Charging for accompanying luggage on national buses in Cuba

Since January 10, 2019, the National Bus Company (EON) has been charging passengers for excess baggage in local currency, according to a progressive rate stipulated for such purposes.

These provisions are included in Resolution 213/2018 of the Ministry of Finance and Prices, published in Official Gazette No. 61 on December 24.

All EON interprovincial bus routes in Cuba have recently started charging passengers for excess weight on their accompanying luggage.

According to the recently established regulations, the allowable amount of exempt accompanying baggage is 30 kilograms for passengers over XNUMX years of age, and XNUMX kilograms for passengers under that age. The maximum excess baggage allowance has been increased to XNUMX kilograms, and payment of certain amounts governed by progressive fares is regulated as part of the service linked to the travel ticket.

The charging of excess baggage fees for passengers using domestic buses in Cuba is now a reality. Starting January 10th and going forward, passengers will receive the corresponding receipt for the amount paid, confirming payment for their accompanying baggage.

This service is offered at the 126 terminals, agencies, and stations throughout Cuba. These locations require mandatory baggage weighing. It is important for passengers to know that those boarding the bus in transit (i.e., at an intermediate point along the route) may only carry a maximum weight of 20 kilograms in their accompanying luggage.

Baggage check-in at any of the terminals from which passengers depart or board a bus (in the case of intermediate points) will be done on a personal and non-transferable basis.

All travelers who pay the established fare for their overweight accompanying baggage and transfer to a bus must retain the receipt issued to them for the amount paid, or else they will be required to pay the required amount again.

In the event that an overweight bag is lost, travelers will be reimbursed for the lost baggage and any money paid for it will also be refunded.

These regulations do not apply to intermodal trips covered by Cuba's state passenger transportation system, which include the following routes: Havana-Batabanó-Nueva Gerona; Pinar del Río-Batabanó-Nueva Gerona; Santiago de Cuba-Batabanó-Nueva Gerona; Manzanillo-Pilón-Media Luna-Niquero; and Guantánamo-Baracoa, as well as freight.

For passengers with disabilities in wheelchairs and passengers boarding the bus with small children in their strollers, there will be no charge for the weight of these items. However, if the items are transported as luggage, without the physical disability or the infant in the physical presence, the excess weight will be taken into account and a charge will be applied.