Leave your electronics and debit cards in mom’s basement. There are also no safe spaces.
Via WBTV:
There’s a new destination on the board as of Wednesday at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport: Havana, Cuba.
Starting this morning, American Airlines will run one nonstop flight each day from Charlotte to the Caribbean island, which has been off-limits to most U.S. travelers since the U.S.-Cuba embargo began 56 years ago. (There’s a return flight from Havana to Charlotte each day as well.) The timing comes during a momentous week for the Cuban nation: the country’s revolutionary leader Fidel Castro died Saturday.
Until now, Charlotte travelers who wanted to go to Cuba had to travel to Miami and board charter flights, or travel to Canada or Mexico to make connections to Cuba. (American Airlines, which after Wednesday will have 13 daily flights to Cuba, is one of 10 U.S. airlines approved to fly to Cuba. Industry experts say airlines aren’t expecting the flights to be anywhere near full at the beginning; they’re holding them for future expansion in the Cuba market and for marketing purposes.)
Wednesday morning, American Airlines officials have a Cuban party planned at the airport, with chocolate cigars, live Cuban music and catering from local Cuban restaurant Piece of Havana.
The group boarding the 128-seat Airbus 319 for an 88-minute flight was supposed to include several city and county officials on a two-night “cultural excursion,” headed to visits to a rum museum, tobacco factory, artist studio and more. But Cuba’s plan to mourn Castro for nine days after his death forced that to be canceled: Many of the scheduled stops would be closed, said Loreto DeRubeis with Marazul Charters, which was handling arrangements.[…]
Can I (legally) go?
Let’s be clear: While President Obama relaxed some restrictions on trade with and travel to Cuba, pure tourism isn’t a legal reason to travel to Cuba. But the U.S. Treasury Department has outlined 12 permitted categories including educational activities, humanitarian work, journalistic activity, family visits and support for the Cuban people.
You’re largely on the honor system about whether you meet the approved criteria, “but if you’re not supposed to go, don’t,” says John Kavulich, president of the New York-based U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council. “It’s important for people to know what category they’re falling into.”
Many travelers will elect the “educational trip” category, which means they must spend each day doing educational activities to learn about the Cuban culture. These could include arts performances, cooking classes, tours or museum trips.
How do I book a ticket?
Buy your ticket on the American Airlines website (prices were around $440 for January tickets). Before you pay, a box will pop up with a list of 12 categories of permitted travel. American’s ticket prices include $25 mandatory Cuban health insurance, issued by ESICUBA, good for 30 days in Cuba.
Why do I need Cuban health insurance?
U.S. health insurance isn’t accepted in Cuba, so the Cuban government requires all U.S. visitors to purchase Cuban health insurance.
Do I need a visa?
Yes, the Cuban government requires you to have a Cuban tourist visa to travel to Cuba. (Cuban-born U.S. citizens face tougher restrictions; they must contact the Cuban Embassy to either renew their Cuban passports or apply for a special visa for people born in Cuba.) If you book your ticket on American more than 30 days in advance, someone from Cuba Travel Services (a company under contract with American Airlines) will contact you to arrange for the $85 visa. If you book a last-minute ticket, you will pay $100 for the visa at the Cuba Travel Service kiosk in Charlotte-Douglas. At the airport, you will have to declare which of the 12 allowable categories you fall into, then an airline official will mark your ticket “Cuba ready,” said American Airlines spokeswoman Katie Cody.