Travelling to Cuba (by plane)

This is mostly just FYI for anybody that might be interested in travelling to Cuba.

Information is valid as of 12/29/16. Take note that it is changing rapidly and constantly.

By plane:
You must have a valid passport.  No wink-wink-nudge-nudge.  THEY ARE GOING TO STAMP IT. There seems to still be a lot of opinions still out there about US passports.

You will need a Visa card, there are places that will sell you them online, but it will cost up to and over $100 USD after you add all the processing fees.

We flew Southwest from Florida and they check in the Cuba flights down in the baggage claim area.  There are two stops you have to make.  First, you must get the Visa.  They verify your flight information (you do not have to have your boarding pass, they have the information on flights at the desk)  It was $50 USD per person with a valuble warning.  DO NOT MESS UP FILLING OUT THE VISA.  If you do-boom.  Another $50 to get a new visa.

After that you can go check into your flight, this is when you have to answer to the OFAC question of why you are travelling to Cuba.  The most common answer will be for Educational and Person to Person contact. It is the same box.

Also, it is highly advisable to keep track of where you have visited and any receipts because you can be investigated up to 5 years after by our State Department.  Remember, there is still an embargo in place.

Make sure your boarding pass is stamped that documentation and questioning has been done.  You will also receive a health declaration to fill out to make sure you aren't not carrying any communicable diseases.

There has also been debate about travel health insurance.  Southwest assured us that health insurance (required by Cuba) is included in the price of the ticket and to keep your boarding pass with you as proof of insurance.  No, I'm being serious here.

Here is something else that was advised to us and I will share. CARRY ON LUGGAGE ONLY.  It can take up to 3 hours to get your checked luggage once you arrive in Cuba.  If it isn't shrink wrapped--the contents of it will also most likely be gone.  There is a person by the check in counter that will shrink wrap and label your bags for $15 a pop.

Once we arrived in Cuba it was smooth sailing.  We breezed through customs/immigration in record time.

In April we will be sailing to Cuba.  At that time I will post the requirement/process for that.