Frontier adds 2 new airports in 13-route expansion
Frontier Airlines is (once again) spreading its wings in secondary airports in some of the nation's major markets.
The Denver-based carrier announced on Tuesday a big expansion in Chicago and Houston, where it'll land at the Midway and William P. Hobby airports, respectively, starting later this year.
The airline is making a much bigger splash in Chicago — it'll start 10 new routes from Midway (MDW) beginning on April 28. Historically, Midway, located on the southwest side of Chicago, has been home to (no pun intended) Southwest's operations in the Windy City. Frontier confirmed that it'll be using common-use city gates at the airport.
Meanwhile, service from the Hobby airport in Houston (HOU) — another big focus city for Southwest Airlines — will commence on May 26, with three total routes, all operating less than daily.
Despite Frontier marketing the news as two brand-new pins for its route map, the airline has actually previously served both airports in recent years. The airline last flew to Midway in April 2015 and to Hobby in July 2012, according to Cirium schedule data.
In both cases, the airline consolidated its operations to the primary airport in the respective metro area, O'Hare (ORD) in Chicago and George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) in Houston. At the time, the airline said that it "had a disadvantage in the airport that we serve" in Chicago.
Now, what's old is new again for Frontier, as the airline looks to offer more options for flyers in each of the metro areas.
“We’re excited to strengthen our position in two of the five largest metro areas in the country with 13 new routes and two additional airport options for our customers flying to or from Chicago or Houston... This strategic announcement situates Frontier to capture strong existing demand and stimulate new traffic with affordable fares and convenient service," Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial for Frontier, said in a statement.
Related: Frontier unveils 16 new routes in big South Florida expansion
As part of the news, the airline is shifting much of its existing service from O'Hare to Midway. In fact, of the 10 Chicago new routes, only one (to Orlando) will be served from both O'Hare and Midway. Eight of the new Chicago flights will move from O'Hare to Midway, leaving O'Hare with Frontier service to just four destinations: Cancun (CUN), Orlando (MCO), Punta Cana (PUJ) and San Juan (SJU).
Meanwhile, the move is completely additive in Houston where the carrier will continue to serve Atlanta (ATL), Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Orlando (MCO) and Philadelphia (PHL) from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Frontier is going to do what it can to give Southwest a run for its money in both markets. To celebrate the new routes, Frontier is offering one-way fares as low as $29. The new flights are already available for booking on the airline's website.
Of the 13 new routes, only two aren't served by Southwest. Frontier will have a monopoly on the Midway to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Trenton (TTN) routes. Otherwise, the airline will go head-to-head against Southwest, which could lead to fare wars or other competitive moves from the nation's largest low-cost carrier in the coming months.
New routes from Chicago Midway (MDW)
| Destination | Service start | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta (ATL) | April 28 | Daily | Moved from ORD |
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) | April 28 | Daily | Moved from ORD |
Denver (DEN) | April 28 | Daily | Moved from ORD |
Las Vegas (LAS) | April 28 | Daily | Moved from ORD |
Ontario (ONT) | April 28 | Daily | Moved from ORD |
Phoenix (PHX) | April 28 | Daily | Moved from ORD |
Tampa (TPA) | April 28 | Daily | Moved from ORD |
Trenton (TTN) | April 29 | 4x weekly | Moved from ORD |
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Oct. 13 | Daily | New |
Orlando (MCO) | Oct. 13 | Daily | Served from both ORD and MDW |
New routes from Houston Hobby (HOU)
| Destination | Service start | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
Cancun (CUN) | May 26 | 3x weekly |
Las Vegas (LAS) | May 27 | 4x weekly |
Orlando (MCO) | May 27 | 4x weekly |
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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.