Booking HAV with Avios

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Sep 16, 2019, 3:08 pm

andymcdonnell

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Join Date: Apr 2015

Posts: 1,354

Booking HAV with Avios

BA.com doesn’t recognise HAV, either on a LHR/DUB-HAV or on a MIA-HAV basis. Is this just another IT glitch such as GYD & can be booked over the phone or is Cuba not actually bookable?

Sep 16, 2019, 3:11 pm

KARFA

Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2012

Location: Leeds, UK

Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond

Posts: 42,945

Just type in HAV - don't worry that it doesn't autocomplete - and search. Works fine and shows availability on ba.com. Just tried for IB MAD-HAV.

fruitcage and andymcdonnell like this.

Sep 16, 2019, 3:12 pm

fruitcage

Join Date: Apr 2017

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Posts: 1,387

I haven’t tried HAV specifically but there are lots of airports for which BA.com does not recognise and auto-complete the airport name, but for which you can just enter the 3 letter code and the search will work anyway.

Sep 16, 2019, 3:16 pm

andymcdonnell

Original Poster

Join Date: Apr 2015

Posts: 1,354

Hmm. That’s solved one problem, thank you KARFA. But any AA flight I select (for example I was looking 16 Jan and there’s loads of availability MIA-HAV) but an error keeps coming up saying I can’t book these flights & please try another

Sep 16, 2019, 3:22 pm

Swanhunter

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Due to the embargo you won’t be able to book, let alone travel on, the MIA-HAV flights

Sep 16, 2019, 3:24 pm

KARFA

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I don't think you can book AA reward flights to HAV on aa.com using aa miles so the same restriction may also apply to AA reward flights booked with avios on ba.com. You may need to call to book those AA flights.

I don't think there should be any issue with IB flights - however if that's what you want to pick you would be better off transferring the avios to your IB account and booking on there since taxes/fees/charges for a return in J will be ~£150 compared to ~£450 when booking on ba.com.

Sep 16, 2019, 3:24 pm

flygod

Join Date: Dec 2009

Posts: 858

And don't use BA.com to book MAD-HAV on Iberia - it'll cost you hundreds in BA fees, even though it is an Iberia flight.

Make sure you have an IB+ account and transfer the avios over to there and then book direct with IB avios for the IB flight.

ps. Much higher "visa" fees for flights from USA to Cuba. Perhaps fly MAD-HAV HAV-MIA and then MIA-MAD, all transatlantic on Iberia. (and remember one-way ex-USA in BA CW or F on avios carries HUGE surcharges!)

Sep 16, 2019, 3:27 pm

KARFA

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Swanhunter

Due to the embargo you won’t be able to book, let alone travel on, the MIA-HAV flights

I thought the restriction for travel from USA-HAV applied only to US citizens? Even if they apply to all there were plenty of US citizens as tourists in Havana when I was there in May which suggest the restrictions are not that restrictive!

I would agree though it is easier to go from MAD if the OP can go with that option.

Sep 16, 2019, 3:59 pm

rewardingtrips

Join Date: Nov 2018

Programs: BAEC, VS FC, LH M&M, ANA Mileage Club

Posts: 20

It was a huge ordeal trying to get this done last year

Booked IB MAD-HAV using avios on Iberia plus website with ease

Was unable to book AA HAV-MIA through BAEC online (despite availability showing up on avios search) nor by phone. The BAEC agent, after keeping me on hold for ages, gave the explanation that "as a company [they] don't sell tickets to Havana". This is untrue as both they and IB are part of IAG...

Eventually managed to book AA cash flights from HAV-MIA on the AA website for around $100 USD.