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Frontier adds Burbank as part of 4-route expansion in California
Ben Mutzabaugh
Managing editor
Ben Mutzabaugh is one of the nation's longest-tenured journalists covering aviation, having started with USA Today's groundbreaking "Today in the Sky" blog in 2002. From the inaugural flight on Virgin America to the final flight on US Airways, Ben has been at the forefront of aviation news in the U.S. for two decades.
May 13, 2021
•
4 min read
Frontier adds Burbank as part of 4-route expansion in California
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Frontier Airlines will expand to Burbank as part of a broader expansion in Southern California.
Frontier will begin flying from Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) on July 15 with service to three destinations: Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS) and Phoenix (PHX).
The budget carrier will also expand its presence elsewhere in the L.A. Basin, growing at Ontario International Airport with a new route to Atlanta (ATL) and additional frequencies on existing service to Denver.
But it's Frontier's move to add Burbank to its map that'll likely draw the most attention.
The airport is a popular secondary airport for the L.A. area, located about 15 miles from downtown Los Angeles and about 30 from the region's primary airport, Los Angeles International (LAX).
BUR had been among the nation's hardest-hit big airports during the pandemic. Its airline seat capacity for July 2021 is down by 31.5% from July 2019, according to an OAG analysis of scheduled seats. That ties Burbank with San Francisco (SFO) for the biggest decline during that period.
However, those cuts also have paved the way for some carriers to give Burbank another look.
More: Frontier expands again, takes on American, United in Dallas and Chicago
Most notable among those is Avelo, the nation's newest budget airline that began flying just two weeks ago. Its maiden flight (recap here) came April 28, when it launched the first of 11 routes it will fly from Burbank.
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"We wouldn't have had Burbank but for the pandemic," Avelo founder and CEO Andrew Levy told TPG in the lead-up to the carrier's launch. "I didn't think we would start in Burbank, but there were so many cutbacks."
Since then, there have been other additions at BUR as carriers respond to the new competition from Avelo. That includes a new route by Alaska Airlines (to Santa Rosa, California) that's all but certain to be aimed at Avelo. American also has added flights and bigger planes on its service to Phoenix (PHX) that overlaps with Avelo's flights from BUR to Mesa/Phoenix (AZA).
Now, Frontier is the latest to sense an opportunity at BUR following cuts made by other carriers.
Still, it will face competition on all three of its new routes there. Both Southwest and United fly from BUR to Denver while three carriers each already fly nonstop from BUR to both Las Vegas (JSX, Southwest and Spirit) and Phoenix Sky Harbor and Phoenix (American, JSX, Southwest)). Avelo's service from BUR to Mesa/Phoenix launched just last week.
For Frontier, Burbank will give it a third airport in the greater Los Angeles area. The airline already flies from Los Angeles and Ontario, which sits about 40 miles east of downtown L.A.
"Frontier offers a robust flight schedule in Southern California and the addition of Burbank will provide an even more convenient and easy to use option for many in the region seeking affordable fares and friendly service to a variety of popular destinations," Josh Flyr, Frontier's vice president of network and operational design, said in a statement.
More: Everything you should know before flying Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines' new routes in Southern California
- Burbank-Denver: Begins July 15 (daily service, year-round)
- Burbank-Las Vegas: Begins July 15 (daily service, year-round)
- Burbank-Phoenix: Begins July 15 (daily service, year-round)
- Ontario-Atlanta: Begins July 16 (4 times weekly, seasonal through January 2022)
- Ontario-Denver: Existing route, but additional flights begin July 15 (from daily service to 11 weekly flights)
Featured image by AARONP/BAUER-GRIFFIN/GC IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Best for dining at restaurants
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Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
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. |
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$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.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.