HAV-CUN / how to book?
 

A friend of mine needs a flight from HAV to CUN on Sept 18. I was unable to book a flight on expedia etc. Does anyone here have an advice how to find cheap fares ex-Cuba (low cost carriers for example). Would it be better to fly through the US, in order to catch an Mexican low cost carrier serving the US? I didn't find any Mexican carrier who serves HAV.
Any hints will be most appreciated!

Cheerio, 'Junior

try www.rumbo.es

It looks like Mexicana and Cubana fly this route.

BTW, you will not find any flights HAV-USA, so if you have to be in Cuba you will have to fly directly on to Mexico from there.

As far as I know, AeroCaribe also flies this route. From what I've heard the best bet is to get the ticket in Cuba (preferably immediately upon arrival, so that you meet at least some of the advance booking requirements.

Because of the US economic embargo on Cuba none of the US-based or US-owned ticket agents (Expedia, Travelocity, etc.) will be able to help you here. Check out opodo.de - it's entirely European-owned, which means it can book travel to Cuba. For a random date in August, I found a one-way HAV-CUN flight on Cubana for 200€. I would imagine travel ex-Cuba is cheaper when booked from Cuba, but if your friend wants to have his itinerary set before he leaves home, this would be an option.

Cheers,

Alex

Actually, you can book tickets through travelocity.ca and probably other .ca divisions of US companies. Their US staff can't have anything to do with these bookings, but their Canadian staff can.

Hm, I tried this just right now, but all I get is "Due to a U.S. government travel restriction we are unable to book this reservation."
BTW, on expertflyer I found a fare for arround 204 US-dollars on Mecicana

Thank you! This seems to be a good option so fare. €175 total for HAV-CUN

Even foreign subsidiaries of US companies officially aren't allowed to trade with Cuba. This includes foreign travel websites of US companies. I've tried to check prices for flights to Cuba on expedia.de for example, but I get the same message f4freejunior mentioned.

BTW, I just remembered that there are opodo discount codes floating around on this site, some of them up to 50€ - perhaps there is something interesting youcan use for the HAV-CUN flight.

The cheaper fares will probably be not available for sale outside the country. Also, keep in mind that any itinerary on that route will require a paper ticket.

[KVS Availability Tool 2.2.2/Platinum - Amadeus: AUA]

You are right. When I first tried travelocity.ca pulled up a bunch of Aero Mexico flights, it even let me select dates, but when you try to book it bumps you out of the system.

Weird. I know that when we stayed at the Beaches Resort in Cuba we had to deal with the Canadian branch of the company. Once I called the US number by accident and they quickly redirected me to the Canadian office. I just assumed that it would be the same for the travel services.

ok so far, but the problem we have is that in Cuba they will probably not let you enter the country when you cannot provide a RT ticket at customs! So is there a possibility to buy the ticket in transit somewhere? or where else can one buy those "cheap" tix? My friend will be arriving from AMS with Martinair.

So your friend has a one-way ticket from AMS?

He just told me that he has already booked all his other flights. The only flight he still needs is cuba-cancun

Could he buy a refundable ticket to show upon entry, get a cheapy once he's there, and then refund the refundable later?

Not a bad idea, but it does tie up a LOT of $$$.

If f4freejunior's friend is on a student budget like f4freejunior and myself, then this solution could be rather difficult.

He is a student as well. And not as familiar with airplanes than FT are; so I won't consider this idea for him. Even though, it's an interesting point woody125 pointed out. But a little bit unethical ;) or let's say: Flyertalk style :D