benjamin on April 21, 2009, at 07:51PM – #1

oh lord, I am glad they didn't make it!

Tornadoes28 on April 22, 2009, at 08:34AM – #2

I wish there was a rail line that directly linked the airport with downtown.

RLK on April 22, 2009, at 09:22AM – #3

The bus from Union Station works just fine and is very affordable and efficient.

Alek F on April 22, 2009, at 09:45AM – #4

to RLK: the bus is "just fine"?

And here is why the LAX Flyaway will never be truly popular as the airport connector normally should:

1) Frequency of service. Every half-hour is not frequent enough in the ideal world - to transport people between Downtown and the Airport. But - right now the service is relatively infrequent due to relatively low demand (most times that I've traveled - buses were only half-full.) And that's because:

2) Buses are generally unattractive to people. Yup. Even though the Fly-Away bus is a luxury bus, it's still only a bus, and experience worldwide have proven that nothing will lure people out of their cars like a Train would. That's why the Bus service as a "fly-away" will be known as a no-more than Mediocre service, with low passenger demand, resulting from low customer appeal.

3) Traffic conditions. Oh, Lord... Where should I start! In the ideal world - yes, buses can work fine if you're in a remote area, with perfectly-light traffic conditions. However, this is L.A. - a City with the worst traffic conditions in the whole country. So, do the math. If you're trying to rely on getting to the airport on time, the Train would, no doubt, take you there without a single obstacle. But... currently - which traffic do you prefer more? The on at the 110/101 interchange? (We get stuck there every time I take the Flyaway) Or on the 110? Or - do you love the backups on the 105 freeway?

However, the LAX Flyaway - even as a bus - is certainly better than nothing; and I'm thankful that there finally is a direct connection between Downtown and LAX. But, I strongly believe, people will start leaving their cars behind once a reliable Rail alternative is proposed - to connect LAX with Downtown. So, we really have to push for the Rail service - as a Downtown - LAX connector. Alek F,
mass transit advocate

Ed Greenberg on April 22, 2009, at 12:43PM – #6

less than 15 minutes after she left her hotel, Mrs. Murphy is being shown to her seat by the airline hostess. <<< Of course, in 1965, there was no such thing as airport security. Imagine the process today.

cph on April 22, 2009, at 07:51PM – #7

The Skylounge was a pipe dream, technically possible but expensive to run.

During the 50's and 60's, there was a commuter helicopter line (LA Airways) that operated short helicopter flights between LAX and various suburban points--Anaheim, San Fernando Valley, San Bernardino, etc. Nothing to Downtown, though--they couldn't settle on a good place for a commuter heliport there.

It, and two similar services in New York and Chicago, was heavily subsidized by the Feds as a demonstration project. The subsidies ended in the mid-60's, and the service started to be cut back. A couple of fatal accidents in 1968 further sealed the fate of the helicopter service; the last trips were in Oct. 1970.

Every few years since, someone drags out the idea of using helicopters in a local transit system. The cost of operating the aircraft, plus the inevitable noise concerns, keeps most of these plans firmly on the ground....

Elsongs on April 24, 2009, at 01:22AM – #9

If you wanna see how a Downtown-to-Airport service is done, look at Hong Kong's Airport Express:

John Swartz on April 25, 2009, at 10:47AM – #10

LOL! That's a rad 60's idea! Definitely far fetched. As far as current LAX transpo, The fly away and the MTA both reach downtown fine. However, it would take a flashy monorail system for the mass majority of peope to actually pay attention! The average business class person still takes taxis because the fly away and the MTA are not well known or convenient at all.