Ham From Germany, joined Jul 2005, 255 posts, RR: 1 Posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 5457 times:
I'm going to fly to Cuba for a two-week vacation in october and on this occasion, I want to make one or two domestic flights on russian airliners. So here are my questions:
-What would be the cheapest option within Cuba? I'd like to try the AN24/26, IL62, IL18, Yak42 or Yak40.
-On which route is it most certain that there won't be a replacement by an ATR or something?
-Where should I book - at the airport, in a travel agency, on the web - for getting the best price?
-Can anyone recommend a route which ends at an interesting location that can hardly be reached by car which would be worth visiting, instead of returning right away?
-I've read somewhere about Aerotaxi operating flights on real old metal - do they still exist (couldn't find much on the web)?
-Is there a chance to book the IL62-flight LPA-HAV and how much would that cost?
TriStar500 From Germany, joined Nov 1999, 4685 posts, RR: 47 Reply 1, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 5427 times:
I've flown a HAV-GER-HAV half-daytrip on a CU AN4 and paid 58 Euro for the trip - booking was via wideroe.no.
Flights from HAV to HOG should be about 100 Euro return, and are usually operated by Aerocarribbean ATR's. You will get the YK2 on HAV-SCU-HAV for about 150 Euro return. Most other routings are not served twice daily, so they require an overnight stay.
Homer: Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!
Soups From Ghana, joined Jun 2004, 3437 posts, RR: 15 Reply 3, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 5381 times:
Make sure u book a daytrip to Cayo Largo from any touristic office in Havana its about $120 includes a full sighseeing daytour and a flight on AeroGaviota Antonov. Also u would depart from another airport in havana.. Playa baracoa or something like that
Next destinations, Suarabaya, beirut, paris, Accra
HAM From Germany, joined Jul 2005, 255 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 5274 times:
Hi Soups
I just looked up Cayo Largo on google and now we consider spending a week there instead of varadero. seems to be a nice island to relax for a while. and flying there with an AN26 makes it sound even better.
Thank you very much for the useful advice!
HAM
RAFVC10 From Spain, joined Sep 2005, 1980 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 5251 times:
Quoting Ham (Thread starter): -Is there a chance to book the IL62-flight LPA-HAV and how much would that cost?
Cubana left to operate this route in 2005 due to low demmand on it. Now, there are only one Spanish scheduled city, MAD, served with 763 and IL9.
Quoting Ham (Thread starter): -I've read somewhere about Aerotaxi operating flights on real old metal - do they still exist (couldn't find much on the web)?
Rare old metal are Antonov An-2's??? Only used as a para and sprayer flights. The same with the DC-3 they have in fleet. If you want a very rare old metal plane, try Aerocaribbean IL-18's. More info:
Quoting Ham (Thread starter): -Can anyone recommend a route which ends at an interesting location that can hardly be reached by car which would be worth visiting, instead of returning right away?
Santiago de Cuba, Nueva Gerona or Ciego de Avila are cities that has typical colonial buildings and very nice people.
Quoting Ham (Thread starter): -What would be the cheapest option within Cuba? I'd like to try the AN24/26, IL62, IL18, Yak42 or Yak40.
My recommendation is to take car until Nueva Gerona, Santiago de Cuba or other city far away from HAV. The chances to fly in a AN4, AN6 or YK2 are very high. The IL-62 chance is on SDQ and MEX flights...
Regards and have a nice trip.
Gerard
El dia que los gilipollas vuelen, no podremos ver la luz del sol!
Airliner777 From United States of America, joined exactly 13 years ago today! , 493 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 5168 times:
Hi there! I think Aerotaxi still fly their AN-2 out of Varadero's old airport (Kawama - MUKW) on sightseeing tours around the peninsula. The route between HAV-NAS gets pretty interesting, changing on a daily basis from the IL-62 to the Yak42, and even the old IL-18 at times. Cubana regularly flies to Santo Domingo, DR using their IL-62. If you want to try out the new IL-96 you can fly from Madrid down to the island in it.
MEA-707 From Netherlands, joined Nov 1999, 4117 posts, RR: 37 Reply 8, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 5122 times:
I was in Cuba in May and visited Aerocaribbean's office to try and get on their Il-18 but they insisted the last pax Il-18 was recently wfu and they now only have 1 or 2 cargo Il-18s left. They only fly ATR-72s now.
On domestic flights, the An-24/26 and Yak-42 are still common. I think the DC-3s are wfu or seized in the USA now.
Indeed the Il-62M is for now only doing regional flights like Nassau, Santo Domingo, Mexico City, Cancun and Caracas, but the first Tu-204 has arrived and might replace it.
nobody has ever died from hard work, but why take the risk?
HAM From Germany, joined Jul 2005, 255 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 5090 times:
Quoting RAFVC10 (Reply 5): Quoting Ham (Thread starter):
-Is there a chance to book the IL62-flight LPA-HAV and how much would that cost?
Cubana left to operate this route in 2005 due to low demmand on it. Now, there are only one Spanish scheduled city, MAD, served with 763 and IL9.
Actually, I just saw the CU IL62M in LPA in June. Maybe it was a one-time charter flight then?
Thanks to all of you for the posts. I will write a trip report about the journey or at least about the domestic flight.
So far, I hope (=dad&brother have to agree) to fly HAV-Cayo Largo on the Aerogaviota AN26 and I might try to get on a scenic flight on an Aerotaxi AN2.
It seems to me that the AN26 is a real exotic bird at least in pax config - or where else would you be able to board one as a passenger? IIRC, the AN26 is the military version of the AN24, right?
Quoting RAFVC10 (Reply 5): try Aerocaribbean IL-18's. More info:
LTU932 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, RR: 51 Reply 11, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 5009 times:
Quoting Ham (Thread starter): -What would be the cheapest option within Cuba? I'd like to try the AN24/26, IL62, IL18, Yak42 or Yak40.
The best option for a flight on a CU Yak-42 would be taking the triangular HAV-GUA-SJO-GUA flight. It's seasonal and operates through the winter, so that route will restart sometime in December
AF340 From Canada, joined Jul 2007, 2786 posts, RR: 4 Reply 13, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day ago) and read 4828 times:
When I was in Cayo Guillermo/Cayo Coco I found it to be very nice and if you can get on an Aerogaviota flight you are guaranteed a Russian plane, maybe even an AN-2. Aerocaribbean has flights from HAV to CCC but it might not be on a Russian plane.
Cuba is a nice place, so enjoy the trip wherever you stay!
AF340
He's faster than a speeding bullet, he can leap tall buildings in a single bound; he's Obamaman!!
MIAMIx707 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day ago) and read 4803 times:
Quoting NEMA (Reply 6): Santiago de Cuba, Nueva Gerona or Ciego de Avila are cities that has typical colonial buildings and very nice people
Nueva Gerona is on Isle of Pines (Isla de la Juventud) - Isle of Youth - as the communist renamed it. So you can't drive there from Havana lol. There used to be these fast soviet ferry boats from the mainland to there not sure if they still use these.
Funny when I lived there those loud AN-2s were painted yellow and only used for mosquito fumigation and that sort of stuff. Now they are tourist taxis!
Skyhigh From Australia, joined Nov 2005, 234 posts, RR: 6 Reply 15, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day ago) and read 4784 times:
We flew Santiago de Cuba-Hav on a Yak 42.
After hiring a car and driving the length of the country, I can confidently say that Santiago was my favourite place in Cuba. It is totally unlike any other part of Cuba. It has a lot more African heritage due to the slave industry that once existed. it is also where all of the wonderful music comes from. The humid but pleasant weather also gives the place a different feel. The Buena Vista Social Club are from there.
When walking around the beautiful city, you will hear different style of music wafting out of every building, not to mention beautiful singing. You will even find a small band sitting at the back of an old book shop or in each museum.
At night the place really comes to life at the Casa La Trova's, where you can watch experts Salsa, while sipping on a mojito.
I was not much of a music or dance lover until discovering Santiago and now I am converted! It is the true Cuban experience, which cannot be missed.
We then took the last flight of the night back to Havana, on a Yak 42. The whole thing was quite an experience!
You can book flights on cubana.cu They accept payment and even let you pick a seat. It will also tell you the aircraft that you will be flying on. Make sure you print out the e-ticket and take it to the ticketing office at the airport or a Cubana office. They will then turn it into a paper ticket. I know this is not normally what happens but we learnt the hard way when flying from MEX-HAV
Cubana also have a representative in both London and Canada. the contact details are on the website. You can always ring them if you have any questions. I rang the London office a few times regarding my international flights as I am in a wheelchair and have special requirements. They were very accommodating.
Alternatively, if you are flexible with your dates you can wait until you are there and then book it at a Cubana office. We did this for the domestic flight only a few days beforehand.
If you have time, explore some towns and not just lie on a beach. I can recommend Sancti Spiritus, Trinidad, Camaguey and of course Santiago.
TriStar500 From Germany, joined Nov 1999, 4685 posts, RR: 47 Reply 16, posted (5 years 9 months 20 hours ago) and read 4686 times:
My personal favorites were Sancti Spiritus and Cienfuegos - I found Santiago de Cuba to be much too moist and tropical for my liking, but I guess, everybody has his own favorites.
I would strongly recommend to avoid flying internationally, because you have to pay the arrival and departure tax of 25 CUC (about 22 Euro) per way each time you leave or enter Cuba. Thus, in order to save these unneccessary expenses, you should rather fly domestically.
Homer: Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!
LTU932 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, RR: 51 Reply 17, posted (5 years 9 months 19 hours ago) and read 4660 times:
Quoting LTU932 (Reply 11): The best option for a flight on a CU Yak-42 would be taking the triangular HAV-GUA-SJO-GUA flight.
That was supposed to read HAV-GUA-SJO-HAV, or otherwise it wouldn't be a triangular route in and out of HAV. Pardon the typo.
Quoting Skyhigh (Reply 15): We then took the last flight of the night back to Havana, on a Yak 42.
I usually see those Yak-42s taking off and flying very low over my workplace (when RW07 is active). Those things seem underpowered, but I've been told they're following an old Soviet procedure to takeoff and immediate accelerate to climb speed instead of holding v2+10 until a pre-determined acceleration height. I'd still be hesitant to fly on one of them. I'd rather try CU's IL-96s or IL-62s.
HAM From Germany, joined Jul 2005, 255 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (5 years 9 months 17 hours ago) and read 4621 times:
Thanks for all the info! I'm getting more and more excited.
Quoting TriStar500 (Reply 10): In case you want to get a first impression about a Cubana domestic flight, you might want to read my trip report from last April:
I have read it (I think I already read it some time ago, too) and I liked it a lot.
RAFVC10 From Spain, joined Sep 2005, 1980 posts, RR: 7 Reply 19, posted (5 years 9 months 16 hours ago) and read 4587 times:
Schedules of Cubana and Aerocaribbean inside Cuba...
- Ciego de Avila (AVI) served with AT4 equipment.
- Baracoa (BCA) served with AT4 equipment.
- Bayamo (BYM) served with AT4 equipment.
- Cayo Coco (CCC) served with AT7 and IL9 equipment.
- Camaguey (CMW) served with AN4 and YK2 equipment.
- Cayo Largo (CYO) served with AT7 equipment.
- Guantanamo (GAO) served with AN4 and YK2 equipment.
- Nueva Gerona (GER) served with AN4 equipment.
- Holguin (HOG) served with AT7 and 767 equipment.
- Moa (MOA) served with AT4 equipment.
- Manzanillo (MZO) served with AT4 equipment.
- Santiago de Cuba (SCU) served with AN4, 737 and YK2 equipment.
- Santa Clara (SNU) served with 320 equipment.
- Varadero (VRA) served with IL9 equipment.
- Las Tunas (VTU) served with AT4 equipment.
Now choose your preferred route and aircraft.
Gerard
El dia que los gilipollas vuelen, no podremos ver la luz del sol!
LTBEWR From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12335 posts, RR: 12 Reply 23, posted (5 years 9 months 14 hours ago) and read 4493 times:
Why do you want to go to a country that is a dictatorship, jails people who criticise the government, is quickly becoming a 3rd world country just to have a chance to fly on 'Russian' aircraft. Where is your personal morality and ethics.
777STL From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 3034 posts, RR: 3 Reply 24, posted (5 years 9 months 14 hours ago) and read 4471 times:
Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 23): Why do you want to go to a country that is a dictatorship, jails people who criticise the government, is quickly becoming a 3rd world country just to have a chance to fly on 'Russian' aircraft. Where is your personal morality and ethics.
Cuba is beautiful and the people are generally nice. Expand your horizons a bit....
No one cares when your next flight is....
25 TriStar500: Traveling helps you to overcome ignorance and to broaden your horizont. You should try that out sometimes. Even though I never was and never will be
26 LongHauler: Last year, I rented a house in the Miramar district of Havana for two weeks and rented a car to see the sights. It was an incredible vacation in a bea
27 HAM: I´m going there because I´ve heard that the island is nice, because I have the chance to learn something about different cultures and political sys
28 LXM83: I hope you will have a good trip. I can definitely recommend to try the Il-62 (as long as they're still around), the An-24 and Yak-42. Would do it any
29 UK_Dispatcher: I tried for the IL-62 on CCS-HAV but this was equipment swapped for an IL-96. I've actually just posted a trip report in the last few minutes: Cubana
30 MIAMIx707: Is this the usual equipment on SJO? I hope and pray Cuba's oceanfront land doesn't turn into another Miami Beach full of mega-expensive high-rises be
31 LTU932: Sometimes people visit a country and don't look at the asociated politics. Yes, the Yak-42D is standard equipment to SJO.
32 Soups: Cayo largo is much better than Varadero. when we went there we stayed in Havana and had day trips to varadero, cayo largo, cayo coco, Holguin and Guan
33 Rlorenzo24: Just make sure you get a generous life insurance policy.
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It's seasonal and operates through the winter, so that route will restart sometime in December
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