Snag a wide-body flight on these unusual domestic routes during the holidays
In a "normal" year, the travel industry would be gearing up for a busy holiday season.
For airlines, that includes tweaking schedules to boost capacity on the most popular domestic routes. During winter in the Northern Hemisphere — and particularly over the holidays — U.S. carriers typically see weaker demand for transatlantic travel. Instead of parking their wide-body jets or flying them well below capacity, many are redeployed on the busiest domestic hops.
While 2020 is far from "normal", this annual trend still holds. Airlines are running some interesting flights between Dec. 15 and Jan. 15. Let's take a look at some of the highlights below, based on the latest Cirium schedule data.
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American's widebodies to warm destinations
American Airlines has long deployed wide-body planes on many domestic routes. But during this holiday season, the carrier is doubling down on its strategy.
From Dallas Fort-Worth (DFW), the carrier is sending its flagship planes to multiple warm-weather, outdoor destinations across the United States. Some of the highlights include:
- Daily flights to Las Vegas (LAS) using the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
- Daily flights to Miami (MIA) using the Boeing 777-200 or Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
- Daily flights to Orlando (MCO) using the Boeing 777-200 or 777-300
- Flights to Phoenix (PHX) using the Boeing 777-200 (daily through Jan. 4, 2021)
Aside from Dallas, the carrier will continue flying from New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) using the Boeing 777-200 instead of the Airbus A321T. Plus, the carrier will operate multiple daily flights from JFK to Miami using a Boeing 777.
Related: American is offering lie-flat seats on some surprising domestic routes
Delta's push for beaches and skiing
Like American, Delta will also deploy some of its largest planes to warm-weather destinations this holiday season.
From its mega-hub in Atlanta, the carrier will fly the Boeing 767 to:
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Las Vegas (LAS)
- Orlando (MCO)
- Phoenix (PHX)
- Tampa (TPA)
Wide-body flights to Phoenix and Tampa are operating daily, but be sure to check the schedules before booking to the three other, non-daily destinations.
But that's not all.
The carrier is also entrenching its position in Fort Myers (RSW) from its second- and third-busiest airports, Detroit (DTW) and Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP). Delta will fly the Boeing 767 on most days for routes between these cities.
In addition, Delta is clearly betting that flyers will want to hit the slopes this holiday season. The carrier will operate 35 flights from Atlanta to Denver using the Boeing 767 — the first time it's done that since 2018.
Related: Colorado braces to wave of new winter flights as Americans flock to ‘snow and sun’ destinations
Mint to the Caribbean
JetBlue's Mint business class is one of the best — and most affordable — products in the skies.
While the New York City-based carrier typically flies its Mint-equipped Airbus A321s on long cross-country routes, the carrier does strategically deploy them to the Caribbean on days with weaker transcontinental demand.
This holiday season, JetBlue is doubling down on Aruba (AUA), with daily nonstop flights from both Boston (BOS) and New York (JFK). You'll also see Mint on select routes from BOS and JFK to Liberia (LIR), St. Lucia (UVF) and St. Maarten (SXM), among others.
The best part about flying Mint to the Caribbean is that you can often snag a great deal. Couple that with a newly overhauled soft product (think: restaurant-inspired menus and comfy bedding), and you'll be starting your vacation in style.
United is playing the hub-to-hub strategy
American and Delta are both planning to fly their largest planes on multiple leisure-oriented domestic routes this holiday season. United, on the other hand, doesn't appear to be making a similar strategy shift.
Instead, the carrier is largely sticking to its year-round domestic wide-body schedule. The Chicago-based carrier has long flown some of its largest jets between hubs, like Chicago (ORD) to Houston (IAH).
Many of these routes are continuing this holiday season. Aside from the traditional hub-to-hub routes, you'll find widebodies on most of United's Hawaii flights, as well as select frequencies on the premium transcontinental service between Newark (EWR) and Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO).
Bottom line
This holiday season, carriers are largely boosting the capacity on routes to "snow and sun" destinations.
With airlines strategically redeploying their largest international jets on these domestic routes, flyers can enjoy lie-flat seats and wider cabins when flying around the country.
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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.