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Exciting New Airline Routes for March 2016 and Beyond
March 29, 2016
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6 min read
Exciting New Airline Routes for March 2016 and Beyond
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Each month, airlines around the world launch and announce dozens of new flight routes and service changes — and today, TPG Assistant Editor Matt Zuzolo shares just a few of the latest flights that will take to the skies this month or in the near future. Keep in mind that exact flight details (e.g., flight schedules, aircraft and more) could change based on travel dates.
NEW ROUTES LAUNCHED IN MARCH 2016
Dubai (DXB) – Auckland (AKL) on Emirates (launched March 1, 2016)
Details — Emirates launched the world's longest flight at the beginning of the month between its hub in Dubai and Auckland, New Zealand. The flight, operated by the airline's 777-200LR aircraft, takes about 17 hours to complete. Qatar also plans to launch a new flight to Auckland soon, which will be just a tad longer than Emirates' service.
Schedule (daily):
- EK448 Dubai (DXB) 10:05am Departure ⇒ Auckland (AKL) 11am (+1) Arrival
- EK449 Auckland (AKL) 9:30pm Departure ⇒ Dubai (DXB) 5:45am (+1) Arrival
Los Angeles (LAX) – Stockholm (ARN) on SAS (launched March 14, 2016)
Details — SAS launched a new nonstop route to the US this month. The flight is about 11 hours long and is in competition with Norwegian, as that carrier already has service between the two cities.
Schedule (daily):
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- SK940 Los Angeles (LAX) 2:15pm Departure ⇒ Stockholm (ARN) 10:00am (+1) Arrival
- SK939 Stockholm (ARN) 9:50am Departure ⇒ Los Angeles (LAX) 12:15pm Arrival
New domestic service on Southwest (launched March 2016)
Details — Southwest launched three new domestic routes this month:
- Pittsburgh (PIT) — St. Louis (STL)
- Washington Dulles (IAD) — Atlanta (ATL)
- Washington Reagan (DCA) — Omaha (OMA)
New domestic and international service on American Airlines (launched March 2016)
Details — American Airlines launched a variety of new flights in North America this month:
- Kansas City (MCI) — Cancun (CUN)
- Nashville (BNA) — Cancun (CUN)
- Pittsburgh (PIT) — Cancun (CUN)
- Raleigh-Durham (RDU) — Cancun (CUN)
- Chicago (ORD) — Albany (ALB)
- Dallas (DFW) — Mérida (MID)
- Phoenix (PHX) — Lubbock (LBB)
- Phoenix (PHX) — Memphis (MEM)
- Phoenix (PHX) — Midland (MAF)
- Phoenix (PHX) — Roswell (ROW)
New domestic and international service on Delta (launched March 2016)
Details — Delta also launched new routes around the US and to Latin America this month:
- Salt Lake City (SLC) — Raleigh-Durham (RDU)
- Atlanta (ATL) — Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI)
- Minneapolis (MSP) — Savannah (SAV)
Chicago (ORD) – Reykjavik (KEF) on Icelandair (launched March 16, 2016)
Details — Icelandair launched a new flight to the US this month with service between Chicago (ORD) and Iceland. You can also book a stopover of up to one week on flights headed to continental Europe.
Schedule (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday):
- FI852 Chicago (ORD) 7:30pm Departure ⇒ Reykjavik (KEF) 6:35am (+1) Arrival
- FI853 Reykjavik (KEF) 4:45pm Departure ⇒ Chicago (ORD) 6:15pm Arrival
Boston (BOS) – Doha (DOH) on Qatar Airways (launched March 16, 2016)
Details — Qatar Airways launched a new flight between Boston and Doha on the airline's new A350 aircraft.
Schedule (daily):
- QR744 Boston (BOS) 10:55pm Departure ⇒ Doha (DOH) 5:45pm (+1) Arrival
- QR743 Doha (DOH) 8:20am Departure ⇒ Boston (BOS) 2:30pm Arrival
NEW ROUTES ANNOUNCED IN MARCH 2016
New international service on Qatar Airways
Details — Qatar Airways announced a variety of new flights around the world earlier this month, including a flight with the goal of dethroning Emirates' current world's longest flight — all of these will originate in Doha (DOH):
Europe:
- Pisa, Italy
- Sarajevo, Bosnia
- Helsinki, Finland
- Skopje, Macedonia
- Nice, France
Africa:
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Windhoek, Namibia
- Seychelles
- Douala, Cameroon
- Libreville, Gabon
- Lusaka, Zambia
South Pacific and Southeast Asia:
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Krabi, Thailand
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
Los Angeles (LAX) – Hong Kong (HKG) on American (launching September 7, 2016)
Details — AA is joining Cathay Pacific with a nonstop flight between LA and Hong Kong this September. The flight will operate daily on the airline's flagship 777-300ER aircraft.
Schedule (daily):
- AA193 Los Angeles (LAX) 1:55am Departure ⇒ Hong Kong (HKG) 8:10am (+1) Arrival
- AA192 Hong Kong (HKG) 8:20pm Departure ⇒ Los Angeles (LAX) 6:40pm Arrival
Los Angeles (LAX) – Beijing (PEK) on Delta (launching December 16, 2016)
Details — Delta is also launching a new flight to Asia from LA. The airline will operate its 777-200ER to Beijing, which includes Delta One service.
Schedule:
- DL9 Los Angeles (LAX) 12:30pm Departure ⇒ Beijing (PEK) 5:45pm (+1) Arrival
- DL8 Beijing (PEK) 7:30pm Departure ⇒ Los Angeles (LAX) 3:45pm Arrival
San Francisco (SFO) – Hangzhou, China (HGH) on United (launching July 13, 2016)
Details — United is joining American and Delta with new announcements for flights to Asia this month — the carrier will be launching a flight to Hangzhou, located in Eastern China, on its 787-9 Dreamliner this summer.
Schedule:
- UA982 San Francisco (SFO) 2:15pm Departure ⇒ Hangzhou (HGH) 6:10pm (+1) Arrival (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday)
- UA983 Hangzhou (HGH) 11:30am Departure ⇒ San Francisco (SFO) 8:25am Arrival (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
New Emirates service to Southeast Asia (launching August 3, 2016)
Details — Emirates will launch two flights to service Yangon, Myanmar (RGN) and Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN) this summer on its 777-300ER. While Emirates is marketing the flight as new service to Yangon and Hanoi, the reality is that travelers heading to Hanoi will have a short connection in Yangon on both the outbound and return trips.
Schedule (daily):
- EK388 Dubai (DXB) 2:50am Departure ⇒ Yangon (RGN) 11:05am Arrival
- EK388 Yangon (RGN) 12:35pm Departure ⇒ Hanoi (HAN) 2:50pm Arrival
- EK389 Hanoi (HAN) 10:50pm Departure ⇒ Yangon (RGN) 12:20am (+1) Arrival
- EK389 Yangon (RGN) 1:50am Departure ⇒ Dubai (DXB) 5:05am Arrival
Which of these new routes are you most excited about?
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- 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.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
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. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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.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.