JetBlue Details Major West Coast Expansion
JetBlue, the New York-based low-cost carrier, is expanding its presence on the West Coast. The carrier has traditionally been focused on the East Coast (its two largest hubs are at New York-JFK and Boston), but it's now beefing up its presence on the West Coast in an attempt to better compete against the post-merger Alaska Airlines, which has combined with Virgin America and has a strong presence in the west.
As part of Wednesday's announcement, JetBlue is bringing a number of changes to its schedule for the rest of 2018. You can find each of the changes below. Note that with the exception of the Mint routes, all will be operated with the carrier's A320 aircraft:
New West Coast Cities
JetBlue is launching service to the following cities in 2018:
- Ontario, California (ONT) — JetBlue previously served ONT between 2000 and 2008
- Daily service to/from New York (JFK) beginning September 5:
- B6 355 New York (JFK) 7:12pm Departure ⇒ Ontario (ONT) 10:39pm Arrival
- B6 354 Ontario (ONT) 11:59pm Departure ⇒ New York (JFK) 8:24 (+1) Arrival
- Daily service to/from New York (JFK) beginning September 5:
- Steamboat Springs, Colorado (HDN)
- 2x weekly (Wednesday and Saturday) service to/from Boston (BOS) beginning December 15:
- B6 1227 Boston (BOS) 9:14am Departure ⇒ Steamboat/Hayden (HDN) 12:16pm Arrival
- B6 1228 Steamboat/Hayden (HDN) 1:11pm Departure ⇒ Boston (BOS) 7:17pm Arrival
- 1x weekly (Saturday) service to/from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) beginning December 15:
- B6 45 Fort Lauderdale (FLL) 7:31am Departure ⇒ Steamboat/Hayden (HDN) 10:27am Arrival
- B6 48 Steamboat/Hayden (HDN) 11:22am Departure ⇒ Fort Lauderdale (FLL) 5:20pm Arrival
- 2x weekly (Wednesday and Saturday) service to/from Long Beach (LGB) beginning December 15:
- B6 820 Long Beach (LGB) 11:14am Departure ⇒ Steamboat/Hayden (HDN) 2:15pm Arrival
- B6 821 Steamboat/Hayden (HDN) 3:00pm Departure ⇒ Long Beach (LGB) 4:14pm Arrival
- 2x weekly (Wednesday and Saturday) service to/from Boston (BOS) beginning December 15:
- Bozeman, Montana (BZN)
- 2x weekly (Thursday and Sunday) service to/from Long Beach (LGB) beginning December 13:
- B6 10 Long Beach (LGB) 10:48am Departure ⇒ Bozeman (BZN) 2:27pm Arrival
- B6 9 Bozeman (BZN) 3:12pm Departure ⇒ Long Beach (LGB) 4:51pm Arrival
- 2x weekly (Thursday and Sunday) service to/from Long Beach (LGB) beginning December 13:
Additions in California and Utah
JetBlue has operated at Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) since 2005, and it remains the only carrier to offer transcon service to the airport with its New York-JFK flights. Clearly, that route has been a success, as the airline announced Wednesday that it's going to add a second daily round-trip on the route. The added frequency will feature daylight travel times over the traditional redeye. Here are the two daily nonstops JetBlue will offer on the route, beginning September 5:
- B6 2359 New York (JFK) 7:43am Departure ⇒ Burbank (BUR) 10:51am Arrival
- B6 2358 Burbank (BUR) 11:41am Departure ⇒ New York (JFK) 8:05pm Arrival
- B6 359 New York (JFK) 5:23pm Departure ⇒ Burbank (BUR) 8:39pm Arrival
- B6 358 Burbank (BUR) 9:59pm Departure ⇒ New York (JFK) 6:26am (+1) Arrival
In addition to the additional frequency on the JFK route, it will add another daily transcon route to Boston (BOS), effective September 5. As of Wednesday, seats are on sale for the new route with fares starting at $139 one-way. Here's the schedule for that new route:
- B6 2339 Boston (BOS) 3:28pm Departure ⇒ Burbank (BUR) 6:48pm Arrival
- B6 2338 Burbank (BUR) 8:08pm Departure ⇒ Boston (BOS) 4:40am (+1) Arrival
That's not all that's in the pipeline for New Englanders, though. Also beginning September 5, JetBlue will add a second daily nonstop flight between BOS and Long Beach (LGB), which means there will be a daylight flight in both directions. Here's the schedule of the two daily BOS-LGB frequencies:
- B6 2405 Boston (BOS) 9:16am Departure ⇒ Long Beach (LGB) 12:35pm Arrival
- B6 2404 Long Beach (LGB) 9:58am Departure ⇒ Boston (BOS) 6:28pm Arrival
- B6 405 Boston (BOS) 6:13pm Departure ⇒ Long Beach (LGB) 9:33pm Arrival
- B6 504 Long Beach (LGB) 9:35pm Departure ⇒ Boston (BOS) 6:02am (+1) Arrival
Finally, JetBlue is adding a second daily frequency on its existing route between JFK and Salt Lake City (SLC). Effective September 5, the flights are scheduled as daylight flights in both directions, and will link JetBlue's nearly 2,500 customer support agents that are based in the Salt Lake City area to the airline's home base in NYC. Here are the schedules for both JFK-SLC frequencies:
- B6 871 New York (JFK) 9:29am Departure ⇒ Sal Lake City (SLC) 12:57pm Arrival
- B6 872 Salt Lake City (SLC) 2:00pm Departure ⇒ New York (JFK) 8:27pm Arrival
- B6 71 New York (JFK) 7:07pm Departure ⇒ Salt Lake City (SLC) 10:28pm Arrival
- B6 72 Salt Lake City (SLC) 11:18pm Departure ⇒ New York (JFK) 5:44am (+1) Arrival
Refining Long Beach (LGB) Ops
In addition to launching service to three new cities and adding frequencies in others, JetBlue is refining its Long Beach, California (LGB) schedule to "better meet the needs of the market." When the changes take effect on September 5, 2018, JetBlue will operate up to 23 daily flights from LGB.
Beginning September 5, the carrier will operate the following routes from LGB:
- Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) — 3x daily service
- Oakland International Airport (OAK) — 2x daily service
- Portland International Airport (PDX) — 1x daily service
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) — up to 3x daily service
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) — 2x daily service
- San José International Airport (SJC) — 2x daily service
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) — 1x daily service
The changes detailed above do not count the current flights from LGB to New York (JFK), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Austin (AUS), Reno (RNO) and Sacramento (SMF), which will all remain the same.
More Mint to Palm Springs
Last year, JetBlue flew its Mint-equipped A321s between New York (JFK) and Palm Springs (PSP) for a short period of time during the holiday season. The carrier said that it was an extremely successful service, and it's going to bring it back again this year around the same time. Specifically, you'll be able to fly a Mint-equipped A321 between JFK and PSP between December 20, 2018, and January 3, 2019 with the following schedule:
- B6 149 New York (JFK) 9:25am Departure ⇒ Palm Springs (PSP) 12:39pm Arrival
- B6 150 Palm Springs (PSP) 2:00pm Departure ⇒ New York (JFK) 10:04pm Arrival
Beginning October 10, JetBlue will resume operating its JFK-PSP route altogether — though with its non-Mint-equipped A320. It will initially operate with 4x weekly service before expanding to daily service in mid-December. Here's the schedule for the service:
- B6 149 New York (JFK) 5:42pm Departure ⇒ Palm Springs (PSP) 8:55pm Arrival
- B6 150 Palm Springs (PSP) 9:45pm Departure ⇒ New York (JFK) 5:40m (+1) Arrival
Bottom Line
With all of Wednesday's announced changes, it's clear that JetBlue has intentions to increase its presence and focus on the West Coast. The announcement come just one day after its main mid-size competitor, Alaska Airlines, officially merged with Virgin America. Prior to Alaska's acquisition, there were rumors that JetBlue was eyeing Virgin — a move that would have established a presence on both coasts. Since the deal didn't work out in JetBlue's favor, it looks like the airline is making moves of its own to cement its footprint in the region.
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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
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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.