United Airlines' LAX cuts - how to cope
© Los Angeles InternationalImpelled by high fuel prices, United Airlines is pulling down seat capacity and grounding older, less fuel-efficient aircraft. That means route cuts. Here is a look at United's and United Express' route cuts out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and how to cope with their cessation.
Going away on September 2 is nonstop service from LAX to Des Moines (DSM), Guatemala City (GUA), Hong Kong (HKG), Wichita (ICT); Modesto, CA (MOD), and Tulsa (TUL). On October 25, United exits the LAX to Frankfurt (FRA) route.
How to cope: There is no nonstop competition on the LAX to Des Moines route. The best bet is to catch a United flight to Denver (DEN), and connect from there to Los Angeles.
If you're flying to Guatemala City, a good option might be to fly Continental Airlines nonstop to Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport, and connect with a Continental nonstop from there down to GUA.
United's departure from the LAX to Hong Kong route leaves Cathay Pacific the only nonstop player on the run.
It looks like Wichita will be bereft of nonstop service to LAX when United Express ends the route. You can catch a United or United Express flight to Denver, and connect from there on to ICT.
San Francisco should stay well-connected to the United route structure, but you'll have to fly a United Express flight from MOD to San Francisco (SFO), and from there connect to either United, United Express, discount airline Virgin America, discount airline Southwest, or Alaska down to Los Angeles.
If you're going to get to Tulsa from LAX, the easiest way is via a one-stop, no-change-of-plane sojourn on discount airline Southwest.
United’s Star Alliance partner Lufthansa continues to link LAX and Frankfurt nonstop. Air India (Web site: www.airindia.com) also plies the route nonstop.
© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler