{"id":442500,"date":"2026-08-25T00:54:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T00:54:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/442500\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T00:54:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T00:54:22","slug":"united-airlines-brings-back-la-to-bakersfield-flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/442500\/","title":{"rendered":"United Airlines brings back LA to Bakersfield flight"},"content":{"rendered":"

For a flight with less than half an hour in the air, United Airlines<\/a>\u2019 revived California route comes with a sky-high price tag: $200.<\/p>\n

The airline brought back daily service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX<\/a>) and Bakersfield\u2019s Meadows Field on Aug. 11, per InsideFlyer<\/a>. The route gives travelers a way to avoid the notoriously congested drive between the two cities.<\/p>\n

However, the convenience comes at a hefty cost for the short journey.<\/p>\n

The inaugural United flight from LAX to Bakersfield took off and returned to LAX with passengers earlier this month. 23 ABC BAKERSFIELD<\/p>\n

Passengers can expect to pay hundreds of dollars to fly a short distance that is often just a few hours on the road.<\/p>\n

The scheduled trip takes about an hour from departure to arrival, although much of that time isn\u2019t spent flying. The distance between LAX and Bakersfield is only about 109 miles.<\/p>\n

The daily schedule has United flight UA4804 leaving LAX at 10:43 a.m. and UA4730 returning from Bakersfield at 2:03 p.m.<\/p>\n

For travelers staring down a $200-plus fare, the math may seem particularly jarring.<\/p>\n

Even with the steep price tag some travelers say they are excited to have the route available to them, which costs just over $200. 23 ABC BAKERSFIELD<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s before factoring in the time it takes to get to the airport, clear security, board and wait for takeoff. Still, local officials say the route could be a game-changer for travelers who value convenience over cost.<\/p>\n

Meadows Field has been promoting the service as an alternative to driving to LAX, where travelers can face brutal traffic, expensive parking and lengthy airport lines.<\/p>\n

Local officials say the flight route could be a game-changer for travelers who value convenience over cost and want to avoid traffic and security long lines. 23 ABC BAKERSFIELD<\/p>\n

United\u2019s Bakersfield-Los Angeles service is scheduled to operate daily, with a morning departure from LAX and an afternoon return from Meadows Field. 23 ABC BAKERSFIELD<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re hoping that people use us as an option,\u201d Erin Briscoe-Clarke, Kern County\u2019s chief communications officer, told 23ABC<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to fly out of Meadows Field. It\u2019s convenient, stress-free, parking is easy, getting here is easy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some passengers say that convenience makes the steep price worthwhile.<\/p>\n

Steve Wilkinson, who flew the route while traveling with his wife, said the ease of using the smaller Bakersfield airport was a major selling point.<\/p>\n

\u201cI realized I had left something in the car in the parking lot, and it took me three minutes to go back out and get it,\u201d Wilkinson told the outlet, noting that the same mistake at a larger airport could have been disastrous.<\/p>\n

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Other travelers are looking at the flight as an escape hatch from Southern California\u2019s legendary freeway congestion. Michael Bowers said he has previously left home before dawn only to spend hours trapped in traffic heading toward LAX.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes I\u2019ve left [at] 4:30 in the morning to be held up by traffic for like 4 hours,\u201d Bowers explained.<\/p>\n

United\u2019s Bakersfield-Los Angeles service is scheduled to operate daily, with a morning departure from LAX and an afternoon return from Meadows Field. <\/p>\n

For travelers willing to pay the premium, the route offers a remarkably quick alternative to the highway.<\/p>\n

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