Mandalay to Heho

Air KBZ K7223 | MDL/HEH
Economy Class
Aerospatiale ATR72-600 | XY-AJE
ATD/0945 | ATA/1015

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I asked Win Aung to drive me to Mandalay Airport to catch my flight to Heho, the closest airport to Inle Lake. I told him that my flight was at 10am and he said he would pick me up at 8.30am. I trusted he knew what he was doing, so I happily hopped into his car when he showed up the next morning. I did not realize how far out of town Mandalay Airport was. After 35 minutes in the car - one hour to departure - there was still no sign of the airport. I hadn't even spotted any directional signs. I grew concerned and I asked him how much longer it was to the airport. He said 20 minutes. Yikes. That would get me there 35 minutes before departure. It then occurred to me that Win Aung may not have flown before, so he may not understand the check-in and security screening process. Sensing my tension, he sped up and deposited me at the airport at 9.20am. Lesson learned: next time ask how long it will take to get to the airport.

As it turned out, I was the last passenger to check in. I was surprised that check in at Mandalay Airport was not computerized; I was handed a handwritten boarding pass and baggage tags were pre-printed. As soon as I got to the gate, boarding was announced and the flight departed 15 minutes early. The flight itself took only 30 minutes. The bus from Mandalay to Nyaung Shwe, in contrast, would have taken 7-8 hours. With multiple airlines flooding the Myanmar domestic market, airfares are reasonable. I paid US$60 for this one way ticket.

At Heho Airport, the ride I booked with Ostello Bello was already waiting for me. The drive took 45 minutes through beautiful countryside.

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