Travel to Cuba is changing quickly. This fall, the following airlines will be offering direct flights into Havana and other destinations throughout the island nation:
Alaska Airlines – from Seattle (approved but no start date yet)
American Airlines – from Miami and Charlotte, service beginning this fall
Delta Airlines – from Atlanta, Miami, and JFK, service beginning December 1
Frontier Airlines – from Denver via Miami, service beginning December 1
JetBlue – from Fort Lauderdale and JFK, service beginning this fall
Spirit Airlines – from Fort Lauderdale, service beginning December 1
Southwest – from Fort Lauderdale and Tampa (approved but no start date yet)
United – from Newark and Houston, service beginning November 29
Please note that the existence of commercial air service to Cuba has no bearing, whatsoever, on the US embargo with Cuba, or with any of the travel restrictions mandated by the embargo. This action simply helps to alleviate a shortage of flights to this destination, making it easier to secure the flight component of an itinerary to Cuba.
Here are some helpful tips for US citizens traveling to Cuba:
- US Citizens must qualify for travel to Cuba under one of the 12 designated categories of travel as authorized by the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
- US Citizens must present a valid US Passport for entry into Cuba. (Cuban-American dual citizens may have different passport and visa restrictions.)
- US Citizens must obtain a visa from the Cuban government prior to arrival. (When traveling with a land provider, the visa is obtained through the land provider. The visa application process typically takes 3-4 weeks to complete.)
- The US Embassy in Havana recommends all US Citizens traveling to Cuba register with the American Citizens Services Unit. This can be done in person, or by calling 011 53 7 839 4100.
- Travelers should fill out the Certification Template for General License Travel, unless an alternate document is provided by the tour operator.
US citizens can legally travel to Cuba unaccompanied (meaning, on their own – not through a tour operator), but it is then the travelers’ responsibility to ensure that all paperwork is executed properly, and that all sightseeing and activities comply with the “people-to-people” designation from the OFAC. There are legal ramifications for the traveler if the itinerary does not comply, and all paperwork must be kept for a minimum of five (5) years.
Now with the several times daily airlift from the US directly into Cuba, we are sure to see drastic changes occurring before our eyes. So visit soon before Cuba becomes too Americanized. All that said, because it is still not “easy” to travel within Cuba unaccompanied, Journeys Unparalleled does strongly suggest that you travel with a tour operator. Contact us for help with planning and recommendations: info@journeysunparalleled.com.