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Delta Attacks Silicon Valley to Seattle Route With A220 Launch
Darren Murph
Senior Strategist/Writer
Darren holds the Guinness World Record as the planet's most prolific professional blogger, a feat he achieved in 2010. He's a seasoned storyteller, instructor and communicator, working across marketing, editorial and public relations for some of the world's most progressive brands. He's an explorer at heart, having traversed nearly 50 countries and all 50 US states. He's flown over one million miles on Delta alone, and takes pride in facilitating unforgettable excursions using points and miles.
Feb. 28, 2019
•
4 min read
Delta Attacks Silicon Valley to Seattle Route With A220 Launch
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Delta claims that the A220 offers wide-body amenities in a narrow-body jet, and after reviewing it in both first class and Comfort+, I'd agree with that assessment. Now Delta has announced the first new A220 route since its initial reveal in October of 2018: The airline will begin operating two of its six daily flights between Seattle (SEA) and San Jose (SJC) starting June 8, 2019.
Tickets for A220 flights between the two cities are on sale now through Delta.com.
The inaugural A220 flights shuttle passengers between New York’s LaGuardia (LGA), Boston (BOS) and Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), with Houston (IAH), Detroit (DTW), Salt Lake City (SLC), New York (JFK) and Minneapolis (MSP) set to join the parade by August.
One-way prices are hovering between ~$80 and $140, in line with Alaska and Southwest.
Delta is pricing SkyMiles award tickets at 8,000 miles for main cabin, 9,500 for Comfort+ and 13,000 for first class, all on a one-way basis. There's no price premium to select the A220 over an Embraer regional jet.
Additionally, we've discovered that A220 routes are being added between other cities that Delta serves from San Jose. In a dummy search shown above between San Jose (SJC) and Salt Lake City (SLC) for July 1, 2019, there's an option to fly on the A220. Delta isn't publicly confirming added routes beyond SEA-SJC, but we're also keeping an eye on SJC-LAX and SJC-LAS. These are routes which Delta Connection currently serves via regional jets, and both are ripe for a mainline replacement.
Delta has made a meaningful effort to create a hub out of Seattle. So much effort, in fact, that many cite its forcefulness in the market as the leading driver behind the airline's divorce with Alaska. Presently, three airlines have regularly scheduled commercial flights between SEA and SJC: Alaska, Delta and Southwest.
Both Alaska and Southwest primarily operate Boeing 737s on the route, while Delta currently serves it with a smaller Embraer RJ-175. The A220 flights will operate as mainline Delta routes, replacing Delta Connection carrier Compass on runs presently served by Embraer regional jets.
The introduction of the A220 on the ~700 mile hop means that business travelers who routinely travel between Silicon Valley and the technology hub that is Seattle will now have a far superior product to select. Delta’s A220-100 configuration has 12 first-class seats (three rows in a 2-2 layout), 15 Comfort+ seats (three rows in a 3-2 layout) and 82 standard economy seats in rows of 3-2. Each seat in Comfort+ and the main cabin offers the most width in Delta’s entire fleet, at 18.6 inches.
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Delta installed 13.3 inch touchscreens in the first-class cabin and 10.1 inch touchscreens in Comfort+ and the main cabin. Plus, the high-speed Gogo 2Ku Wi-Fi will be appreciated by the connected clientele that will be most apt to fly this route.
Be sure to check out our additional coverage on the A220:
- I Toured Delta’s Brand New Airbus A220 — Here’s What to Expect
- When Coach Is Actually Comfy: A Review of Comfort+ on Delta’s Airbus A220, NYC to Dallas
- King of Regional Flying: A Review of Delta’s Airbus A220-100 in First Class From Dallas to New York
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All images by Darren Murph / The Points Guy.
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Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
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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. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked 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.