Fortunately for me, in the early morning of Dec 24, I didn't start out at LAX. I United Expressed it into LAX from ONT, so I didn't have to deal with the LAX madhouse.

I say fortunately, as while comfortably seated in my First seat waiting for others to board, may folks arrived at the last moment huffing and puffing and cursing. I could hear them as many of them remarked to the FA at the door. They all had the same thing to say...1 hr 45 min to 2 hours to get through "security hell."

Our door shut on time with many, many no-shows, reopened to allow a couple more and for additional luggage to be stowed, and then pushed back about 10 minutes late still with many no-shows that were checked-in but never boarded, them being stuck in the security lines downstairs.

Not only were these Xmas Eve passengers ticked. I bet the airlines just love this stuff (kidding). Must cost them a pretty penny and a lot of headaches too.