American Airlines Adds New Routes for College Football Season
Last month we wrote about United adding special point-to-point routes for the college football season, and it appears American Airlines is following suit. The carrier announced five special routes for big games in the upcoming season to court fans into traveling to support their favorite teams, and will expand service on four existing routes to increase capacity.
American released a video along with the announcement outlining the expanded service, and highlighting some pretty unusual routes.
For example, to accommodate fans hoping to watch the Alabama-Texas A&M game, American will operate flights to and from Birmingham, Alabama and College Station, Texas, for the weekend of the showdown.
The first flights will land at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) from Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina (GSP) on Sept. 8, with plenty more touchdowns to come over the next few months.
Scroll down to see all of American's special point-to-point routes and service expansions for the 2019 football season.
Special Point-to-Point Flights
New Orleans, Louisiana (MSY), to Austin, Texas (AUS)
Game: LSU at Texas
Gameday: Sept. 7, played in Austin, Texas
Outbound is Sept. 6, return is Sept. 8
Washington Reagan (DCA), to South Bend, Indiana (SBN)
Game: UVA at Notre Dame
Gameday: Sept. 28, played in Notre Dame, Indiana
Outbound is Sept. 27, return is Sept. 29
Chicago O'Hare (ORD), to SBN
Game: USC at Notre Dame
Gameday: Oct. 12, played in Notre Dame, Indiana
Outbound is Oct. 11, return is Oct. 13
Birmingham, Alabama (BHM), to College Station, Texas (CLL)
Game: Alabama at Texas A&M
Gameday: Oct. 12, played in College Station, Texas
Outbound is Oct. 11, return is Oct. 13
DCA to SBN
Game: Virginia Tech at Notre Dame
Gameday: Nov. 2, played in Notre Dame, Indiana
Outbound is Nov. 1, return is Nov. 3
Expanded Service
Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina (GSP), to DFW
Game: Texas A&M at Clemson
Gameday: Sept. 7, played in Clemson, South Carolina
Added a fourth return flight on Sept. 8
ORD to State College, Pennsylvania (SCE)
Game: Michigan at Penn State
Gameday: Oct. 19, played in State College, Pennsylvania
Extra round trip added. Outbound is Oct. 18, return is Oct 19.
BHM to DFW
Game: Tennessee at Alabama
Gameday: Oct. 19 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Added a third return flight on Oct. 20
BHM to DFW
Game: LSU at Alabama
Gameday: Nov. 9 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Added an additional return flight on Oct. 20
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees

