Flights / Airports, Los Angeles

I always fly to Burbank airport instead of LAX, here are my inside tips about BUR.

The next best airport shadowing LAX is Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport. If your wanting to avoid traffic and crowds of people, Bob Hope should be your first choice. The Burbank Airport has been serving travelers since 1930. The airport has gone through several name changes. In 2003, the airport changed its name to Bob Hope Airport in honor of the Hollywood comedian Bob Hope who parked his private jet at the airport.

Bob Hope Airport serves Los Angeles, Pasadena, Glendale, and the San Fernando Valley. The airport is located conveniently by Southern California’s main attractions like Disneyland, Six Flags, downtown L.A., Hollywood, and countless more. Burbank Airport accommodates millions of travelers a year, out of these millions most seem to leave the Burbank Airport with positive responses. For those that have never used Burbank airport, or for those that frequently use Bob Hope Airport, here is a set of tips to know before traveling to Burbank Airport.

Transportation:
Whether your arriving to or from Bob Hope Airport transportation is made easy. The traffic of L.A. is decreased which is a huge highlight, this means less time to and from the airport. Arriving, passengers can be dropped off in front of the terminals or can use several of the airports parking options. Economy parking allows you to park and then get a free shuttle service to or from the terminal. Short term parking allows travelers to park free for the first hour allowing easy access. Among the parking choices is valet which is the fastest, offered in front of the terminals.
Traveling from Burbank Airport you can get picked up, rent a shuttle, or use the train or bus. Access to the terminals makes road side pick up easy and fast. If transportation is needed PrimeTime Shuttle is an efficient and reliable shuttle service. In walking distance from the airport is the Metrolink and Amtrak (free shuttles are offered to the trains). Buses are highly popular at Burbank Airport. There is Metro bus lines and the City of Burbank Bus, offering local transportation around the Los Angeles area.
On City Search customers get to wrote and review Burbank Airport here are some of the inside tips about transportation. Beware of the valet parking. If using valet parking be sure to get anything valuable out of the car. Thieves are present everywhere. Besides the risky valid, transportation is painless at Burbank Airport. It’s easy, fast, and inexpensive.

Security:
As far as luggage goes be sure to follow packaging rules which are similar to most airports. Beware of the liquids you bring and what size they are. Carry-ons must be 3 ounces or smaller. However, if you find yourself with a prohibited item you can ship it home at Terminal A with Mailsafe Express. Also, follow all TSA rules. Have your ID ready and pack appropriately. TSA does not allow waiting at the curb but a good tip is to drive to lane #2 past Terminal A for better curbside assistance. Nonetheless, check-in at Burbank airport is fast compared to outsiders. Bob Hope Airport prides themselves on conveniency. The lines are usually small and the process is smooth.

In and Around:
Burbank Airport doesn’t want travelers to have to wait long but if you have a long lay over or time to spare rest assure. Burbank Airport offers free Wi-Fi. In Terminal A The Lunch Box Cafe provides a full restaurant and bar. For shopping choices The Paradise Shop is the top choice for retail operations. Although there is plenty to eat and places to shop, Burbank Airport customers reviewed their experiences on Yelp. Most reviews warned that Burbank Airport doesn’t have very many good restaurant choices. A good option is to bring what you prefer with you or grab something before you start your travels.

Bob Hope Airport is the most convenient choice for flyers in the Los Angeles area. Its closest to many great attractions and has the easiest transportation. Flyertalk travelers are very pleased with Burbank Airport. The fast and smooth service is great, for example Burbank Airport allows aircrafts to board from the front and rear of the aircraft. Bob Hope Airport has many tips and trips, so be sure to remember these things before traveling to Burbank airport.

FlyAway is a series of buses that run to and from LAX to three different destinations(and growing). They are cheap, efficient, clean, and did I say cheap?

The airport authority introduced the buses in conjunction with the city to try and reduce LAX gridlock.

For $4/pp the bus will take you and your luggage direct from Van Nuys, Union Station/Downtown, or Westwood Village. And, vice versa. They leave every half hour during the day, and every hour off peak.

Those of you traveling on a budget might be tempted to take the free shuttle and the Metro from the airport. DON'T. It takes forever, and nearly costs the same. Take FlyAway to Union Station and grab the metro, there. You'll shave an hour, easily, off your travel time.

I have a car, duh. But, I use FlyAway, myself, everytime I fly in and out of LAX.

Thank Gawd for FlyAway! Seriously. Since FlyAway buses began from Union Station, I actually find it easier to fly out of LAX than Burbank, and I never thought I'd see the day...

1 more image

LAX is the acronym and airport code for the Los Angeles International Airport. The Airport is located southwest of Los Angeles, along the beach, in he neighborhood of Westchester, 16 miles from downtown L.A. It is one of the world's largest and most busy airports with over 59 million passengers annually. By 2009, it was the 7th busiest airport in the world. It is the hub for United, Alaska, and Amiercan Airlines, a prime location also for Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Air, Air New Zealand, Qantas, and Virgin America and a major gateway for Delta. It is also the base for the U.S. Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Air Station L.A. Facility with its world famous Dophin helicopters. With a land mass of over 3,500 acres it is one of the busiest airports in all of California next to San Francisco's International Airport. By 1958 the airport was expanded and re-designed by the architecure firm "Pereira and Luckman" who "amped" up the Airport in anticipation of the "Jet Age". By 1959, the first jet services arrived at LAX, connecting L.A. with N.Y.C. In 1981, a 700 million dollar expansion was completed to prepare for the 1984 Summer Olympics. The modernization renovation was never fully completed, and is why many wings and terminals at LAX are un-used. Severe damages were inflicted in 1992 with the Los Angeles Riots over the Rodney King beating. the "White Theme Building" resembles a "flying saucer sitting on four legs" with a restaurant suspended beneath the two intersecting arches that form the legs. This building was designated a cultural and historical monument by 1992. The airport was closed again in 1994 after massive destruction due to the Northridge Earthquake. 4 million dollars later, LAX was renovated with a "retro-futuristic interior" and lighting designed by Walt Disney Imagineering opening the "Encounter Restaurant" in 1997. By 2000, when L.A. hosted the Democratic National Convention, the construction of 15 acryllic glass cylinders, 10 stories high, were placed in a circle around the intersection of Sepulveda and Century Blvds, with additional cylinders of decreasing height following Century Blvd. eastward. These were designed by Nick Groh and Clint Woesner as a gateway to the airport and welcoming landmark to LAX visitors. LAX is designed with nine passenger terminals arranged in a "U" called a "horseshoe" served by a shuttle bus. There are also over 2 million square feet of cargo facilities at LAX. The "Encounter" Restaurant was temporarily closed due to security reasons after 9/11 and re-opened to the public on June 10, 2010. "Imperial Hill" or "Clutter's Park" is a local's favorite place for commercial aircraft spotting as well as a spot of grass in Westchester next to the In-N-Out Burger restaurant which allows for viewing low-flying commercial airlines and used as a prime filming location for such feats.

4 more images

L.A. has never really been a destination for me but a pass through point to another location. We usually go through LAX to connect to Sydney or on a MR. Our last trip to LAX was a MR on AA during February 2011. LAX is not my prefered airport since there is little in the ways of food options but I enjoy their Admiral's Club very much.

Arriving in LAX is quite convenient and quick. If you are arriving from a foreign country, my experience with going through customs has always been quick and efficient. Those arriving from Canada also have the advantage that they have gone through US Customs before they departed and do not have to go through the line up again when they arrive. However, as you depart, the lines for the metal detectors can be very long. Be prepared to add a half hour to forty-five minutes to your gate arrival time. In all US metal detector lines, be prepared to have to take off your shoes and jackets and scarves before passing by.

When going between the domestic and international part of the airport, most will go out side and have to go through security a second time. What is little known is that there is a tunnel between these two parts of the airport which is shorter. You need to ask where it is, it is almost unused except by employees at this point. My brother stumbled on it when asking directions, so I thought I would put this up.

Tunnel has been closed to general public.

1 more image

From the airport you can rent directly a car and go on your own. The alternatives are:
1.taxi (pic 1). expensive considering the long distances and traffic jams
2.city buses. You will loose your first day in LA inside local buses? You must be mad!
3.free shuttle to Metropolitan Green Line Light rail. Although it’s cheap a local friend told me it takes forever.
4.airport shuttles. They are actually Shared Ride Vans that can carry 2-6 people and drop you in front of your hotel. Check www.supershuttle.com for info. The cost is about $17 per person
5.The Flyaway Shuttle (pic2). We took this bus that goes directly to Union Station in downtown. From there you can easily transfer to the subway etc There are buses 24h per day and it costs only $7. There other buses to different directions (Westwood Village, Van Nuys etc).
Here’s the timetable to/from Union Station:
Union Station>Airport
Mon-Fri 5:00, 5:30, 5:50, 6:10, 6:30, 6:45, 7:10, 7:30, 7:50, 8:10, 8:30, 8:50, 9:10, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00, 23:30, 00:00, 00:30, 01:00, 02:00, 03:00, 04:00
Sat-Sun 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00, 23:30, 00:00, 00:30, 01:00, 02:00, 03:00, 04:00
Airport>Union Station
daily 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00, 23:30, 00:00, 00:30, 01:00, 02:00, 03:00, 04:00

LAX is the International Airport in Los Angeles. It is huge and chaotic, the second busiest airport in the USA with 9 terminals serving every airline you can think of for domestic and international destinations. It was built in 1961 but there was an earlier one since 1928 that was used for military flights before. Although it is full of restaurants, shops and banks I just wanted to get away as soon as possible. It is famous for many flight delays too.

There many car rentals next to it, a shuttle bus will transfer you there from the area outside the baggage claim.

Some alternative airports (with better ticket prices many times) are LGB(Long Beach), BUR(Burbank) and ONT(Ontario), They may be closer to your final destination too.