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British Airways Adds Nonstop Between Fort Lauderdale and London

Oct. 28, 2016
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3 min read
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British Airways Adds Nonstop Between Fort Lauderdale and London
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Update 11/2/16: BA's new FLL nonstop is currently available for just $519 round-trip:

On July 6, 2017, British Airways will launch a new route between London's Gatwick airport (LGW) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL). The 4x weekly flight will be operated by a 283-seat Boeing 777-200 with three classes: World Traveller (219 seats), World Traveller Plus (24 seats) and Club World (40 seats).

Currently, only Norwegian Airlines offers nonstop options between Fort Lauderdale and Europe, with flights to Copenhagen (CPH), Stockholm (ARN), Oslo (OSL), and London's Gatwick (LGW). However, South Florida has no lack of airlines flying to Europe from Miami (MIA) — just 21 miles to the south of FLL. British Airways and partner American Airlines already have four daily nonstops between MIA and London's Heathrow (LHR). But, this new route will be the first nonstop flight from South Florida to London's lower-cost Gatwick airport.

Here’s the schedule, which will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays:

  • BA 2168 — Fort Lauderdale (FLL) 5:00pm Departure ⇒ London (LGW) 6:30am (+1) Arrival
  • BA 2169 — London (LGW) 9:25am Departure ⇒ Fort Lauderdale (FLL) 1:45pm Arrival
The route will cover 4,420 miles — almost exclusively over water. Image courtesy of Great Circle Mapper.

The 4,420-mile journey will take 9:20 hours from LGW to FLL and just 8:30 hours on the return thanks to the Gulf Stream. With British Airways' mileage- and segment-based Avios program, this route will cost the following from FLL:

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  • Economy (World Traveller): 50,000 Avios + $694 taxes/surcharges
  • Premium Economy (World Traveller Plus): 100,000 Avios + unknown taxes/surcharges (no current award availability)
  • Business (Club World): 150,000 Avios + $1,102 taxes/surcharges
Fly the inaugural flight from Fort Lauderdale to London for just $764 round-trip.

Since the BA fuel surcharges are astronomical, you might be better off just buying a flight — especially at the current rates. You can fly on the inaugural from FLL to LGW from just $764 round-trip in economy, $1,106 round-trip in premium economy or $3,668 round-trip in business class. Or, if you're in London, you can fly on the LGW to FLL inaugural for just $675 round-trip in economy, $1,412 round-trip in premium economy or $2,518 round-trip in business class. Currently, there's not a single seat reserved on that inaugural flight, so you'll have your choice of any non-blocked seat.

After the recent cost-cutting British Airways has done, it's interesting to see the airline announce two new transatlantic routes in the past week — especially as new routes usually require a substantial capital investment. Whatever British Airways' reason for doing so, we're excited to see yet another route from the US to a now much-cheaper London.

H/T: USA Today

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

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  • 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 $6,000 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.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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