Recent Cubana Airlines Experiences? – Cuba – Debbie's Carribean Reviews Forums

hollydog 2015-07-17 18:03:05 UTC #1

I’m looking at doing a week at Carisol los Corales (Santiago) this November. Hola Sun is offering it for $120. less than Sunwing (they are getting very greedy this year). The flight shows as being with Cubana Airlines (with a stop at Cayo Largo on the return).

I have checked the reviews and they are all over the place, but nothing too recent.

Has anyone flown with them recently? Bad? Good? or meh? I don’t care about food and drink (I can buy my own) or leg room (I’m a short-ass), but am interested in how "on time" they normally are, and if there is any reason why I really should pay greedy Sunwing my extra $100 bucks.

The also haven’t made any flight times available yet. Does anyone know what they have been in the past?

Thanks!

francoisp 2015-07-17 19:27:55 UTC #2

I used them about a year ago to go to Holguin

They were on time, I think we even left 10 minutes early. Service was as good as on any other airline. Food was simple (sandwiches) but good. Beer was only 2$, that might be a good or a bad thing depending on who’s on the plane!

I would not hesitate to used them again. I myself saved around 100$ per person on that trip and I can’t see why I would want to pay more for Sunwing. That being said I don’t have any issues with Sunwing either.

The only thing I remember is that the bus that took us from and to the airport in Cuba was older than the other ones and not very clean. Still AC was working and we made it to the resort and back without any issues.

ald1 2015-07-17 22:06:18 UTC #3

First off. We love Club Amigo Carisol los Corales; been there several times. Guaranteed great weather and great hospitality.

Cubana. We flew with them in February 2015 and a few more times prior to (from Montreal) and no issues and we always left on time and arrived earlier than scheduled there and back. The planes are not as new and clean as Sunwing but that did not bother us. Think washroom here (no seats or toilet paper )

Cubana serves Havana Club Rum in flight and Crystal beer. Sunwing doesn’t (that’s a Plus to us )

Your question: Has anyone flown with them recently? Bad? Good? or meh?
Our Answer: good + you save 100 bucks and Hola Sun usually includes a free excursion with their package. value of 75+ CUC.

IF we had the choice… we prefer Sunwing for many reasons including extra weight restrictions with an upgrade.

We say. save your 100 bucks and go with Cubana. Its not as bad as some people say.

Safe flight and safe travels and enjoy Los Coroles. You go once and will want to return.

Hope this helps.

eeeefarm 2015-07-18 10:20:09 UTC #4

I have used Cubana but not recently. Had no issues with them. That said, I would likely go Sunwing given the choice unless I booked it last minute, mainly because I like to kick out the extra $50 for cancellation insurance. I can’t do a last minute cancellation with Hola Sun. But on a last minute booking I wouldn’t hesitate to use them and go Cubana.

sund0g 2015-07-18 14:53:53 UTC #5

And the luggage allowance is awesome. Flying from Toronto, you get 46 KG checked and 10 KG carry on. That is per person! I think I read somewhere that flying from Montreal, you get 23 KG checked and 5 KG carry on.

ald1 2015-07-18 16:49:08 UTC #6

Correct from Montreal with Cubana 23Kg and 7Kg carry-on

Sunwing Airlines from Montreal 20 Kg and 5 KG carry-on

And the luggage allowance is awesome. Flying from Toronto, you get 46 KG checked and 10 KG carry on. That is per person! I think I read somewhere that flying from Montreal, you get 23 KG checked and 5 KG carry on.

Admin 2015-07-18 17:47:07 UTC #7

Yes I used them as well and never had issues. I felt space inside is bit bigger as well. I would definitely save $100 your flight is short anyway its not like you traveling 10 hours

hollydog 2015-07-20 13:17:39 UTC #8

Thanks everyone!

This would be my third time at Carisol los Corales, so no worries there.

I have private insurance, so don’t need to worry about that either.

I’ll give it a shot! After all (famous last words from a very experienced Cuba traveller) what’s the worst that can happen??

drg1 2015-07-21 14:08:15 UTC #9

I was looking at Cubana out of Toronto for early Dec. Out of Toronto it looks like on the way back they stop in Cayo Coco to pick up passengers.

hollydog 2015-08-25 19:04:35 UTC #10

Got the flight info from my TA yesterday. Leave Toronto at 1250; fly down via Cayo Largo (even a brief stop there will be pleasant); return departs Santiago at 7:25, arriving TO at 11:55PM.

I don’t want to start a debate about morning/afternoon departures. For me – and me alone – this is PERFECT! I have to stay overnight in Toronto anyhow before catching a connection to North Bay. So spending the better part of a full day on the beach and then arriving home at night is awesome for me.

Fingers crossed for a good Cubana experience. My nephew is already offering to download movies to my iPad for me. (I usually read books on planes, but he is trying to be helpful.)

sund0g 2015-08-26 16:31:52 UTC #11

Hollydog: We leave for Galeones (2 weeks) and are leaving Nov 26. Sounds like the same flight we’re having (same departure & arrival times). We were there in March/April this year and also had a short stop in CL, not even enough time to finish our beer! 20 minutes or so later, we were at Santiago. This trip we have direct back to Pearson with no stops. We’ve travelled with them several times now and everything has been on time and crews are efficient. I’m going to try to get our check in clerk at Pearson to allow us to book our return seats; wish me luck!

cugeorge 2015-08-26 17:44:43 UTC #12

Hollydog: We leave for Galeones (2 weeks) and are leaving Nov 26. Sounds like the same flight we’re having (same departure & arrival times). We were there in March/April this year and also had a short stop in CL, not even enough time to finish our beer! 20 minutes or so later, we were at Santiago. This trip we have direct back to Pearson with no stops. We’ve travelled with them several times now and everything has been on time and crews are efficient. I’m going to try to get our check in clerk at Pearson to allow us to book our return seats; wish me luck!

Good Luck Sund0g….lol

I usually travel Sunwing and last year on one of our trips we went Transat. Transat would be my last choice only because they nickeled and dimed us to death. (perhaps 10 and 15 dollar’d us to death would be more correct). Mind you the flight times and package price almost made up for this.

To me price, dates and then departure times factor in more to me in late November. Right now it looks like Cubana to Holguin. I have only read one really bad review about Cubana recently and will put more weight into the positives I have read in this forum. ( The negative had more to do with diversions and delays due to storms).

hollydog 2015-08-31 13:22:29 UTC #13

Hollydog: We leave for Galeones (2 weeks) and are leaving Nov 26. Sounds like the same flight we’re having (same departure & arrival times). We were there in March/April this year and also had a short stop in CL, not even enough time to finish our beer! 20 minutes or so later, we were at Santiago. This trip we have direct back to Pearson with no stops. We’ve travelled with them several times now and everything has been on time and crews are efficient. I’m going to try to get our check in clerk at Pearson to allow us to book our return seats; wish me luck!

Good luck, Sund0g! Maybe I will try the same thing for the return trip.

hollydog 2015-12-09 17:10:30 UTC #14

Update –

I returned last week and was more than pleased with Cubana.
The sandwiches were dry, but they didn’t try to pass them off as "gourmet bistro". I really don’t need to eat on a 4-hour flight anyhow. We were delayed an hour coming home, but that was due to a storm at the plane’s stop in Cayo Largo.

The luggage allowance was extreme – 2x23kg! Per Person!The taxes were less (a total of $210) than Sunwing.Services was extremely professional.

The plane was clean and comfy.

I would definitely look to using Cubana again.

iggy1 2015-12-09 19:12:18 UTC #15

Thanks for the follow up. It’s nice to get someone who asks the questions and then follows it up with their own experience

sund0g 2015-12-12 21:08:11 UTC #16

Just arrived at Pearson midnight Dec 10/15, and it was a very quiet flight. We’ve travelled Cubana several times over the past few years and this was the first time I found the flight dirty & dreary. The flight down to Santiago was the best, friendly crew, good food & great service. Return to Toronto was the opposite. We heard the pilot twice. First time he told the crew to prepare for takeoff; second time he told the crew to prepare to land. We had the attendants give us a meal (?) in this order: 2 buns in our coffee cup, 1 butter patty, 3/4 of a stale sandwich with a 1/2 slice cheese & 1/4 slice ham, a smashed in muffin that I couldn’t extricate from the wrap; 1 other bun added (because they had extra?) but no more butter. Coffee but no tea. No smiles from the attendants who were sitting up in ‘tropical class’ sleeping. No answers to call bells. The flight itself was really good but it was the 1st flight I didn’t thank anyone when departing – coldest crew I had ever met. But in fairness, I’m sure it had been a very long day for them. The plane had lots of extra seats, it was quick loading and when we were all on board -we were gone! Arrived at Pearson 20 minutes early (which might have been a good thing seeing as our new Canadians apparently arrived about about 45 minutes later (I might have the nights mixed up). And would I use them again? YES in a heartbeat; I’ve been on much worse airlines (sitting at Pearson for 7 hours for departure with Sunwing with no explanation). So this might sound like a moan/groan; but it shows how crews can make such a difference. Flight was good, crew was terribly cold – but we got home safe and sound with all our luggage!! Gonna do it again in a couple of months)

1

francoisp 2016-05-18 16:05:41 UTC #17

sund0g, it looks exactly like my experience with them last week coming back from Cayo Coco to Montreal.

Very quiet flight, never heard anything from the crew except the departure and arrival announcements. No drink served before or after the meal which consisted of an ham and cheese sandwich, peach nectar, a bun with butter, a madeleine and a piece of chocolate.

One nice attention was that they gave baby food to all the babies on board! Too bad most of them were too big to eat puree but that was a first for us.

I also don’t know if it was my imagination but it felt like I had extra leg rooms compared to other airlines.

For the price we paid I would too use them again.

Admin 2016-05-18 16:20:05 UTC #18

francoisp:

I also don’t know if it was my imagination but it felt like I had extra leg rooms compared to other airlines.

I believe as well that there is extra leg room in Cubana airplanes!

sund0g 2016-05-18 18:15:39 UTC #19

Well I have had a major let down with Cubana. Beginning on April 8. Here is a snippit of something I sent to one of the members."That day at the airport was horrendous. First thing, I lost the diamond from my wedding ring (insurance will look after that), than the 3 buses came early, and I wasn’t ready – spent alot of time looking for the diamond (but I had help). Then we were turned around 10 KM past Sierra Mar and when we finally got to airport, checked in, got seats, dropped our luggage and went outside. I hate the departures room at Santiago so we stay outside as long as possible. Then all of the delays were coming from passengers who would go in and periodically check. Left at 1:00 AM the next day with a nasty, bossy crew; I don’t mind that so much but when we landed in Toronto it took over 2 hours to get our luggage. We live 45 KM west of the airport but we got caught in a traffic jam (we call it the Highway 401 parking lot); It was exhausting."

That was just a small sample of that day. I am just happy that we wanted the last hours of Cuban sunshine and went outside. If we had gone to the departure lounge it would have been hEll because once you are in there, there is no escape and you’re in jail !! When we finally left the next day and arrived at Toronto, our fellow guests had the same disgusted look and as we all forgot our manners due to lack of sleep and food and the luggage situation, a lot of us weren’t sure of using Cubana again. I’m sure we will change our mind if Hola Sun has the best deal when the resort reopens at the end of November; but it was an experience I don’t want to repeat.

beansntoast 2016-05-28 13:08:24 UTC #20

I heard a great story from a very nervous flyer this year, in Cuba. Cubana out of Montreal. He got up mid-flight to use the washroom and noticed the cockpit door open. Curious about what it looks like, he looked in to find no one there. He woke up a flight attendant to ask what happened and she told him "not to worry, the pilots are taking a nap and we have auto-pilot."
Poor fellow spent his entire vacation dreading the flight home.

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