American adds 8 new routes, 1 new destination in Northeast-focused expansion
American Airlines is betting that a trip to New England might be in the cards for you this summer.
The Fort Worth-based carrier announced on Thursday a significant network expansion that includes eight new routes and one brand-new destination, nearly all of which are focused on the Northeast.
Six of the routes will become new destinations from New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and the last one will be a new one from American's hub at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
You'll find a list of new flights in the table below. All of these routes will be operated by Embraer E175 regional aircraft.
However, it isn't all good news for the Northeast. American is cutting two routes from LGA in early November: Houston and Kansas City, Cirium schedules show. These routes were initially suspended for the winter season, but now they'll be cut indefinitely in just a few weeks.
| From | To | Service begins | Service notes |
|---|---|---|---|
DCA | Hyannis, Massachusetts | June 22, 2024 | Daily summer service |
LGA | Bangor, Maine | June 5, 2024 | Daily summer service |
LGA | Halifax, Nova Scotia | June 5, 2024 | Daily summer service |
LGA | Hyannis, Massachusetts | June 5, 2024 | Daily summer service |
LGA | Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts | June 22, 2024 | Daily summer service |
LGA | Nantucket, Massachusetts | June 22, 2024 | Daily summer service |
LGA | Portland, Maine | June 5, 2024 | Twice daily year-round service |
While American already serves most of the aforementioned destinations from other hubs, one in particular represents a new route map pin for the carrier: Hyannis, Massachusetts.
Located on the Cape Cod peninsula, Hyannis is a popular seasonal destination for those looking to soak up some summer on the region's best beaches. American will become the only global network carrier serving Hyannis, which means locals will have plenty of one-stop connecting opportunities beyond DCA and LGA for service to other parts of the country. (Cape Air and JetBlue both fly to Hyannis.)
In addition to the new routes in the Northeast, American shared that it'll start new service from Charlotte to Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 5, 2024. Furthermore, the carrier will resume flying between DCA and Bermuda on April 4, 2024, following a nearly four-year hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic.
Explore: Best Canada and New England cruise excursions
All of this regional expansion piggybacks off of American's splashy announcement about new long-haul service next summer. Announced in August, the airline is adding four new transatlantic flights, three of which land in all-new destinations for American: Copenhagen; Naples, Italy; and Nice, France.
But while the upcoming long-haul expansion might overshadow this latest round of regional growth, it's interesting to watch American's network evolve now that the Northeast Alliance with JetBlue is officially dead.
The Northeast Alliance launched in early 2021 as a way for American and JetBlue to boost their relevance in New York and Boston — two key Northeast cities that are difficult for either airline to provide service to on their own against entrenched rivals, the two carriers claimed.
So, instead of competing with each other, American and JetBlue used the Northeast Alliance to coordinate schedules in the Northeast, launch a slew of new domestic and international routes, offer codesharing and loyalty perks, and more.
Since the airlines could coordinate networks in the Northeast, American and JetBlue together decided to boost service in existing markets, add new long-haul routes and adjust schedules to offer a more comprehensive timetable for travelers based in Boston and New York.
In fact, the two carriers even traded slots (essentially takeoff and landing permissions) in capacity-constrained airports in order to optimize their combined network.
But now, the Northeast Alliance is being disbanded following a successful Department of Justice antitrust lawsuit. American is appealing the judge's ruling, but both carriers have already mostly undone the alliance. Codeshare flights are no longer available for sale, and new reciprocal mileage credits and redemptions are no longer available.
As part of the disbanding, American already started rejiggering its network (partially because it likely received some slots back from JetBlue). This includes switching the New York-to-Doha flight to Philadelphia and restarting service between LaGuardia and Boston, a key domestic shuttle route that American handed over to JetBlue last year.
Now, American's next network adjustment includes growing in New York with additional regional connectivity, some of which will go head-to-head against JetBlue's existing flights in these markets.
American's new service to Hyannis will be available for purchase starting on Oct. 23, while the other routes will be available for sale starting on Oct. 16.
Related reading:
- Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
- Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
- What is American Airlines elite status worth?
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- Everything you need to know about flying basic economy on American Airlines
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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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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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. |
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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
$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. (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.