American Airlines Visa Policy

Go online to the site of Cuba Travel Services, the agency AA is using for visas. (Generally they contact you by email to instruct you to do this.) The instructions on the site are pretty clear. After you fill out the information they require, they will mail your visa, or you can pick it up at the gate. You can also purchase at the gate, iirc.Note that the price of the visa through this agency, the only one AA uses, is different from some other providers.

European airlines and some US airlines do not sell Cuban tourist cards. It depends on the airline you are using. Airlines that do not sell the tourist cards should be able to explain how their passengers can obtain the mandatory tourist card. You can buy a tourist card after you arrive in Cuba, but it would be smarter to buy one before you leave "the land of the free". Buying it in Cuba could delay your entrance through Cuban Immigration. It is all about collecting the money (cash)somebody(Cubans?) wants for the tourist cards, which costs Cuba less than a penny to print.

We hope this makes sense to you. It is difficult to make sense about many aspects of the relations between the USA and Cuba. Sorry about that. It is going to get worse with Trump.

You should ask for a supervisor when you call American Airlines, one who is familiar with their Cuba flight policy. If they have no one who is familiar with their policy for flying to Cuba seriously reconsider flying with them.

Thank you all for the advice and suggestions, this is making me significantly less anxious about the visa stuff!

You can buy a tourist card after you arrive in Cuba...

No, you can't. You're not allowed to board the aircraft without one.

The only time you can buy one upon arrival is if you lost it on the aircraft or if there's extenuating circumstances like the the airline running out of Tourist Card/Visas.

Cheers,
Terry

I tried reaching out to American Airlines regarding what I have to do regarding my visa, but their answer was vague and unhelpful, so I'm trying here.

It's fairly simple.

Go to the American Airline website here. About half way down the page they explain that Cuba Travel Services supplies the Cuban Tourist Card/Visa. It's simple to purchase one.

Any questions call Cuban Travel Services directly at 877-511-2822. They've done this a zillion times, no big deal.

Have fun.

Cheers,
Terry

And the "email questionnaire about the purpose of the visit" is actually nothing to do with the Cuban visa but a declaration under the US OFAC rules.

I tried reaching out to American Airlines regarding what I have to do regarding my visa, but their answer was vague and unhelpful, so I'm trying here.

It's fairly simple.

Go to the American Airline website here. About half way down the page they explain that Cuba Travel Services supplies the Cuban Tourist Card/Visa. It's simple to purchase one.

Any questions call Cuban Travel Services directly at 877-511-2822. They've done this a zillion times, no big deal.

Have fun.

Cheers,
Terry

I ordered a visa from them Thursday for my January trip. It arrived today. I wanted to get it purchased to beat any possible new restrictions. I bought my airfare too. My only worry is that decreased demand caused by new restrictions could cause flights MIA to SNU to be cancelled. If a new flight needed booking, it might require new OFAC clearance.

I ordered a visa from them Thursday for my January trip. It arrived today. I wanted to get it purchased to beat any possible new restrictions. I bought my airfare too. My only worry is that decreased demand caused by new restrictions could cause flights MIA to SNU to be cancelled. If a new flight needed booking, it might require new OFAC clearance.

Just getting the visa doesn't give you "OFAC clearance". You don't get OFAC clearance. If a general license applies, it applies when you travel. If the rules of OFAC licenses are changed, then you need to look at the new rules.

I would think that the majority of travellers on that route are Cuban Americans. They are likely to continue.