Valkyre

Long Beach Airport vs. LAX

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is about 7.8 miles from our house. It's close enough for us to hear and see the planes coming in. That makes it nice and convenient. But, I would rather have my wisdom teeth pulled, without any Novacaine, than go to LAX. Especially if I were to be dropping someone off over the Labor Day Weekend. If you take the freeway in, there is only one offramp to the airport. It splits off into two lanes. However, on busy days, traffic will back up for several miles onto the freeway at that exit. There is a train, called the green line that runs up the center of this particular freeway, however, it stops about a mile or so from the airport. Duh!? You have this nice train that could go all the way into the airport and cut down the number of cars that go in? Oh, and if you manage to make it into the airport, good luck finding parking inside, if you need it. Fortunately, there is an alternative. Long Beach Airport (LGB). Long Beach Airport is 16.2 miles from our house. It is well worth it. It's like taking a step back in time when you go there. This morning, I took Mike, and his brother, Nick, to Long Beach Airport. They are flying up to Seattle to celebrate there Mum's 80th Birthday. They were catching a flight on Alaska Airlines. We took the San Diego Freeway (405) to Lakewood Blvd. Hardly any traffic. In fact, I was the only car that got off at the Lakewood Blvd exit heading towards the airport. We take that down to Donald Douglas Drive. I get into the left turn lane and am among, maybe, about a half dozen vehicles going to the airport. The long term lot has a lot of empty spaces. I didn't get a good look at the short term lot. Their short term lot is directly across from the terminal which is pictured above. I pull up to the passenger drop off right in front of the terminal. There were already two vehicles there. There was quite a crowd in front of the terminal!!! Yes!!! There were about 20 people there, including the skycaps! That's a lot for Long Beach! Due to the holiday, I noticed more of a police presence, but they looked like they were slightly bored. Mike and Nick get out and I pull away. Going to this airport is like going back in time. The terminal, pictured above, was built in 1941. The luggage carousels are outside under covered areas. It's a real nice break from the hustle and bustle of LAX. And, while Mike and Nick waited to board their plane, LAX was shut down today, for two security breaches. That doesn't happen at Long Beach, probably because it doesn't have as much passenger traffic as LAX. I hope it stays that way.