United is adding 2 brand-new destinations to its route map
Two regional airports are big winners in United Airlines' latest route-map adjustment
In a move to boost its flying to outdoor-friendly destinations, United will launch flights to the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport near Bishop, California (BIH), from three of its hubs: Denver (DEN), Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO), according to Cirium schedules and confirmed by the carrier to TPG.
This will mark the first commercial service that the airport has seen this century. Seasonal service to Bishop will commence on Dec. 16, 2021, and run through March 26, 2022.
Each of the three routes will operate daily through the winter season. United is tapping its regional partner SkyWest Airlines to operate these routes using a 70-seat CRJ-700 regional jet.
Service to Bishop will replace the carrier's suspended service to Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH), which — according to the carrier — will no longer support commercial air service. Going forward, flyers headed to Mammoth will need to route through Bishop.
United will also add a second new airport to its network: Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport in Lewiston, Idaho (LWS). This Idahoan airport will be served with daily, year-round flights from Denver beginning on Oct. 5. The flight will mark the airport's second commercial service, joining Delta's existing nonstop from Salt Lake City.
United Express partner SkyWest Airlines will fly the route using a 50-seat CRJ-200 outfitted in an all-coach 2-2 configuration.
For United, both airports are new destinations. Cirium schedules, which go back to 2003, show that the Chicago-based carrier hasn't served either destination in at least 18 years.
The move to boost flights to airports near outdoor activities aligns with the carrier's pandemic-era network strategy.
Bishop, located in California's Eastern Sierra region, is within close proximity to the Mammoth ski area, a major skiing and snowboarding destination, which is roughly an hour-long drive from BIH. Just note that, for now, BIH appears to have very limited passenger services. There currently aren't any car rental agencies at the airport, for example, though there are off-airport locations several miles away.
While United is adding flights to Bishop, it's dropping service to MMH, the airport of choice for skiers and snowboarders heading to Mammoth due to its close proximity to the mountain.
United confirmed to TPG that the more convenient MMH airport will no longer support commercial operations, and local reports offer insights as to why. Residents and visitors have been displeased with the poor reliability at the Mammoth airport. In December 2019, the Mammoth Yosemite Airport saw eight out of a total of thirty-one flights from Los Angeles canceled, Mammoth Lakes Tourism Director John Urdi said to The Sheet of Mammoth Lakes.
The move to Bishop would reportedly create more reliable and consistent commercial options for residents and visitors, local officials told KRSW-FM radio of Bishop.
Related: United bets big on winter travel in 39-route boost to the mountains
As for the Lewiston flight, United told TPG that the service would complement "the airline's extensive lineup of routes to popular outdoor recreation destinations." There are recreational areas, state parks, vineyards and other attractions near this city that sits along Idaho's border with Washington. Lewiston will be United's fifth route to Idaho, joining service to Boise, Idaho Falls, Sun Valley and Twin Falls.
While this flight is a notable boost for United's network, it also underscores the importance of Denver as the airline's fastest-growing hub
In January 2020, United outlined plans to grow its Denver hub to more than 700 daily departures by 2025. That was pre-pandemic, of course. But if United returns to that trajectory after the COVID-19 crisis eases, it would give the airline its busiest schedule ever there —and potentially enough to make the Mile High City the second-busiest on its route map.
Tuesday's route-map shake-up comes on the heels of a similar move made by the carrier earlier this month. In early June, United boosted 39 routes to mountain destinations for the winter season.
Combined with the airline's two new destinations, it's clear that United's domestic network strategy for this coming winter includes adding and beefing up service to numerous destinations known for their world-class winter sports.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.