LAX Experience

[mccabejc]

I agree with Mr. Vation. I love the electronic check-in kiosks at LAX. Just buzz past the hoi polloi, swipe your card, and you're good to go. Well, aside from the mandatory wait for the maroon who can't figure out how to do that fancy computer stuff.

And I always park in C lot and take the shuttle. Kind of a pain to have to switch buses from the C lot to the terminal, but no biggie. Though the 30 min. wait for the C lot shuttle on the return trip after you get your baggage is kind of annoying. But getting to the terminal through security is usually relatively quick. And the few times I've been to the International terminal recently the process was incredibly quick. Returning thru customs as also surprisingly quick. I tried to be the first one out of the plane and one of the first thru customs, and we zipped thru. No inspections of baggage, which surprised the hell out of us.

On the other hand, even though Ontario Airport is real close to home, I HATE it. I've been to the "new" terminals dozens of times, and EVERY TIME I go I can never find the "cheap" parking spots and end up driving in circles. And they recently raised the "cheap" parking prices to exhorbitant. And even then you have to walk a mile to get to the terminal. And this is in the middle of Ontario, which is adjacent to endless acres of open space.

 

[JustAddWater]

Any delays or problems that I've had at LAX have been the airline's fault, not the airport's. On the other hand...next time I'm in Miami's airport, making a transfer, I'm bringing my running shoes.

 

[Mo2vation]

Any delays or problems that I've had at LAX have been the airline's fault, not the airport's. On the other hand...next time I'm in Miami's airport, making a transfer, I'm bringing my running shoes.

Miami... please. I'v enever had to change there but its been a destination for me a number of times.. .yowza. I'll be in Belize for 10 days in July - likely going thru Miami. We'll see how that goes.

Same with DFW - hate it. it took us about 28 minutes of DRIVE TIME to get to an "airport hotel"... its just too darn big.

Same with Ohare - crimany - how many times have I RUN from terminal H to G to catch the regional to Peoria, and vice versa from Peoria back home to LAX... like a zillion over the last 7+ years.

Same with Sky Harbor in Phoenix. Just this week, I had to jog to make a 74 minute connection that was only 12 minutes late from LAX (no gate available - so we circled and clowed...) I rolled up to my connecting gate AS THEY WERE BOARDING. It was unreal. That included a 2.5 minute stop (almost in mid run) at CPK for a salad... Kenny's grub insurance that I'm glad I purchased, as AWest has an interesting intreptation of what in-flight dining should be these days. But they fly Airbus, so I forgive them, as they've just greased the landings this week. I didn't even wake up for the one into Phoenix.

But I digress...

In some of these big sprawling airports, if your flight is even a little behind, its a haul at full gallop.

---
Ken

 

[RonDawg]

I'm not saying LAX is the worst airport in the world...far from it. However there are better airports out there, including a couple right here in the greater LA area.

So what's wrong with climbing up a few steps to get to your plane at BURbank? Many Americans (including myself) are too heavy anyway, and we need the exercise. Unless it's an El Nino winter like this year, it's usually not a problem being outdoors.

The plusses of flying in/out of Burbank are:

1. Convenience, for me anyway. LAX is on the other side of the county from me. It's either a drive over the Sepulveda Pass (and taking serious liberties with the word "drive", "crawl" is more like it) or have to fight downtown traffic on my way to the I-105.

2. Parking. On-airport parking is cheaper at BUR. $24/day at the short term lots which are mere FEET from the terminal, and $7/day at the economy lots which are close enough to walk to, although they are all serviced by free buses. Compare that with $30/day with the short term parking structures at LAX, and $8-10/day for the remote lots. The cheapest remote lot ($8) is really REMOTE, over a mile from the airport. If you will be gone for an extended period, those prices really add up. For those who live in the SF Valley or points north, LAX does offer the Van Nuys Flyaway service where you park at Van Nuys Airport for $4/day and take a $6/roundtrip bus, but that means you'll need to leave home an hour early, more during peak traffic periods, as the bus takes you over the dreaded Sepulveda Pass.

3. For those coming from out of town, BUR's rental car lots are literally next to Terminal B. Forget having to take a shuttle bus out of the airport like LAX. Unlike LAX, BUR doesn't tack an exorbitant "airport concession fee" onto your rental car bill, just the standard LA County 8.25% sales tax.

It's been a while since I've flown out of ONTario, but it's a beautiful airport, and is seen in a lot of commercials. Unlike LAX and its 50's "Jetson" architecture that's had a REALLY BAD 90's makeover. Or the 80's era Tom Bradley International Terminal that's all style, no substance, much like the late Mayor himself (yes I know it's being disrespectful to the dead, but you know it's true ). Mo' simply hates it because it's in the <GASP> 909 area code :11: The reason I don't use it much because it's just as inconvenient as LAX for me, with a drive along a freeway that since it's lengthening has gotten nearly as bad as the 405.

On other matters, I've actually had no problems at Chicago O'Hare, at least flying with United. I've flown into ORD from London, and found it the nicest entry point back into the US I've ever used. When the lines started to get long, Homeland Security actually put more staff and opened more lines. Who said government is unresponsive to the people's needs? I sweated the 2 hour leeway between my London flight landing and my Burbank flight taking off, and it was unnecessary. After clearing Customs, I had nearly 90 minutes to kill before my flight home was ready to board. I've also used ORD as a connecting airport between here and BOSton, and found it to be quite pleasant, though the glass roof architecture of the United terminal made it a bit warm during summer.

Now what's the crappiest airport I've ever used? San Jose. Terrible access to/from the airport, stupid, no I mean STUPID way they make you fight arrivals traffic in order to return your rental car, and the Southwest gate is absolutely horrible because the terminal's architecture means all those unruly Southwest passengers you see on the show "Airline" are wedged into a triangular shaped holding area. If have to fly to the Bay Area, I prefer OAKland, with SFO as a distant second. I'd rather drive the extra 30 miles than deal with SJC's mess.