Booking award seats USA to Cuba on AA using QFF points

[adenda]

Looking to book 2 reward seats on AA MIA-HAV-MIA next May using QFF points. AA site shows reasonable availability in T class but the Qantas website won't recognise HAV as an origin/destination when used in a second leg on a multi-city search. I realise this would require a phone call to book but I'm wondering if it's worth bothering if the multi-city search tool doesn't recognise HAV. Considering most flight search sites - except Skyscanner - won't return any results involving flights between US and HAV (due to "regulatory" reasons) I'm thinking that might be the issue. But AA certainly offers plenty of reward seats so why wouldn't Qantas? Has anyone had any experience obtaining reward seats on AA to Cuba?

 

[jrfsp]

Not sure of your nationality / visa but i would be very wary of flying from the USA / Cuba direct.

Even as a foreign national you have to be in one of the approved categories to fly to Cuba and you cannot re-enter the US on an ESTA.

To get a visa for the US may take over 6 months

 

[adenda]

Not sure of your nationality / visa but i would be very wary of flying from the USA / Cuba direct.

Even as a foreign national you have to be in one of the approved categories to fly to Cuba and you cannot re-enter the US on an ESTA.

To get a visa for the US may take over 6 months

Knew about the approved categories but was unaware that since Jan 21 USA considers Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism - hence the visa requirement for anyone who has visited there.

Now reconsidering our plans - thanks jrsfp.

 

[justinbrett]

Knew about the approved categories but was unaware that since Jan 21 USA considers Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism - hence the visa requirement for anyone who has visited there.

Now reconsidering our plans - thanks jrsfp.

Gave me a fright reading this as I just returned from the US and have previously travelled to Cuba (not on this trip).

However it's only if you've been to Cuba since 2021 that you can't get an ESTA. My trip was before that.

 

[ronlon]

wow this is going to catch people out ! Likewise I have been to both USA and Cuba, luckily Cuba was prior to 2021 hence my next USA trip in a few months should be ok

 

[CPMaverick]

Thanks for this thread as I was just trying to figure out the same issue.

I suppose QF is trying to protect its travelers by restricting Cuba (or maybe all countries that meet the state-sponsor of terrorism criteria?).

All very political. However I would like to use QF points to fly from the USA to Cuba, and I am a US citizen. So I don't have a concern about a US visa.

Does anyone know if QF would book to HAV by phone using points? I'm guessing no, but worth asking...