Triangle Trip

With heightened security measures at US airports, Los Angeles International’s (LAX) TSA staff can appear to be slower than usual over the 2009 holidays. But the situation isn’t all that bad. I got to LAX at 11:10AM for a 12:30PM flight in anticipation for delays and bag check. With Medallion status, it took me 50 minutes to check my bags and clear TSA security at LAX’s Terminal 5 for a Delta flight (I had to check a bag because I was carrying California wine back to the east coast.).

Here are some statistics and best practices for your December 2009 and January 2010 holiday travel at LAX’s Terminal 5:

*  Give yourself at least one hour to get through TSA security regardless if your airline status. It still took me exactly 50 minutes to check my bags and get through TSA security; this is despite the fact that I’m a Medallion member, and I know my way around LAX terminals.

*  Forget the status line and just line up with everyone else. I was on the Delta Medallion/First Class line and waited 35 minutes to pass the first TSA security checkpoint – where they check your ID and ticket. The regular line was a lot faster as people who got in line with me passed me on the first checkpoint. There were 3 screeners checking IDs on the normal line vs 1 screener for the Medallion/First Class line.

*  If you’re checking bags and don’t have status, give yourself two hours to check your bags and get through TSA security. The regular bag check line was wrapping around the doors outside the departure terminal at LAX Terminal 5. I also noticed issues with the checkin kiosks as people were complaining.

*  Note that LAX’s Terminal 4, 5, 6, and 7 are all interconnected. You can always checkin at Terminal 5 and use the walkway to get to Terminal 7 or 4.

I dropped off friends at LAX Terminal 6 and noticed the United line was also wrapped around the doors of Terminal 6 and terminal 7. I suggested our best practices (see previous posts: use Terminal 6 vs 7 and quickly get through Terminal 7) to my friends and they were able to clear TSA security in 20 minutes.

Happy 2010 everyone!

Chicago has the best public transportation system to get from the airport to the City. Regardless if you’re traveling from Midway (MDW) or O’Hare (ORD – which is one of the Top 5 airports in the US), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) can get you from the airport to downtown Chicago in about 45 minutes or less. No other major metropolitan area in the US has such an efficient public transportation system connecting airports to the City’s business district.

The CTA blue line is directly connected to ORD’s Terminal 2 and within walking distance from Terminals 1 and 3. The O’Hare terminal train station is clean, and has clear signs directing you to the next train departing from the station. Taking the blue line is the most efficient and fastest way to get you to downtown Chicago as I-90/I-94 traffic is horrendous. See map below for reference:

At MDW, there are clear signs and walkway from baggage claim that directly connects Midway Airport to the orange line Midway train station. The Midway train station is by the main garage of Midway Airport. You can get to Chicago’s downtown loop from Midway in under 30 minutes.

The only downside to the Chicago CTA is they don’t run 24×7. Trains stop at midnight or 1:00am and restart at about 4:30am. Regardless, you can’t beat the speed; I still remember taking the 5:00am train from the city to midway for a 6:30am flight with plenty of time to spare.

I don’t think there’s any other major city in the world where you only spend US$2.25 to go from the airport to downtown in less than 45 minutes. Taking a cab from ORD or MDW to downtown would cost you at least US$50, and the ride would be significantly slower with all of that traffic.

Getting from south of San Mateo (or south of the 92) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, or Oakland International Airport (OAK) via the Bay Bridge – fast – is possible, and easy. Just memorize the following:

If you can get to the 92 (Belmont area), take the following route and I can personally guarantee you can be at SFO in less than 20 minutes and to San Francisco in less than 35 minutes, at any time during the day. I can’t guarantee the commute time to OAK, unfortunately, as the on-ramp to the Bay Bridge and beyond is too much of a wild card.

Here’s what you will need to do to avoid the dreaded 101 traffic to SFO and the city:

1. Take 280 northbound. If you’re already on the 101, you can catch the 280 by taking 92 east. It may seem out of the way but the 7 miles or so to go from the 101 to 280 via the 92 will save you 15 minutes.

2. Stay on 280 until you are on 380 west. Take 380 west towards SFO. This route also works if your heading to the city or Oakland. Going from 280 to 380 drops you back on the 101.

3. From 380, get back on the 101 north. By taking 280 to 380 and then back to the 101, you have avoided one of the worst bottlenecks in the Bay Area. The stretch on the 101 from Belmont to SFO can take 45 minutes due to heavy traffic merging from the 92 (folks coming from Foster City and the East Bay). The turn at Burlingame also causes congestion because of sun glare during rush hour.

Going back from 280 to the 101 once you’ve passed SFO is also a much shorter commute than taking 280 directly into San Francisco. You’ll rarely run into traffic from SFO to the city using this route unless there’s a 49ers game.

3a. After you’ve passed Candlestick Point on the 101, you’ll have the option to stay on 101 north or go back on the 280 north. You’ll have to make a gut decision here: 101 north could be backed up due to the Bay Bridge on-ramp traffic; but 280 north could also be backed up due to a Giants game on the Embarcadero.

Staying on 101 north is the most direct route. If you prefer to take 280 north and want to get back on the Bay Bridge, here’s a shortcut:

1.  Exit on King street
2.  Make a left on 3rd Street
3.  Make a right on Bryant
4.  You will see an on-ramp to the Bay Bridge once you’ve passed 2nd Street

Happy travels.