Is this itinerary 'legal' for US Citizens--Stopping in Havana
Jul 24, 2007, 12:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South Florida, USA
Programs: AA PPRO (OW Emerarld), BA Silver, DL PM
Posts: 491
Is this itinerary 'legal' for US Citizens--Stopping in Havana
While searching for cheap Business fares MIA-MVD in Nov/Dec, I was surprised that aa.com gave me the following option:
12/1
AMERICAN AIRLINES OPERATED BY MEXICANA DE AVIACION
8256 MIA-CUN 320
LAN CHILE
587 CUN-HAV 763
587 HAV-SCL 763
900 SCL-MVD 763
12/5
LAN CHILE
901 MVD-SCL 320
500 SCL-MIA 763
While I'd hate to miss out on the EQMs in/out of Cuba, it would be nice to try LAN's J on such an unusual route. However, since Americans are not permitted to travel to Cuba as "tourists," would this be allowed by the State Dept. since it's a through flight and I doubt anyone not destined for HAV would get off the plane and we wouldn't be "entering" Cuba.
Anyone tried this?
12/1
AMERICAN AIRLINES OPERATED BY MEXICANA DE AVIACION
8256 MIA-CUN 320
LAN CHILE
587 CUN-HAV 763
587 HAV-SCL 763
900 SCL-MVD 763
12/5
LAN CHILE
901 MVD-SCL 320
500 SCL-MIA 763
While I'd hate to miss out on the EQMs in/out of Cuba, it would be nice to try LAN's J on such an unusual route. However, since Americans are not permitted to travel to Cuba as "tourists," would this be allowed by the State Dept. since it's a through flight and I doubt anyone not destined for HAV would get off the plane and we wouldn't be "entering" Cuba.
Anyone tried this?
Jul 24, 2007, 1:11 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: DFW
Programs: DL PM, .6MM; AA Plat; Marriott Platinum Premier
Posts: 4,891
Have not tried it, but it would seem to be legal (though just barely) since the prohibition on US Citizens is not a prohibition on traveling to / through Cuba but rather on spending money there. Ymmv.
Jul 24, 2007, 1:59 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,607
I have no idea if you deplane and clear immigration in HAV (like on a CX ANC technical stop) so you may want to know that and avoid the little Cuban stamp in your passport as well.
Jul 24, 2007, 2:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida, USA
Posts: 886
It's the US Dept. of the Treasury that may have some questions for you upon return. They are the ones that are enforcing an economic embargo against Cuba, and they will be the ones to ask questions and if any punishment comes down, it's from US Dept of the Treasury.
As an American you are allowed to travel to Cuba, just not spend any money there unless given an exemption by the US dept of the Treasury.
Jul 24, 2007, 3:54 pm
#5
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
More information than you will want to know...
American Association for the Advancement of Science travel to Cuba pages
U S Department of State Cuba travel pages
U S Treasury Department - Office of Foreign Assets Control Cuba regulatory information
And finally, IANAL, but while your stopover without staying or purchasing anything in Cuba could be legal, the one thing I see that is truly horrifying and Draconian for FlyerTalkers, from aa.com:
Note: All flights to/from Cuba, Royal Jordanian flights to/from Iraq, and British Airways transatlantic flights between the U.S. and the U.K. are not eligible for mileage accrual or redemption. (My emphases.)
CUN-HAV-SCL may be ineligible for AAdvantage miles-earning purposes.
U S Department of State Cuba travel pages
U S Treasury Department - Office of Foreign Assets Control Cuba regulatory information
And finally, IANAL, but while your stopover without staying or purchasing anything in Cuba could be legal, the one thing I see that is truly horrifying and Draconian for FlyerTalkers, from aa.com:
Note: All flights to/from Cuba, Royal Jordanian flights to/from Iraq, and British Airways transatlantic flights between the U.S. and the U.K. are not eligible for mileage accrual or redemption. (My emphases.)
CUN-HAV-SCL may be ineligible for AAdvantage miles-earning purposes.
Jul 24, 2007, 4:04 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: DFW
Programs: DL PM, .6MM; AA Plat; Marriott Platinum Premier
Posts: 4,891
American Association for the Advancement of Science travel to Cuba pages
U S Department of State Cuba travel pages
U S Treasury Department - Office of Foreign Assets Control Cuba regulatory information
And finally, IANAL, but while your stopover without staying or purchasing anything in Cuba could be legal, the one thing I see that is truly horrifying and Draconian for FlyerTalkers, from aa.com:
Note: All flights to/from Cuba, Royal Jordanian flights to/from Iraq, and British Airways transatlantic flights between the U.S. and the U.K. are not eligible for mileage accrual or redemption. (My emphases.)
CUN-HAV-SCL may be ineligible for AAdvantage miles-earning purposes.
U S Department of State Cuba travel pages
U S Treasury Department - Office of Foreign Assets Control Cuba regulatory information
And finally, IANAL, but while your stopover without staying or purchasing anything in Cuba could be legal, the one thing I see that is truly horrifying and Draconian for FlyerTalkers, from aa.com:
Note: All flights to/from Cuba, Royal Jordanian flights to/from Iraq, and British Airways transatlantic flights between the U.S. and the U.K. are not eligible for mileage accrual or redemption. (My emphases.)
CUN-HAV-SCL may be ineligible for AAdvantage miles-earning purposes.
While searching for cheap Business fares MIA-MVD in Nov/Dec...
Jul 24, 2007, 4:12 pm
#7
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Jul 24, 2007, 4:55 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Jul 24, 2007, 5:08 pm
#9
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I believe it's a holdover from the "Trading with the Enemy Act." Not exactly confidence-inspiring, is it? 
Jul 25, 2007, 11:35 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Texas
Programs: AA 1MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 444
If the ticket includes any sort of airport tax, I can't imagine it would be legal.
Jul 25, 2007, 12:24 pm
#11
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Jul 25, 2007, 2:17 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Bend, IN
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,561
And finally, IANAL, but while your stopover without staying or purchasing anything in Cuba could be legal, the one thing I see that is truly horrifying and Draconian for FlyerTalkers, from aa.com:
Note: All flights to/from Cuba, Royal Jordanian flights to/from Iraq, and British Airways transatlantic flights between the U.S. and the U.K. are not eligible for mileage accrual or redemption. (My emphases.)
CUN-HAV-SCL may be ineligible for AAdvantage miles-earning purposes.
Note: All flights to/from Cuba, Royal Jordanian flights to/from Iraq, and British Airways transatlantic flights between the U.S. and the U.K. are not eligible for mileage accrual or redemption. (My emphases.)
CUN-HAV-SCL may be ineligible for AAdvantage miles-earning purposes.
That said, what happens if the plane goes mechanical in HAV and you are forced to deplane and overnight. Can you avoid spending any money?
Jul 25, 2007, 3:04 pm
#14
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I guess technically, if the airline puts you up with vouchers for food and bed, you have not spent any money in Cuba. Otherwise, it may be a long hard stay on a bench at / near Aeropuerto Internacional José Martí, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba.
My concern if I were flying these flights is that AA might somehow have the flight information in its computers, pegging them as ineligible for mileage accrual, and that a plea for mileage mercy would fall on deaf ears. I'd probably choose another routing and not Fidel with these things... (RD&H!)
My concern if I were flying these flights is that AA might somehow have the flight information in its computers, pegging them as ineligible for mileage accrual, and that a plea for mileage mercy would fall on deaf ears. I'd probably choose another routing and not Fidel with these things... (RD&H!)
According to the OP, the HAV stop is a stopover on a through flight (i.e. the same flight number applies for CUN-HAV-SCL). As such, AAdvantage may see it as a CUN-SCL flight and not as travel to/from Cuba. Only way to know for sure is to ask.
That said, what happens if the plane goes mechanical in HAV and you are forced to deplane and overnight. Can you avoid spending any money?
That said, what happens if the plane goes mechanical in HAV and you are forced to deplane and overnight. Can you avoid spending any money?