UPDATED: American, Delta, United suspend China flights as coronavirus fears rise
The big three U.S. carriers have taken the unprecedented move of suspending all service to mainland China amid rising fears over the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines will cancel all of its flights to Beijing Capital (PEK) and Shanghai Pudong (PVG) effective immediately, the carrier said Friday. The suspension of its four daily flights from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Los Angeles (LAX) will continue through March 27.
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines will suspend its six daily flights to China from Feb. 2 -- four days earlier than previously planned -- through April 30, the airline said Saturday. The SkyTeam Alliance member operates two daily flights to Beijing and four daily flights to Shanghai Pudong (PVG) from Atlanta (ATL), Detroit (DTW), Los Angeles (LAX) and Seattle (SEA).
Chicago-based United Airlines will halt its nine daily flights to Beijing and Shanghai, and thrice-weekly service to Chengdu (CTU), from Feb. 6 through March 28, it said Friday. The Star Alliance carrier will continue to serve Hong Kong (HKG) once daily from San Francisco (SFO) during the period.
In-depth: Is it safe to travel to Asia? Complete guide to traveling during the deadly coronavirus outbreak
All three carriers cite the U.S. State Department's decision Thursday to raise its travel advisory for China to a Level 4, or Do Not Travel.
The announcements follow earlier schedule reductions by American, Delta and United. American planned to cancel just its flights between Los Angeles and China; Delta cut its schedule in half, to 21 flights per week, but maintain service on all of routes; and United slash schedule by more than two-thirds to just select flights between China and Newark (EWR) and San Francisco.
American's decision to suspend all of its China flights comes a day after its pilots union the Allied Pilots Association sued the carrier Thursday seeking an immediate suspension to all of its Beijing and Shanghai flights.
Coronavirus continues to spread in China. As of Friday morning, there were nearly 10,000 confirmed cases in the country, with estimates expecting infection to peak at about 40,000 people, according to Cowen analyst Kevin Kopelman, who cited National Health Commission of China data.
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While the number of people infected with coronavirus now exceeds the 8,000 globally that came down with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in 2003, the mortality rate at just 2.2% is far lower than the past outbreak, wrote Kopelman. The mortality rate with SARS was around 10%.
Brett Snyder, founder of the Cranky Concierge travel service and author of the Cranky Flier blog, noted Thursday that the suspensions by U.S. airlines are likely based on public perception of the outbreak and an associated drop in demand, more than actual concerns over the virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coroanvirus outbreak a global emergency on Thursday.
Here is a list of notable airline flight suspensions, as of Friday, Jan. 31:
Air Canada: All mainland China flights suspended from Jan. 30-Feb. 29.
Air France: All mainland China flights suspended until Feb. 9.
American: All flights to mainland China suspended through March 27.
Related:Myth-busting: Will a face mask keep you safe from viruses on a plane?
Austrian Airlines: All mainland China flights suspended until Feb. 9.
British Airways: All mainland China flights suspended until Jan. 31, situation will be reassessed at that time.
Delta: All mainland China flights suspended from Feb. 2 to April 30.
Lufthansa: All mainland China flights suspended until Feb. 9.
Swiss: All mainland China flights suspended until Feb. 9.
United: All mainland China flights suspended from Feb. 6 to March 28. Hong Kong reduced to once daily service from San Francisco.
Virgin Atlantic: All mainland China flights suspended from Feb. 2-Feb. 16.
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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.
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| 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. |
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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
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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
- 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.