Fly Lie-Flat Biz to Cancun and Anchorage Coming to AA Dreamliners
Every other month, we at TPG go through American Airlines' schedule to find all of the internationally-configured wide-body aircraft that AA is flying domestically. These flights are great for getting a spacious lie-flat seat rather than a standard recliner seat in business class, and most aircraft have in-flight entertainment screens and in-seat power in economy.
However, there's two notable wide-body AAircraft AAdditions that are coming up in 2019 that are worth highlighting: American Airlines is scheduling internationally-configured Dreamliners on flights to Cancun this winter/spring and Anchorage in the summer.
American Airlines is launching Dreamliner service on the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Cancun (CUN) route on Jan. 6, 2019 — a delay from the originally-reported launch of Dec. 19 — using a Boeing 787-8 on the following flight schedule:
- AA 2684 — Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) 1:45pm Departure ⇒ Cancun (CUN) 4:15pm Arrival
- AA 2684 — Cancun (CUN) 6:25pm Departure ⇒ Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) 8:25pm Arrival
Then, from Mar. 3 to Apr. 1, 2019, this route will also get a once-daily flight using a Boeing 787-9, which offers premium economy seats and a better business class product than the 787-8. This flight will operate on the following schedule:
- AA 1190 — Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) 9:05am Departure ⇒ Cancun (CUN) 12:45pm Arrival
- AA 1601 — Cancun (CUN) 2:05pm Departure ⇒ Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) 4:10pm Arrival
Then, from Jun. 6 to Sept. 3, 2019, a Boeing 787-8 will operate between DFW and Anchorage:
- AA 399 — Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) 3:25pm Departure ⇒ Anchorage (ANC) 7:12pm Arrival
- AA 399 — Anchorage (ANC) 8:40pm Departure ⇒ Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) 6:00am Arrival (+1 day)
Let's go through why this is good news for flyers:
Elite Upgrades: As both of these destinations are in North America, they fall under American Airlines' 500-mile upgrade scheme. That means that Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum elites will get complimentary upgrades to lie-flat business class on these flights — and EPs will even get free upgrades on award flights.
AA Gold and Platinum elites will have to "pay" three 500-mile certificates for the 1,028-mile flights between Dallas-Cancun and a hefty seven 500-mile certificates for the 3,043-mile flights between Dallas-Anchorage.
Award flights: As these aircraft have significantly more capacity than the aircraft they're replacing, hopefully this will mean more availability when booking with miles. In addition to nearly double the business class seats, there shouldn't much competition from business travelers on these mostly-leisure routes.
And while American Airlines charges a premium for coast-to-coast award flights in lie-flat business class, there's no mileage premium charged for booking a lie-flat business class on these routes. So, you'll get a significant upgrade over the alternatives for the same price.
Speaking of the mileage price, flights between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Anchorage (ANC) are pricing out at:
- Economy: 15,000 miles plus $5.60 taxes/fees one-way
- Business: 30,000 miles plus $5.60 taxes/fees one-way
Despite being significantly shorter flights, award flights between DFW and Cancun (CUN) cost the same number of miles in economy plus more taxes:
- Economy: 15,000 miles plus $32 taxes/fees one-way
- Business: 25,000 miles plus $32 taxes/fees one-way
Premium Economy Sold as Economy: The last benefit worth highlighting is that all Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners have a premium economy cabin. And, the Boeing 787-8 aircraft are going to be retrofit in early 2019. On the Cancun routes, American Airlines isn't selling premium economy as a separate class of service, so these extra-legroom, extra-width seats will be coded as "Main Cabin Extra." These seats will be free for Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum elites to reserve at booking.
On the Anchorage flights, AA is going to sell the premium economy cabin as a separate class of service. That means that you'll have to pay a little more to get these seats, but you'll get all of the benefits of AA premium economy — including better service and catering.
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- 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.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
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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Intro Offer
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.