Long Beach has miles to go

I disagree with Inge Johnson that Long Beach Airport has fewer hassles [“When Flying, Don’t Forget Long Beach,” Letters, June 27].

She should have used the past tense because the small airport has become infinitely more congested and crowded in the two years I’ve been using it.

As far as public transportation, it’s not all that easy for a person living in Los Feliz, as I do.

JetBlue doesn’t operate at LAX, but I’m paying similar fares from that airport on American, United and Delta. I bought a trip to New York for $216.70 round trip, taxes included. When I booked the flight, JetBlue was offering one-way fares of $129 to New York and $139 from New York, about $268, plus tax (comparable with United, Continental and American when I shopped before June 19).

If JetBlue were to guarantee me $99 each-way fares on all flights every day and throw in a couple of frequent-flier points and if Long Beach were to provide shuttle service to the closest Blue Line station -- maybe a small van on the half-hour and leaving Long Beach for the Blue Line on the hour -- as LAX does to the Green Line Aviation station, I’d give serious consideration to using Long Beach more often.

George A. Davis-Benton

Los Angeles

The Travel section welcomes comments and letters. Send them to Travel, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; fax (213) 237-7355, e-mail travel@latimes.com. Please include your name, address and phone number, which will be used for verification.