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One More 787 Operator Debuts

Jan. 22, 2018
2 min read
gulf air 787
One More 787 Operator Debuts
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Bahrain's national carrier, Gulf Air, has an order for 16 Dreamliners, the first five of which it's going to take delivery of in 2018, with the first of that batch scheduled to be delivered in April. On Monday, the carrier announced its first destination for its new 787-9: London.

Beginning June 15, 2018, the carrier is set to launch 2x daily service between Bahrain (BAH) and London (LHR). As reported by AirlineRoute, here's the operational schedule on the BAH-LHR route:

  • GF007 Bahrain (BAH) 1:15am Departure ⇒ London (LHR) 6:25am Arrival
  • GF003 Bahrain (BAH) 10:10am Departure ⇒ London (LHR) 3:20pm Arrival
  • GF002 London (LHR) 10:00am Departure ⇒ Bahrain (BAH) 6:35pm Arrival
  • GF006 London (LHR) 10:05pm Departure ⇒ Bahrain (BAH) 6:40am (+1) Arrival

As reported by One Mile at a Time, Gulf Air's Dreamliners will offer two cabins: economy and business. The business-class cabin will offer 26 seats in a 2-2-2 configuration, but there's no clue as to what particular kind of seats the aircraft will be outfitted with. But, based on the fact that the site show's they'll be arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration, they'll likely be forward-facing.

As for the other 11 Dreamliners, Gulf Air expects to take delivery of them through 2024. Because the delivery is so spread out, there's the possibility that Gulf Air could expand its long-haul operations even farther. Currently, the carrier operates a fleet of A330s on its long-haul routes, though its network isn't very large currrently. The more fuel-efficient Dreamliners will eventually replace the A330s on its long-haul service.

If you're interested in testing out the new Dreamliner with Gulf Air, the carrier is still a parter of American Airlines — but only through April 30, 2018. So, you can search for award availability via ExpertFlyer and then call into AAdvantage to book, as Gulf Air awards don't show on AA's site. On a few quick searches, there seems to be plenty of availability. Based on AA's partner award chart, you'll pay 20,000 AA miles one-way in economy or 42,500 one-way in business.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 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.
4XEarn 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.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
  • Annual Fee

    $325
  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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 $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.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $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.
  • Terms Apply.