Originally Posted by
carlosdca
I don't see how PHX is worse in this particular scenario.
SAN-LAX required taking the bus. Current wait times for a bus at the eagle terminal can be long. LAX is always crowded, gates are small. I don't see any interesting amenities at LAX.
SAN-LAX was on a regional jet. SAN PHX is mainline.
The only thing better at LAX is arguably the flagship lounge. Meh. I would not miss it that much.
It's not just the Flagship Lounge, there is also the business and first lounges over at TBIT. All three of those options greatly outweigh eating stale snack mix in an overcrowded AC at PHX. And, mainline for an hour versus a regional jet for 30 minutes isn't a huge difference.
But, for me, the most important thing are the connection options. Out of PHX you have 1 choice--AA or BA to LHR. Two flights a day at a maximum of 1 hour apart. That's it for long-haul international. Sure, you can fly to MEX and some small towns in Mexico, but there really isn't much international travel on AA or partners from PHX.
At LAX, things aren't what they used to be, but you still have 3x as many flights to LHR (3 each on AA and BA) and flights to HND, SYD, and AKL on AA metal and, more importantly, connections to AA partners JL, CX, QF, QR, AY, IB, AS, EI, EY, FJ, TN, CZ.
AA has said their international strategy is to not compete with other airlines, so for me connecting at an airport that has international options is more important than worrying about taking a scenic bus ride around the tarmac.