About 40 airlines service Cuba. The majority of flights arrive at Havana’s José Martí International Airport or Varadero’s Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport. Cuba has eight additional international airports: Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo del Sur, Ciego de Ávila, Holguín, Santa Clara, and Santiago de Cuba.

Cuba’s national airline is Cubana de Aviación (www.cubana.cu), which generally offers lower fares than competing airlines. Cubana has DC-10s and Airbus A-320s that serve Europe and Mexico. However, the workhorses in the stable remain Soviet-made aircraft. The airline is poorly managed, service is charmless, and its safety record is poor.

Fares quoted in this travel guide are based on rates advertised at press time. They are subject to change and should be used only as a guideline.

Practicalities

To get the cheapest fares, make your reservations as early as possible, especially during peak season, as flights often sell out. Low-season and mid-week travel is often cheaper, as are stays of more than 30 days.

Most scheduled airlines permit two pieces of checked baggage, although a fee may apply; most charter airlines permit 20 kilos of baggage, and charge extra for overweight bags. Cubana (20–40 kilograms, depending on class) charges extortionate rates for each kilo over your limit. Keep any valuable items, such as laptop computers, in your carry-on luggage. Always reconfirm your reservation and return flight within 72 hours of your departure (reservations are frequently cancelled if not reconfirmed; Cubana is particularly bad) and arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare. Always keep a photocopy of your ticket separate from your ticket and other documents as a safeguard in the event of loss or theft.

Online Bookings

U.S. websites such as www.orbitz.com and www.travelocity.com are barred from displaying Cuba-related flight information and from making reservations for Cuba flights. However, many foreign-based websites, including those of airlines such as Copa and Grupo Taca (but not Air Jamaica or Mexicana), offer reservation services for travel to Cuba. Except as specifically licensed by OFAC, it is illegal for any U.S. citizen or resident to make payments in connection with travel to Cuba through such websites.

All international passengers en route to Cuba via the U.S., say on a round-the-world ticket, must have a separate ticket stock for the Cuba portion and ensure that “Cuba” does not appear on the main ticket stock.