LaGuardia's Perimeter Rule May End- Longer Routes On The Way?
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
According to this USA Today article, it appears that LaGuardia's current 1,500 mile perimeter rule might be going away, which means the potential for long-haul flights from the airport to the West Coast and possibly even Europe.
As a frequent LaGuardia and American Airlines flyer myself, this would be amazing, since I personally hate JFK due to the inevitable traffic that can be crippling depending on the time of day. Yes, you can take the Long Island Railroad to the AirTrain, but it's not convenient, and as someone who is chronically running late, I much prefer to fly out of LaGuardia and even Newark, which in my opinion is much quicker to get to from Downtown NYC.
To have transcontinental premium planes at LaGuardia would be huge game changer and I think American Airlines and Delta would have the most draw. However, I'm not sure they'd be so quick to take away those planes from JFK since that's where all of the international feed is for both carriers and they've got the lounges and infrastructure for a truly premium experience. Plus they've built JFK (Delta especially with new Terminal 4) specifically for premium, so I don't think they'd water down that experience to start flying out of LGA.
However, as more and more aircraft have lie-flat seats and if they could serve routes like Dublin, Ireland, they could run a couple wide bodies between the West Coast and LaGuardia, that could continue on to those pre-clearence cities outside the US, or premium US destinations like Miami or San Juan.
Here's a list of the current airports outside at the US that have pre-clearence facilities:
- Calgary International Airport
- Edmonton International Airport
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport
- Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
- Toronto Pearson International Airport
- Vancouver International Airport
- Winnipeg International Airport
- Aruba – Queen Beatrix International Airport
- Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport, Bahamas
- Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas
- Bermuda – Bermuda International Airport
- Shannon Airport-Shannon, Ireland
- Dublin Airport, Dublin, Ireland
- Abu Dhabi International Airport
As far as LaGuardia airport itself, it's in MAJOR need of a renovation and it is planned, but looks like it is already delayed, which is ironic since LaGuardia is one of the worst US airports for delays. Also, it's important to note that LGA is also limited to planes as well due to runway length meaning that the largest plane they can see there is a 767, so don't expect to see any 777's or A330's.
Overall, I think this could benefit American Airlines the most because they don't have much regional output out of JFK so this could help beef up NYC, especially being able to link to some western cities like Las Vegas or Phoenix. I also think this could help Air Canada being able to use some slots for Vancouver, Edmonton, or Calgary.
Don't expect LGA to become a big international hub anytime soon, but the lifting of the perimeter rule opens up more options for travelers, which is a good thing in my opinion! The good news is that if LaGuardia was to add some international flights, they already have an American Express Centurion lounge in place, which American Express Platinum members have access to.
What dream route would you like to see out of LGA if the perimeter rule is lifted?
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.