American adds 2 new domestic routes, including transcon from Pittsburgh
American Airlines is once again going long from Pittsburgh.
The Fort Worth-based carrier will add a new service from Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) beginning on April 4, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.
The airline will deploy a Boeing 737-800 on the 2,136-mile route that'll clock in at around five hours in each direction.
Flights will depart Los Angeles at 9 a.m. and land in Pittsburgh at 4:37 p.m., all times local. The westbound service will depart at 5:57 p.m. and land back in Los Angeles at 8:05 p.m.
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American will go up against startup carrier Breeze Airways on this new route, so it'll be interesting to see how the two airlines compete.
Spirit Airlines used to fly the route as recently as last month, but it has since pulled out as part of a broader network pulldown to focus on the most profitable flying.
Spirit first started flying this route in July 2017. Meanwhile, American last operated this route in February 2017, so it's interesting to see how American is returning to fill the void left by Spirit, which in turn filled American's void nearly a decade ago.
Department of Transportation data analyzed by Cirium shows that, on average, 283 passengers flew each day between the two cities in 2023, meaning that there is likely room for two airlines in the nonstop market.
Note that US Airways, which merged with American in 2013, used to operate a major hub in Pittsburgh. US Airways closed the hub in 2004, but the service to Los Angeles continued well into Pittsburgh's post-hub era.
Now, the airport is busy reinventing itself, with an all-new terminal complex expected to open in the third quarter of next year.
In addition to Pittsburgh, American Airlines is also spreading its wings at its O'Hare International Airport (ORD) hub in Chicago. From there, it'll launch service to Spokane, Washington, in June.
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American's regional affiliate Envoy Air will deploy an Embraer E175 on the route, which will be operated daily in both directions. American last flew from Chicago to Spokane in the summer of 2021, but that route was suspended after just one season.
United Airlines, the other major carrier operating a hub in Chicago, already flies from ORD to Spokane, so the additional competition could lead to lower fares for passengers departing from Chicago.
“American is pleased to announce two new routes starting in 2025. In April, we will offer new nonstop service between Los Angeles (LAX) and Pittsburgh (PIT) and in June we will begin nonstop service between Chicago (ORD) and Spokane (GEG). American continues to build an industry-leading domestic network connecting more passengers to our comprehensive global network. Just in time for summer, these new routes join more than 20 other new routes launching next year, giving travelers more ways to explore familiar favorites or new neighborhoods in 2025," an American spokesperson said in a statement.
While not necessarily a new route, American made one other interesting network addition over the weekend. That's a third daily flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Hartford.
Though there's no telling exactly why American is making the addition, just last week Avelo Airlines announced new service from nearby New Haven, Connecticut, to Dallas-Fort Worth.
American is no stranger to a turf war, so it's possible that this frequency increase is designed to compete with Avelo.
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- Everything you need to know about flying basic economy on American Airlines
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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. |
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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. (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.