5G doomsday never came, but US airlines are not out of the woods yet
Last Monday, it sounded as if the U.S. aviation system faced imminent doom due to the activation of 5G C-band cell phone service.
“Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies," airline executives said in a letter to the Biden administration. A separate statement from United Airlines warned of even more dire consequences.
On Tuesday, Verizon and AT&T, the two operators of 5G C-band service, agreed to keep the service turned off near airports.
Not even an hour later, a number of foreign Boeing 777 operators, including Emirates and All Nippon Airways, said that they would not fly the plane to the U.S. But by last Wednesday, the issue appeared to have been mostly resolved on a large scale. It wasn't the end of the issue, though.
The U.S. aviation system entered its second week of the 5G C-band era on Wednesday with significant progress made in clearing planes to fly amid the 5G rollout — but not before some disruptions continued to affect certain operators.
The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday said that it had granted equipment approvals to the radio altimeters found in approximately 90% of the U.S. commercial airline fleet. A radio (or radar) altimeter is a type of instrument that is used to precisely measure an aircraft’s height above the ground. This type of instrument is essential during low-visibility conditions because the data from it is essential for pilots to be able to conduct high-precision instrument approaches and even automatic landings, allowing operations to continue in little to no visibility. In certain types of aircraft, other systems use radio altimeters and have shown susceptibility to 5G interference.
But the FAA's approvals are not as sweeping as it may sound, and it is up to individual airlines to take the steps necessary to allow for low-visibility operations at airports affected by 5G. At at least two airlines that operate the popular Airbus A320 family, some aircraft have been cleared, while others still await clearance, according to pilots familiar with the matter.
More: What you need to know about 5G interfering with aircraft
And while there have been no large-scale disruptions in the past week, individual airports experiencing low-visibility conditions — or ones that have unique operating conditions — have seen delays, cancelations and diversions due to 5G.
Last Thursday, flights operated by regional carrier SkyWest and other airlines were seen in holding patterns near San Francisco International Airport (SFO), with some flights diverting to other airports, as other, approved aircraft were seen landing normally. In a statement, SkyWest attributed the issue to 5G interference.
In some of the more unusual 5G-related disruptions, flights from Key West (EYW) to the New York area operated by Republic Airways for United and Delta Air Lines were forced to make fuel stops at other Florida airports after departing the airport's short runway due to an aircraft warning system that was impacted by 5G, according to a pilot familiar with the matter. By the beginning of this week, flights appeared to be operating normally again.
On Saturday, low-visibility conditions at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) cost airlines nearly $150,000 in delays, according to an analysis by Tim Donohue, who writes Aerology, which analyzes flight delays.
Two days later, all of Monday's commercial flights at Paine Field (PAE), north of Seattle, were also canceled due to low-visibility conditions and 5G. "This is out of our control, and we are as frustrated as you are," the airport tweeted from its official account.
And on Tuesday, the FAA issued an airworthiness directive that appeared to restrict 777 operations, along with the 747-8, though an agency spokesperson downplayed the issue to TPG.
"If you're operating into an airport that has an AMOC, it doesn't apply," the spokesperson said, using the acronym for an alternative method of compliance, the mechanism that the FAA uses to approve aircraft for 5G operations.
And while progress continues to be made with the FAA's approvals, the agency stressed last week that some aircraft might not be approved in the end.
"We anticipate some altimeters will be too susceptible to 5G interference," a statement last week said.
One important aircraft type that has yet to be approved is the Embraer Regional Jet, also known as the Embraer 135/140/145. The ERJ operates regional flights for American Airlines and United, and also flies for smaller carriers like Denver Air Connection, aha! and JSX.
With no approval timeline for this aircraft type, travelers flying on this model might run into delays or cancellations at airports that are prone to low-visibility conditions.
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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
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- 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.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.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.