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Wide-Open Award Availability on AA's New Dreamliner Flights to Cancun

May 14, 2018
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2 min read
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Wide-Open Award Availability on AA's New Dreamliner Flights to Cancun
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Thanks to just-announced changes to the American Airlines schedule, there's a new opportunity to score a more comfortable flying experience: lie-flat business class to Cancun, Mexico. American Airlines is launching not one but three daily flights to Cancun using its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.

That means that instead of a standard "domestic first class" recliner seat...

... you have the chance to book a lie-flat business class seat:

These revised flights will operate on the following schedule:

Effective November 4:

  • AA 147 — Chicago O'Hare (ORD) 8:25am Departure ⇒ Cancun (CUN) 1:06pm Arrival
  • AA 147 — Cancun (CUN) 2:00pm Departure ⇒ Chicago O'Hare (ORD) 4:57pm Arrival
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Effective December 19:

  • AA 1503 — Chicago O'Hare (ORD) 10:05am Departure ⇒ Cancun (CUN) 2:49pm Arrival
  • AA 1503 — Cancun (CUN) 3:35pm Departure ⇒ Chicago O'Hare (ORD) 6:31pm Arrival
  • AA 2684 — Dallas (DFW) 12:50pm Departure ⇒ Cancun (CUN) 4:34pm Arrival
  • AA 2684 — Cancun (CUN) 5:43pm Departure ⇒ Dallas (DFW) 7:40pm Arrival

Effective December 19, both daily Chicago-Cancun flights will be operated by a Dreamliner. However, on the DFW-CUN route, the Dreamliner will only be on one of six of the daily flights. So, you'll want to choose your flight carefully.

In a growing trend of selling "domestic first class" (including flights to Canada, Mexico and Caribbean) at a reasonable price, round-trip nonstop business class flights between Chicago and Cancun are available starting at just $695 per person. And if you wanted to fly the long way to Cancun from Miami for fun, you can can get almost nine hours of lie-flat business class seats for $642 round-trip:

With American Airlines' irritating new way of releasing saver award availability, it can be rare to find award options on nonstop flights. But, that's not the case right now on this new Dreamliner-operated route, where award availability is wide-open:

However, if you're an AAdvantage elite, you don't have to book a business class award to get a lie-flat business class seat. Cancun is a destination covered by 500-mile upgrades, so any American Airlines elite on a paid flight can list for an upgrade. American Airlines Executive Platinum elites get complimentary upgrades on both paid flights and award flights.

Featured image by Mike Headley

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  • Intro Offer

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    $325

  • Recommended Credit

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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. (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.