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United Airlines plans 4 new LAX routes to beaches in Mexico, Belize

Nov. 24, 2020
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3 min read
United 737 on LAX Runway
United Airlines plans 4 new LAX routes to beaches in Mexico, Belize
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United Airlines will offer Southern Californians four more ways to escape their homes and hit the beach this winter.

The Chicago-based Star Alliance carrier will add new nonstop flights between its Los Angeles (LAX) hub and Belize City (BZE) in Belize, and Cozumel (CZM), Manzanillo (ZLO) and Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa (ZIH) in Mexico, United said Tuesday. Service will launch in January and February, with a seasonal schedule.

The new routes come as travelers continue to prefer destinations where they can be outdoors and socially distance during the coronavirus pandemic. Caribbean and Florida beach locales, mountains towns in the Rockies and desert oases have all fared well.

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United is launching more than 17 new nonstop flights to Florida that bypass it hubs this winter. Others, like JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines, are adding newly popular places like Montrose, Colorado (MTJ) and Palm Springs (PSP) to their maps.

The first of United's new Los Angeles routes begins with service to Belize City on Jan. 9. Cozumel, Manzanillo and Zihuatanejo flights begin on Feb.13. All four routes operate once-weekly through the winter. The airline will fly a Boeing737-800 to Belize City and Cozumel, and an Embraer 175 to Manzanillo and Zihuatanejo.

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Tickets for the new routes are on sale at United's website. One-way fares to Belize City begin at $346, Cozumel at $206, Manzanillo at $376 and Zihuatanejo at $296.

Related: United Airlines returns to New York JFK with flights to California in February

“Over the last few months, we’ve seen solid demand from our customers in Los Angeles to reunite with their friends and relatives in Latin America or escape to warm-weather destinations where they are still able to socially distance," said United director of airport operations in Los Angeles Alberto Diaz in a statement.

United's schedule remains far below where it was in 2019. In December, the carrier plans to fly just 52% of what it flew a year ago, according to Cirium data. January schedules will load about 30 days out.

And United is not the only airline betting on beach-bound flyers from Los Angeles. American Airlines flies the LAX-Belize City route and Alaska Airlines the LAX-Manzanillo and LAX-Zihuatanejo routes, Cirium schedules show.

Related: Colorado braces to wave of new winter flights as Americans flock to ‘snow and sun’ destinations

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • 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.
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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.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $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.
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