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Los Angeles Introduces reLAXing Improvements


Over the years we’re in and out of Los Angeles International Airport more than any other in the world. We don’t visit LAX because we love it, but it’s just 25 minutes (except during rush hour) from home and necessary for almost all of our air travel plans.

In recent years LAX had been looking a bit shabby, but things are changing for the better. On a flight schedule several weeks ago, we noted the lighting is brighter, the waiting rooms larger and perked up with new seating facilities. The static old signs have been replaced by video-enhanced displays that make everything more inviting. The dingy little shops are being replaced by larger, contemporary retail areas.

There’s now the impressive-looking Great Hall, the Antonio Villaraigosa Pavilion, honoring the recent mayor of Los Angeles. Inside are upscale dining and retail enclaves, as well as indoor and outdoor VIP lounges.

LAX is also improving and enlarging boarding gates and aircraft entry bridges. Many domestic and foreign aircraft arriving at the airport today are larger models that offer more extensive, two-level seating. The new facilities will allow quicker passenger departing and arriving opportunities.

We frequent flyers appreciate the ongoing improvements at LAX, and look forward to enjoying them on future travels.

No hotel wake-up call & missed my flight! PDF Print E-mail

Old phone

Q: I left a call at the front desk of my hotel for 6 am, so I could get a taxi to the airport for an 8 am flight. The call never happened. I woke up at 7 am, but checking out and getting a cab was already useless.

It cost me extra money to book another flight and I missed an important business meeting. I asked the hotel chain to reimburse me for the trouble and extra expense. I was turned down. What can I do about it?

Jay P., Orlando FL

A: Absolutely nothing! No matter what, you’re responsible to make your flight, not poor service at the hotel. We travel often, and always carry two battery-operated mini-alarm clocks with us. We set one for get-up time and the other to ring 20 minutes later.

Don’t depend on the plug-in alarm clock usually on the night table next to your hotel bed. Too often, it doesn’t work at all or the last guest set it to ring at 2 am, and will blast you out of a deep sleep at the wrong time.

 
 
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