My Chiang Mai

Low cost carrier, AirAsia, is now offering a self check-in service at several airports, including Chiang Mai.

For added comfort and convenience, customers can also utilise its web-based check-in service, the carrier said in a statement.

AirAsia said the initiative was part of its on-going mission of using the information, communication and technology (ICT) forefront to exploit technology and practice cost efficiency.

By adopting a cost effective service and liberating the traveling experience for customers, the innovative service will also avoid airport congestion, long queues and reduce waiting time at no extra cost, it said.

Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia Berhad said “We have invested quite a significant amount to develop our ICT facilities in order to keep-up with global standards. Now, we have equipped ourselves to fully exploit the benefits of it and achieve a competitive excellence in the market. What could be simpler than going on-line and checking-in at the tip of your fingers be it via mobile or at home? This new service is relatively easy to deploy, saves cost and benefit both – guests and AirAsia. As Asia’s biggest low cost carrier with a strong domestic and extensive network within the Asean region, we believe our amazing low fares and innovative services have an edge over the masses and empower more travelers to fly with us.”

Quick and easy self check-in methods :

1) Web Check-In

All you’ll need is a connection to the internet, a printer and your travel itinerary and you’ll be able to check-in 48 hours prior and up to 4 hours before the scheduled departure time using Web Check-In. With your Boarding Pass, you can proceed straight to the Document Check Counter to stamp your boarding pass and then on to the Boarding Gate. If you have baggage to check-in, drop your baggage at the Self Check-In Counter at least 60 minutes prior to the boarding time.

2) Self Check-In Kiosks at the airport

Beat the crowd, check-in from our kiosks at the available locations below 6 hours prior and 1 hour before the scheduled departure time. You’ll need the details of your travel itinerary to check-in. With your Boarding Pass, you can proceed straight to the Document Check Counter to stamp your boarding pass and then on to the Boarding Gate. If you have baggage to check-in, drop your baggage at the Self Check-In Counter at least 60 minutes prior to the boarding time.

A Burma private airline is planning flights to Phuket beginning this year, sources within the airline have told the China news agency, Xinhua.

The airline, Air Bagan, plans to add more services to Cambodia, Thailand and China in 2010, with a service between Yangon and Chiang Mai opening last Thursday.

Chiang Mai and Kuala Lumpur are now the airline’s two international destinations, the news agency says. Phuket and Siem Reap, the destination closest to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, are next on the wish-list, with China’s Kumming and Guagzhou.

Air Bagan, which flies to 20 destinations inside Burma, has yet to cement its reputation internationally.

The airline’s first international scheduled service to Bangkok began on May 15, 2007 and the second, to Singapore on September 7 the same year.

Both of the flight services were suspended in 2008.

Chiang Mai fails to figure in 2 important surveys appearing in the current ‘Tourism Review’ magazine.

The bad news is that this fair city is not in the world’s Top Ten Intelligent Communities, a rating given mainly for IT innovation and networking. Swedish capital Stockholm beat the world to this accolade, by the way.

Good news: Chiang Mai also failed to make it into the world’s Top Ten Pick Pocketing Places! In fact, in all of SE Asia, only Hanoi, Vietnam, squeezes into this list of infamy in 10th place.

Keeping your wits (and your valuables) about you at festivals, in museums and any crowded place is an especially good idea in Barcelona,

Rome and Prague, the 3 top havens for casual thieves. ‘Tourism Review’ warns especially of distractions by smartly dressed natives, children, and ‘careless’ people who cause distractions by various ploys.

All over the world, carrying minimum cash on every occasion, and locking your passport up at the hotel, are wise moves. (In Chiang Mai, night-time bag snatching by thieves on motorcycles is the crime most likely to affect tourists, say our police).

Chiang Mai has been voted the 5th best city in the world by readers of ‘Travel + Leisure’ magazine.

The 14th Annual ‘Travel + Leisure’ World’s Best Awards rank cities, hotels, cruises & resorts.

The awards are based on an impartial survey of readers who are asked to vote for their worldwide favourite travel destinations. The survey is made in association with Harris Interactive, an independent research firm,

Chiang Mai is a popular tourist destination for travelers from around the world. Whilst tourism figures have been down for the whole of Thailand this year, there have been increases in the number of tourists from within Asia and the Middle East.

This article is Copyright © MyChiangMai 2009, no reproduction without prior permission.

Starting on the 2nd of August, 2009 Air Mandalay will be operating twice weekly flights between Yangon (AKA Rangoon) and Chiang Mai.

This is great news for tourists and for local residents who want to take a break to Mandalay, where it’s easy to travel onwards to many other interesting places in Myanmar (Burma).

As the main gateway to the rest of Myanmar, the Yangon Division is located in the southernmost part of the central plain and borders, Bago Division in the north and east, Gulf of Mottama in the south, and Ayeyawaddy Division in the west. Coco archipelago, which is part of Yangon Division, is situated in the Bay of Bengal. The total area of the division is 3,927.15 square miles.

If you have never been to Myanmar then it’s well worth a look. It’s a different experience from anywhere else in SE Asia and most visitors are very impressed with the warm welcome of the Myanmar people.

Myanmar has some spectacular beaches for the more adventurous traveller, including Ngapali, Ngwe Saung and Chaungtha.

Other tourist destinations near Yangon include Shwedagon Pagoda, Botataung Pagoda, Bogyoke Market and Kandawgyl Lake.

Myanmar can be very hot and humid in the summer months, and the best time to travel is in the cooler season between October and March.

Editor’s note: Our policy is to help readers with travel information. Whether readers wish to avoid Burma under the existing regime or not is entirely down to personal decisions.

This article is Copyright © MyChiangMai 2009, no reproduction without prior permission.