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UA Service to Havana Starts Nov 29, 2016 - from EWR (daily), IAH (weekly)

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Old Jan 17, 2015, 12:47 am
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United Airlines Service to Havana Starts November 29
Book your flight to Havana from New York/Newark and Houston today


CHICAGO, Sept. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The countdown to Cuba is officially underway at United Airlines after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded the company final approval to launch service to Havana from two of its hubs this fall. Beginning Nov. 29, United will start daily nonstop flights to the Cuban capital from New York/Newark and Saturday nonstop service from Houston with both services subject to government approval. Customers can begin booking flights to Havana via united.com today.
Since the DOT announced its preliminary Havana route awards in July, United has been working closely with the Cuban government to prepare for the start of its operation into José Martí International Airport.

"I'm incredibly proud of all the dedicated aviation professionals here at United who are working hard to get our historic Cuba service ready for takeoff in November," said Oscar Munoz, United's CEO. "The final approval by the DOT reaffirms that our flights will ensure better choice, convenience and competition for all travelers on this important route, and I want to thank the DOT for their decision."

United's services to Havana will mark the company's 13th new international route launched in 2016. Since March, United has started nonstop service between the U.S. and Auckland, New Zealand; Tel Aviv, Israel; Xi'an, China; Singapore; Hangzhou, China; Athens, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; Providenciales, Turks and Caicos; Nassau, Bahamas, and Lisbon, Portugal.
U.S. Department of Transportation awards United flights to Havana from its global gateways in New York/Newark and Houston
Airline expects to offer its first flights to Havana by fall 2016

CHICAGO, July 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This fall, United Airlines customers will have a historic opportunity to board one of the first commercial flights to Havana, Cuba in more than a half century. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) tentatively awarded the airline nonstop flights to the Cuban capital from its global gateways in New York/Newark and Houston. By providing access from key, geographically diverse locations across the U.S., United's newly awarded routes will help ensure better choice, convenience and competition for travelers between the United States and Cuba.

"These flights open the door to a new world of travel and opportunities for our customers," said Oscar Munoz, United's president and CEO. "We are proud of the important and historic role our airline will play in connecting the U.S. and Cuba, as commercial air travel takes flight between these countries for the first time in more than 50 years."

United expects to begin its first flight to Cuba from New York/Newark and Houston later this year, which would make it one of the first U.S. airlines to provide commercial service to Havana – and the first airline to offer U.S.-Havana service from outside Florida.

Daily nonstop service from New York/Newark (EWR)
United's daily nonstop flight from Newark Liberty International Airport will provide unique value in serving the New York City/Newark region, the largest metropolitan area in the country and home to the second-largest population of Cuban Americans. For more than 20 years, United has offered the New York City/Newark region the most flights to the most destinations around the world.

"Today is an exciting day for people who want the opportunity and better options to visit Cuba," said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. "Newark will benefit greatly from United's new competition in the U.S.-Cuba market, which will spur economic activity and job creation in our area. United service enables the nearly 80,000 Cuban Americans living in New Jersey – along with many more Americans throughout the largest metropolitan area in the country – new travel choices and business development opportunities. I thank Secretary Foxx and the DOT for recognizing the value of this route, and want to also thank United Airlines for supporting Newark as a gateway to Cuba."

Saturday nonstop service from Houston (IAH)
Recognized by "Trusted Traveler Network" as one of the most international-friendly points of entry for foreign travelers, Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport is United's gateway to Latin America. United offers 91 daily nonstop flights to 52 destinations across Latin America and the Caribbean from its Houston hub. Bush Intercontinental will be an important gateway for service to Havana and will directly connect 20 markets across the central and western United States to Cuba with just one stop. The Cuban-American population in the Houston metropolitan area ranks among the top ten cities in the country.

"Secretary Anthony Foxx and the U.S. Department of Transportation made an outstanding decision by approving United Airline's application for Saturday service between Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Havana's Jose Marti international Airport," said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. "Secretary Foxx and United both recognized the very significant economic and consumer benefits these flights to Cuba will bring to Houston-area residents, travelers, businesses and entrepreneurs. While there are nearly 20,000 Cuban Americans in Houston alone, United's service will also connect communities across the central and western U.S. Again, I would like to thank Secretary Foxx and United Airlines for making our great city one of the first new gateways to Cuba."
United Airlines Applies to Serve Cuba from Four Global Gateways
Flights from Newark/New York, Houston, Washington and Chicago to Havana will offer greater choice, convenience and competition for customers
UnitedtoCuba.com details benefits of airline's proposed service to customers and communities

CHICAGO, March 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today submitted its formal application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to provide service from four of its largest U.S. gateway cities – Newark/New York, Houston, Washington, D.C. and Chicago – to Havana's José Martí International Airport. If approved, United will be one of the first U.S. airlines to offer customers daily, nonstop scheduled service to Cuba.
"This is a historic moment for our company, our employees and, most importantly, our customers," said Oscar Munoz, United's president and chief executive officer. "We want to be the first choice for passengers traveling between the U.S. and Cuba. We're able to offer customers the best access, convenience and connections to and from Havana through our industry-leading global route network, and we're excited to compete for this important service."
United's proposal to DOT outlines its planned service to Havana from hubs serving four of the country's largest Cuban-American populations. The service would include a total of 11 roundtrip flights per week with daily service from Newark Liberty and one additional Saturday flight (eight weekly flights), along with a Saturday-only flight from Houston George Bush Intercontinental, Washington Dulles and Chicago O'Hare (three weekly flights). If United's application is approved, service to Havana on these routes will be operated with United Wi-Fi-equipped Boeing 737-800 two-cabin aircraft featuring 16 United First, 90 United Economy and 48 extra legroom United Economy Plus seats.
United Airlines plans flights to Cuba from U.S.

Jan 15 {2016} (Reuters) - United Airlines said on Thursday it planned to serve Cuba with flights from Houston and Newark, New Jersey, subject to government approvals.

"We plan to serve Cuba, subject to government approvals, and look forward to doing so from our global gateways of Newark and Houston," spokesman Rahsaan Johnson said in a statement.
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UA Service to Havana Starts Nov 29, 2016 - from EWR (daily), IAH (weekly)

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Old Dec 18, 2014, 6:51 pm
  #46  
 
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Hasn't UA been doing a run-around using partner Copa out of PTY? I know they used to do end-to-end tickets from the USA to PTY, then Copa to HAV. Does UA still own the 10% stake in Copa that CO had? Still, I suspect Congress may have something to say about this liberalization.
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Old Dec 18, 2014, 6:54 pm
  #47  
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Originally Posted by relangford
.... Does UA still own the 10% stake in Copa that CO had? .....
no
pmCO sold those shares in 2008.
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Old Dec 18, 2014, 7:06 pm
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Originally Posted by PLeblond
FYI. Americans are allowed to travel to Cuba.
Generally, no, they are not. There's an embargo which specifically prohibits most Americans in most cases from doing any business with Cuba, including going there and spending money.

They just can't fly on the same ticket that contains a US destination. Buy a ticket from Canada, Bahamas, Cayman or Mexico and its all good.
That may be a mechanism to get to Cuba without getting caught.

They won't even stamp your passport.
And if Americans were allowed to go to Cuba, why would it matter if you got a Cuban stamp in your passport?
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Old Dec 18, 2014, 8:00 pm
  #49  
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Originally Posted by raehl311
Generally, no, they are not. There's an embargo which specifically prohibits most Americans in most cases from doing any business with Cuba, including going there and spending money.



That may be a mechanism to get to Cuba without getting caught.



And if Americans were allowed to go to Cuba, why would it matter if you got a Cuban stamp in your passport?

Its a one way rule. The US prohibits Americans from travelling to Cuba, but Cuba does not have a reciprocal rule prohibiting Americans from visiting Cuba. One you are outside the US, your government has no authority over you.

So, Cuban immigration will gladly allow Americans into Cuba without an issue (or at least they did so as recently as 2 years ago). However, should an American return to the US with a stamp in their passport from Cuba, without permission from the US government, they can get into trouble. That is why Cuban immigration officiers were kind enough to let Americans into Cuba without stamping their passports.
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Old Dec 18, 2014, 8:17 pm
  #50  
 
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Originally Posted by PLeblond
Its a one way rule. The US prohibits Americans from travelling to Cuba, but Cuba does not have a reciprocal rule prohibiting Americans from visiting Cuba. One you are outside the US, your government has no authority over you.
(bolding mine)

as a lawyer, i would emphatically suggest that this is not taken as any type of broad legal advice. even in the limited scope of traveling to cuba, there may be legal implications once you return stateside.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrate...l_jurisdiction
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Old Dec 18, 2014, 9:13 pm
  #51  
 
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If I remember correctly, I believe as an American, its not illegal to travel there but illegal to spend your USD there (unless you traveled with a licensed special interest group from the USA). If CBP sees a Cuban stamp in your passport, you could or would be subject to questioning with possible further implications.

If you go thru PTY to HAV on CM, just pick up a tourist card for $20 and this will be your passport stamp paper when you enter and exit Cuba immigration. Makes a great adventurous vacation before the embargo is totally lifted.

I hope UA will eventually offer commercial service to HAV from IAH once the embargo is removed.
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Old Dec 18, 2014, 9:54 pm
  #52  
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Originally Posted by mahasamatman
Only with a permit, and with lots of restrictions.

If all you want is the cigars, just come up to Canada and buy them here!
Well, technically, Americans are not allowed to consume Cuban products even when abroad. There was a big to do a few years ago when Arnold Schwarzenegger was photographed supposedly smoking a cuban cigar when he went to Canada. The government was going to fine him but the picture was not clear enough to prove it was a Cuban cigar. For reference here is a link to the Treasury Department page with the embargo information.

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-cen...ments/cuba.txt
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Old Dec 18, 2014, 10:19 pm
  #53  
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Originally Posted by mtndave47
If I remember correctly, I believe as an American, its not illegal to travel there but illegal to spend your USD there (unless you traveled with a licensed special interest group from the USA).
Actually ....

A whole thread about this a year or two ago, and that seemed to be the consensus.

Well, other than just US$ Spending money, period :-:
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Old Dec 19, 2014, 4:46 am
  #54  
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Originally Posted by riphamilton
(bolding mine)

as a lawyer, i would emphatically suggest that this is not taken as any type of broad legal advice. even in the limited scope of traveling to cuba, there may be legal implications once you return stateside.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrate...l_jurisdiction
I was not attempting to offer legal advice. Apologies if it was construed this way.

And indeed, should you have an issue while in Cuba, you would not have any consular support for you.

My main point was that Cuba accepted Americans willingly.
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Old Dec 19, 2014, 8:22 am
  #55  
 
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Can you lose your Global Entry privileges by going to Cuba?
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Old Dec 19, 2014, 8:29 am
  #56  
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Originally Posted by Indelaware
No, Americans cannot travel to Cuba for tourist purposes. One needs (and will need) a license to travel to Cuba for specific non-tourist purposes. That travel can be accomplished either by flying through a third country (e.g. Mexico, Jamaica, Canada, Grand Cayman, Bahamas) or by taking any of the numerous flights operated as Special Authorization Charters available from the United States each day aboard AA, B6, DL, & UA aircraft. There are 5-10 737s per day, every day.

UA will not be able to offer scheduled passenger service until, and unless, Congress repeals the embargo.
This is exactly what I was thinking. NOTHING has changed with the embargo and Americans are still not ALLOWED to visit Cuba.

There is no need for this thread. There will be no UA flights or flights from any other domestic (regularly scheduled) from the US to Cuba.

Next...
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Old Dec 19, 2014, 10:53 am
  #57  
 
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It would be fitting if UA had the first scheduled flight to HAV. They were the first US carrier to return to SGN. http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/12/09/bt.united.vietnam/
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Old Dec 19, 2014, 12:10 pm
  #58  
 
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ive done some reading on this. basically, if the government can prove you were in cuba for more than one day, you are in big trouble. with the embargo, the assumption is if you are there for more than one day you are spending money there.

yes, you can fly from canada down there. but once you return stateside, that is where things can get messy.

i have also read that the "no stamping" does not apply anymore. however, i have not been. maybe someone that has been can chime in.
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Old Jan 15, 2015, 7:14 pm
  #59  
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United plans to apply for Cuba flights

Wow, several hours after the press release, and still no thread?

The press release is really short:
Jan 15 (Reuters) - United Airlines said on Thursday it planned to serve Cuba with flights from Houston and Newark, New Jersey, subject to government approvals.

"We plan to serve Cuba, subject to government approvals, and look forward to doing so from our global gateways of Newark and Houston," spokesman Rahsaan Johnson said in a statement.
Apparently, United still has the PanAm route authority, so that could be a big advantage.
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Old Jan 15, 2015, 7:34 pm
  #60  
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I'm surprised IAD was not selected as it would make sense from a political standpoint to fly to/from the nation's capital (if I can get away with using the words sense, political and nation's capital in the same sentence )
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