United unveils big network expansion focused on Florida, ski destinations
United Airlines is gearing up for what it's calling "record-breaking demand for winter travel."
The Chicago-based carrier announced on Wednesday a noteworthy increase in domestic connectivity this winter, focused on Florida and ski destinations.
For those chasing the sun this winter, United will offer its first-ever mainline service to Key West, Florida, starting on Nov. 28. The airline will fly the Boeing 737-700 to Key West International Airport (EYW) for the first time in the company's history with nonstop routes from Newark, Chicago, Houston and the Washington, D.C., area.
In addition to expanded Key West service, United will increase the number of flights it operates on a few key routes, including Chicago to Fort Myers, Florida; Denver to Fort Lauderdale; and Chicago to Miami.
It'll also deploy the Boeing 777 from Chicago to Orlando, providing more than double the number of seats for those looking to visit "the happiest place on earth."
Those based in Cleveland (which lost a United hub in 2014) will once again enjoy daily nonstop service this winter to Tampa and a second daily flight to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and Orlando.
If you instead want to trade the sun for the snow, United said it's expanding its flights this winter from Newark to Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Vail, Steamboat Springs and Montrose/Telluride in Colorado; and Bozeman, Montana. It didn't provide any more details, and we'll update this story if we hear more from the airline.
Much of the aforementioned growth is already loaded into United's schedule. Still, it's worth highlighting that the airline will grow its Florida capacity by 20%, offering the most flights to the Sunshine State than ever before.
Interestingly, some of United's growth comes on the heels of Spirit, an ultra-low-cost competitor, pulling out of the Denver market. The Mile High City is a key domestic hub for United, and it's one that's been steadily growing for years.
Without Spirit competing on routes from Denver to Florida, United is seemingly responding by boosting its portfolio there, especially in the Denver to Fort Lauderdale market.
To explain all of this Florida growth, United says that Miami and Orlando are two of the top five most-searched domestic travel destinations this winter, according to new search and booking data from its website. The other three top-searched and booked spots include Honolulu, Cancun and Las Vegas.
In addition to expanding Florida service, United reaffirmed its commitment to flying its brand-new Airbus A321neo to the Sunshine State this winter. It said on Wednesday that the A321neo will be deployed on select routes to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Fort Myers beginning in December.
This aligns with what the airline has filed in its schedule. (The first A321neo flights are planned for Dec. 14.)
"We know that November is when most people start their winter travel planning so we're adding these flights to give customers more options than ever. We've already begun to see record-breaking demand for winter travel and whether customers are looking to unwind on the beach or hit the slopes, United is the clear choice for those planning their getaways," Mark Weithofer, United's managing director of domestic network planning, said in a statement.
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
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 2X miles | Earn 2X miles per $1 on every purchase, everywhere |
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Pros
- Simple earning structure
- Bonus categories
- Annual credits
- No foreign transaction fees
- Flexible redemption options, including transfer partners
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- Fewer bonus categories than some competitors
- Lacks premium perks
- Limited-time offer: Earn up to 150,000 bonus miles—75,000 miles once you spend $7,500 in the first 3 months, and an additional 75,000 miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account
- Receive up to $220 in credits: Receive an annual $50 travel credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel, up to an annual $50 statement credit for purchases at qualifying advertising or software merchants, plus up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every four years. Terms and conditions apply
- Unlimited 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel
- Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
- $95 annual fee
- Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
- Top rated mobile app