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American Airlines Now Selling One-Way Flights to Cuba

Aug. 27, 2016
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3 min read
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American Airlines Now Selling One-Way Flights to Cuba
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Update: American Airlines has updated its policy to now allow award flights to originate in Cuba. This means that you can now book a one-way paid fare down to Cuba and a one-way award flight back.

Last night, American Airlines dropped the regulations requiring round-trip flights for travel to Cuba. Previously, both award and paid fares "must be booked round-trip with a 90-day maximum stay." This verbiage was dropped from the website yesterday afternoon, and we were able to confirm with American Airlines that this is indeed a change in policy.

However, American Airlines will still not let you book a one-way flight from Cuba to the US — unless it's combined with a one-way American Airlines flight from the US to Cuba.

Still this is an excellent change, as it frees up many alternative options. Want to fly American Airlines down to Cuba and another airline — like JetBlue — back? Now you can. Or, is there a cheap cash fare on the outbound and award availability on the return? As long as you book the two segments together, you can piece together a round-trip like this. Want to fly into one Cuban airport and back from another one? You're now free to open-jaw your Cuban adventure!

If you want to see more than just Cuba on your vacation, you now have the option of flying one-way to Cuba before continuing on to another destination. This can be great for visiting Cuba and then taking a cheap hop down to Cancun (CUN), Kingston Jamaica (KIN) or over to Mexico City (MEX) — before taking a one-way award or paid fare back from there.

Although there are no award seats, the cash fare on the inaugural flight from MIA-CFG is currently just $111 one-way!

The first commercial American Airlines flight to Cuba is in less than two weeks. Although the flight is less than half full, there are still no award seats available. However, the one-way cash fare on the inaugural flight from Miami (MIA) to Cienfuego (CFG) is just $111, including taxes and fees. For the flight back, there are seven award seats open from CFG-MIA each day starting on September 15.

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Before yesterday's change, you'd be trapped into booking an expensive award on the inaugural flight — which one reader reported was being priced at 27,500 AAdvantage miles one-way — in order to use AAdvantage miles on the return.

When you call to book the award flight, you'll have to ask the AAgent to combine the award flight booking with your AA outbound flight to Cuba. Otherwise, the AAgent won't be able to sell you the one-way award ticket back from Cuba.

Don't forget that you can book AA flights to Cuba with British Airways Avios. Image courtesy of American Airlines.

Remember: If you live in South Florida and will be flying out of Miami (MIA) to Cuba, your best mileage option is to use British Airways Avios. AA's nonstop flights are still pricing at 4,500 Avios each way. This is almost 1/3 of the 12,500 miles you'd have to redeem when using the AAdvantage program. For both American Airlines and British Airways award tickets, you'll have to call reservations to book your award flights.

Are you planning to fly AA to Cuba?

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.