JetBlue opens new Los Angeles base, plans 21 routes by December
JetBlue Airways has made the first fundamental change to airline maps since the coronavirus pandemic hit: it opened a new base in Los Angeles after saying goodbye to its long time digs in Long Beach.
The New York-based carrier inaugurated its LAX base with new nonstop flights to seven cities — Austin (AUS), Bozeman (BZN), Las Vegas (LAS), Reno (RNO), Salt Lake City (SLC), San Francisco (SFO) and Seattle (SEA) — on Wednesday. The first new departure is scheduled as flight B6 2532 from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City at 2:19 p.m. local time, according to Cirium schedules.
The base and first bevy of new routes replace JetBlue's long-standing base at nearby Long Beach (LGB) airport. The airline closed up shop at the airport after 19 years on Tuesday. JetBlue began flights to Long Beach from New York John F. Kennedy in August 2001.
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The new base is the first in what many experts think will be a number of changes to airline route maps as a result of the pandemic. As one of the most competitive airports in the country, LAX may see more moves as Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines all weigh the fates of their own hubs there.
The map changes come as U.S. air travel remains down 65% during the week ending Sept. 27 compared to last year, data from trade group Airlines for America (A4A) shows.
That's not stopping JetBlue in Southern California. Scott Laurence, head of revenue and planning at the airline, has cited the fact that LAX handles two-thirds of the region's air travelers as among the reasons for its move a few miles up the 405 freeway.
Related: JetBlue to open LAX base, end flights to Long Beach in West Coast realignment
"For us, LAX is the new world and we’re burning our ships," Laurence told TPG in an interview on Sept. 30. The airline will add another eight new nonstop routes by year-end. Laurence described the additions as a demonstration to airport operator Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) of JetBlue's commitment to the base it wants to grow to 70 daily flights in five years.
While flights to and from LAX are not restricted like at JetBlue's New York JFK base, the airport is notably gate-tight. In other words, airlines are unable to grow because they do not have the gate and terminal space for additional flights.
JetBlue will open its new focus city with three-and-a-half gates in Terminal 5 at LAX, one more than before the pandemic. It hopes to add more gates to its facilities there in the future, Laurence told CrankyFlier in July.
The airline has served LAX since 2009 and operated up to 20 daily departures from the airport prior to COVID-19.
Related: Airlines are flying some unexpected routes during the pandemic. Will they stick around?
Laurence told TPG that early flight bookings for its new LAX flights “look great." This comes during COVID-19 and in the face of new competition; both Alaska and Delta have already added flights in some of JetBlue's new markets.
At the same time, JetBlue has suspended flights to the Southern California airports of Burbank (BUR) and Ontario (ONT) until at least next April.
JetBlue is due to add flights between LAX and Cancun (CUN) and West Palm Beach (PBI) on Nov. 19. Then on Dec. 18, the airline will begin flights to Charleston, South Carolina (CHS), Hartford (BDL), Liberia (LIR) and San José (SJO) in Costa Rica, Raleigh-Durham (RDU) and Richmond (RIC).
The carrier will fly the new LAX-West Palm Beach and Liberia flights with its posh Mint premium service on Airbus A321 jets.
Related: JetBlue service to Baltimore, some California airports now suspended until April
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- 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.
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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.