Flip-flop: United re-adds service on LAX’s 2nd-shortest route
United Airlines is reinstating one of its shortest routes.
The Chicago-based carrier filed plans over the weekend to continue serving the 109-mile shuttle between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Diego International Airport (SAN), as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by the carrier.
United will commence twice-daily operations between the two airports on Oct. 30. (Until then, the airline is currently flying the route on a once-daily basis.)
Service between LA and San Diego has operated consistently for at least the past 40 years, so when United revealed plans in early July to drop the route effective Oct. 30, some locals were disappointed.
Travelers use this short route to connect to the airline's hub at LAX, giving flyers plenty of easy, one-stop connectivity to hundreds of destinations across the country and around the world. (At just 89 miles, the shortest route from LAX is to Santa Barbara.)
Without the LA flight, San Diego-based flyers would need to connect in either San Francisco, Houston or Denver for transpacific flights. Or, they would have to fly to hubs farther east to get to cities across the Atlantic.
Of course, these travelers could always drive to LAX, but that's subject to traffic, parking fees and other possible disruptions. Alternatively, Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner train connects the two cities with plenty of daily round trips.
United didn't share too many details about the flip-flop, citing a review of internal data as the reason for re-adding the service.
"After re-reviewing internal data, United is no longer planning on suspending service between LA and San Diego. And on Oct. 30, we plan to add a second daily flight to help customers travel to/from and make connections from San Diego," spokesperson Maddie King told TPG in a statement.
United declined to share further details about its change of heart.
United Express partner Skywest will continue to operate the route using a mix of 70- and 76-seat Embraer 175 regional aircraft, all of which feature a 12-seat first-class cabin.
Interestingly, at the outset of the pandemic, American Airlines scrapped its flights between LA and San Diego, leaving United and Delta Air Lines as the sole two carriers operating in the market, Cirium schedules show.
When United announced its intention to stop serving the route, it was poised to leave Delta with a monopoly in the market. That likely would've given the Atlanta-based carrier a big leg up with the local market.
Shorter total travel times are usually displayed higher in online travel searches, and those itineraries that Delta offered via its LAX hub were likely getting more search volume than United's offerings via San Francisco or Houston.
We don't know the exact data that was used to sway United's decision. However, the about-face comes just a few weeks after an organizational realignment in the top brass of the carrier's network planning team.
Ankit Gupta, who formerly led the domestic network, now oversees flight operations, while Patrick Quayle, who was in charge of the international network, now oversees global network planning.
Interestingly, when United announced it was cutting the route, Gupta was in charge of the domestic network, while the decision to re-add the route now falls under Quayle.
Either way, the big winners are those based in San Diego, who'll once again be able to connect to United's hub at LAX with a short, 55-minute flight.
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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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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 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.