Victim of success: problems crop up at long beach airport after a spurt of growth.AFTER years as a sleepy sleepy characterized by sleep. sleepy foal disease see shigellosis. sleepy staggers see hepatic encephalopathy. backwater, Long Beach Airport is going through the first signs of growing pains grow·ing pains pl.n. Pains in the limbs and joints of children or adolescents, frequently occurring at night and often attributed to rapid growth but arising from various unrelated causes. as an alternative for travelers otherwise bound for LAX. Long lines In communications, circuits that are capable of handling transmissions over long distances. , cramped waiting and security areas and the use of distant parking lots are just the most visible indications of the facility's higher profile. Another sign: for the first time in nearly 20 years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time airport has reached its legal cap of 41 flights per day, thanks in large part to the success of JetBlue Airways For the Jet Blue database used in Exchange Server and Active Directory, see Extensible Storage Engine. JetBlue Airways is a major American low-cost airline owned by JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ: JBLU). . "The fortunes of Long Beach Airport have gone up and down like a yo-yo over the years," said Denver-based aviation consultant Mike Boyd Mike Boyd is a Canadian police officer, who was sworn in as Toronto's interim Chief of Police from March 1, 2005. to April 6, 2005. His appointment followed the controversial tenure of Julian Fantino, whose term as police chief was marked by both a tough approach to crime and . "But now there's a sense that it's finally hit its stride. The trouble is, the facilities were never designed to handle the volume the airport is now experiencing." Yet plans to add space to the terminal and new onsite parking garages have been stalled for more than a year as residents opposed to airport growth pushed Long Beach city officials into doing more environmental work. As a result, the $10 million overhaul won't be finished until the fall of 2005 at the earliest. But that hasn't stopped travelers from flocking to Long Beach, whether to find the cheapest fare or escape the frequent hassles of Los Angeles International Airport “LAX” redirects here. For other uses, see LAX (disambiguation). “KLAX” redirects here. For other uses, see KLAX (disambiguation). Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX, FAA LID: LAX . And with last week's announcement of fare cuts for late summer and fall by several carriers, including Jet Blue and AMR (1) (Adaptive Multi-Rate) A variable rate speech codec selected by the 3GPP for the 3G evolution of the GSM cellphone system (WCDMA). Using the Algebraic CELP (ACELP) compression technology, AMR provides toll quality sound at transmission rates from 4.75 to 12. Corp.'s American Airlines American Airlines Major U.S. airline. American was created through a merger of several smaller U.S. airlines and incorporated in 1934. It continued to buy the routes of other airlines, becoming an international carrier in the 1970s; its routes include South America, the , more logjams are likely. On some JetBlue flights, fares from Long Beach to New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of will be as low as $99 each way. "Every day, there's more and more people," said Gonzalo Camacho, a shuttle parking lot driver who says he has seen passengers from as far as Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. and Fresno trek to Long Beach for the cheaper fares. "In the last few months, it's been at least 30 percent more busy." Coping with more volume In the first quarter of 2004, 670,087 passengers flew into or out of Long Beach, up 13 percent from 592,896 in the like period a year earlier. The growth in JetBlue fliers over that same period was 19 percent. "Everyone I've ever had fly out of Long Beach asks to go again, even if the parking lot is full and the lines are getting longer. It's still that much more convenient than LAX," said Howard Berk, travel counselor at Montrose Travel. In trying to cope with the onslaught of the past 18 months, airport officials have added another baggage claim Noun 1. baggage claim - an area in an airport where arriving passengers can collect the luggage that has been carried in the hold of the aircraft area - a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function; "the spacious cooking area provided facility, another temporary waiting room and trailers to handle security screening. In addition, a once little-used remote parking lot at the Boeing Co. campus north of the airfield has been expanded, and the frequency of shuttle service from that lot to the terminal has been increased. The airport also is in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of a $35 million runway improvement project that is shutting down the main runway every Saturday throughout the summer. As a result, JetBlue and American have each cut two Saturday flights for the next several weeks. (Because the alternate runway is shorter, airplanes flying cross-country can't store quite as much fuel and must therefore make unscheduled unscheduled Adjective not planned or intended Adj. 1. unscheduled - not scheduled or not on a regular schedule; "an unscheduled meeting"; "the plane made an unscheduled stop at Gander for refueling" refueling stops.) Yet even with these temporary improvements, there is often a cramped feeling inside the airport, especially during the peak morning and early evening travel periods. "There's no question that our facilities are strained," said airport spokeswoman Sharon Diggs-Jackson. "We really have no more room to add portable facilities." What's prevented the airport from becoming overwhelmed o·ver·whelm tr.v. o·ver·whelmed, o·ver·whelm·ing, o·ver·whelms 1. To surge over and submerge; engulf: waves overwhelming the rocky shoreline. 2. a. is that it reached its court-mandated daily flight cap late last year. LAX pluses At certain times of the day, the trip to Long Beach can be a relative snap. When Business Journal reporters set out last Wednesday to both facilities from the paper's Miracle Mile Miracle Mile can refer to the following places:
Long Beach Airport is 29 miles from the Business Journal office. LAX is 10 miles. In addition, fares are routinely lower out of Long Beach. The Business Journal identified two American Airlines flights to JFK, one out of Long Beach and the other out of LAX, to compare prices (see chart). A walk-on ticket for the Long Beach flight was $399.20, compared with $563.70 out of LAX. For a seven-day advanced booking, the savings were similar. Even so, Business Journal reporters found little rebelliousness Rebelliousness Recognition (See IDENTIFICATION.) Caulfield, Holden schoolboy at odds with a “phoney” society. [Am. Lit. among LAX passengers. "I've never had any problems here," said Dr. Harold Moores, who flies about once a month. "Larger hubs like LAX offer more flights and more flexibility with scheduling. LAX has made a lot of changes. The e-tickets have made a big difference--the lines go faster. And LAX is the only place for international flights." The biggest advantage, of course, is availability of flights. American has just two daily non-stops from Long Beach to JFK; from LAX, there are 12. While fares are consistently cheaper out of Long Beach, the difference on certain bookings can be less than $50. Unlike Long Beach or Bob Hope (formerly Burbank) Airport, a traveler can find numerous flights to almost any destination in the U.S. or abroad from LAX. "People may prefer to fly out of a smaller airport, but the key remains when you can actually use those airports to get to where you need to go when you want to get there," said Roger Lipkis, owner of Travel Syndicate in Tarzana. "For corporate travelers, that remains the most crucial factor." And despite reports of long delays and extensive security checks at LAX, most passengers spend only a few minutes waiting in line, especially at less congested con·gest·ed adj. Affected with or characterized by congestion. congested ENT adjective Referring to a boggy blood-filled tissue. See Nasal congestion. times. "Most of my customers using LAX get through quicker than they thought," said Vicki Daly-Redholtz, senior travel consultant with All-Travel in West L.A. For all the pluses of Long Beach, there are several drawbacks. Besides flight availability is the prospect of running into heavy traffic, and the lack of amenities in the passenger waiting areas. Vending machines vending machine, coin-operated, automatic device for selling goods. Many vending machines are capable of making change, and some of the more sophisticated ones accept paper money or credit cards. and a snack bar kiosk are all that's available. "If you hit the freeway at the wrong time, that drive to Long Beach could take you an extra hour," said Lipkis. "With that kind of delay, you might as well wait in the lines at LAX. In fact, what I'm finding is that most of my customers will only seek out Long Beach if they can get a flight that's substantially cheaper." Such annoyances are of little concern for passengers such as Caroli Esguerra and her husband Alvin, who live in Costa Mesa Costa Mesa (kŏs`tə mā`sə), city (1990 pop. 96,357), Orange co., S Calif., on the Pacific south of Santa Ana; inc. 1953. It is a transportation, residential, and light industrial center. and fly to trade shows once a month. "The shuttles cost a lot and LAX is just way too busy," said Esguerra, who estimates that fares at Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. would have to be $200 cheaper to trump the proximity and easy access. "We avoid LAX with a passion." Indeed, proximity is a big deal, say local travel agents. Long Beach is a draw largely for travelers who live nearby; others are more willing to endure the hassles of LAX. Neighbors oppose expansion The original improvement plans for Long Beach called for a new 12,000-square-foot waiting room, more room for concessions, a permanent room for security screening and a new parking structure. Jackson said the size of the additions have been in flux and won't be finalized See finalization. until the release of the revised environmental impact report next month. Whatever plans emerge will encounter stiff resistance from local residents, who have formed a group called Long Beach Hush 2. "If they expand that terminal, the airlines could then use that an excuse to sue and try to break the flight cap, which would mean more flights over our homes," said Mike Cole
Mike Cole is a New York State Assemblyman representing the 142nd District, covering portions of Erie and Niagara Counties. , interim president of the organization. "We don't want to see any growth in that terminal, not even one square inch." While growth may be leveling off, no one expects the airport to revert back to its boombust cycle of previous decades--as long as JetBlue remains. "I have a lot of people asking for Long Beach Airport, and it's all based on JetBlue's prices and their experience flying that airline," said Daly-Redholtz. Flying Out of LAX Fun facts on making it to the plane. * Distance from Miracle Mile (5700 Wilshire) to Lot C: 9 miles * Time from Miracle Mile to Lot C: 36 minutes * Time from Lot C to Terminal 4:25 minutes * Parking (Lot B): $8 a day * Parking (Lot C): $10 a day * Parking (Central Terminal): $30 a day * Busiest Shuttle Times: Thursday-Saturday * Amenities at Terminal 4 (American Airlines): Traveler's Aid, Chili's, Starbuck's, Burger King, Duty Free Shop, Travel Right Cafe, See's, Via Voyage, Hudson Gift & News, Destination LA/LA Edge * Time to Get Through Security: 5-30 minutes * Busiest Hours to Get Through Security: 7-9 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon (especially during the summer) * Tips on Getting Through Security: Have picture ID and itinerary prepared; don't wear shoes with heels or buckles--tennis shoes are best FLIGHT 32 American Airlines LAX to JFK, 1 p.m. departure * Roundtrip Fare Flight 32 (Walk-On): $563.70 * Roundtrip Fare (7-Day Advance Booking): $485.70 * Roundtrip Fare (14-Day Advance Booking): $354.70 * On-Time Percentage: 80 percent * Delay (July 14): 15 minutes Flying Out of Long Beach Fun facts on making it to the plane. * Distance From Miracle Mile (5700 Wilshire) to Lot D: 29 miles * Time From Miracle Mile to Lot D: 40 minutes * Time From Lot D to Terminal: 5 minutes * Parking (Lot D): $6 a day * Parking (Valet): $19 a day (includes car wash) * Busiest Shuttle Times: Thursday-Saturday * Amenities at Terminal: Traveler's Aid, Steve's Kona Joe Coffee (two outdoor carts), snack bar, Prop Room Care & Bar, gift shop, vending machines * Time to Get Through Security: 5-30 minutes * Tips on Getting Through Security: Take carryon car·ry·on adj. Small or compact enough to be carried aboard and stowed on an airplane, train, or bus by a passenger: carryon luggage. n. A carryon bag, suitcase, or other item. luggage only, have picture ID ready FLIGHT 290 American Airlines Long Beach to JFK, 12:20 p.m. departure * Roundtrip Fare (Walk-On): $399.20 * Roundtrip Fare (7-Day Advance Booking): $329.90 * Roundtrip Fare (14-Day Advance Booking): $309.20 * On-Time Percentage: 80 percent * Delay (July 14): Departed 5 minutes early --Matt Myerhoff, Kim Holmes Kim R. Holmes, Ph.D., is one of Washington's foremost foreign and defense policy experts. He currently serves as the Vice President of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation and the Director of its Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies. and Rebekah Sanders Staff reporters Matt Myerhoff, Kim Holmes and Rebekah Sanders contributed to this story. |
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