Originally Posted by
dhuey
Spoke with two AC call center reps today. First one was US-based. She said she couldn't tell for sure, but she thought I would be denied boarding without proof of the U.S. license.
Second rep. was Canada-based; she was thoroughly confused. She called the help desk to ask. The response is that U.S. citizens boarding a flight to Havana must produce documentation of a U.S. license for travel to Cuba. I asked if this policy is set forth anywhere on the AC website -- she had no idea.
This doesn't seem correct. I've seen lots of reports online of unlicensed U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba from Canada. It doesn't make sense to me that AC would require proof of such a license -- travel to Cuba does not require U.S. permission. The travel embargo is prohibits the unlicensed spending of money in Cuba. AC would be requiring an American to have documentation that is not required for travel by U.S. law (and of course it's not required by Cuba, the destination).
The only problem is if you enter PAX data that includes a passport.
On the flight, there is this.
SECURE FLT PASSENGER DATA REQUIRED 72HBD SSR DOCS *
OFFER CAR/HOTEL/INSURANCE >CAL~ >HOA~ >INS~
ADD ADVANCE PASSENGER INFORMATION SSRS DOCA/DOCO/DOCS
PERSONAL DATA WHICH IS PROVIDED TO US IN CONNECTION
WITH YOUR TRAVEL MAY BE PASSED TO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES
FOR BORDER CONTROL AND AVIATION SECURITY PURPOSES
The airline will only operate based on TIMATIC, which states
NATIONAL USA (US) /DESTINATION CUBA (CU)
VISA DESTINATION CUBA (CU)
...... NORMAL PASSPORTS ONLY ......
PASSPORT REQUIRED.
- PASSPORT AND/OR PASSPORT REPLACING DOCUMENTS MUST BE VALID
ON ARRIVAL.
VISA REQUIRED.
VISA ISSUANCE:
- VISA REQUIRED PASSENGERS TRAVELING AS TOURISTS MUST OBTAIN A
TOURIST (VISA) CARD (TARJETA DE TURISTA) PRIOR TO ARRIVAL
AT: >TIDFT/CU/VI/IS/ID51568
- EXEMPT ARE HOLDERS OF A VALID VISA ISSUED BY CUBA.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- THE LENGTH OF STAY MUST BE COVERED BY USD
50.->TIDFT/CU/VI/AI/ID3236
WARNING:
- VISITORS NOT HOLDING RETURN/ONWARD TICKETS AND OTHER
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THEIR DESTINATION COULD BE REFUSED
ENTRY.
- FORMER NATIONALS OF CUBAN WHO LEFT CUBA BEFORE 1971 MUST >TIDFT/CU/VI/WA/ID51634
- ALL VISITORS ARE REQUIRED TO HOLD A TRAVEL INSURANCE TO
COVER MEDICAL EXPENSES WHILE IN CUBA, WHICH MUST BE
PURCHASED AT POINT OF ORIGIN.
- NEITHER VISA EXEMPTIONS NOR TOURIST (VISA) CARD (TARJETA DE
TURISTA) FACILITIES ARE APPLICABLE TO THOSE HOLDING FOREIGN
PASSPORTS STATING CUBA AS PLACE OF BIRTH. THEY WILL
>TIDFT/CU/VI/WA/ID17767
So, based on TIMATIC, they cannot deny you boarding.