<p>I have been reading the thread in the parents forum about the perils of air travel to and from college - cancelled flights, stranded kids.</p>
<p>Besides LAX which airports are convenient or more affordable for traveling to USC. What are the ground connections like?</p>
<p>Burbank is about as convenient as LAX. LAX has more direct flights but requires very early arrival for departures due to some of the slowest security lines I’ve experienced. Burbank is like a small regional airport in terms of ease of in and out but most flights will be connectors. Supershuttle serves both. My son said that LAX Supershuttle requires you to generally wait til they have a full van but they drop you off early in the route typically. He has had the Supershuttle guy at Burbank leave with only him in the van which was very quick. Orange County is further away and Ontario even further. No experience with Long Beach.</p>
<p>does anyone know if USC provides free shuttle service to the airports? or is there any good public transport to get there? i heard that sometimes, during like the breaks, usc will have scheduled shuttles?</p>
<p>Good News </p>
<p>In my experience Orange County and Ontario are very easy to use (access and security line wise). I’ve never flown through Burbank.</p>
<p>Bad News</p>
<p>Not always, but generally speaking LAX is typically the cheapest option. Plus it has the most non-stop flights from seemingly every city in America. </p>
<p>If your going to get stranded it seems more likely to happen in a layover/plane change situation, (example: changing planes in Chicago in January). Though I can’t say I’d worry about it too much, being 18 and stranded in a strange airport/city could be a fun thing.</p>
<p>Ok, here’s my airport experience:</p>
<p>LAX: convenient. Flies just about everywhere in the world-I believe they have two flights to Dubai every single day! Huge airport with long waits in security lines during peak hours. Tons of dining options inside, plus entertainment. Flights are usually cheaper than those at other airports. Many airlines from which to choose. </p>
<p>Burbank-small, with fewer flyers and airlines. There are still many flights, but it may be harder to find a specific flight at a specific time. May need to connect. Fewer people=fewer lines! Very easy to navigate. Still has plenty of dining options. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t set my heart on one or the other-always check you options at both-and look into OC and Ontario as well (I’ve flown into Orange County twice-so the most I’ve seen of it is the baggage claim).</p>
<p>If you can get a lift to Union Station (north of USC, near Chinatown), there is a coach service called LAX Flyaway. They go directly to the airport and leave every half hour. They drop you at your terminal, and the cost is only $7. There is a dedicated plaza on the back of Union Station that is dedicated to this service. Very safe, very convenient and very cheap.</p>
<p>Try Long Beach if JetBlue has your flight.</p>
<p>^I did that once. Great flight. I completely forgot about that!</p>
<p>What are the options for ground transportation from Long Beach to USC? I don’t know
the area at all. Are there shuttles available? How far is it from USC?
Thanks.</p>
<p>Supershuttle will charge you $45 to get to USC from Long Beach. Find a friend with a car.</p>
<p>$15 will get you from USC to LAX on a Super Shuttle. Lines at LAX aren’t as bad as people here make it seem.</p>
<p>Yeah, just use LAX. It might be a dump but I’ve never had any problems with it. My preferred way to travel is to use the Flyaway bus to get to Union station, then the free USC shuttle to get to campus.</p>
<p>There are numerous airports near USC but so far, we have always just stuck with LAX. With the commuter lane, it is pretty quick getting there & out if you have enough folks in your vehicle. We like having non-stop flights & LAX has the most. Sometimes, it IS cheaper for flights & easier to try some of the other airports, but we have no personal experience. You do have to factor in getting to & from the airport as well & there are more options in & out of LAX.</p>
<p>Burbank tends to be more expensive, too, from my experience! Long Beach is a hassle to get to.</p>
<p>Unless you live in an area that isn’t considered “major metropolitan,” LAX will ALWAYS be your best bet. It’s a major airline hub city.</p>
<p>Do you guys know what is the cheapest way to get from LAX to USC?</p>
<p>
–> Super Shuttle, Prime Time Shuttle</p>
<p>Reading! It’s fun! (And saves people from repeating themselves!!)</p>
<p>Well, I’m sorry, but I didn’t see that. Thanks anyhow.</p>
<p>The cheapest way is to find a friend with a car. The second cheapest way is to take the Flyaway bus ($8) to union Station, then the free USC tram to campus.</p>
<p>Thanks, Hawking. Is this a feasible option though for an incoming freshman to get to campus during orientation though? (IE, is it pretty easy to get to the Union Station and then find the tram to USC even if you don’t have much experience in LA?) I am coming a day early too so I don’t mind if it takes any extra time or anything too. It might be fun exploring a little just so I don’t find myself somewhere sketchy, haha.</p>
<p>Make sure you do your research if it’s the first time going to USC. Check this website: [Auxiliary</a> Services | Transportation | Bus Maps & Schedules](<a href=“http://transnet.usc.edu/transit/routes.aspx]Auxiliary”>http://transnet.usc.edu/transit/routes.aspx)</p>
<p>You want the shuttle going from Union Station to UPC (University Park Campus).</p>