Spirit Airlines adds 2 new cities in 12-route expansion
The never-ending route-map adjustments just keep coming.
The latest comes from Spirit Airlines, which revealed a big network news on Thursday. The ultra low-cost carrier is adding two dots to its map — Pensacola (PNS) in Florida and St. Louis (STL) — with 12 nonstop routes.
Service from St. Louis will launch on May 27, with new daily flights to some of Spirit's biggest cities — Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX) and Orlando (MCO).
"St. Louis was a natural addition for us. It's the largest city in the United States that Spirit doesn't currently serve... As we look at cities with similar characteristics to St. Louis, they've been rebounding quickly, making us confident that now is the right time to start serving the Gateway to the West," Nick Bartolotta, director of network planning, said in a taped video interview.
By connecting St. Louis with Spirit's largest cities, the carrier is hoping to capitalize on leisure-focused trips to the theme parks in Orlando or the Las Vegas strip, as well as VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic in Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles.
In addition to the four aforementioned routes, the carrier will start daily service from STL to Pensacola on June 10.
June 10 coincides with the date when Spirit will start operations at its new Pensacola outstation. The carrier's seven new PNS routes are all listed below. Interestingly, Miramar, Florida-based Spirit won't be flying from its operating bases to Pensacola. Much of the growth includes flights to and from secondary cities, like Columbus, Ohio (CMH), and Louisville (SDF) — another recently-announced Spirit city.
"I can't tell you how many people have come to me since I've been in this job and asked why Spirit doesn't fly to the Florida Panhandle," Bartolotta remarked.
Spirit's expansion in Pensacola comes as the city sees explosive growth in air service, despite the pandemic. As airlines look to boost revenues, they've been increasingly shifting from business- to leisure-focused routes, many of which touch the Florida panhandle.
Related: How airline route maps may continue to change in 2021 and beyond
With its relaxed COVID restrictions and a plethora of socially distant activities, pandemic-weary travelers — and airlines — have been flocking to Pensacola. Just take a look at the timetables.
Cirium schedules show that Pensacola is expected to handle roughly 10% more flights in the second quarter of 2021, compared to the same time period in 2019. Double-digit growth during the pandemic is notable, especially when airlines are slashing monthly operations by nearly 50% compared to 2019.
American Airlines, Southwest and United have all added or boosted Pensacola flights in recent months in response to the changing demand patterns.
Perhaps most interesting is the daily PNS to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) flight. American Airlines has long had a stronghold in the market, with multiple daily frequencies between the cities.
Spirit likely sees an opportunity to break the monopoly. In recent years, American's DFW mega-hub has become a focus city for the budget carrier, as it aims to steal market share from American.
Related: The ultimate guide to Spirit Airline's Free Spirit loyalty program
Department of Transportation data shows that the nonstop DFW to PNS route had roughly 105 daily passengers in 2019, with more than 93% of them choosing American for an average gross fare of $221. With Spirit's fares starting at $45, some AA flyers might be tempted to choose Spirit's new service.
St. Louis and Pensacola are Spirit's seventh and eighth new destinations, respectively, added in the past year. Thus far in 2021, the airline has announced new and additional flights to Louisville, Milwaukee (MKE) and New York LaGuardia (LGA), including a transcon LGA to LAX route, which is poised to become LGA's longest.
A full list of Spirit's new Pensacola routes
| Destination | Flights available | Launch date |
|---|---|---|
Austin (AUS) | Tue/Thu/Sun | 6/10/21 |
Columbus (CMH) | Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat | 6/11/21 |
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) | Daily | 6/10/21 |
Indianapolis (IND) | Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat | 6/11/21 |
Kansas City (MCI) | Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat | 6/11/21 |
Louisville (SDF) | Tue/Thu/Sun | 6/10/21 |
St. Louis (STL) | Daily | 6/10/21 |
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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. (Partner offer)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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- 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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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.