United Airlines launched a unique flight schedule to get Chicago Bears Fans to and from games this fall. While airlines adding flights for specific games is nothing new; American, Delta, and Southwest have all added flights for college games this fall, United’s announcement is unique in the fact that this schedule is specific for fans of a single team. Allegiant announced flights to get opposing fans to Las Vegas Raiders games played at Allegiant Stadium.
United, which is headquartered in Chicago, has been the official airline of the Chicago Bears for over 50 years and has flown the team to more than 350 away games during that timespan. These changes will allow fans easier access to Bears games and, in some cases, return from road games on the same day. Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning, had this to say about the schedule changes:
“As Chicago’s Hometown Airline® and long-standing sponsor of the Chicago Bears, we’re proud to show our support this season with this special schedule for fans. Our enhanced schedule gives customers options no other carrier is providing, making it easier for fans to support the Bears on the road during some of the biggest games of the season.”
Patrick Quayle, United SVP of Global Network Planning
United is adjusting the departure time for seven flights to coincide with the end of the Bears’ away game and allow fans time to get to the airport. The flights will return to Chicago from the below destinations after the game:
- Houston, TX (IAH) on September 15 – UA 1515 departs at 11:59 p.m.
- Indianapolis, IN (IND) on September 22 – UA 1825 departs at 7:19 p.m.
- Phoenix, AZ (PHX) on November 3 – UA 1966 departs at 8:45 p.m.
- Detroit, MI (DTW) on November 28 – UA 426 departs at 5:30 p.m.
- San Jose, CA (SJC) on December 8 – UA 1430 departs at 7:00 p.m.
- Minneapolis, MN (MSP) on December 17 – UA 1102 at 7:20 a.m., the morning after the game.
- Green Bay, WI (GRB) on January 5 – UA 5616 at 7:38 p.m.
In addition to the seven adjusted flights, the airline is upgauging aircraft on flights between Chicago and Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA) for the Bears’ game against the Commanders and between Chicago and Green Bay (GRB) for their game against the Packers.
This season, the Chicago Bears will play a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. To get fans to London, United has added additional frequencies between Chicago and London on October 9th and 10th with additional return frequencies on October 14th and 15th.
These flights are in addition to the 3x daily flights that the carrier currently offers on the route, giving fans 4 different options to get to and from the game. All flights will be operated by Boeing 767 aircraft.
Flights for the games mentioned above are currently on sale at United.com.
Summary
Traveling to away games just got much easier for Chicago Bears fans. According to the NFL, more than 76,000 Bears fans traveled to away games last year and United is looking to improve upon that number this year by timing flights to coincide with the end of the games, upguage flights, and add frequencies for key routes.
I’m sure Bears fans, and opposing team fans based in Chicago, are thrilled with these new routes. Pricing for the adjusted flights seems to be in line with other flights operating on gamedays, so you won’t have to shell out much extra cash to hop onboard.
