Originally Posted by
etflies
Not that I have a dog in the Delta fight yet, but in normal/light traffic, SAN and PSP are a 2hr drive to LAX. BUR, SNA and ONT can be less but if you hit rush hour, forget it. I don't know the public transit too well from most of those to LAX but I know from San Diego it would not be convenient at all, unfortunately. LGB is 20-30min during normal traffic but I've seen it take upwards of 2hrs in traffic. Good luck, I hope this helps somehow!
Spot on. The traffic in the LA/SoCal area is the worst and getting "worster." If you have to manage the 5, the 101 or the 405, its totally a wild card. I'm a DAL guy based in LA and live 45 miles northwest. I have to navigate the 101 and the 405.
Getting to LAX is a hassle, covering the other airports is a complete crap shoot. If I have an early sign in at SNA or ONT, I drive down the night before and get a hotel. There really isn't much public transport unfortunately. It largely serves downtown LA and the Inland Empire (otherwise known as San Bernadino).
If you choose to move to SoCal, know that guys commuting from LAS, SMF and SLC can oftentimes beat me to sign in from their homes and mine. Same on the way home after a trip. Friday nights? Forget it, its a slog. Rush hour? 5-10 mph most of the way.
LA's a great base and I love the guys I fly with. We're here because my wife is a Cali girl, our kids love the outdoor stuff and the beaches, and I'm gone most of the time. :0