Best way to get to Cuba

[nate89]

Hi all,

I am researching quotes for a trip next year in July. I have promised to go and see relatives in the UK, most likely going via BKK as my parents are there, but while I am away I thought I may as well go to Cuba as I want to go before it opens up to the rest of the world.

Ideally I would like to go via LAX or JFK just for a day of shopping too, but this is not necessary if it makes the price sky rocket.

I've been playing around with both the star alliance and one world round-the-world trip planners. Star alliance basically makes it impossible to get to Cuba while the one world planner allows me to go to HAV via MAD from LHR. However, from HAV I can only go to south america since Cuba counts as north america and I can't cross the Atlantic again.

Therefore I decided to just make a 'skeletal' trip and if I want to go to Cuba I will just book a separate flight out of LAX to somewhere that has flights to Cuba.

So from here I have a couple of questions -
1) What exactly is the advantage of RTW trips? Am I using it incorrectly?

I did a 'skeletal' trip (SYD-BKK-LHR-LAX-SYD) in the RTW planner and also as a multi-city flight for comparison. The multi-city fare was $1000 cheaper ($4850 vs. $3900) on the same dates and same flight codes.

What's more is I can request upgrades with points for segments only in multi-city, but not in RTW. I can't actually find if I can upgrade a RTW with points at all. Is is possible? Is there a table anywhere (I couldn't find an obvious link on qantas.com).

2) Has anyone done something like this (in regards to Cuba) or have any advice in booking it? Will the US immigration have any issues with me coming through after having been to Cuba?

Sorry for the questions, but I am quite miffed by it!

Regards,

 

[serfty]

There a good TR here on an itinerary with travel to Cuba - http://www.australianfrequentflyer....hotos/pre-trip-report-notzac-needs-19179.html

Note that due to USA regulations no USA airline can carry a passenger on any segment of a booking containing a flight to/from Cuba.

Many Travellers go to Mexico and then on to Cuba with a separate booking and/or vv.

 

[nate89]

Ah yes, thanks.

I didn't quite understand the wording of the error message the one world planner kept giving me

But that is why I decided on the 'skeletal' idea and then would fly off to Mexico or Canada from there and then to Cuba.

[edit]
you just edited while I posted. Thanks for the link. I will read through it now.

 

[markis10]

One option that takes the American issue out of the equation is to take advantage of the new LAN flights:

LAN Airlines Group is returning to Cuba market, with 3 weekly Lima – Havana service starting 02FEB12, on board LANPeru’s Airbus A319 aircraft.
The Group previously operated 1 weekly Santiago de Chile – Havana prior to cancellation from 30APR11.
Schedule:

LA2596 LIM1225 – 1750HAV 319 146
LA2597 HAV1840 – 0005+1LIM 319 146

(From Airline Route)