Dec 12, 2015, 1:12 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AA LAX-HAV-HAV (charter to/from Havana, Cuba) began 12 Dec 2015
American Airlines has been flying charters for Cuba Travel Services, the organization in the U.S. handling most licensed travel to Cuba, for some time. The inaugural flight for LAX-HAV occurred Saturday, December 12, 2015, with a Boeing 737-823.
Travelers must be licensed in accordance with OFAC regulations and / or meet specific criteria. Travel via AA to Cuba is not book able on aa.com. Travel on AA to or from Cuba does not currently permit earning AAdvantage miles, nor may one book award travel to or from Cuba. As these are charters there is no AA upgrade path available; one must purchase Oach or First / Business from the authorized charter company or their authorized agents for Cuba travel.
Note: MCE is treated as Main Cabin, so ask your agent, or at the ticket counter at the airport, for rows 8-15 (13 and 14 are likely to have limited recline, as 14 and 15 are exit rows).
AA (Charter) LAX-HAV (Havana, Cuba) began 12 Dec 2015
Aug 22, 2015, 10:06 pm
#1
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Location: SEATTLE, WA USA
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AA (Charter) LAX-HAV (Havana, Cuba) began 12 Dec 2015
I read that starting December 2015 AA is planning to offer LAX-Havana flights.
Anyone know more details? Like flight times? Aircraft to be used? If its a charter can I upgrade thru status or miles?
Anyone know more details? Like flight times? Aircraft to be used? If its a charter can I upgrade thru status or miles?
Aug 22, 2015, 10:50 pm
#2
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AA has been using Boeing 737-823s for its Cuba charters. Unless things change significantly in the near future, no miles can be earned, upgrades are not possible (only paid J or Y fares). I'm guessing Cuba Travel Services will be the most common chartering company, as I believe they are now.
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 24, 2015 at 9:01 am Reason: Typo grr!
Aug 22, 2015, 11:01 pm
#3
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Join Date: May 2001
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Yep, this is an expansion of Cuba Travel Services, of Cypress, CA charters:
http://hub.aa.com/en/nr/american-air...les-and-havana
As charters, the fares paid are not "published," and thus, no miles earned or redeemed.
On top of that, of course, the AAdvantage terms and conditions provide that no miles are earned on flights to Cuba.
To earn or redeem miles to Cuba, the terms and conditions will have to be modified. And then you'll have to pay published fares (not charter fares).
http://hub.aa.com/en/nr/american-air...les-and-havana
As charters, the fares paid are not "published," and thus, no miles earned or redeemed.
On top of that, of course, the AAdvantage terms and conditions provide that no miles are earned on flights to Cuba.
To earn or redeem miles to Cuba, the terms and conditions will have to be modified. And then you'll have to pay published fares (not charter fares).
Aug 23, 2015, 1:44 pm
#6
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Aug 24, 2015, 12:05 am
#8
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http://hub.aa.com/en/nr/american-air...les-and-havana
http://cubatravelservices.com/
Dec 12, 2015, 12:49 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
LAX-HAV
I'm on my mobile device, so apologies if this has been posted already.
I'm at LAX and at Gate 41 they are having a presentation by some city and AA officials as there is a non-stop LAX-HAV flight about to depart from that gate.
I am assuming it's a charter, but the officials said they want to start service between the two cities and referred to this flight as the inaugural.
I'm at LAX and at Gate 41 they are having a presentation by some city and AA officials as there is a non-stop LAX-HAV flight about to depart from that gate.
I am assuming it's a charter, but the officials said they want to start service between the two cities and referred to this flight as the inaugural.
Dec 12, 2015, 5:50 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
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I came into LAX this morning on AA 155, SFO-LAX (tail N813NN). We arrived at gate 41 to much fanfare and people herding us along a specific path away from the gate. There were people dancing to Latin music and many TV cameras. I walked by a little later after getting some food and there were people speaking in front of an American Airlines backdrop.
When I plugged in the tail number later, it came up with flight AA 9440, LAX-HAV, so this must have been the inaugural flight operation. Funny that my random SFO-LAX ship would end up being the one.
When I plugged in the tail number later, it came up with flight AA 9440, LAX-HAV, so this must have been the inaugural flight operation. Funny that my random SFO-LAX ship would end up being the one.
Feb 29, 2016, 3:00 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 650
Hi. Just flew this flight LAX-HAV Feb 20 return Feb 27. About 30 people on the 737-8 each way, so everyone had their own row if they wanted 
They served a free meal (sandwich, chips, salad, brownie). Was in row 9 (MCE) on the outbound, and row 15 exit on the return. Did not even have to request these seats, just given to me. All announcements were standard AA announcements, as if you were on a standard AA flight.
Enjoyed Cuba. Glad I got to experience it before the hordes invade it after the restrictions are fully lifted.
They served a free meal (sandwich, chips, salad, brownie). Was in row 9 (MCE) on the outbound, and row 15 exit on the return. Did not even have to request these seats, just given to me. All announcements were standard AA announcements, as if you were on a standard AA flight. Enjoyed Cuba. Glad I got to experience it before the hordes invade it after the restrictions are fully lifted.
Feb 29, 2016, 4:06 pm
#14
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Just 30 passengers each way? Cuba Travel Services is losing their, well, they're losing a lot of money on those flights.
The dangers of organizing charters.
No doubt AA is happy - they should have provided free booze considering how profitable those flights were!
When scheduled service begins, I think that's the end of this charter flight (and all other charters).
The dangers of organizing charters.
No doubt AA is happy - they should have provided free booze considering how profitable those flights were!
When scheduled service begins, I think that's the end of this charter flight (and all other charters).
Feb 29, 2016, 8:08 pm
#15
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Hi. Just flew this flight LAX-HAV Feb 20 return Feb 27. About 30 people on the 737-8 each way, so everyone had their own row if they wanted They served a free meal (sandwich, chips, salad, brownie). Was in row 9 (MCE) on the outbound, and row 15 exit on the return. Did not even have to request these seats, just given to me. All announcements were standard AA announcements, as if you were on a standard AA flight.
They served a free meal (sandwich, chips, salad, brownie). Was in row 9 (MCE) on the outbound, and row 15 exit on the return. Did not even have to request these seats, just given to me. All announcements were standard AA announcements, as if you were on a standard AA flight.