Melbourne - Havana 4 weeks in Nov. Ideas on routes/itineraries in Y

[LiamPG]

Hi all,
We are excited and would love some ideas to make this an amazing trip. We have four weeks off work. We are flexible on stopovers and duration but would ideally like 7 nights in Cuba. We have budgeted for Y but could stretch to J if super deal.
We were considering stop off in Mexico or Miami and taking a low cost from there. Really appreciate any help
cheers

 

[sergeyvzn]

I think there is only one low cost airline flying to Cuba which is Interjet from Mexico. There are some charter flights from Canada and Europe as well though this is too far from Australia to consider going through.

Miami won't work for you as there are no flights from Miami to Cuba (USA prohibits flying to/from Cuba) but you can fly from Mexico or Cancun on Cubana and Aeromexico or on LAN from Lima

 

[smit0847]

MEL-AKL-YVR-HAV on NZ + AC; or
SYD-YVR-HAV all on AC are the most direct routes that come to mind.

You will need to avoid flying to the US if you want to fly to Cuba.

 

[acoolbreeze]

MEL-AKL-YVR-HAV on NZ + AC; or
SYD-YVR-HAV all on AC are the most direct routes that come to mind.

You will need to avoid flying to the US if you want to fly to Cuba.

I had no issues with the US when I flew recently.
I flew QF from MEL - LAX - Mex City - DFW - BNE - MEL ($1600) with a separate Mex City - Havana - Mex City ticket with Cubana ($350).
In LA I stated I was travelling on to Cuba. In Dallas I told them I had been in Cuba. A raised eyebrow and a few questions about how many cigars I had was all I got.

 

[sergeyvzn]

I had no issues with the US when I flew recently.
I flew QF from MEL - LAX - Mex City - DFW - BNE - MEL ($1600) with a separate Mex City - Havana - Mex City ticket with Cubana ($350).
In LA I stated I was travelling on to Cuba. In Dallas I told them I had been in Cuba. A raised eyebrow and a few questions about how many cigars I had was all I got.

The issue is you CANNOT fly direct out of an US port or into one from Cuba, not your overall routing that may include Cuba. It is an issue for US citizens , though. The US prohibits US citizens from traveling to Cuba hence the ban on direct flights. Easily bypassed though by going via Mexico or Canada

 

[kpc]

I was thinking of doing Sju-Pty-Hav on Copa on 1 ticket. Is Sju considered a US port?

 

[sergeyvzn]

I was thinking of doing Sju-Pty-Hav on Copa on 1 ticket. Is Sju considered a US port?

It is. You need a separate booking for a return Panama City - Havana trip

 

[LiamPG]

Thank you everyone for all the great advice .

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hi all,
We are excited and would love some ideas to make this an amazing trip. We have four weeks off work. We are flexible on stopovers and duration but would ideally like 7 nights in Cuba. We have budgeted for Y but could stretch to J if super deal.
We were considering stop off in Mexico or Miami and taking a low cost from there. Really appreciate any help
cheers

What month are you thinking of travelling in?

 

[LiamPG]

Hi Oz,
we are travelling mid- November .
Cheers

 

[ozbeachbabe]

QF have a global sale on at the moment which I believe ends tomorrow Thu 09 May (need to book and pay by Thu 09 May) with fares in November of AUD1099.00 MEL/HNL return or AUD1249.00 MEL/LAX return. If you wanted to take QF93 MEL/LAX then QF4/QF489 HNL/xSYD/MEL for AUD1174.00 I'm sure you could have an open jaw itinerary if you wanted to stopover in Hawaii on the return but you'd need to call QF to book your flights on an open jaw basis as you can't do this on the QF website like a simple MEL/LAX/MEL airfare. www.qantas.com.au

From either HNL, LAX or LAS you can purchase an instant upgrade fare to PTY (Panama City) on AA which means you pay an economy airfare but travel in first within the USA then Business ex mainland USA to Caribbean or Central America eg MIA/PTY.

The one way fare on AA LAX/PTY is USD615.45 per person connecting same day via MIA or you can have an overnight transit for USD625.45 as long as you don't exceed 24 hours in MIA. Stopovers longer than that are not permitted on a through airfare and it's generally not financially viable to pay for sector fares LAX/MIA then MIA/PTY.

If you wanted to have a couple of nights in Vegas you could purchase a cheap one way fare LAX/LAS then buy the fare LAS/PTY USD655.45 with a same day connection or USD701.15 having an overnight transit in MIA. Visit www.aa.com and select US as your home country not Australia.

For PTY/HAV (Havana) return Copa Airlines (CM) have fares for USD592.50 return www.copaair.com and they're a member of the Star Alliance.

Copa do not display through airfares LAX/xPTY/HAV nor do other US based booking engines such as www.priceline.com however these fares will display elsewhere such as www.jetabroad.com.au for around AUD1138.00 per person return.

Make sure that if you do snap up a QF sale fare by tomorrow that you take out travel insurance at the same time so you're covered for cancellation penalties due to unforeseen circumstances plus medical expenses.

Note that you will be in the USA over thanksgiving which is one of the busiest times of the year for air travel so you'll want to lock in your dates fairly soon.

Let us know what you finally end up doing.

 

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