Changing planes.

With traffic and parking almost always challenging at Los Angeles International Airport, officials are seeking ways to coax travelers to facilities at Burbank, Antelope Valley, Long Beach and Ontario, which recently expanded its service. So the Business Journal asks:

Would you consider using regional airports more often?

Kevin Szymanski

VP Client Services and Paid Programming

Inter/Media Advertising

I absolutely use regional airports. That is my preferred method of travel when I have to fly. The Burbank airport is easier to get to than LAX. I work in Encino, so if I'm leaving from the office it's a short drive. There is less traffic, the security lines are shorter, and the customer service is better. I'm forced to use LAX if Burbank doesn't offer a flight to my destination. Flights from Burbank are limited sometimes. I couldn't fly out of Burbank to Washington D.C. When I flew to Minneapolis and to Maui I couldn't fly out of Burbank. But I use regional airports as much as I can.

Jet Wharton

West Coast Group Account Director

Horizon Interactive

As a moderately frequent traveler, if there were more opportunities to fly from other airports I would definitely be open to it. I live close to Burbank and fly out of Burbank when I can to avoid the crowds at LAX. It's really just about the available flights and what the ticket prices are. If there are convenient flights and low ticket prices, I would be willing to make the extra drive to fly out of other regional airports, too.

D. Eric Remensperger

Partner

Proskauer Rose LLP 

I do use regional airports. It's funny. I live very close to LAX but I travel down to Long Beach to fly Jet Blue. I go to New York a lot and I find using Long Beach airport to be a considerable time saver. It is worth the 20-minute drive time to avoid the 40-minute wait at LAX. Long Beach has a very easy parking service. You basically drive up to the terminal, drop off your keys and go inside. You get on your flight very quickly. LAX has a huge parking lot, you have to find a parking spot, walk to the terminal. Then you have to wait in line to get your boarding pass and another line at security. I've never used Ontario airport.

Bruce Adlhoch

President

Adlhoch Creative Inc.

I try to fly as often as possible out of Burbank. It is a much easier experience than LAX. The security lines are shorter and the access in and out of the airport is much smoother. I fly most often to see clients in San Francisco and Las Vegas and to see family in Portland. Burbank has flights to those destinations and now with Jet Blue it is easier to fly to the East Coast. In the past year, I have flown out of the country a fair amount. For international flights, I have to fly out of LAX.

John Thomas 

Managing Director, Acquisitions

Kennedy Wilson Multi-family Management

I wouldn't use regional airports because LAX is just so convenient for me. I live in Manhattan Beach and all I need to do is hop into a cab and I'll be there right away. But, LAX does feel a little overcrowded sometimes. I know there are times when planes are landing and they have to turn around because there are just too many planes. There was a time when I was on a plane ready to take off from LAX and we couldn't because there was just too much inbound traffic. I understand why people can't use Ontario and other airports because they don't go to as many places as LAX. But, I think it's great if they used more regional airports so they wouldn't have to drive so far and create more traffic, too.