United adds new Dulles route, brings poshest plane to new destination
Fresh on the heels of an exciting long-haul expansion, United Airlines is back with another network update.
This time, the Chicago-based carrier is adding a new domestic route, and it'll also deploy its poshest plane to a new destination, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.
To start, United will launch flights between Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) on Dec. 19, 2024. Daily year-round service will depart IAD at 5:30 p.m. and land at SLC at 8:20 p.m., all times local. The return flight will depart SLC at 11:30 p.m. and arrive at IAD at 5:30 a.m. the following morning.
United will deploy a mix of jets on the route depending on the time of year. For instance, in January, the airline has scheduled the Airbus A319, the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737-700 for the 1,827-mile route.
In addition to United, Delta Air Lines operates flights between IAD and SLC. Salt Lake City is a key Delta hub, and the carrier flies to both IAD and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in the Washington metro area. The additional competition from United should help lower fares in the market.
For its part, United last operated flights between IAD and SLC in December 2013, Cirium schedules show.
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In addition to the new flight from its Dulles hub, the airline is making a big change to its Boeing 767 deployment schedule. Next summer, the airline plans to fly the "high-J" Boeing 767-300ER between Newark and Athens, Greece, beginning March 31, 2025.
This will be the first time that United has scheduled the high-J Boeing 767 to Athens, and it represents an interesting move for this premium-focused configuration that has historically flown to major business hubs in Europe.
The high-J Boeing 767-300ER features just 167 seats in one of the most premium-heavy configurations offered by a U.S. airline. There are a whopping 46 Polaris business-class pods (spanning 17 rows), as well as 22 Premium Plus recliners, 43 extra-legroom Economy Plus seats and 56 standard economy seats.
United's high-J Boeing 767 launched back in 2019, and it was designed to fly some of the strongest business-focused routes, such as Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR).
Save for a short coronavirus pandemic-era stint, this high-J Boeing 767 variant routinely appears on flights to Frankfurt, Geneva, London and Paris, among other destinations.
Athens, on the other hand, is much more of a leisure destination, yet United seemingly thinks there will be enough premium leisure demand to fill the pointy end of the plane. (This week, the airline removed this variant from flights between IAD and LHR.)
It'll be interesting to see what happens, but these days, United and Delta are doubling down on premium leisure demand. Whether this move works for United is anyone's guess, but at a minimum, it should make it at least a little easier to find a business-class upgrade or award seat to Athens next summer.
Related reading:
- United Airlines MileagePlus: Guide to earning and redeeming miles, elite status and more
- Best United Airlines credit cards
- United Premier status: What it is and how to earn it
- 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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| 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. |
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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.