Flying into Cuba - airlines??

[Milboo]

Looking for some collective wisdom from other FFs.

I am heading into Cuba for a week or so at the end of the year and need to get down to Havana from LAX. Obviously know this cannot be done directly so know I need to head down through Mexico.

Any recommendations for airlines for a) into Mexico and then b) Mexico to Havana? I've looked at flights but am not familiar with the airlines or what Mexican airport is the easiest/ best bet. Good safety record is key!

Not worried about points earning and will be in Y.

Departure plan is on Air Canada up to Toronto as next stop is New York.

Thanks.

 

[RooFlyer]

To get to Mexico City or Cancun - any US airline will do.

To then get to Havana then I guess its Aeromexico or Copa. Just checked and I can't see AeroMexico flying to Cuba though.

I wouldn't fly Copa myself. Or Cubana.

Fancy a diversion up to Calgary to use AC or down to San Salvador to use TACA ?

 

[erkpod]

I flew in/out of Mexico City with Delta earlier this year. I arrived into MEX on a Friday night. It was just like arriving into America internationally except that the Border Security people & many of the passengers (obviously) were Mexican. It certainly isn't a 3rd world airport.

 

[Milboo]

To get to Mexico City or Cancun - any US airline will do.

To then get to Havana then I guess its Aeromexico or Copa. Just checked and I can't see AeroMexico flying to Cuba though.

I wouldn't fly Copa myself. Or Cubana.

Fancy a diversion up to Calgary to use AC or down to San Salvador to use TACA ?

Thanks - will look at that option.

 

[Milboo]

I flew in/out of Mexico City with Delta earlier this year. I arrived into MEX on a Friday night. It was just like arriving into America internationally except that the Border Security people & many of the passengers (obviously) were Mexican. It certainly isn't a 3rd world airport.

Thanks too - was not expecting it to be a 3rd world airport. Some airports are just easier to transit in than others!

 

[brett-au]

West Jet for the win. When I flew them they were the cheapest by far (I had to go to CCC tho) and the flights from Canada to the US allowed free changes to other flight times.

That is unless you want the *A points.

Use skyscanner to work out your route options.

 

[travelislife]

We used Cubana from Cancun to Havana, that was an experience! On an old Russian plane the cabin crew literally buy up a whole heap of goods and just stack them in any empty seats to transport home to on sell. Is a short flight but don't reckon they would have the greater safety going around.

 

[mushypeas]

Id duck upto vancouver and head there with westjet although they may route via yyz.

 

[RooFlyer]

Id duck upto vancouver and head there with westjet although they may route via yyz.

I spent a bit of time last year looking to get to Cuba from western Canada (personal side track from a business trip). Air Canada does mainly 'sun' routes there (ie Summer season only) and schedules from Calgary and Vancouver varied week to week (and it wan't just Havana they flew in to). So searching on their engine was a bit tricky and I ended up downloading their timetable PDF.

Since then, AC have launched their LCC called 'Rouge' (which immediately became Rogue of course) to take on many of the 'holiday' routes, especially from YYZ. Like Jetstar only badly executed. Anyway, 'Rouge' will probably have screwed up the Cuban routes even more, if you are looking at AC.

That's a long way of saying that phat-dave and jso are probably on the money with Westjet.

 

[seritonin]

There's Interjet from MEX to HAV about USD220 each way....

 

[k_sheep]

Hmm good timing. I'm just looking at trying to get my Dad to Cuba as a sidetrip on his *A RTW - so annoying you can't use it as one of the legs :evil:

Was either looking at flights from Panama or Cancun. Will keep looking.

 

[Alanslegal]

Exactly a year ago I was in Havana - oh how time flies. Flew MEX-HAV with CU and returned to MEX with AM. Our check in at MEX was a zoo, waited more than 2 hours at check-in. My BP was received ~45 minutes before scheduled departure [and it says check-in closes 1hr prior] so it was cutting it very fine, with the need to pass immigration + security then onto the gate. There was a priority queue for J flyers so if its not too much more $$ I'd go for that.

 

[haydensydney]

We've flown into Havana on Air Canada. Pretty good flights on a small A319 (I think). I believe AC also fly's into Cuban resort town Varadero, though this may be seasonal.

We weren't that impressed by Cuba - the best bit was of that trip was leaving on Air Canada back to Toronto

 

[acoolbreeze]

Earlier this year in March I flew;
Melbourne/LAX/Mex City - Mex City/DFW/BNE/Melbourne on a Qantas ticket (with Alaskan and American) for approx $1500.
I had a separate Cubana ticket for the Mex/Havana/Mex booked online for about $250 from memory.
Pretty cheap all up (although I had to overnight in Mex City on the way down so add about another $100)
Had no issue with Cubana; departed and arrived on time, although the return flight had its time changed 3 times in the week leading up to departure with no notification (only found out by checking the scheduled departures through their online booking site).
As mentioned, Interjet, Aero Mex and COPA are other options.

 

[FlashKiwi]

Looking for some collective wisdom from other FFs.

Any recommendations for airlines for a) into Mexico and then b) Mexico to Havana? I've looked at flights but am not familiar with the airlines or what Mexican airport is the easiest/ best bet. Good safety record is key!

There are flights from Miami direct to several Cuban cities. I was bit surprised to see these flights on the arrivals/departures board at MIA a few weeks back. See Miami International Airport :: Flight Information and scroll down. Seems you can also fly from JFK

It seems these are charters organised by the Cuban government, and it seems the rules have relaxed a bit under Obama. You used to had to be a Cuban-American visiting family (and permission from the US govt.), but it seems now anybody (US or Cuban Citizen) can go, as long as your reason for travel is not tourism, and you don't spend any US$. Not sure of the procedure for foreigners is but I am sure Google will help.

AA and Delta are on the boards but doubt you would see any points being a charter :-(

 

[markis10]

There are flights from Miami direct to several Cuban cities. I was bit surprised to see these flights on the arrivals/departures board at MIA a few weeks back. See Miami International Airport :: Flight Information and scroll down. Seems you can also fly from JFK

It seems these are charters organised by the Cuban government, and it seems the rules have relaxed a bit under Obama. You used to had to be a Cuban-American visiting family (and permission from the US govt.), but it seems now anybody (US or Cuban Citizen) can go, as long as your reason for travel is not tourism, and you don't spend any US$. Not sure of the procedure for foreigners is but I am sure Google will help.

AA and Delta are on the boards but doubt you would see any points being a charter :-(

You can also go via Tampa, ABC are the American company do most of these:
ABC-Charters

Jet Blues inaugural occurred overnight ex Tampa

http://twitter.com/FlyTPA/status/397786625851146240/photo/1

 

[Milboo]

Interesting!

I ended up booking LAX - MEX on Delta (operated by Aeromexico) and then next day MEX - HAV on Interjet. This was a pretty cheap flight and reviews for Interjet are pretty good.

To get out I am going HAV- YYZ on Air Canada (appears to be on Rouge which has not been getting good reviews quality wise) and then YYZ - JFK on AC again.

3 weeks to go...

 

[Mrmaxwell]

There are flights from Miami direct to several Cuban cities.

I was in MIA a few weeks ago and was surprised to hear AA Havana flights being called out....walked past the gate and there were armed guards and several customs officers which was not the norm for other flights. So I guess AA and Delta are doing flights...much preferred.

Is Havana worth a visit??

 

[drron]

The AA and Delta flights are the charters previously mentioned in this thread.
Had looked for 2015 and other possibilities include flights from Nassau-Bahamasair and cubajet-2 and 4 flights weekly.
And if wanting OW AB flies 3 days a week to Varadero from Germany.

 

[Mark3000]

We're thinking of a week in Cuba in the middle of the year. Before it changes too much. We're thinking of flying Cubana out of Cancun. It's by far the most convenient for us, but I'm a bit worried about their safety record. It does seem though that they haven't had any crashes for a while. I'd be very grateful for any updates to this thread