- Thread starter Tor
- Start date
Problems with Cuba roundtrip ?
DR->Cuba Faq
-Helpmann
LOGISTICS:
1. Cubana airlines flys between Havana and Santo Domingo (SDQ) on Thursdays and Sundays. [SDQ->Havana: Thr/Sun: 1:35pm - 3:30pm; Havana->SDQ Thr/Sun: 9:55am - 12:05pm]
2. COST: US$409 + US$20 (tourist card) + US$20 (departure tax) = US$449.00 cash
3. The round-trip ticket was bought at the Cubana airlines check-in desk at Las Americas 2 hours before the flight (the Cubana SDQ desk is only open the day of departure, 2-3 hours before the flight lifts off.)
4. The ticket was purchased by a man working out of his suitcase, standing next to the check-in desk (I was directed by a Cubana employee at the check-in desk to purchase my ticket from him.)
5. I checked-in approx. 90lbs of luggage (2 suitcases) and brought one carry-on. On the return flight, I could only check-in 30 Kilos of luggage. I was 13 Kilos overweight and was charged approx. US$4.50/lb (cost of US$60.)
6. Flight time: 2 hours on a Russian Jet (a meal was served, it was not very good.)
7. While passing through customs, I was questioned about my reasons for being in Cuba (leisure)
8. My passport was not stamped (it's a given that Cuban officials will not stamp US passports.)
I'm not sure what your situation is, but I believe that all you would need is a passport and some cash.Tor said:
-Helpmann
LOGISTICS:
1. Cubana airlines flys between Havana and Santo Domingo (SDQ) on Thursdays and Sundays. [SDQ->Havana: Thr/Sun: 1:35pm - 3:30pm; Havana->SDQ Thr/Sun: 9:55am - 12:05pm]
2. COST: US$409 + US$20 (tourist card) + US$20 (departure tax) = US$449.00 cash
3. The round-trip ticket was bought at the Cubana airlines check-in desk at Las Americas 2 hours before the flight (the Cubana SDQ desk is only open the day of departure, 2-3 hours before the flight lifts off.)
4. The ticket was purchased by a man working out of his suitcase, standing next to the check-in desk (I was directed by a Cubana employee at the check-in desk to purchase my ticket from him.)
5. I checked-in approx. 90lbs of luggage (2 suitcases) and brought one carry-on. On the return flight, I could only check-in 30 Kilos of luggage. I was 13 Kilos overweight and was charged approx. US$4.50/lb (cost of US$60.)
6. Flight time: 2 hours on a Russian Jet (a meal was served, it was not very good
.)7. While passing through customs, I was questioned about my reasons for being in Cuba (leisure)
8. My passport was not stamped (it's a given that Cuban officials will not stamp US passports.)
No problem at all.Tor said:
One thing has nothing to do with the other.
If you have a valid passport, you're in business.
Actually will help you leave the country and start the clock all over again. If you overstayed you may have to pay the fine but it will be less the next time because of the new stamp.Tor said:
Escott
Nobody asks to see a return ticket once you get here, that I know of, and even if they did, one could say, of course I have one, it's at my house. I was just taking a vacation within my vacation.HOWMAR said:
Before I got my residency, I was forced several times by American Airlines to purchase a ticket out of the DR before they let me on the plane - because I had no valid return ticket out of the DR.
Ironically, Dominican officials at Immigration couldnt care less about this and I doubt Cuban officials or Cuban airline personnel would - but its a possibility.
Ironically, Dominican officials at Immigration couldnt care less about this and I doubt Cuban officials or Cuban airline personnel would - but its a possibility.
In practice you are probably correct, but technically you must have an outbound ticket when entering the DR unless you can produce a residencia or a long-term employment contract. Granted, DR immigration usually don't ask. But they may. This is the reason most US air carriers won't allow you to board a flight to the DR without a flight out.Rocky said:
American Airlines are so finicky about stuff like that.Conchman said:
They remind me of Lilly Tomlin doing her skit on the phone company and how they were omnipotent.
I remember going to the POP airport 12 years ago, before all this 911 stuff, and wanted to buy a return ticket to Puerto Rico for the weekend.
They wanted to see my passport.
I told her that I didn't need a passport to buy a ticket. I needed it to board the airplane, but not to buy the ticket.
Anyhow, it took getting a supervisor to get it straight.
Heck, nowadays, people buy tickets online.
Are they showing American Airlines their passports at the time of purchase?
Now they don't feed their passengers, from what I understand, on these short flights from NYC.
They're just a miserable bunch of SOB's who go outof their way to make one's flight as unpleasant as possible.
A friend of mine was taking AA to the D.R. When he got to the ticket counter in Miami they told him he needed to purchase a return ticket. After some arguing he told them to cancel his flight and refund his one-way ticket. Guess What? Sir, we will make an exception this time you can fly on the one-way ticket.
AA is garbage, pure and simple. They are hustlers and will try and rob you any way possible.
AA is garbage, pure and simple. They are hustlers and will try and rob you any way possible.
Common...a bunch of SOB's trying to make your life miserable? I think American does a pretty good job, as do most of the carriers. Wonder when the last time was he flew American. The comment is totally out of text. American has the cheapest sale on airfare for them in several years. $463 from Hartford via San Juan and similar for other east coast departures. Butttt they are SOB's LOLHOWMAR said:
I think you will find that flying out of Miami can be trouble no matter what carrier you're useing, I NEVER go thru Miami because of all the crap, and opt to change in San Juan. NO Customs problems, the best flights from the states by far. The few other carriers that serve the DR are either going bankrupt or they advertise fares but try and get a ticket(like Sprit or PanAm. They simply don't exsist.SKY said:
If American is garbage, suggest a better airline for me to travel on, I travel several times a year, and fly out of Hartford, I would love to hear your suggestions. Also I didn't mention, I fly for the tax only 130 US from BDL Hummm
AA has the CHEAPEST airfares they have had in fall sales for years. Hartford via San Juan is 463US. You have to avoid Miami, it is trouble no matter which carrier you are dealing with. That's why San Juan is a HOME RUN. I fly several times a year to the DR, I would love to hear your suggestions on a better deal than American, other than Sprit or Pan Am which you can't get tickets for. There advertised fares simply don't exsist.SKY said: