'Planepool' Out of Carmageddon: JetBlue Offering $4 Flights Between Long Beach & Burbank Saturday

Photo of passengers boarding a JetBlue flight at Long Beach by Moto@Club4AG via Flickr

One way to get around the traffic mess of Carmageddon: FLY. No, not with your two arms flapping, some pixie dust, and happy thoughts. Try on an airplane. JetBlue has announced they're offering two special nonstop flights #OverThe405, between Long Beach Airport and Bob Hope Airport in Burbank this Saturday during Carmageddon. The flights will be--and this is kind of insane--$4 each way.

Is this a sign of the ultimate "pussification" or sheer genius?

Mark Rogers, JetBlue’s L.A. marketing manager explains the rationale for these "planepools" (their word):

“We’re helping Angelenos get over the gridlock altogether and enjoy the Valley or the beach, their favorite soccer match or a food festival, without having to brave the traffic jams to get there. Plus, you’ll receive some of the best customer service in the industry, you can check a bag free, have the benefit of ample legroom while you tune to one of more than 100 live channels of free TV or radio stations, and snack freely, all while having a birds-eye view of the road congestion you’ve given up.”

Flights leave Burbank at 12:20 p.m. (arrive in Long Beach at 1:05) and 6:35 p.m. (arrive in Long Beach at 7:10 p.m.) and leave Long Beach at 1:50 p.m. (arrive in Burbank at 2:34 p.m.) and at 7:55 p.m. (arrive in Burbank at 8:30 p.m.). If you want to do a roundtrip, you'll need to leave on the first flight from either end, and take the later one home (no joyrides, we tried booking a there-and-back to no avail).

On a more serious note, while carpooling is a recognized way to tread a little more lightly on Mother Earth, and the suggested "beat Carmageddon" alternatives are to stay in your 'hood or try public transit (a lot of it will be free), "planepooling" from one regional airport to another seems like it would do a serious number on your carbon footprint.

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By Lindsay William-Ross in News on July 13, 2011 12:59 PM

Comments [rss]

David Garcia

thanks for the info! im geared up and ready for the weekend with my I
SURVIVED CAR-MAGEDDON t-shirt. i got it here

http://isurvivedcar-mageddon.c...

check out all the cool designs!

personnext

You can do the flights back-to-back, I am! However, because JetBlue's online computer won't recognize such a quick turn around (it's not a legal connection), you had to book this either by phone (JetBlue waived the phone fee on this flight) or book it twice as two separate one way flights.

personnext

You can do the flights back-to-back, I am! However, because JetBlue's online computer won't recognize such a quick turn around (it's not a legal connection), you had to book this either by phone (JetBlue waived the phone fee on this flight) or book it twice as two separate one way flights.

Ezra Horne

I'm also doing the back to back flight! Maybe I'll see you there! :)

Sullivan131

This city is far too dependent on cars and is deathly afraid of walking or taking the bus! It's disgusting.

Jonathan Kuhn

OMFG GET OVER YOURSELVES. $4 FLIGHTS ARE RIDICULOUS. IT'S FUNNY. LAUGH ABOUT IT AND MOVE ON. NO SNARKY SOAPBOXING NECCESSARY YOU SAD, JADED PEOPLE.

Laura Lutrell

I'll lol @ your all caps jade-rage instead :P

Spokker

It's fucking stupid is what it is.

Jonathan Kuhn

Gee, I wonder if everyone who can't take the 405 might be taking that same exact route, thus doubling (or more) the traffic on it, leading to extreme congestion.

Gary Kavanagh

People know they can take metro trains with only one transfer from Long Beach to Burbank right? I'm guessing with security and other fun times at the airport, Metro would be just as fast or faster, and cost less than $4 for both ways, and with a much smaller electric powered carbon impact.

LindsayWilliamRoss

The obvious public transit options aside, what's hilarious (and I was remiss to not put that in the post, it dawned on me a little after it went live) is that if you live in the BUR area, or the LB airport area, you don't need the 405 between the 101 and the 10 to get you to and fro. Like, at all. 134 to the 5 to the 110 to the 105 to the 710 (or reverse). So just who this will "help" is beyond me.

Scott

True, but those routes will most likely be a CF all weekend without having the 405 to work in conjunction with. Also the Red, Gold, and Orange lines are free this weekend.

RedMercury

I gotta admit, I had the same thought. This is basically a publicity stunt--but a kind of fun one. I'll admit, I was tempted except I really have no reason to go to Burbank.

Laura Lutrell

Yes, we need more incentives to burn more fossil fuels at shorter distances...then dealing with security? *pfft* It's not even worth it.