Two US Airlines Are Pulling Service to Cuba
When the US and Cuba struck an agreement to allow nonstop flights between the two countries a year ago, the floodgates opened as multiple US airlines requested dozens of routes to the island nation. It was clear, even at the time, that the supply of flights could very well outstrip the demand, something that's now proven to be the case, as both American Airlines and JetBlue have cut back service over the last few months.
Now, two carriers have taken things even further, announcing the suspension of all service from the US to Cuba. Silver Airways, which had planned nine routes in total to various Cuban cities, will instead discontinue all flights as of April 22. Additionally, Frontier will end its service from Miami to Havana on June 4. Both carriers cited overcapacity as reasons for their decision, with Frontier also alluding to a lack of demand.
While other airlines continue operating to Cuba, flying to the Caribbean nation remains challenging. US citizens are technically required to meet one of the 12 criteria in order to be eligible for travel, which makes booking flights more difficult â some routes were originally unavailable on third-party booking platforms, which also didn't help.
In the last few years, The Points Guy made two trips to Cuba â one to Havana and a second primarily to Trinidad â and loved visiting the country. However, some Americans have been unprepared for the complexity of using internet service in the Communist nation and other factors like the high cost of converting US dollars to Cuban currency. It also remains unclear as to whether the new White House will continue the former administration's policy on travel to Cuba. The President has ordered a review of all executive orders on the subject of Cuba and may choose to reverse some of his predecessor's decisions.
H/T: Miami Herald
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership RewardsÂŽ 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. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership RewardsÂŽ 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership RewardsÂŽ points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership RewardsÂŽ points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership RewardsÂŽ points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership RewardsÂŽ point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 RewardsÂŽ Points after you spend $8,000 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 youâre approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount â all with no credit score impact. If youâre approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership RewardsÂŽ 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 RewardsÂŽ 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership RewardsÂŽ points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership RewardsÂŽ points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership RewardsÂŽ points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership RewardsÂŽ point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay ItÂŽ lets you tap in the American ExpressÂŽ App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan ItÂŽ gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. Youâll know upfront exactly how much youâll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American ExpressÂŽ Gold Card. Thatâs up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American ExpressÂŽ Gold Card at U.S. Dunkinâ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American ExpressÂŽ Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five StarÂŽ Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind â backed by American ExpressÂŽ service and support. Only for American ExpressÂŽ Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.