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I believe AA use a different reward scheme which is not Avios, correct? How do I get those miles? I guess from AMEX MR or…? Help, it’s the first time that I need to book a reward flight with AA and it doesn’t show on BA as it’s MIA-HAV.
Thanks
Very difficult to get AA miles in the UK. Marriott transfers, e-rewards and that’s about it. You could do MR to AA to Marriot but it’s not great value.
You can book the flight on BA with Avios but you have to find the lowest cost non-stop flight (used to be called AASaver) and that’s the only ones you can book via BA.
I’ve just done a trial on ba.com search for rewards. MIA to HAV (ignore the fact that havana doesnt auto complete in the destination and you see 7 eco and 3 bus for the date I searched which was 5th June.
Are you aware that by all accounts you’ll never be allowed to return to the US with an ESTA after visiting Cuba? You’ll need a full US visa from then on. I was planning to do exactly that route but decided against it for that reason.
I believe AA use a different reward scheme which is not Avios, correct? How do I get those miles? I guess from AMEX MR or…? Help, it’s the first time that I need to book a reward flight with AA and it doesn’t show on BA as it’s MIA-HAV.
Thanks
American FF miles are called AAdvantage.
Unfortunately ways to earn them in the uK are now slim.
AFAIK the only way is to get the Marriott Bonvoy card and then covert those points to AA miles.
https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/02/15/review-marriott-bonvoy-american-express-credit-card-2/
Conversion rate is 3:1 and sadly now you do not get an extra 5000 points if you convert 60000 Marriott points.
BookAAHotels should see you right in no time so long as you choose a hotel offering a bonus.
Are you aware that by all accounts you’ll never be allowed to return to the US with an ESTA after visiting Cuba? You’ll need a full US visa from then on. I was planning to do exactly that route but decided against it for that reason.
What??? Really? What if I go to Cuba on a different passport? Would they be able to check that?
Simply put don’t try and mess around without the US CBP.
If you visit Cuba and then want to visit the US on a later date you are required to apply for a US visa.
Are you aware that by all accounts you’ll never be allowed to return to the US with an ESTA after visiting Cuba? You’ll need a full US visa from then on. I was planning to do exactly that route but decided against it for that reason.
What??? Really? What if I go to Cuba on a different passport? Would they be able to check that?
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/advice/can-i-go-to-the-us-if-ive-been-to-cuba
Not sure if what I just wrote has gone into a review queue or has just disappeared, but (without any links this time) if you go to the UK Gov page on the post above, click on the US State Department link in the bit about Cuba, use the Visa Wizard (I put in UK and tourism) then learn more about the VWP, it takes you to a page about the VWP. As far as I can see, there is nothing on there indicating that having visited Cuba makes you ineligible for an ESTA.
Not sure if what I just wrote has gone into a review queue or has just disappeared, but (without any links this time) if you go to the UK Gov page on the post above, click on the US State Department link in the bit about Cuba, use the Visa Wizard (I put in UK and tourism) then learn more about the VWP, it takes you to a page about the VWP. As far as I can see, there is nothing on there indicating that having visited Cuba makes you ineligible for an ESTA.
Huh pretty clear even by US Gov standards
How does Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism impact my travel to the United States using my approved ESTA?
If a traveler is found to have visited a country designated as State Sponsor of Terrorism, the traveler is no longer eligible to participate in the Visa Wavier Program and must apply for a visa to enter the United States.I just found that link and came back to post about it. Which page is up to date I wonder?
I’ve no plans to visit the USA but I was contemplating transiting through the country. Might have to rethink that. Or overlook that little detail….. or use my other passport!
That page directs you via the Visa Wizard to this US Gov page which, as far as I can see, doesn’t make any reference to Cuba being on the VWP ineligibility list.
I just found that link and came back to post about it. Which page is up to date I wonder?
I’ve no plans to visit the USA but I was contemplating transiting through the country. Might have to rethink that. Or overlook that little detail….. or use my other passport!
It isn’t that the VWP page isn’t up to date, it’s simply not relevant there. However, that page links to the ESTA section where Cuba is at the very top. Having a second passport doesn’t actually bypass the problem as it will require you to lie on the form. The issue is whether you have visited, not whether there’s a stamp in your passport. If you really to chance that with US CBP…
I just found that link and came back to post about it. Which page is up to date I wonder?
I’ve no plans to visit the USA but I was contemplating transiting through the country. Might have to rethink that. Or overlook that little detail….. or use my other passport!
You still need an ESTA to transit the USA. Not that they have the same concept as sterile transit as other countries do as you actually enter the USA even if it’s for an hour between flights So you need to fully comply.
As I’ve already written in response to the OP – don’t try and mess with the US border authorities or try and be clever by using an other passport or trying to play dumb as it won’t end well for you.
That page directs you via the Visa Wizard to this US Gov page which, as far as I can see, doesn’t make any reference to Cuba being on the VWP ineligibility list.
It’s no good just reading selected elements for such a serious matter! The link above has another link to the ESTA page where the Cuba issue is at the very top. As above, do you seriously want to dice it out with US CBP?
It isn’t that the VWP page isn’t up to date, it’s simply not relevant there. However, that page links to the ESTA section where Cuba is at the very top. Having a second passport doesn’t actually bypass the problem as it will require you to lie on the form. The issue is whether you have visited, not whether there’s a stamp in your passport. If you really to chance that with US CBP…
The VWP page in question says:
“Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015
Under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, travelers in the following categories must obtain a visa prior to traveling to the United States as they are no longer eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):
Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country).
Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria.”which makes me wonder why that is relevant when apparently not being eligible because you have visited Cuba is not. And I wasn’t reading “selected” elements, I was reading the page to which the UK Government directs you for information. So we’ll have to agree to differ on both those things. In my opinion, the US Dept of State needs to improve their messaging if they don’t want people to inadvertently fall foul of their rules.
And the comments about swerving around the rules weren’t meant seriously. I’ve managed to avoid the USA for the last 30 odd years (since the Hoover free flights fiasco as it happens) as I detest their attitude to guns and if they want to bar me from the ESTA programme simply because I visited Cuba once 20 odd years ago, I’ll probably avoid the place for the next 30 years.
It isn’t that the VWP page isn’t up to date, it’s simply not relevant there. However, that page links to the ESTA section where Cuba is at the very top. Having a second passport doesn’t actually bypass the problem as it will require you to lie on the form. The issue is whether you have visited, not whether there’s a stamp in your passport. If you really to chance that with US CBP…
The VWP page in question says:
“Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015
Under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, travelers in the following categories must obtain a visa prior to traveling to the United States as they are no longer eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):
Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country).
Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria.”which makes me wonder why that is relevant when apparently not being eligible because you have visited Cuba is not. And I wasn’t reading “selected” elements, I was reading the page to which the UK Government directs you for information. So we’ll have to agree to differ on both those things. In my opinion, the US Dept of State needs to improve their messaging if they don’t want people to inadvertently fall foul of their rules.
And the comments about swerving around the rules weren’t meant seriously. I’ve managed to avoid the USA for the last 30 odd years (since the Hoover free flights fiasco as it happens) as I detest their attitude to guns and if they want to bar me from the ESTA programme simply because I visited Cuba once 20 odd years ago, I’ll probably avoid the place for the next 30 years.
Not sure why you’re still arguing this point since you don’t care but it’s extremely clear on the FAQ page
How does Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism impact my travel to the United States using my approved ESTA?
If a traveler is found to have visited a country designated as State Sponsor of Terrorism, the traveler is no longer eligible to participate in the Visa Wavier Program and must apply for a visa to enter the United States.
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