United unveils 26 new point-to-point routes from Midwest, East Coast
Editor's Note
With business travel expected to remain significantly depressed into 2022, airlines are making aggressive plays to capture booming domestic leisure markets as a surge in demand accompanies the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
On Thursday, United announced its latest move: 26 new routes from cities in the Midwest to summer hotspots along the East Coast.
The airline is adding flights from Cleveland (CLE), Cincinnati (CVG), Columbus (CMH), Indianapolis (IND), Milwaukee (MKE), St. Louis (STL), and Pittsburgh (PIT) to a variety of costal destinations, from Portland, Maine (PWM), to Pensacola, Florida (PNS).
United also revealed plans to resume more than 20 inactive domestic routes and formally announced its plan to fly between Orange County, California (SNA) and Honolulu — previously reported by TPG.
International routes return
The carrier will also increase service to destinations through Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, and South America. Much of this service was revealed in a schedule update earlier this month, but the ramp-up to on the routes means that United will actually have more service to these regions than it did in 2019. That's a significant development for the carrier given the fact that most long-haul international travel remains largely curtailed.
Even so, the airline plans to relaunch some major routes, including flights between Chicago (ORD) and Tokyo Haneda (HND), Amsterdam (AMS), Munich (MUC), and Tel Aviv (TLV), and between Newark and Milan (MXP) and Rome (FCO).
That leaves the airline operating 46% of its international schedule compared to May, 2019.
New and improved Hawaii service
United said it will bring Premium Plus service to some Hawaii routes. Because these seats are only available on planes that have been retrofitted to United's new cabin, it means that business class travelers can look forward to the new Polaris seats.
More: Delta unveils 39 new and expanded routes to 22 destinations in major route-map shakeup
The new cabins will be available on flights from Chicago (ORD) and Denver (DEN) to Honolulu and Maui (OGG) in May, with flights from Chicago to Kona (KOA), Houston (IAH) to Honolulu, and New York-Newark (EWR) to Maui receiving the new product in June.
Hawaii routes getting Premium Plus premium economy cabins for the summer schedule include:
- Newark-Maui: The "high J" Boeing 767-300 starting June 3.
- Chicago-Honolulu: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners starting May 6.
- Chicago-Maui: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners starting May 6.
- Chicago-Kona: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners starting June 3.
- Houston-Honolulu: Boeing 777-200ER starting June 3. *
- Denver-Honolulu: Boeing 777-200ER starting May 6.
- Denver-Maui: Boeing 777-200ER starting May 6.
Domestic routes: A Pandemic-era approach
The 26 point-to-point routes are the the most notable of the announcement, serving as the latest example of an airline bypassing their hubs to try and earn customers by offering more convenient direct flights — even on marginal or seasonal routes. This has become more common during the pandemic. Before, legacy airlines like United would typically stick to a hub-and-spoke model aside from major routes
The new routes will allow United to fly nonstop between city pairs such as St. Louis-Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR); Pittsburgh-Charleston, South Carolina (CHS); Cincinnati-Portland, Maine (PWM); and Milwaukee-Savannah, Georgia (SAV).
Most of the new point-to-point routes will be operated by United's ultra-comfortable CRJ-550, a low-density aircraft that, before the pandemic, was envisioned for high-demand domestic business routes (and as a way to give United flexibility to add more regional jets without running afoul of "scope closes" in pilots' union contracts). The routes begin May 27, and will operate through Labor Day Weekend, the airline said.
More: United Airlines boosts 4 Hawaii routes, including newest flagships
The airline also plans to add flights on three new routes: Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH)-Kalispell, Montana (FCA); Washington Dulles (IAD)-Bozeman, Montana (BZN); and Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Nantucket, Massachusetts (ACK).
All three of those routes connect United hubs to the types of outdoor populations that have proven popular with travelers during the pandemic. Kalispell is near Glacier National Park while Bozeman is near Yellowstone National Park. Nantucket is a popular beach destination located off the coast of Cape Cod.
United and other U.S. airlines have seen a surge in forward bookings and travel demand in recent weeks, leading United to forecast that it will see positive cash flow this month for the first time since the pandemic began.
Here are the the new point-to-point routes:
Cleveland, OH
| Destination | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 3x weekly |
| Hilton Head, SC | 3x weekly |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 3x weekly |
| Pensacola, FL | 3x weekly |
| Portland, ME | 3x weekly |
Cincinnati, OH
| Destination | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 3x weekly |
| Hilton Head, SC | 3x weekly |
| Pensacola, FL | 3x weekly |
| Portland, ME | 3x weekly |
Columbus, OH
| Destination | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 4x weekly |
| Hilton Head, SC | 3x weekly |
| Portland, ME | 4x weekly |
Indianapolis, IN
| Destination | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 3x weekly |
| Hilton Head, SC | 4x weekly |
| Portland, ME | 4x weekly |
Milwaukee, WI
| Destination | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 2x weekly |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 2x weekly |
| Pensacola, FL | 2x weekly |
| Portland, ME | 2x weekly |
| Savannah, GA | 2x weekly |
St. Louis, MO
| Destination | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Hilton Head, SC | 3x weekly |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 3x weekly |
Pittsburgh, PA
| Destination | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 3x weekly |
| Hilton Head, SC | 3x weekly |
| Pensacola, FL | 3x weekly |
| Portland, ME | 3x weekly |
* Editor's note: This post has been corrected to show United's upgraded Premium Plus service to Honolulu is from Houston (IAH), and not Washington Dulles (IAD).
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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. |
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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.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.