Spirit Airlines adds 3 LaGuardia routes, including airport's longest
Spirit Airlines is back with more network news.
On Tuesday, the Miramar, Florida-based carrier announced an expansion of its New York LaGuardia operations — both by adding new routes and by starting service from a second LGA terminal.
Spirit will add three new destinations from LGA, beginning with flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU), on April 17. Roughly three weeks later, on May 5, daily flights to Nashville (BNA) will take off. Finally, on June 12, the carrier will connect LGA and Los Angeles (LAX). Both SJU and LAX routes will operate on Saturdays only.
In addition to the new routes, the carrier will also boost its existing frequencies to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to five daily flights.
To support this growth, Spirit needs more gates at LaGuardia. The carrier worked with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — the operator of LGA — to secure additional gates in the Marine Air Terminal (Terminal A). Starting on April 28, Spirit flights will depart from two terminals at the airport, as follows:
- Terminal A (Marine Air Terminal): All flights to Fort Lauderdale (five flights each day)
- Terminal C: Flights to all destinations other than Fort Lauderdale will depart from Terminal C
"Our Guests love the convenience LaGuardia Airport provides, and we’re excited about offering even more nonstop options now that we have the opportunity to use both Terminal C and the Marine Air Terminal,” John Kirby, Spirit's vice president of network planning, said in a statement.
Of course, splitting operations from two terminals can lead to confusion for flyers. To allay those concerns, Spirit is working with the Port Authority to add signage and pre-departure communications to ensure travelers end up at the appropriate terminal. Spirit will use gates 3 and 4 at Terminal A, along with Gate C37 in Terminal C.
For those that mistakenly arrive at the incorrect terminal, Spirit will offer a landside shuttle bus between the two concourses that'll operate every 15-20 minutes and will run from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Interestingly, Spirit's move to the Marine Air Terminal comes as long-time tenant JetBlue cozies up with American Airlines in a new Northeast alliance. American currently flies from the new Terminal B, so it's possible that JetBlue might be considering a move there for easier airside connections. For now, however, JetBlue will remain in Terminal A.
Related: LaGuardia's new terminal is a major upgrade — see for yourself
The Marine Air Terminal is one of the most convenient at LGA. It's accessed via a dedicated exit from the highway and doesn't suffer from the same road congestion as LaGuardia's other terminals. With just six gates, it almost feels like you're flying private.
Many flyers will prefer the ease of flying from Terminal A, even though it lacks some basic conveniences, like a variety of concessions and dining options.
As for Spirit's new routes, they largely focus on flying leisure-oriented passengers to warm-weather destinations that have plenty of built-in social distancing.
Florida flying has been especially popular during the pandemic, as the state's favorable weather and limited coronavirus restrictions make it an appealing choice for pandemic-weary travelers looking for an escape. The same is true of Puerto Rico, though travelers will need a pre-flight negative COVID test to avoid quarantine.
Related: Where you can go if you're vaccinated
As for Los Angeles, that's more of a wild card. For one, Spirit is only legally allowed to fly the flight on Saturdays.
LaGuardia has a perimeter rule that prohibits any nonstop flights to points beyond 1,500 miles, except for flights on Saturdays and those to Denver.
At 2,469 miles, the LGA to LAX hop will be the airport's longest route when it launches. With Saturday-only service, Spirit is likely banking on budget-conscious travelers looking to vacation or spend a week visiting friends and family in California.
Cirium schedules show that Delta last operated a Saturday-only LGA to LAX flights in December 2006, before scrapping the route.
Transcontinental travelers have a host of flight options from the New York City area to Los Angeles. Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue and United all fly from either JFK or Newark to Los Angeles, with over 20 daily flights even during the pandemic.
The full timetable for the new LGA routes can be found below:
LGA-BNA 7:42 p.m. - 9:02 p.m.
BNA-LGA 3:42 p.m. - 6:52 p.m.
LGA - SJU 2 p.m. - 5:50 p.m.
SJU - LGA 9:20 a.m. - 1:01 p.m.
LGA - LAX 07:20 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
LAX - LGA 1:30 p.m. - 10:05 p.m.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 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
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
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.
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. (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.