Originally Posted by puppysara
I do the reverse trip routinely, SMF to BUR (only occasionally LGB) and return. 400 mi door to door. My main issue is luggage. If I'm moving stuff from office to office or staying in LA area overnight, I drive. No TSA, no shoe carousel, no hauling bags to and fro, no flight delays, no standing on queue to get a "non-smoking" Hertz car that always smells of smoke, no SWA. Just more convenient. 5.5 hrs door to door with a book on IPOD from Audible. Relaxing and I'm in control, not TSA, not ATC. Might reconsider a bit if AA did the run, but they don't.
That said, when it snows over the grapevine (I-5) I fly. Headed South on Sunday, back Thursday. Looking forward to Woodward's book this trip.
I also live in Northern California and travel to Southern California regularly. I rarely drive. Basically, only when I need to carry a lot of stuff with me or when I need my own car down there. (Usually I borrow one from my father.)
I just hate that long drive. To me, it's NOT relaxing.
Ed