rkkwan's rock bottom budget way to fly L.A. - Vegas
Jan 25th, 2009, 01:36 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
rkkwan's rock bottom budget way to fly L.A. - Vegas
So, I decided to make a trip to Vegas from L.A. last week. I have lots of time during my "vacation", and I want to find what's the cheapest way to fly there. [Yes, I could have taken a Chinatown casino bus, but I love flying, so bus is out.]
Flights:
Southwest and most other airlines' cheapest fare for L.A. to LAS is around $119 including tax. On some days, a bit more. I haven't seen any cheaper from any L.A. area airport <b>except one</b>. JetBlue flies BUR-LAS once a day, and on the days I wanted to go, it's $49.60 each way, for <b>$99.20</b> roundtrip. So, jetBlue it is.
From home to BUR:
BUR is closer to downtown L.A. than LAX; same from where I live in Koreatown. There is a commuter train from L.A. Union Station to BUR, but it's $5.50, not particularly frequent and doesn't run on weekends.
Instead, I took the $0.25 DASH from Wilshire/Western to Hollywood/Vine; then switch to bus #222 ($1.25) that stopped right in front of the airport. Total cost <b>$1.50</b>. The bus from Hollywood to BUR takes just over half an hour. At the entrance of BUR on Hollywood Way, one can walk to the terminal in 6 minutes, or wait for a free shuttle.
Coming home, because the DASH wasn't running on Saturday, I took bus #94 from Hollywood Way right outside the airport (there's McD, Panda Express, Denny's and Starbucks next to the bus stop) to downtown L.A. $1.25, 50 minutes. Then switch to Purple Line subway, another $1.25. Total cost <b>$2.50</b>.
LAS to hotel:
I was planning to use two 24-hour passes for the Deuce bus for my 48-hour trip at Vegas. That pass covers other city buses too, so I decide to use that to get from airport to Treasure Island. I took the 109A to South Strip Terminal, and then switch to the Northbound Deuce. I could also have taken the 108 towards Downtown, get off at the Stratosphere and then pick up a southbound Deuce (which would be faster for North Strip hotels like the TI). So, actual cost, <b>FREE</b>. I did the same on the way home.
Flights:
Southwest and most other airlines' cheapest fare for L.A. to LAS is around $119 including tax. On some days, a bit more. I haven't seen any cheaper from any L.A. area airport <b>except one</b>. JetBlue flies BUR-LAS once a day, and on the days I wanted to go, it's $49.60 each way, for <b>$99.20</b> roundtrip. So, jetBlue it is.
From home to BUR:
BUR is closer to downtown L.A. than LAX; same from where I live in Koreatown. There is a commuter train from L.A. Union Station to BUR, but it's $5.50, not particularly frequent and doesn't run on weekends.
Instead, I took the $0.25 DASH from Wilshire/Western to Hollywood/Vine; then switch to bus #222 ($1.25) that stopped right in front of the airport. Total cost <b>$1.50</b>. The bus from Hollywood to BUR takes just over half an hour. At the entrance of BUR on Hollywood Way, one can walk to the terminal in 6 minutes, or wait for a free shuttle.
Coming home, because the DASH wasn't running on Saturday, I took bus #94 from Hollywood Way right outside the airport (there's McD, Panda Express, Denny's and Starbucks next to the bus stop) to downtown L.A. $1.25, 50 minutes. Then switch to Purple Line subway, another $1.25. Total cost <b>$2.50</b>.
LAS to hotel:
I was planning to use two 24-hour passes for the Deuce bus for my 48-hour trip at Vegas. That pass covers other city buses too, so I decide to use that to get from airport to Treasure Island. I took the 109A to South Strip Terminal, and then switch to the Northbound Deuce. I could also have taken the 108 towards Downtown, get off at the Stratosphere and then pick up a southbound Deuce (which would be faster for North Strip hotels like the TI). So, actual cost, <b>FREE</b>. I did the same on the way home.
Jan 25th, 2009, 03:00 PM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
esm - It took a while because there's a long layover at Hollywood waiting for the 2nd bus.
Here's the breakdown:
11:56a Left home
12:09p Got on DASH at Wilshire and Western (bus 2 minutes late)
12:32p Arr Hollywood/Vine (5 min late)
12:57p Got on 222 (on-time)
1:27p Arr Hollywood Way/Thorton (2 min early)
Got into terminal building about 3 minutes later as there's a shuttle right then.
So, just over 1.5 hours.
Coming home, my plane touched down at 8:02p. I arrive home via bus 94 and Purple Line at around 10:15p.
Here's the breakdown:
11:56a Left home
12:09p Got on DASH at Wilshire and Western (bus 2 minutes late)
12:32p Arr Hollywood/Vine (5 min late)
12:57p Got on 222 (on-time)
1:27p Arr Hollywood Way/Thorton (2 min early)
Got into terminal building about 3 minutes later as there's a shuttle right then.
So, just over 1.5 hours.
Coming home, my plane touched down at 8:02p. I arrive home via bus 94 and Purple Line at around 10:15p.
Jan 25th, 2009, 03:26 PM
#5
Well, that's not bad. My first experience with buses in LA (many years ago) was trying to get from West LA to Downtown. It was a regular bus and as you can imagine it took forever. Santa Monica buses were much more reliable.
Jan 25th, 2009, 11:44 PM
#6
Oh, on your thread about your trip to Long Beach I asked if you had tried LGB. I was going to suggest that you try that wonderful little airport while jetBlue was having a $39 each way sale ($99 all in).
On Dec 30,31, Jan 1, the airlines had "half-off" sales to LAS. I got a ticket for this weekend (Super Bowl). I chose to fly on United because the CO Presidents Club there is now open to Red Carpet Club members flying on CO or UA.
Roundtrip, all-in: $91
How did you like jetBlue?
On Dec 30,31, Jan 1, the airlines had "half-off" sales to LAS. I got a ticket for this weekend (Super Bowl). I chose to fly on United because the CO Presidents Club there is now open to Red Carpet Club members flying on CO or UA.
Roundtrip, all-in: $91
How did you like jetBlue?
Jan 26th, 2009, 12:42 AM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Problem with LGB is that it'll be a lot harder for me to get to, compared to LAX and BUR. But yes, I did look into it.
There is no airport bus to L.A. like the FlyAway, and no commuter train like BUR. I'll need at least 2 transfers to get there by public transportation.
[I'll be able to drive soon, but the 405 can be pretty bad coming down from L.A.]
jetBlue is fine. I think CO flyers will be very happy this year when they get Live TV, supplied by B6. At BUR, B6 use a ramp for boarding, which is much easier for a lot of people than WN's stairs. Only issue I had was very minor. The plane that flew LAS-BUR arrived from JFK with a very short turnaround time, like WN. And it was not cleaned. My row of seats (I have 3 seats by myself as there are only 54 passengers on the A320) was covered with crumbs.
There is no airport bus to L.A. like the FlyAway, and no commuter train like BUR. I'll need at least 2 transfers to get there by public transportation.
[I'll be able to drive soon, but the 405 can be pretty bad coming down from L.A.]
jetBlue is fine. I think CO flyers will be very happy this year when they get Live TV, supplied by B6. At BUR, B6 use a ramp for boarding, which is much easier for a lot of people than WN's stairs. Only issue I had was very minor. The plane that flew LAS-BUR arrived from JFK with a very short turnaround time, like WN. And it was not cleaned. My row of seats (I have 3 seats by myself as there are only 54 passengers on the A320) was covered with crumbs.
Jan 26th, 2009, 09:02 AM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Western/Wilshire to Hollywood/Vine is exactly 3.75mi (this part of L.A. is a grid).
What's amazing is that if the L.A. subway is more frequent, and offer free transfer between lines, then I would not have taken the DASH, as this bus goes between two subway stations.
And there's actually something to see on this route. It passes the Paramount Studios, and in the afternoon, one can see where the audience lining up for "Dr. Phil".
What's amazing is that if the L.A. subway is more frequent, and offer free transfer between lines, then I would not have taken the DASH, as this bus goes between two subway stations.
And there's actually something to see on this route. It passes the Paramount Studios, and in the afternoon, one can see where the audience lining up for "Dr. Phil".
Jan 29th, 2009, 09:28 AM
#11
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,024
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having lived in the LA area for most of my life, I found your story amazing - kudos figuring out all of that. We live in the Pasadena area, and alternate using BUR and LAX, depending on all sorts of factors, but using public transportation is usually not one of them (tho my daughter has used the the bus to Union Station, connecting to the Gold Line, which worked, but took forever, she said).
FYI, I work not far from where you live in Koreatown, at Pico/Normandie. Any good restaurants in your new 'hood? - we're always looking.
FYI, I work not far from where you live in Koreatown, at Pico/Normandie. Any good restaurants in your new 'hood? - we're always looking.
Jan 29th, 2009, 09:41 AM
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
socaltraveler - Well, I am no expert on Korean food, so I really can't say which is good and which is not.
One place I go fairly regularly is not Korean, but a vietnamese noodle place, Pho 36, which is Western/12th. The owner is Chinese-Vietnamese, unlike most of the other pho place in Korean town that are run by Koreans.
One place I go fairly regularly is not Korean, but a vietnamese noodle place, Pho 36, which is Western/12th. The owner is Chinese-Vietnamese, unlike most of the other pho place in Korean town that are run by Koreans.
