By Cecil Egbele | Contributing Writer | California Local News Fellow
For Bakersfield travelers, getting to Los Angeles just got a lot easier: United Airlines restored nonstop service between the cities Tuesday with a roughly 20-minute flight, even though subsequent flights would last about one hour.
The restored Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Bakersfield’s Meadows Field Airport (BFL) route was applauded by Kern County officials, and for those looking to bypass the frustrating bottleneck of the Grapevine, the Los Angeles traffic and airport car park hurdles, the flight arrangement is enticing.
For the 110-mile flight, round-trip ticket prices start at $239 on off-peak days, and exceed $460 on high-demand Sundays and Mondays. Last-minute weekend bookings are currently hovering right around $299.
The daily nonstop flight schedule is set: a morning flight departs LAX at 10:43 A.M. A return leg departs BFL at 2:03 P.M.
For many Bakersfield residents, though, the significance of the new route goes beyond convenience; people have grown accustomed to driving to LAX.
A Familiar Route Reborn
United had long connected both cities but ended its twice-daily United Express service between Bakersfield and LAX in 2014. The end of the service included eliminating service from LAX to several other cities, including Portland and San Jose.
Local officials say it is focused mainly on the future economic opportunities it brings to the San Joaquin Valley. An official statement from Bill LaManque, the director of the Kern County Department of Airports, said the route’s return is a vital win for regional commerce.
“This is an exciting step forward for our community. Each new route expands access, supports local businesses, and strengthens our region’s economic vitality. We’re proud to partner with United Airlines in delivering these essential connections.”
Echoing that optimism, Kern County Chief Communications Officer Erin Briscoe-Clarke in a KGET TV interview, highlighted the rollout, emphasizing how the route aims to make domestic and international travel “convenient and stress-free” for a growing community tired of driving south just to catch a flight.
The Passenger Experience
For the United travelers stepping off Tuesday’s new Flight 4730 in Bakersfield, the sheer speed of the trip felt almost surreal. Passenger Jacqueline Davis, who was on board the celebratory first leg, shared her experience with ABC23 Bakersfield:
“It was very short. By the time you doze off, you were waking back up.”
For business commuters and global travelers looking to connect with international flights out of LAX, cutting out a two- to three-hour drive each way could be a massive time saver.
Social media largely focused on the new route’s price tag. On one side of the digital aisle, frequent flyers argue that saving hours of driving time, avoiding expensive LAX parking fees, and eliminating the stress of traffic easily justify the cost.
“$300 is worth it if you add the gas, the traffic headache, and the parking fees to leave the car at LAX, said Nichole Nance on Facebook. “It’s about the same price if you think about it, and way less time and no headache from traffic; also way safer. You dodge potential car accidents.”
Budget-conscious leisure travelers pushed back, arguing that the ticket price is not worth the distance. “Spend $300+ for a 29-minute flight, when one can drive to the Van Nuys FlyAway and catch a shuttle to LAX for half the money? Not worth it,” said Jerre Delaney, a Facebook user.
Others expressed concern that if ticket prices remain high, casual travelers will stick to their cars, leaving the route vulnerable to the same cancellation fates it suffered in decades past.
The return of LAX service gives Kern County travelers a choice they lost in 2014: another choice. “I am happy to hear this,” said Pamela Wilson on Facebook. “I will be making more trips to Bakersfield.”
