American drops Bangalore route, but is it gone for good?
American Airlines announced one of its flashiest long-haul routes just weeks before the pandemic hit, and now, nearly three years later, that service may never actually take off.
The 8,078-mile flight, which was supposed to connect Seattle with Bangalore, India, was originally scheduled to begin in October 2020.
The coronavirus ended up grounding the global aviation market just weeks after the airline's splashy route announcement, and American never moved forward with launching the Bangalore route. Instead, it kept delaying the inaugural service for months at a time.
Aviation observers have wondered if American would ever end up flying the route, and, as time goes on, it appears less and less likely that it'll come to fruition.
Turns out, the Fort Worth-based carrier just removed the Bangalore service from all future schedules as part of its latest network update. That means you cannot purchase a ticket for American service to Bangalore at the moment, and everyone with existing reservations will be offered re-accommodation or a refund.
When asked if American will ever move forward with launching Bangalore service, a carrier spokesperson shared that "we pulled SEA-BLR to open this weekend as we're still hoping to fly it sometime in the future." American does not have a timeline for when it might start flying to Bangalore.
This new India route was supposed to be supported by American's West Coast international alliance with Alaska Airlines.
As part of the pact, American would add new long-haul routes from Seattle, while Alaska would provide domestic connectivity to boost the feed.
American already move forward with launching new nonstop service from Seattle to London in March 2021, but the India route has fared differently.
It was mostly designed for business travelers, some of which have not returned to pre-pandemic levels of international travel.
Plus, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent airspace closures, the nonstop to Seattle may no longer be commercially feasible.
Interestingly, the Bangalore route was supposed to mark American's first foray in India since 2012, but the carrier ended up adding a new route in partnership with JetBlue Airways from New York to Delhi, which launched in November 2021 and has since been flying on a daily basis.
While American's Bangalore ambitions seem to be receding, competitor United Airlines is still planning to fly to this Indian city in the coming future.
The Chicago-based carrier announced in September 2020 that it would start flying from its San Francisco hub to Bangalore. That route has also faced multiple delays, and United is currently scheduled to begin operating the flight on March 24, 2023.
Whether that happens is anyone's guess, but it's certainly possible that United will now follow American's lead and drops its Bangalore plans, too.
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.