United plans new New York-Washington shuttle amid growth spurt
United Airlines is jumping into the lucrative New York air shuttle market with an expanded service to Washington that will begin next spring.
The Star Alliance carrier will offer up to 13 daily flights between its Newark Liberty (EWR) hub and Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), United commercial chief Andrew Nocella said Friday at the airline's media day in Chicago. The service will be flown with either Bombardier CRJ550s with 50 seats or Embraer 175s with 76 seats. Both aircraft offer first class and economy.
"It’s about the convenience of an hourly pattern," said Nocella when asked if United would offer any other shuttle amenities, including complimentary beer and wine, or free changes to other flights.
Rear-door deplaning, a traditional shuttle feature still offered on the American Airlines Shuttle, will not be offered on United's new service, he said.
Related: Why the American Airlines Shuttle continues the ‘tradition’ of rear-door deplaning
United is the latest airline to jump into the New York shuttle market. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have long offered shuttles between New York LaGuardia (LGA) and Boston Logan (BOS), Washington National and – more recently – Chicago O’Hare (ORD). JetBlue Airways joined the crowded market this summer, upgrading its service between Boston and the New York area's three airports — John F. Kennedy (JFK), LaGuardia and Newark — to shuttle status.
United already flies up to eight daily flights between Newark and Washington National on a combination of Embraer ERJ-145s and E175s, according to Diio by Cirium schedules.
The move is also a bit of back-to-the-future for United. Continental Airlines, which merged with United in 2010, offered a shuttle service on the Newark-Washington National route at various times since it acquired People Express and the low-cost carrier's Newark hub in 1987.
Related: The best credit cards for United flyers
The new Washington shuttle is just one piece of United's growth plan for 2020. The airline will add a sixth daily flight between Newark and London Heathrow (LHR) next summer as well as a bevy of new transatlantic services, add four new routes to Tokyo's close-in airport Haneda (HND) in time for the 2020 Olympics, and continue with the accelerated domestic growth plans it kicked off in 2017.
United maintains plans to grow capacity by 4-6% year-over-year in 2020 despite plans to take delivery of 40 to 50 new Boeing 737 MAX jets, said Nocella. The MAX deliveries are dependent on when the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration certifies the aircraft to fly again, something Boeing expects by December.
Denver, a centerpiece of United's domestic growth, will see around 550 daily flights next summer, said Nocella. The hub handled an average of 480 daily flights this summer, and up to 503 flights on peak days, Diio shows.
Much of the domestic growth in 2020 is expected to come from adding seats on existing routes. For example, United will replace one of its flights between Newark and Orlando (MCO) flown with a Boeing 737-900ER with a Boeing 777-200 next March. The 777 seats up to 364 passengers compared to just 179 seats on the 737.
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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. |
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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
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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.