Comments on: Green and easy airport travel in Los Angeles

By: Gary Kavanagh

Gary Kavanagh — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:47:25 +0000

BBB 3 is my go to option air airport travel. We also took Eurotaxi once when we had to leave before transit service started.

I also once biked to the airport, after getting a tip from someone on how to securely lock a bike at LAX despite the lack of secure bike parking at the airport. There is a spot in the middle of terminals with temporary parking that is by a security checkpoint, constantly manned and loaded with cameras on all sides. I attached to a chain link fence post with a heavy duty reinforced steel chain and lock, and secured both wheels and a loop through my seat. I came back 4 days later and bike had no signs of being tampered with. I packed light, with everything I needed for my trip in a backpack.

Cycling to the airport at this time leaves something to be desired, so I would not recommend to most people.
Gary Kavanagh´s last blog ..Rethinking The Way I Ride And The Routes I Choose- Life Outside The Door Lanes Of Santa Monica

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:23:34 +0000

Can anyone confirm exactly where to get one the 439 at Fairfax and Washington to travel to LAX? Last week I waited by the sign reading 439 LAX where the map on the schedule indicates. I boarded a bus with a sign reading “LAX” with a picture of a plane. When I asked the driver the fare to LAX, she told me I was in going in the wrong direction and had to cross the street. In the end I drove to LAX. Was that driver smoking crack? Or have they recently changed everything and not updated the signs/maps/schedules? I’d like to use the 439 since I live nearby.

By: Siel

Siel — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:42:13 +0000

Jonathan — V. good point — I should’ve caught that discrepancy. I think Ryanne didn’t realize she needed to pay another $1.25 after the transfer from the green to blue line — good thing she didn’t get caught by the ticket checkers! I put an update in the post noting that :)

Justin — Haven’t had a problem with the Flyaway yet — knock on wood! They’ve always been on time for me; the issue is that I have to take the bus to get to the Flyaway in Westwood, and when traffic’s bad on Wilshire, I’m late for the Flyaway :(

Erik — Thanks for the deets on the Burbank options — I never use that airport, and so often forget about it. Zach at LAist wrote a post about how easy it is to take the bus to Burbank airport a couple years ago.

Thanks both Matthew and Chris for the deets on the Metro bus routes :) These do seem to be less predictable b/c they depend on current traffic issues (vs. the rail lines, which don’t)…. Has anyone tried both rail and bus options to downtown and have a preference?

M — Thanks for the note. I’ve updated the Flyaway info in the post with the new fee –

By: M

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:01:24 +0000

I just read that the Flyaway bus from Van Nuys and Union Station will go up in price to $7 each way as of July 1. If this continues without gas prices continuing to rise, they are going to lose a huge number of customers. This means the price from these locations has almost doubled since Jan 1 of this year.

http://cbs2.com/local/FlyAway.Buses.LAX.2.1039795.html

By: Matthew

Matthew — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:45:29 +0000

LAX to Downtown (no transfer other than LAX Shuttle) by Metro:
Metro 439 – Lot C Bus Depot to Downtown via 10, although watchout, I believe it won’t be doing the full trip to downtown at all times of day in the next schedule change. Also you pay a 1 zone express charge
Metro 42/42A – via downroads. This is the cheapest option ($1.25 each way).

All other options require transfers.

By: Erik

Erik — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:11:09 +0000

I am fairly certain that both Taxi! Taxi! and EuroTaxi can only pick you up if you are inside the Santa Monica City Limits. If you are not in S.M. they are by law, not allowed to offer you a ride. They can of course take you anywhere you want to go, including LAX, but they will not be able to pick you up at LAX.

Another airport to consider for some is Burbank-Bob Hope (BUR) which is across the street from a train station served by both the Metrolink Ventura Line and any Amtrak Surfliners travelling from L.A. to Santa Barbara/Goleta.
http://www.burbankairport.com/location/documents/Maphilighttrainsta10-2006wide.pdf

By: Justin Chen

Justin Chen — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:25:49 +0000

The flyaway is great for going to the airport, but it can be somewhat less predictable from LAX. I had to wait for more than an hour to get back to westwood once!

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:53:49 +0000

Metro #439 goes from LAX bus center to downtown direct via the 10 freeway.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:11:34 +0000

Just curious, which Metro bus goes from LAX to downtown? The green line to the blue line is $2.50 total one-way (not $1.25). I have taken the 438 Commuter Express ($1.75) which stops at the Aviation station, but I was not aware of a single Metro line with no transfer.

By: Siel

Siel — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:33:40 +0000

Yeah — I’d take the BBB3 more too if it wasn’t so far — I think it’s more like 3/4 of a mile for me. With luggage, it’s a lil too much to walk….