posted
Last Thursday (01Jun06), enroute to Houston and Nashville, I took Pacific Surfliner 768 SBA/LAX (LAUPT). The trip left SBA about 15 minutes late because we had to wait for the bus that comes from up north (Paso Robles and points in between) that had been delayed. No announcements were made, but I did see the bus pull up and pax transfer to the train. Very pleasant ride and we arrived about 10 minutes late into LAUPT. It was an easy, well marked, walk from Track Nine to Berth Nine at the Patsaouras Transit Plaza (perhaps five minutes?) where I bought a one way ticket ($3.00) for the 10:00AM LAX Flyaway bus. After bags were checked for each terminal, we left right on time and 35 minutes (no stops) later we entered the upper loop at the airport. Because of congestion caused by filming at the Bradley Terminal it took another 10 minutes before I was dropped at Terminal Six for my Continental flight to IAH. (Extra points if you can tell me why Continental is located in Terminal SIX.)
This service is great! Buses leave Union Station every half hour from 5AM to 1AM and every hour between 1AM and 5AM. For more information check out www.lawa.org/lax . It it now probably the easiest way to get to/from LAX and downtown. It sure beats riding the regular "Express" bus and using Metro rail with three transfers.
Frank in Sunny SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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I have a friend that will next month be coming in from Taiwan to LAX and will need to get to LAUPT to make the bus/train up the valley. To fly into Fresno (closest airport) would cost an extra $200 over the ticket to LAX only.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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posted
It makes stops at every terminal. Tell your friend to walk outside and follow the overhead signs to the Flyaway stop. If you depart from LAX, you don't pay until you get to LA Union Station.
This is a great idea that should have been implemented years (decades) ago. The buses are clean, and the same kind used for tours. I have flown into LAX, ridden the Flyaway to LA Union Station, then use my Metrolink pass to hop on any Metrolink or Surfliner to get me where I'm going.
Posts: 286 | From: Knee deep in the retention tank | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Pickup is on the lower level. Be sure to tell your friend to be aware that there are TWO Flyaway buses. One goes to the Flyaway parking lot near the Van Nuys Amtrak/Metrolink Station and the other to Union Station. Going to LAX they stop on the upper level and only at terminals where they know they have pax. Because of the filming I mentioned people going to Tom Bradley Terminal had to get off at #4 (American) and walk back. This is not only a great way to get to Union Station but also to downtown and the Metro and, as Paul mentioned, Metrolink. Today, on my flight back to LAX, I talked with a woman who had planned to take a cab to the Bonaventure Hotel. I suggested the Flyaway and then a cab from Union Station or the Red Line. She was amazed that such a thing existed in Los Angeles.
Frank in twilight SBA
P;S. The bonus doing this is seeing the "other" entrance to Union Station.
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I took it back in April (a few weeks after the service started) and it worked out great. I like the fact it's non-stop after leaving LAX. And even during rush hour, it made it there in 35 minutes as promised. The only problem was some people boarding through it was the Van Nuys bus and it took extra time to explain to them it was going to LAX (even with a sign!)
Posts: 100 | From: Milwaukee, WI | Registered: Feb 2006
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