Fly to Havana with Points 2026: American, JetBlue, and the post-2024 US-Cuba rules
- Staying in private accommodations (Casas Particulares, AirBnB private rooms) — not government-owned hotels
- Eating at privately-owned restaurants (paladares)
- Engaging in cultural activities that support local Cubans
- Maintaining records for 5 years documenting your travel
US-Havana commercial flights resumed in expanded form in 2024 after rule changes. American Airlines runs daily MIA-HAV; JetBlue runs daily JFK-HAV. United and Southwest have not returned to Cuba routes. The cheapest award path is AAdvantage off-peak. US travelers must still travel under one of 12 authorized categories — most use "support for the Cuban people."
Direct US-Cuba service in 2026
| Route | Carrier | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| MIA-HAV | American Airlines | Daily on the 738 |
| JFK-HAV | JetBlue | Daily |
| FLL-HAV | JetBlue (seasonal) | Up to 3x weekly |
| TPA-HAV | American (seasonal) | Up to 3x weekly |
Award routings: cheapest paths in 2026
| Routing | Mile cost (each way) | Cash YQ |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines MIA-HAV via AAdvantage off-peak | ~12,500 AA miles economy / ~25,000 business | ~$50 |
| American Airlines via AAdvantage standard | ~17,500 economy / ~35,000 business | ~$50 |
| JetBlue JFK-HAV via TrueBlue | ~12,000-25,000 TrueBlue (dynamic) | ~$30 |
| JetBlue Mint JFK-HAV via TrueBlue | ~25,000-50,000 TrueBlue (Mint dynamic) | ~$30 |
The US-Cuba travel category requirement
US travelers cannot visit Cuba purely as tourists. The 2025 rules require travel under one of 12 authorized categories:
- Family visits
- Official business of the US government, foreign governments, or international organizations
- Journalistic activity
- Professional research and meetings
- Educational activities
- Religious activities
- Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic competitions, exhibitions
- Support for the Cuban people (most-used; covers genuine cultural travel)
- Humanitarian projects
- Activities of private foundations, research, or educational institutes
- Exportation/importation of information materials
- Authorized export transactions
Most leisure travelers use category 8 (support for the Cuban people). This requires:
- Staying in private accommodations (Casas Particulares, AirBnB private rooms) — not government-owned hotels
- Eating at privately-owned restaurants (paladares)
- Engaging in cultural activities that support local Cubans
- Maintaining records for 5 years documenting your travel
Booking the flight does not require special documentation. The category is self-certified at travel time.
Hotels in Havana on points
Important: Most US-based hotel chains (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG) do not have properties in Cuba. The few that exist are either non-points-bookable or operate under special licensing.
- Iberostar Parque Central: Cash-only Spanish-chain hotel; popular with US visitors.
- Meliá Cohíba (Spanish-Cuban chain): Cash-only.
- Casas Particulares (private homes): $25-$80/night, support-the-Cuban-people category compliant. Book through AirBnB or Casas portals.
- Hotel Saratoga: Cash-only; iconic property reopened post-2022 explosion.
For US travelers, casas particulares are both the cheapest option and the only option that satisfies the support-for-the-Cuban-people travel category.
The cash and connectivity reality
- US credit cards do not work in Cuba. Bring all cash needed for the trip in advance — recent Cuba travelers report carrying $50-$100/day in cash.
- Currency: Cuban Pesos (CUP). USD is sometimes accepted at tourist sites; Euros are accepted at most casas. Avoid converting at the airport (high fees).
- Internet: Spotty. Some casas offer WiFi cards; most hotels have WiFi for $5/hour. Most US travelers go off-grid.
- Mobile: US carriers don't roam in Cuba. Buy a Cuban SIM at the airport (~$25 for 1GB).
Bottom line
For US travelers, American Airlines MIA-HAV at 12,500 AAdvantage miles off-peak economy + ~$50 is the cheapest path to Cuba. Travel under "support for the Cuban people" category, stay at casas particulares, eat at paladares, and bring all cash in advance — US credit cards don't work in Cuba. The trip itself is one of the most-distinct travel experiences in the Western Hemisphere; the documentation requirements are manageable but real.
How do off-peak award rates work for European travel?
Most fixed-chart airline programs publish off-peak / standard / peak windows with 12,500-22,500 mile differential per direction. AAdvantage US-Europe business class: 57,500 off-peak / 70,000 standard each way (off-peak typically January 10-March 14 + November 1-December 14). Aeroplan publishes a fixed partner award chart at 70,000 each way US-Europe regardless of season. Avianca LifeMiles charges 63,000 fixed each way. Most dynamic programs (Delta, United, peak-period programs) charge 100-200% more during peak holiday windows. Plan trips for off-peak windows for meaningful savings.
The points-stack anchor decision for this destination
Most international destinations work across multiple flexible-points anchors. The right primary depends on your existing card stack:
- Chase-anchored stack: Best for trans-Atlantic via United Polaris (uniquely Chase) or Aeroplan partner saver. Hyatt-anchored hotel side at 1:1 Chase UR.
- Amex-anchored stack: Best for international airline transfer-partner depth. 18+ partners including BA Avios, Aeroplan, Singapore KrisFlyer, Virgin Atlantic, ANA, Delta SkyMiles.
- Citi-anchored stack: Best for AAdvantage-routed Oneworld redemptions (Cathay First, Qatar QSuite, JAL Sky Suite). Uniquely reaches AA at 1:1.
- Capital One-anchored stack: Best for simple 2x flat earning + Aeroplan + LifeMiles + Singapore KrisFlyer at 1:1.
- Bilt-anchored stack: Strong for Alaska Mileage Plan (uniquely Bilt at 1:1) + 17 transfer partners + rent earning.
Award booking timeline for this trip
For points-funded international trips, the typical planning sequence:
- 11+ months ahead: Award space loads at +355 days for most carriers. Most-popular dates fill quickly.
- 9-11 months ahead: Open relevant credit cards for sign-up bonuses. Hit minimum spend during planning expenses.
- 6-9 months ahead: Sign-up bonuses post; transfer to airline + hotel programs.
- 3-6 months ahead: Confirm award space + book; YQ surcharge math final.
- 1-2 months ahead: Final confirmations + travel insurance.
For travelers with date flexibility, watching off-peak windows (typically January-March + late September-November in Europe) produces 30-40% saver award space increase vs peak summer.
Search Cuba award flights on Pointify →
Last verified by the Pointify research team on May 1, 2026, against current US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Cuba travel rules and AAdvantage award rates. US-Cuba travel rules and category interpretations may shift; verify current OFAC guidance before booking.
Written by Pointify Research Team
Published
The Pointify team analyzes loyalty programs, fare data, and booking strategies across 300+ airlines and 25 award programs. Our goal: help you get maximum value from every point and mile.
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