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Take a peek inside American's new concourse at its Washington DC hub

Sept. 04, 2020
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3 min read
US-WEATHER-FLIGHTS
Take a peek inside American's new concourse at its Washington DC hub
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Any traveler who has flown on an American Airlines regional jet from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport's Gate 35X knows how terrible the experience is.

Flyers on what amounts to 14 "gates" are stuck in a cramped, basement holdroom while they wait to board a bus that will take them to their aircraft. 35X is widely derided and well known among Washingtonians as the worst gate at the airport.

Travelers will be able to say goodbye to Gate 35X in a little under a year. Washington National (DCA) operator the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) is in the midst of its $1 billion Project Journey expansion that includes a new concourse for American's regional flights that will replace the gate by next July.

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MWAA has shared a look inside work on the concourse whose rise has been watched closely by flyers and locals alike. Located on the northern end of Terminal B/C, the facility will sport 14 gates designed for Embraer E175-sized jets plus a new Admirals Club and local dining and shopping options.

Project Journey also includes new security checkpoints that will move Terminal B/C's iconic National Hall -- the hall overlooking the ramp with Cesar Pelli's soaring Jeffersonian Domes -- inside security. This will provide travelers with more dining and shopping options before their flights, as well as allow flyer connections between concourses without exiting and re-entering security.

While the concourse is due to open on time, work on the checkpoints is running several months late. Airport officials have said the coronavirus pandemic may allow them to accelerate work on the checkpoints enough that they open close to the original March date.

Related: The most dreaded gate at DCA is temporarily closing

COVID-19 did offer travelers one unexpected benefit: it temporarily closed 35X early amid the steep drop in flyer numbers in the pandemic. While the number of flights and passengers has risen in the ensuing months, the former remains at historically low levels.

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Airlines plan to fly just over a quarter of the number of flights they flew a year ago -- or an average of 105 per day -- in September, according to Cirium schedules. American will only fly up to 75 daily departures compared to 247 departures in September 2019, and of those only 8% are on the 50-seat regional jets that formerly frequented Gate 35X.

Rules that ensure American uses more than 80% of its slots, or face losing them, are waived through the end of October, airline spokesperson Nichelle Barrett told TPG. The airline is evaluating its November schedule and has not made a decision on whether to resume pre-pandemic flight levels.

Related: Why I bike to my flights from Washington National Airport

Featured image by AFP/Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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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.