American to Cuba via Europe

I am an American citizen studying overseas and planning a trip to Cuba. I would be flying from Europe to Canada to Havana, and wanted to know if there is anything I need to be careful/aware of when dealing with immigration on my way back to the country I am studying in. Also, I assumed that going through Canada would be easier, but any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in advance!

You should have no problems. The only Americans I have heard about who had problems transiting through Canada were those who arrived from Cuba and went directly to check in for a flight to the US. The US authorities do have permission to "pre-clear" anybody bound for the US, so they were able to quiz those passengers about where they'd been, and search their luggage for anything that might indicate that they had been to Cuba (like receipts, coins, or trinkets). Since you're arriving from and returning to Europe, this would not make you subject to search by US agents in a Canadian airport.

Why not fly directly to Cuba from a European gateway with a carrier offering direct / non-stop service?

Gotcha. Thank you very much!

davfitz: i looked at a couple different flights, and they all routed me through toronto. mayhaps i am not looking in the right places.

You might also look at fares going from wherever you are in Europe to Nassau in the Bahamas and then to Havana, as Nassau is a big destination for Europeans and the Bahamas government often subsidizes airfares to the Bahamas from Europe. From Nassau rt airfare to Havana is +/- US $300.

OP/#4

You don't say what your embarkation point in Europe is and that will make a difference. Try Virgin or Cubana from London, Air France from Paris, Iberia from Madrid etc, etc. This should not be a problem. Even if you have to connect - you should be able to get something to suit your needs in Europe.

Good luck. I'm off to London in about a half hour. Would you prefer a private consultation tomorrow? Je! Je! Je!

isn't there some kind of issue with the canadian government having agreed to turn over flight manifests for flights to cuba? (since they fly over u.s. airspace). i agree that you should fly directly from europe. no need to go from canada. there's plenty of flights from here.

OP, some packages from MAdrid are very low right now. It´s 669 euros with Halcon Viajes to fly to Havana and stay 7 nights at the Riviera Hotel (which is not bad at all and has tremendous views). Corte Ingles may actually be cheaper than that. If you tell us your embarkation point in Europe, we may be able to provide some more exact info.

That is a good price, Yorgos, and the riviera is well-located there on the Malecon in Vedado. I would think the 7 nights hotel stay would ordinarily cost you almost that much alone. That's almost like getting free airfare and you can spend the 7 days finding a Casa Particular and familiarizing yourself with The Vedado/Centro/Vieja "Malecon" end of Havana. that's where 90% of people congregate anyway.

I, too, would recommend avoiding routing through Canada and not only because of the whole "American" issues but simply because it sounds far more difficult and costly than finding your way to Madrid from wherever you currently are in Europe and heading straight to Havana from there.

If your already in Europe, it's probably best to go to Cuba via London, Paris, or Madrid. Iberia is usually fairly reasonable.

thank you for all the recommendations...i'll be leaving out of london, i really do think i've just been looking in the wrong places for flights because everything i saw previous to posting here routed me through toronto.

Virgin flies direct from London and many operators organize package trips that may end up cheaper than your fare.

I got an Airfrance flight in 2005 from London for 650 euros, incl the British taxes. So check the french out, too.

OP

I'm in London right now. Ads on the underground and elsewhere today indicate that Virgin is offering London - Havana return for £ 387, inclusive of all taxes and fees.

Run don't walk to Virgin and BOOK IT NOW before thay change their minds. The service is non-stop on a 747 and I'm told that it's good. That price simply can NOT be beaten!