American adds 3 new routes in leisure-focused expansion from Austin and Chicago
American Airlines is making a play for leisure travelers looking for a warm-weather escape.
The Fort Worth-based carrier unveiled three new routes over the weekend, two of which are from the capital of Texas, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by the carrier.
Specifically, the airline will commence once-weekly Saturday service from Austin (AUS) to Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ); and Cozumel, Mexico (CZM); beginning on June 11.
American Eagle regional partner Envoy Air will operate both routes with a 76-seat Embraer 175, outfitted with 12 first-class recliners and 66 coach seats.
Along with the new Austin routes, American will launch once-weekly flights between its Chicago O'Hare (ORD) hub and popular New England summer destination Martha's Vineyard (MVY) beginning on June 11.
This new seasonal service will run through Sept. 3, though it's possible that the route gets extended a few weeks depending on booking patterns.
American's regional affiliate Republic Airline will fly a 76-seat Embraer 175 on the new O'Hare route.
In addition to serving Martha's Vineyard from Chicago, American is bringing back two other leisure-focused summer flights for the 2022 season, including service to Asheville, North Carolina (AVL); and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (HHH); which will resume on June 9 and June 11, respectively.
The two new Austin routes headline the latest round of growth for American. They represent the 31st and 32nd destinations to be added to the airline's network from Austin since the beginning of 2021, bringing the total number of cities served to 40.
In fact, it might not be too much longer until Austin officially becomes a focus city for the carrier.
After all, American has made a big play for the Austin market during the pandemic, with two major tranches of network expansions there. It started in March 2021 when the carrier doubled down on the city with 10 new routes.
Three months later, American followed up with 14 more new routes there, including a mix of domestic and international destinations to cities in Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.
Altogether, the carrier has added a mix of both business- and leisure-focused routes in a long-term play for capitalizing on the growth the city has seen from major companies moving (or expanding) there. American wants to position itself as the carrier of choice for locals, regardless of whether you're traveling for work or for pleasure.
Plus, the carrier even unveiled plans recently to open a brand-new Admirals Club in the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
"Austin has long been a connecting market for business travelers [who instead passed through Dallas or Houston]. If we went and started over, you probably would see a big hub in Austin. The city has basically grown under the radar... We are at the front-end of our growth in Austin," Brian Znotins, American's vice president of network planning recently told TPG.
In addition to the Austin expansion, American's new Chicago to Martha's Vineyard route seems to be a pandemic-era play to capitalize on travelers looking for outdoor-friendly getaways to popular leisure destinations.
In fact, the carrier launched nonstop service to another popular Massachusetts island last summer — Nantucket — which turned out to be a success. (This week, the carrier added a second-weekly seasonal flight between O'Hare and Nantucket.)
"Premium leisure demand continues to show strength and with the success of ORD-Nantucket (ACK) in 2021, we're expanding our portfolio to the region and offer customers more options," said American.
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.