Budget carrier turf war? Sun Country appears to retaliate against Allegiant
A battle of budget airlines is brewing in Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP).
Sun Country Airlines announced two new routes from MSP and moved up the start of another less than a day after low-cost rival Allegiant announced plans to start the exact same routes.
Sun Country will begin flying from MSP – its busiest hub – to both Asheville, North Carolina (AVL), and West Palm Beach (PBI) on Oct. 7. That's the same day Allegiant will start its own service from MSP to those cities.
Additionally, Sun Country also said it's planned service between MSP and Punta Gorda, Florida (PGD), would now start on Oct. 8 instead of in December, as originally planned. That date is – you guessed it – the same date Allegiant will begin flying the route.
Not only is Sun Country matching Allegiant's start dates, it's also matching its schedule. Sun Country will fly all three of the routes twice weekly, operating on the same two days that Allegiant will.
While Sun Country appears to be going on the offensive against Allegiant, it actually made the first move into a key Allegiant market.
Growth mode: Allegiant adds 4 new cities in 23-route expansion
That came back in April, when Sun Country first revealed its plan to fly to Punta Gorda.
That may seem like a low-profile route, but likely not to Allegiant.
Allegiant is the only carrier at the airport near Fort Myers, and the carrier has turned it into a busy base from which it flies dozens of nonstop routes. Sun Country's entrance into the market would have made it just the second carrier with regular passenger service there.
Given that backdrop, Allegiant's announcement to add Minneapolis/St. Paul to its route map earlier Tuesday was likely no coincidence. Allegiant went one step further, not only adding the MSP route that Sun Country had announced, but also added the two other destinations (Asheville and West Palm Beach) that Sun Country is now matching.
Connect by … bus?!? Report from Sun Country's first Landline bus connection
Sun Country not only operates its busiest hub at MSP, but is headquartered nearby. Its decision to precisely match Allegiant's new MSP routes less than 24 hours after they were announced is almost certainly a counter-strike to defend its turf.
When asked by TPG if the new routes were aimed at Allegiant, the carrier offered a statement from chief revenue officer Grant Whitney saying in an e-mailed statement that "We're always evaluating new route and destination opportunities."
"As Minnesota's hometown airline of 40 years, we pride ourselves on connecting our community with their favorite people and places," he added, seemingly wanting Sun Country's local presence. "Expanding our network to offer the destinations folks want to visit paired with our Midwest hospitality help us to be Minnesota's first choice for leisure travel."
Now industry will observers will watch if the turf war escalates or holds steady.
Stay tuned..
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.