United to fly wide-bodies on 3 Cancun routes this winter
United Airlines is expecting lots of travelers to chase the sun this winter.
The airline is gearing up for its busiest winter yet to Cancun, where it'll deploy its dense 364-seat Boeing 777-200s on three key routes.
The airline will fly the domestically configured Boeing 777-200, which features 28 lie-flat business-class seats, 102 extra-legroom Economy Plus seats and 234 standard economy seats, on flights between Cancun and:
- Chicago
- Denver
- Houston
These daily flights will operate throughout the winter from Oct. 29, 2023, to March 30, 2024.
This is the first time in recent history that United has consistently operated a wide-body jet on the Denver-to-Cancun route, Cirium schedules show, and it represents a big capacity boost to a route typically operated by Boeing 737s.
The 811-mile service from Houston to Cancun takes just about two hours. This will become United's shortest route consistently operated by a twin-aisle plane this winter.
Flying on a wide-body during a short transborder flight is a notable passenger experience upgrade for those sitting in the pointy end of the jet.
Even though the domestic United Boeing 777 first-class configuration offers a cramped 2-4-2 layout, a lie-flat seat is almost always more comfortable than the standard recliners you'd find on most United jets flying to Cancun. (That is unless you end up stuck in a dreaded middle seat.)
Meanwhile, economy passengers may want to avoid the Cancun flights operated by 777s, since the 10-abreast cabin arrangement makes for a very tight squeeze. Plus, these jets don't feature any seatback entertainment.
While United's upgauge may be good or bad news depending on your booking habits, the move comes as the airline seemingly anticipates strong demand to Cancun this winter.
In fact, the airline plans its three busiest months ever to Cancun — December 2023, January 2024 and March 2024 — as measured by ASMs, or available seat miles. ASMs are a standard industry metric used to track capacity based on the number of seats flown and the distance traveled, Cirium schedules show.
Assuming all goes according to plan, United will offer more than 200 million ASMs from the U.S. to Cancun in December and January. This is the first time that measure has ever crossed the 200 million threshold in the airline's history, per Cirium.
In total, this winter, the airline will offer flights to Cancun from eight airports nationwide:
- Chicago (up to four times a day)
- Cleveland (up to two times a week)
- Denver (up to four times a day)
- Houston (up to six times a day)
- Los Angeles (two daily flights)
- Newark (three daily flights)
- San Francisco (two daily flights)
- Washington, D.C. (two daily flights)
Note that these figures include the aforementioned flights operated by wide-body jets.
Of all the U.S. airlines, American Airlines has recently been the leader in sending wide-body planes to Cancun. The airline has a long roster of short domestic and transborder flights operated by twin-aisle jets, and Cancun has historically been a popular destination for them.
That said, American's current schedule only shows one daily flight operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner this winter from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Cancun. (Of course, this is subject to change.)
As for United, the airline has built a robust network of wide-body flights across the country and around the world. During the winter, demand for transatlantic flights declines, and the airline can strategically redeploy aircraft elsewhere.
That's likely one reason we've already seen the airline boost transpacific connectivity for this coming winter. Plus, with the slow return of corporate travel demand, United can shift some excess capacity on domestically configured Boeing 777s from popular hub-to-hub flights to popular leisure-heavy winter destinations, such as Cancun.
Whether the airline realizes all the demand it projects is anyone's guess. However, if you're seated in the pointy end of the plane, at least you can expect a lie-flat seat when flying three United routes this winter to Cancun.
Related reading:
- 6 things you need to know about United Airlines MileagePlus
- The best credit cards for United Airlines flyers
- What is United Airlines elite status worth?
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- How to survive basic economy on United Airlines
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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
- 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.