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Pride in December: An exclusive look at United’s first-ever all-LGBTQ+ flight

Dec. 09, 2021
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3 min read
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Pride in December: An exclusive look at United’s first-ever all-LGBTQ+ flight
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There's a saying that goes, it's about the people, not the place.

The love — and joy — we felt was real, as my colleague Chris Dong and I were onboard United Airlines' inaugural Pride flight, fully staffed by LGBTQ+-identifying employees, from the pilots and gate attendants to ground operations crew.

It was an orchestrated effort that came together beautifully, just three days after World AIDS Day.

United LGBT flight
(Photo by Stella Shon/The Points Guy)

It was a bright Saturday morning at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), where festivities awaited customers at Gate C121. There was a terrific spread of brunch offerings — even better than what you'd find at a lounge — and plenty of coffee and even mimosas for the ultimate pre-departure celebration.

(Photo by Stella Shon/The Points Guy)

The event was put on by United's LGBTQ+ business resource group, Equal, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first recorded case of AIDS and raise awareness for World AIDS Day and those who still live with the disease.

As you're walking through United's Terminal C, you'll find a piece of the AIDS Quilt — and I highly recommend pausing to read some of these heartfelt stories.

(Photo by Stella Shon/The Points Guy)

At the gate, we heard from Newark deputy mayor Rahaman Muhammad and United's line stations business senior manager and Equal president Kevin Keado, rounded out by an epic performance by Tony-nominated actress Jenn Colella from the Broadway show "Come From Away."

(Photo by Stella Shon/The Points Guy)

The flight was short and sweet, and in under two hours, we arrived in Chicago. We proudly wore our red ribbons to commemorate those affected by and lost to the AIDS crisis.

(Photo by Stella Shon/The Points Guy)

But perhaps the best part of it all was the rainbow water cannon salute put on by O'Hare's fire department as we pulled up to the gate.

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(Photo courtesy of United)

As we were deplaning, employees from O'Hare were cheering us on the other side.

(Photo courtesy of United)

So, it really was about the people and not the place (or the airline) — and celebrating Pride beyond the month of June. We're looking forward to this flight becoming an annual tradition, and we can only hope that there will be a drag show onboard next time.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

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  • Recommended Credit

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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.