Air Canada adds 2 new routes to United hubs, with more likely to come
Air Canada is launching two new transborder routes that will deepen the carrier's ties with United Airlines.
The routes, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) serve two of United's hubs and, in the case of the Vancouver-to-Houston flight, will complement United's service.
United currently operates the Vancouver-Houston route — one that returned for the first time in the pandemic era this June as a summer seasonal flight. It runs through this month and is scheduled to resume in March, according to schedule data from Cirium, a company that provides aviation-related data and analytics.
Air Canada's daily flight, operated with an Airbus A220-300, begins Dec. 16 and will operate year-round.
Flight AC1300 departs YVR at 8:45 a.m. and arrives at IAH at 3:08 p.m., all times local. The return flight, AC1301, departs IAH at 4:30 p.m. and arrives at YVR at 7:15 p.m. The flight is timed for Air Canada connections in Vancouver and United connections in Houston, according to Cirium.
Halifax to Newark is a longtime United route that was suspended at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 and has yet to return to the Chicago-based carrier's schedule.
Air Canada will now operate the route with an Air Canada Express Q400 turboprop in an all-economy class configuration starting Dec. 16.
Flight AC8670 will depart Halifax at 11:45 a.m. and arrive in Newark at 1:04 p.m., all times local. The return flight, AC8669, will depart Newark at 1:45 p.m. and arrives in Halifax at 4:35 p.m. The flight is well-timed for United connections in EWR.
Air Canada last operated this route in 2003.
"With these new routes from Halifax and Vancouver, Air Canada is meeting demand in these important markets and building on our strengthened trans-border partnership with United Airlines to solidify our leadership in the Canada-U.S. market," Mark Galardo, senior vice president of network planning and revenue management at Air Canada, said in a statement.
More: Air Canada, United expand partnership with more codeshares, loyalty perks
Expect more routes like this to come. United and Air Canada are launching a transborder joint venture, subject to government approval. If approved, the two Star Alliance carriers will be allowed to coordinate on schedules, pricing and plan to harmonize some onboard offerings and frequent flyer program benefits.
Air Canada — and other Canadian carriers — have grown their transborder networks in recent months, as COVID-19 restrictions ease (Canada recently removed its remaining travel restrictions). With the new routes, Air Canada's U.S. network is 6% larger than it was in 2019.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.