutes only. Only Air Asia operate international flights from DMK and their arrival flights are usually around 1 hour apart.

Even if your flight is delayed by 1 hour IMO you have plenty of time.

Kan Air - yes that caught my interest as well. Perhaps they repo the planes and decided to start an airline? I am pretty sure you can hire a car with driver from Nan to Chiang Mai. Shouldn't be hard to find and once you have your hotel booked you can ask them.

Kathie

I'd say give yourselves 2.5 hours, minimum. You will have to go through passport control, get your luggage and go through customs before you meet the rep from SM, then you will walk (or taxi, if you have much luggage) to the domestic terminal and check in for your flight there. None of this is complicated, it just takes a bit of time. While one of you is pating SM, the other can exchange money at one of the bank windows in the airport.

yestravel

Repo planes -- very funny! Good idea on hiring a driver. I don't think of that since I don't really do it here in the US.

Thanks, Kathie - we just do carry on so we should be fine.