US flights to HAV approved

[Habana Mike]

So Delta has finally published their flight schedule to HAV! It's awesome, one can soon fly directly from Atlanta to Havana!!!

I could book one right now on their website.

Unfortunately the first flight is November 30th, couple of weeks too late for us

[Ethernut]

4 minutes ago, Habana Mike said:

So Delta has finally published their flight schedule to HAV! It's awesome, one can soon fly directly from Atlanta to Havana!!!

I could book one right now on their website.

Unfortunately the first flight is November 30th, couple of weeks too late for us

 

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNN!

 

 

 

[Ethernut]

Still haven't booked my flights in hopes that this would pan out. Opinions on best options? Looking like MIA to HAV Charter is my best option right now, but they're not exactly cheap...

[madandana]

From what I can tell, charters are on hold. We booked through Grand Cayman.

[Habana Mike]

Panama, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Jet Blue to the provinces.... there are a few other viable options at the moment. Book soon!

[Guyman1966]

Have you guys checked out JetBlue, Ft Laud > Cuba.  Multiple cities.... not just havana 

[AJS]

14 hours ago, Ethernut said:

Still haven't booked my flights in hopes that this would pan out. Opinions on best options? Looking like MIA to HAV Charter is my best option right now, but they're not exactly cheap...

I noticed the same thing @Habana Mike did.  I was looking to book American Airlines through Miami to Havana, but the first flights offered are in late November or early December.  I ended up booking my flight from Miami into Varadero Airport (VRA) and reserving a taxi from Taxi Vinales Cuba to get me to/from Havana.

It's a two hour drive, but I figured it would give me a chance to see some of the countryside and still allow me to fly commercial directly from Miami.

[Ethernut]

4 minutes ago, AJS said:

I noticed the same thing @Habana Mike did.  I was looking to book American Airlines through Miami to Havana, but the first flights offered are in late November or early December.  I ended up booking my flight from Miami into Varadero Airport (VRA) and reserving a taxi from Taxi Vinales Cuba to get me to/from Havana.

It's a two hour drive, but I figured it would give me a chance to see some of the countryside and still allow me to fly commercial directly from Miami.

We've considered this option also but hadn't looked into it very far. At this point I'm thinking a 2 hours cab ride is lower on my preference list than flight to HAV. Looking at cayman which has flights from MIA to HAV through the caymans as what appears to be the best option out of MIA. 

[madandana]

5 hours ago, Ethernut said:

We've considered this option also but hadn't looked into it very far. At this point I'm thinking a 2 hours cab ride is lower on my preference list than flight to HAV. Looking at cayman which has flights from MIA to HAV through the caymans as what appears to be the best option out of MIA. 

Flying AA to Grand Caymen. Overnighting and flying to Havanna the next day. Another night in paradise .

[clutch5150]

I am leaving October 1st from Miami for 5 days!  Cannot wait!

[Bartolomeo]

Word from Miami is that the Ft Lauderdale charters are done as of a week ago, the Miami charters will be down to 2 companies come Oct 29, so that means all of the current Miami charter companies, 5-8 of them currently will jockey for those two coveted spots, curious on what that will do to the pricing but should be in line with the commercial flights once they start out of Miami, also what happens to the people who have bought tickets already w a charter that may not be in business after Oct 29

Havana Air is $220 Mon to Th now and $320 for weekend flights

 

[Drguano]

11 hours ago, AJS said:

I noticed the same thing @Habana Mike did.  I was looking to book American Airlines through Miami to Havana, but the first flights offered are in late November or early December.  I ended up booking my flight from Miami into Varadero Airport (VRA) and reserving a taxi from Taxi Vinales Cuba to get me to/from Havana.

It's a two hour drive, but I figured it would give me a chance to see some of the countryside and still allow me to fly commercial directly from Miami.

We're flying from MIA to  Veradero on American on the 11th. What about you?

[sam]

Toronto to Havana for me.   -- sam

[Boosted]

On Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 6:20 PM, Habana Mike said:

So Delta has finally published their flight schedule to HAV! It's awesome, one can soon fly directly from Atlanta to Havana!!!

I could book one right now on their website.

Unfortunately the first flight is November 30th, couple of weeks too late for us

That is fantastic news, Mike! It's not enough to help us all this trip, but it will be perfect in the future. It will be so much easier and cheaper for me to leave out of ATL.

I still can't make my mind up on how to go in November. My cheapest option seems to be Birmingham to Varadero round trip. BHM to MIA and then charter from MIA to HAV is a couple hundred dollars more, but it is definitely more convenient.

[AJS]

On 9/16/2016 at 9:13 PM, Drguano said:

We're flying from MIA to  Veradero on American on the 11th. What about you?

I'm flying from MIA to VRA on the morning of the 12th.  

[Ethernut]

On 9/17/2016 at 4:59 AM, Boosted said:

That is fantastic news, Mike! It's not enough to help us all this trip, but it will be perfect in the future. It will be so much easier and cheaper for me to leave out of ATL.

I still can't make my mind up on how to go in November. My cheapest option seems to be Birmingham to Varadero round trip. BHM to MIA and then charter from MIA to HAV is a couple hundred dollars more, but it is definitely more convenient.

What MIA to HAV charter are you considering?

@AJS now has me looking at VRA to HAV rides

[Boosted]

What MIA to HAV charter are you considering?

@AJS now has me looking at VRA to HAV rides

I'm looking at a couple different ones. I'm looking at a charter from cheapair.com, but I don't think we can book until about a month out. Here is the other res.havanaair.com/SYS/RESHOME
They are anywhere from like $425 to $525 for the flights from MIA to HAV roundtrip flights.

[Corylax18]

I'm on a United red eye from Denver to Cancun. Then Cancun to Havana on Interjet the morning of the 12th. I'm spending a night in Cancun on the way back. 

[madandana]

6 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

I'm on a United red eye from Denver to Cancun. Then Cancun to Havana on Interjet the morning of the 12th. I'm spending a night in Cancun on the way back. 

We'll have the coffee on.

[Ethernut]

I booked charter through MIA.. Much rather ingress/egress in HAV. A little more expensive, but we don't have to overnight anywhere. In HAV by noon on the 12th. 

Can't

Freaking

WAIT! 

[JohnnyO]

Jet Blue has cancelled their services with Xael Charter for the Ft Lauderdale-Havana flight. Silver, although a 34 seater will be flying to Varadero as well out of Ft Lauderdale. Cayman is a great flight, make sure you get some of that punch on the flight (complimentary) or some Iron Shore beer if you like the dark beers. As of 11/30/16 most charter companies will be eliminated. It is said that only two will survive, who remains no one knows yet. The weakest seem Xael and Island Travel as they are slow to pay the government of Cuba and are the most dangerous. ABC has been told after Thanksgiving they will not have access to American's planes. Personally if I were to travel after those dates I would not buy any tickets with a charter company until the players have been established. That will be Nov 30. You don't want to get stuck down there buying a one way ticket back ($335) I have a question for all of you that have booked....have you looked into Visas and Medical Insurance? Cayman/Bahamas I know the Visa is $15-20 and can be bought at the counter upon check in Cayman. Here in the US the Visa is $90, quite a difference. Also I am hearing that on the Jet Blue Ft Lauderdale-Sta Clara flights they are obligating passengers to buy $48 of medical insurance that is good for a month. From my understanding medical insurance could be bought in Cuba for $2-3 day from a HavanaTur representative. These are two unpleasant surprises if you have to pay the $90+$48. Briefly checking some online websites you can get basic travel insurance with Allianz for $125 year. This week most charters are $300RT or less (MIA-HAV), HavanaAir $220 RT during the week. There are also different policies with all the charters/airlines as far as checked bags, so they can hit you up with more ticky-tack fees. If you look at Jet Blue's and Silvers web sites they are quoting a lot of RT flights for $200 in January. This is a bargain if you can go at this time, great weather. Only downside is you will miss the playoffs. John

[Ethernut]

@JohnnyO I booked charter through Havanaair.. $100 for visa, ticket price includes medical insurance which wasn't much as I recall. I knew I was getting screwed on the Visa, but just wanted to be done.. 

My second (best) option was to fly through cayman, but didn't want a long cab ride from Veradero..

We made the choices we did because we wanted to be able to get to HAV and back home in the same day. The charter allowed us to do that. 

Hope that helps with some of your questions..

[JohnnyO]

Checked Delta and American for Miami-Havana flights, it seems they wont start until 11/30/16. There are flights for $200RT at the beginning of December and for a New Years trip (Dec 29-Jan 5). So it looks like the only ones functioning in November will be the charters unless you want to go to the countryside. John

[madandana]

2 hours ago, JohnnyO said:

Jet Blue has cancelled their services with Xael Charter for the Ft Lauderdale-Havana flight. Silver, although a 34 seater will be flying to Varadero as well out of Ft Lauderdale. Cayman is a great flight, make sure you get some of that punch on the flight (complimentary) or some Iron Shore beer if you like the dark beers. As of 10/31/16 most charter companies will be eliminated. It is said that only two will survive, who remains no one knows yet. The weakest seem Xael and Island Travel as they are slow to pay the government of Cuba and are the most dangerous. ABC has been told after Halloween they will not have access to American's planes. Personally if I were to travel after Halloween I would not buy any tickets with a charter company until the players have been established. That might be Nov 1. You don't want to get stuck down there buying a one way ticket back ($335) I have a question for all of you that have booked....have you looked into Visas and Medical Insurance? Cayman I know the Visa is $20 and can be bought at the counter upon check in Cayman. Here in the US the Visa is $90, quite a difference. Also I am hearing that on the Jet Blue Ft Lauderdale-Sta Clara flights they are obligating passengers to buy $48 of medical insurance that is good for a month. From my understanding medical insurance could be bought in Cuba for $2-3 day from a HavanaTur representative. These are two unpleasant surprises if you have to pay the $90+$48. Briefly checking some online websites you can get basic travel insurance with Allianz for $125 year. This week most charters are $300RT or less (MIA-HAV), HavanaAir $220 RT during the week. There are also different policies with all the charters/airlines as far as checked bags, so they can hit you up with more ticky-tack fees. If you look at Jet Blue's and Silvers web sites they are quoting a lot of RT flights for $200 in January. This is a bargain if you can go at this time, great weather. Only downside is you will miss the playoffs. John

Yes did Cayman in 2014 and the rum punch is a nice touch. Gets you in the island mood. They were selling visas on the plane but I get mine through Cubaism in Europe because I like to be prepared and that's one less thing to deal with. A few more bucks but to me it's worth it.

[AlohaStyle]

Is anyone actually checking for insurance?  I went a few years back, no one checked for insurance, but that was a while ago.