AA Launches 25 New Routes, Expanding Its Network to 365 Destinations
American Airlines, the world's largest airline, is adding 25 new routes to its network, 15 international and 10 domestic.
Two of the new routes are destinations not currently served by any airline directly from the US: Dubrovnik, Croatia (DBV) and Bologna, Italy (BLQ). Both of those new routes -- plus Berlin (TXL) -- will be served out of AA's transatlantic gateway of Philadelphia (PHL).
However, Philadelphia isn't the only airport getting new European routes. Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Dublin (DUB) and Dallas to Munich, Germany (MUC) launch on Thursday, June 6. Both routes will be flown with a 787 Dreamliner, with the Dublin route being served by the 787-9 variety and Munich getting the smaller 787-8.
American Airlines awards between the US and Europe start at 30,000 AAdvantage miles one-way in economy; 40,000 miles one-way in premium economy or 57,500 miles one-way in business class. On the year-round routes, you can redeem just 22,500 AAdvantage miles one-way for an off-peak award.
On this side of the Atlantic, AA is launching three year-round short-haul international routes from its headquarters hub in Dallas/Fort Worth:
- Tegucigalpa, Honduras (TGU) launches 3x weekly on June 6 using an Airbus A319
- Durango, Mexico (DGO) takes off daily starting June 6 using AA's smallest aircraft ERJ-140 & ERJ-145
- San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP) starts 4x weekly on June 7 using an Airbus A319
American Airlines is also launching a slew of Saturday-only routes between the US and the Caribbean. New York-based flyers will appreciate a new nonstop route between LaGuardia (LGA) and Aruba (AUA) using an Boeing 737-800. Charlotte (CLT) flyers will be able to head nonstop to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ) on an Airbus A320 on Saturdays. And DFW is also getting Santo Domingo service on Saturdays through mid-August.
AA is also adding three new Canadian routes: Chicago (ORD) to Quebec City (YQB), New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Halifax (YHZ) and Philadelphia (PHL) to Halifax (YHZ).
American Airlines is also adding a new South America route: Miami (MIA) to Cordoba, Argentina (COR) will begin flying 4x weekly starting this Thursday using a Boeing 767.
Here's the full list of new international routes launching now through June 15:
Domestically, AA is adding 10 new routes on June 6 and 8. Three of these routes are summer service between AA's hubs in Chicago (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Kalispell, Montana (FCA).
New year-round routes include Chicago to Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT); Chicago to Joplin, Missouri (JLN) and Dallas to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (MDT).
The longest route -- and the only one served by a mainline aircraft -- is between New York LaGuardia (LGA) and Jackson, Wyoming (JAC). This Saturday-only service runs from June 8 through September 28, December 21 through January 4 and then February 15 through April 4, 2020.
As the Chicago-Joplin route is under 500 direct flight miles, awards on these flights start at 7,500 AAdvantage miles each way. There's pretty good availability currently on this route:
All of the other routes are more than 500 direct flight miles, so saver awards on these flights will start at 12,500 AAdvantage miles each way. However, you can book award flights on many of these routes for cheaper using British Airways Avios -- even after the award chart changed last week. Plus, you can take advantage of the ongoing 30% transfer bonus from Chase Ultimate Rewards to British Airways Avios to use as little as 6,000 points for award bookings on these flights.
Here's the full list of new domestic routes launching this week:
Recently, Brian Kelly (The Points Guy himself) sat down with American Airlines' Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning Vasu Raja to talk about how AA chooses where to fly, which aircraft to use on those routes — and even the pronunciation of the word "route." Check out the enlightening conversation here:
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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.Pros
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- 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.
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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. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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.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.