What can I expect the morning of departure?
Depending on which airline you are flying with, you will encounter one of the the following check-in options:
- 2 Lines – one line to check your documents and another line to check your bags
- 1 Line – for both documents and checking bags
- Kiosks – for documents and a line for checking bags (if needed)
If you have received your documents via mail, you will simply go to the designated check-in counter (as marked on your ticket) for your flight and the person working at the counter will show you where to go and what to do.
If a CBF Representative is bringing your documents to you at the airport, first you will meet your CBF Representative at the designated check-in time and place and the complete the check-in process together:
- If there are 2 Lines – your CBF Rep will collect all passports and join the documents line. They will guide you to the baggage line (whether you are checking a bag or not). As you wait in the baggage line, the representative will begin to distribute your documents back to you.
- If there is 1 Line – everyone (including the CBF Rep) will join the line and wait together.
- If you use the Kiosks – the CBF Rep will guide you through the kiosk check-in process. You will receive your boarding pass from the kiosk. If anyone has to check a bag, they will be asked to join the baggage line after completing the kiosk process. If you do not have any bags to check, you will simply step aside and wait for the rest of the group to check their bags.
Once everyone in the group has received their documents, checked their bags, and received their boarding passes, the group will go to TSA to pass through security and go to the gate to board the plane.
Additional forms that will be given to you at the airport are the:
- blue customs form (one per family)
- white medical form (one per person)
These are to be filled out by the time you get to Cuba. You can fill them out on the plane. The blue form will be required at the customs desk (upon arrival) and the white form will be required at the medical desk (just after your baggage goes through the screening belt).
Some airlines include the Cuban airport taxes. Some will ask you to pay for this at the airport before departure ($25-$28). Please be prepared to pay this in cash.
Most airlines will ask for ~$20 per checked bag. It is possible they may weigh your carry-on luggage as well and charge you if it is overweight.
