United puts its swankiest jet on new flagship Hawaii route
Update 3/21/21: United is now pricing Premium Plus as a separate cabin, starting at $719 in each direction.
If you’re looking to head to Hawaii in style, you might want to fly with United.
The Chicago-based carrier made a notable aircraft swap this weekend, putting its swankiest jet on its newest flagship route, as confirmed by Cirium schedules.
When nonstop Newark (EWR) to Maui (OGG) service launches on June 3, United will fly its “high-J” Boeing 767-300 outfitted with a whopping 46 business-class pods, 22 premium economy recliners and 99 coach seats.
This premium-heavy aircraft replaces the previously scheduled “standard” 767-300 wide-body, showing United’s confidence in capturing deep-pocketed travelers looking to fly in comfort and style.
Not only does the “high-J” plane offer 16 additional Polaris pods, but it also offers a Premium Plus cabin. United’s other 767-300s aren’t outfitted with premium economy, so this move will be great for those looking a bit more space, at prices between coach and business class.
The airline is currently selling Premium Plus as a separate cabin, with fares starting at $719 each way. For comparison, basic economy is priced from $428 in each direction, and Polaris business class is available for $1,108 and up.
United’s “high-J” 767 launched back in 2019, and it was designed to fly some of the strongest business-focused routes, such as Newark and Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to London-Heathrow (LHR). The pandemic has, of course, cut much of that demand leaving United with spare 767s to deploy on other routes.
Related: First look at United's "high-J" 767-300
Newark to Maui, which was first announced back in September 2020, seems like an ideal candidate because of the strong demand for Hawaii travel during the pandemic, especially from flyers looking for some extra onboard social distancing in the form of a business-class pod or premium economy recliner.
In fact, when the Maui route was originally announced, United planned to run the flights from June 3 to Aug. 15, before picking up again for the holiday season in December. The schedules were recently extended to Sept. 5, covering most of the Labor Day holiday weekend, thanks to strong demand.
For now, the "high-J" 767 will only fly the Maui route through Sept. 5. When the route resumes on Dec. 17, a standard 767-300 is slated to operate the domestic long-haul jaunt.
Related: Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Hawaii right now
This news is also promising for award and upgrade availability. With a higher percentage of premium seats, there's a chance that United releases additional saver availability. For now, however, business-class award availability is limited to the dynamically priced one-way awards starting at 95,000 miles each way.
The move follows another recent “high-J” 767 route announcement. In February, United confirmed plans to launch service between Boston (BOS) and London using this swanky plane. The new BOS to LHR flight is an apparent jab at JetBlue, which also plans new U.K. flights for later this year.
United also flies another nonstop route from Newark to Hawaii — to Honolulu (HNL). Historically, this flight has been operated by the 767-400 variant. The pandemic has caused United to ground that 767 sub-fleet, so the carrier plans to use the standard -300 variant in the meantime.
It’s anyone’s guess if United will swap the “high-J” 767-300 variant for the EWR-HNL route. That'll likely depend on the evolving demand for Hawaii travel, especially as other international markets recover.
Until then, customers traveling from the East Coast to Hawaii should look no further than United’s new Newark to Maui service for the best possible onboard experience.
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- 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.
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- Terms Apply.
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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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked 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.