Union Station FlyAway Bumps Up Service

I’ve used the Flyaway from Van Nuys and it is great. It is sooooo easy. I definately plan to use it again.

I use the Union Station fly away several times a month, and I have noticed it getting more and more full, especially in the mornings. This is a good thing, getting more people off the road.

I’ve found the Flyway excellent for returning from LAX. But, if I have an early morning flight, forget it. Not reliable enough. I missed a morning flight to Chicago last year because the schedule got out of whack. If I’m in no particular hurry, I’ll use it. Given the Rapid bus stops right in front of my apartment on Broadway, the connection is very smooth.

I remember returning from Mexico last spring. I wasn’t in a hurry and I walked all the way to Olvera Street through Union Station. I had a hankering for a churro from Mr. Churro. As I strolled through Union Station and across to Olvera, I was struck by a very dramatic sense of arriving in very unique place called Los Angeles. In fact, the entire journey from LAX conveyed this strong sense of place.

I absolutely love this service. I used it at Van Nuys when I lived in the Valley, and at Union Station since I’ve moved downtown.

Of the dozen or so times that I’ve used it in the last few years (I usually fly Southwest, one of the first terminals), I can only recall once when the bus was too full for passengers at the other terminals. But luckily for them, there was another bus one terminal right behind that was pretty empty.

I think my only frustration (and I know they have no control over traffic at/near LAX) is that sometimes I can wait anywhere from 45-60 minutes for my bus to come when I’m coming home. They may leave Union Station (or Van Nuys, Westwood) every 15-30 minutes, but they sure don’t always come by LAX that frequently, depending on the time of day.

That being said, I always make sure I don’t have to be somewhere or make an appointment right after a flight back home. I’ve learned to definitely leave the wiggle room of time as I wait at LAX for my big blue bus.

The Flyaway is awesome. Unlike # 4, I find it’s usually more reliable when departing from Union Station and not LAX. I’ve never had a delay from Union Station yet. Since there is no definite timetable for Flyaways leaving from LAX, I usually take Metro back to downtown. It’s very convenient, as I only have to go back to the 7th Street/Metro station to walk back home.

Love the FlyAway…only problem (not with the service) is if you arrive back at LAX late at night/early morning there are no trains from Union Station since they stop running the Metro just after Midnight.

I know this is off topic, but it still relates to coach buses. I think there should be some kind of organized effort to get Greyhound to relocate their main operations to Union Station (from 7th/Alameda). I have seen a Greyhound sign at Union Station before along side with Megabus, but I have never seen Greyhound depart from Union Station. In any case, passengers arriving to LA on Greyhound would definitely appreciate access to LA’s expanding rail network instead of being dropped off in nowhere-ville near Skid Row.