My oldest took an Uber from Burbank to the Santa Monica Pier with some friends this summer – mind you, it was her first time in LA – and she commented to me, wow, that was quite a drive. 
Getting around LA itself can be crazy for sure.
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We attended an admissions event and a girl asked them how they can justify spending on average 7 minutes reviewing an app after requiring countless essays and being so selective students agonize for hours and pour their hearts into it. I wanted to cheer for her. Admissions officers were on a panel and were not ready for that.
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Burbank is a hassle! I just got off the phone with D22, who usually calls me on her drive home from her internship (Hollywood to Westwood). One of her fellow interns got a new gig in Burbank and they were all lamenting that he was essentially driving to Iceland.
D22 loves to drive and has made the Westwood to Marin drive a few times. The 5 is “boring AF” but she thinks her roommate might go with her since she lives in the South Bay. That’ll make the drive go by faster.
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LOL, I know nothing at all about LA geography and have never been there, so that was all Greek – but I can just imagine. 
(I’m picturing the scene from Will & Grace where she moves to Brooklyn and says IT’S SO FAR. Although doubly funny because we know Brooklyn is not far at all, LOL.)
D22 actually flew into Burbank on purpose this summer because the show she went to see was at a theatre there, like 15 min from that tiny airport. And it wasn’t any more expensive than flying into LAX, believe it or not, so that worked out!
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LAX is my least favorite airport in LA. The traffic there is so bad I will almost always choose another airport if I have to fly in, even if LAX is closer to wherever we are going (though we usually drive if we go).
Anyone seeing the aurora tonight? So many great photos on social media. We’re in a bad spot to see anything and too tired to go driving.
Burbank airport is like a relic from the 1960’s. Ive never seen a first floor airport where passengers have to climb a set of stairs on a regular size airplane. The airport is run down and looks like something from a 3rd world country. You have multiple food kiosks - all with the same $20 chicken salad sandwich.
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One of the very few airports where you have to take a shuttle bus to catch an Uber.
I love BUR because it is so small. One time, I arrived at the airport, went to the checkin and changed to an earlier flight leaving in 15 min, which was plenty of time to get through security and board my new flight.
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Pro Tip. If at all possible, tell her to avoid leaving LA on Wednesday. The traffic can be terrible on the day before Thanksgiving, even if you leave by noon.
Made that mistake years ago with one (or maybe even 2) kids in car seats. 3 hours in with little ones asking if we were almost to the cousins house in the Bay Area. “Ummm, no sweeties we are still in LA.” Road trip nightmare.
In subsequent years, we left super early on Thanksgiving Day. No one on the road at all.
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Herw’s my pro tip:
Have Thanksgving dinner on Wednesday or Friday. Just have this be your family tradition. That’s what we do! 
Travel on Thanksgiving week is always a hassle, but there is a nice window on Thursday afternoon and evening when everyone is having Thanksgiving dinner and the roads are relatively empty. Air travel is also cheaper during this window.
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Yeah, she’s leaving Tuesday, driving back Saturday. I come from a family that has traveled up and down CA during Thanksgiving week and Christmas week since I was born 
When Covid came around, we stopped traveling to my in-laws in the Inland Empire for Thanksgiving. When D22 went to LA for school, she always wanted to be in her own house for Thanksgiving, which has made it easy to keep skipping it with the in laws. Definitely don’t miss it!
D22 prefers LAX, not really sure why. But she has tried both and likes how many flight options there are at LAX and it’s a little easier to get to from UCLA it seems. Also, we are loyal to United bc I have a good status due to work travel. That probably contributes to what we see as available flight options.
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I love Burbank too. Used to fly Oakland to Burbank all the time for work on Southwest. Was like the bus, there was another flight like every hour and 1/2 to 2 hours. Would often finish a meeting early, roll over there and get on an earlier flight. Want to catch dinner with a friend? Call and bump myself back two flights. Easiest in and out airport in LA area in my opinion. Not a fun airport to be stranded at though. So few options for food and anything to do.
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Yes, I’ve lived in Manhattan since 1990 and my son is a true blue New Yorker. I love the idea of a smaller city for him for college. Delaware is also high up on the list but Pitt remains his dream school!
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LOL, all this discussion about the Burbank airport is so funny. But it made an impression on my kid – our home airport is Atlanta, which she can navigate with her eyes closed – so Burbank warranted a text saying, “OMG mother you won’t believe this airport! There were STAIRS to get off the plane!”
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It was definitely weird. Reminded me of those old black and white photos of someone walking down airplane stairs and waiving to the crowd.
I accidentally went to the wrong side and didnt realize the two sides arent connected so I had to leave and go through security again. How can such a small airport not connect both terminals. It’s not Laguardia.
But for convenience, 100% better than LAX.
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I was too tired to go out and look, but my social media is full of photos this morning, even near us. Supposed to happen again tonight – will hopefully remember to go look!
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They were so bright last night that we could see them in our front yard in the Chicagoland area (with lots of light pollution). It was better from the beach but still very visible.
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I’ve never personally flown into Burbank (husband has) but have used SNA, Long Beach and Ontario for various things (I feel like I may have left one out, what else is there?). I love the SoCal airports like Long Beach and Palm Springs where half of the airport is just open air and you’re like - ok, they usually have good weather here 
I think our tonight will be spoiled by clouds and possibly rain unfortunately.