Norwegian Air Announces New Service Between US Cities and Barcelona, Hints at More Expansion
Historically, flying transatlantic between the US and Europe has required travelers to fork over a pretty substantial chunk of cash. But that all changed when low-cost carrier Norwegian Air stepped on the scene, taking the transatlantic market by storm. Since its first European flights from New York (JFK) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) in 2012, the carrier has expanded its network at an alarming (and exciting) rate, offering travelers a low-cost option for travel to and from Europe.
And today, Norwegian's announced that it's expanding its US to Europe network even further. The carrier is launching service from several cities in the US to Barcelona (BCN), the most notable of which being the addition of Newark (EWR) to its route network. Here are the new routes to Barcelona and the launch dates:
- Newark (EWR) to Barcelona (BCN) — begins June 6, 2017, with 2x weekly service until the end of August when it will start 4x weekly service. Fares start at $189 one-way.
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Barcelona (BCN) — begins August 22, 2017, with 2x weekly service. Fares start at $189 one-way.
- Los Angeles (LAX) to Barcelona (BCN) — begins June 5, 2017, with 2x weekly service until the end of August when it will start 3x weekly service. Fares start at $199 one-way.
- Oakland/San Francisco (OAK) to Barcelona (BCN) — begins June 7, 2017, with 2x weekly service until the end of August when it will start 3x weekly service. Fares start at $199 one-way.
The new Newark service is the first from the airport for the carrier, which previously operated all of its New York flights from JFK. Norwegian's Chief Commercial Officer Thomas Ramdahl told TPG that the carrier's expansion to Newark had to do with both the opening of new slots at the airport and looking to expand to a new market and other customers in the New Jersey area. Ramdahl also hinted that the carrier was in talks with a third New York-area airport to offer more service between its growing New York market and Europe, but he didn't specify the airport.
Ramdahl said that Norwegian is also planning to introduce long-haul service with its new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft as soon as 2018, as it's taking delivery of six of them in June 2017. These smaller 737 MAX aircraft are capable of long-haul routes from the East Coast to the UK — cities like Edinburgh (EDI) and London (LGW). The use of these smaller aircraft could help in expanding the airline's route network to smaller European cities so passengers don't have to transfer at larger hubs. In addition, Norwegian will continue to use its 787 Dreamliners on other routes, such as from the West Coast to Europe.
As part of the announcement, Norwegian also shared plans to add service from the Bay Area to another European destination — Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH). The new OAK-CPH route will be the fifth between the Bay Area and Europe since it began, and it's expected to begin next spring.
Ramdahl told TPG that the expansions aren't done yet, as Norwegian's had its eyes set on several other European cities for nonstop service from the US — Madrid (MAD), Rome (FCO), Budapest (BUD) and Prague (PRG), to name a few. However, there aren't any set plans as of now. Next year, Norwegian's focusing on offering passengers more frequent flights within its existing route network — like bumping some of its new Barcelona services from 2x weekly service to 3x or 4x weekly service, and increasing its Paris frequencies.
Last year, Norwegian took the internet by storm when it announced that it was planning to offer $69 one-way fares between the US and Europe. When asked about the status of this, Ramdahl said that if Norwegian can come to an agreement with select airports, the $69 one-way fares could be available before this year's holiday season. These fares will be offered on the carrier's shortest-haul flights, for example between the East Coast and Edinburgh (EDI).
As of today, the new Barcelona routes are bookable on Norwegian's website, and the pricing is about as cheap as you'll find on any transatlantic routes. Don't forget that with certain foreign carriers — especially Norwegian — you can sometimes get even cheaper fares by booking on the foreign version of the carrier's website.
Although Norwegian is a low-cost carrier, its product is nothing to shy away from. TPG Editor-in-Chief Zach Honig and TPG himself both flew the carrier's premium product and thoroughly enjoyed their experiences. In addition, the economy product was solid on a transatlantic flight — especially in a bulkhead seat.
These new routes are the latest in the seemingly constant expansion of Norwegian's route network. Currently, Norwegian offers a greater number of nonstop routes from the US to Europe than any other European airline. And the hints from CCO Ramdahl make it seem like there are certainly more exciting things to come in the not-too-distant future.
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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
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- 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.
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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. |
| 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. |
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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.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.