United Airlines adds 17 routes to Florida, bypassing hubs in pandemic route-map shakeup
United Airlines will add 17 routes to Florida that bypass its traditional hubs this winter, joining other carriers that are breaking the traditional rules of network planning amid the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Chicago-based Star Alliance carrier will connect Boston (BOS), New York LaGuardia (LGA) and Cleveland (CLE) with Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Fort Myers (RSW), Orlando (MCO) and Tampa (TPA) beginning Nov. 6, United said on Wednesday. And on Dec. 17, the airline will add nonstop flights connecting Columbus (CMH), Indianapolis (IND), Milwaukee (MKE) and Pittsburgh (PIT) with Fort Myers; and Milwaukee with Tampa.
All of the new routes are short-lived. United plans to end them on Jan. 10, 2021 but may extend them based on demand, spokesperson Jonathan Guerin told TPG.
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Regardless, the routes are a strategic break for United. The carrier has almost exclusively only added new flights between U.S. cities and one of its seven hubs — Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO) and Washington Dulles (IAD) — since its merger with Continental Airlines in 2010.
However, COVID-19 has turned conventional airline models on their heads. Carriers are trying to find any way to get would-be travelers onto planes, including adding flights between cities where they traditionally lack any sizable presence.
“The addition of these new flights represents United’s largest expansion of point-to-point, non-hub flying," Ankit Gupta, vice president of domestic network planning at United said in a statement. "[It] reflects our data driven approach to add capacity where customers are telling us they want to go."
Related: United Airlines worries travel recovery will stall until there’s a COVID vaccine
U.S. airlines are struggling to fill planes. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening data shows the number of flyers down around 70% compared to 2019, even during what is traditionally the end of the peak summer travel season.
Carriers are gearing up for what J.P. Morgan analyst Jamie Baker has called the "autumn of discontent." The leisure travelers that have filled planes this summer historically stay home after Labor Day with business flyers taking their place. However, corporate travel is not expected to return in any meaningful way until at least 2021.
“We expect the recovery in demand we’ll see to be jagged,” United CEO Scott Kirby said on July 22. He added that the airline does not expect air travel to recover beyond about half of 2019 levels until a vaccine is widely available, something he hopes for by the end of 2021.
Related: Which US airlines are blocking middle seats and requiring masks?
And the prognosis for a full recovery is even more dire. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) does not expect air travel to fully recover, or return to 2019 flyer numbers, until 2024.
In September, United plans to fly about 37% of what it flew during the month in 2019. This is largely the result of its large exposure to international markets -- not to mention business travel -- that remain largely closed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
United is working to assure travelers that flying is safe. United has strict mask requirements onboard its aircraft and in airport terminals, and has stepped up onboard cleaning with enhanced protocols and electrostatic spraying.
Related: United Airlines adds 5 new regional routes from Denver, Houston
It's not the first time United has tried connecting Orlando to points other than its hubs. From 1991 to 1993, the airline attempted to build a small Orlando hub with nonstops to destinations including Boston and New York LaGuardia.
Below are details of United's 17 new routes.
Boston Logan
- Fort Lauderdale: up to twice daily on Boeing 737-800s
- Competition: Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines
- Fort Myers: up to twice daily on an Airbus A320
- Competition: Delta, Frontier Airlines and JetBlue
- Orlando: up to twice daily on an A320 and 737-800
- Competition: Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and Spirit
- Tampa: up to twice daily on a 737-800
- Competition: Delta, Frontier, JetBlue and Spirit
Cleveland
- Fort Lauderdale: up to twice daily on a 737-800, previously flown seasonally
- Competition: JetBlue and Spirit
- Fort Myers: up to twice daily on a 737-800, previously flown seasonally
- Competition: Frontier, JetBlue and Spirit
- Orlando: up to twice daily on a 737-800, previously flown seasonally
- Competition: Frontier, Southwest and Spirit
- Tampa: up to once daily on an Embraer E175
- Competition: Frontier and Spirit
Columbus
- Fort Myers: five-flights weekly on an E175
- Competition: Southwest and Spirit
Indianapolis
- Fort Myers: once daily on an A320
- Competition: Southwest and Spirit
Milwaukee
- Fort Myers: five-flights weekly on an A319
- Competition: Frontier and Southwest
- Tampa: five-flights weekly on an A319
- Competition: Frontier and Southwest
New York LaGuardia
- Fort Lauderdale: up to twice daily on A320s
- Competition: Delta, JetBlue and Spirit
- Fort Myers: up to twice daily on a 737-800
- Delta and JetBlue
- Orlando: up to twice daily on A320s
- Competition: American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue and Spirit
- Tampa: up to twice daily on a 737-800
- Competition: Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and Spirit
Pittsburgh
- Fort Myers: once daily on an E175
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- 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.
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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. |
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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
$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.