JetBlue flight 405 flight path from Burbank to Long Beach. Photo credit: Flightaware.com
UPDATE Saturday, July 16, 3:00pm | David Barger, CEO & President of JetBlue Airways was on hand in Burbank today welcoming passengers for their “Carmageddon” flight to Long Beach. Berger via Twitter: In Burbank at Gate 8 on our Flight 405 service to Long Beach!
Also on the flight was a member of the Wolfpack Hustle, a Los Angeles-area biking group who departed for Burbank Airport at 10:50am the same time the members of the biking group left for their trek to Long Beach.
According to the LATimes: The cyclists and a blogger aboard the JetBlue flight left at 10:50 a.m. from the same intersection in North Hollywood –- with the blogger having to drive to the airport, arriving an hour before the 12:20 p.m. flight, then catching a ride to the aquarium in Long Beach, the finish line. The plane had just taken off when the cyclists arrived.
More to come.
UPDATE Friday, July 15, 2:15pm | A group of Los Angeles-area bicyclists have challenged JetBlue to a bike vs. jet race between Burbank and Long Beach airports to see if the 40 miles separating the two is more quickly traversed by bicycle or plane during this weekend’s so-called “Carmageddon” freeway shutdown.
USA Today is reporting that, according to cycling website road.cc, a street bike group comprised of fixed-gear and road-bike enthusiasts known as Wolfpack Hustle has challenged the airline to the race.
While the airline has not accepted the challenge and does not plan to “in the vein of safety,” as a JetBlue spokeswoman put it, she said the airline is looking forward to the outcome.
Wolfpack Hustle has reportedly assembled its “A Team” of riders for the challenge.
JetBlue’s special $4 flights on Saturday, July 16, between the two SoCal airports are scheduled to take about 45 minutes, with much of that time expected to be spent taxiing.
UPDATE Wednesday, July 13, 8:02pm | JetBlue “Carmageddon” flights are sold out, according to their website.
Wednesday, July 13, 1:15pm | JetBlue is offering “Carmageddon” flights from Long Beach to Burbank for only $4 each way this Saturday, July 16. The 405 freeway will be closed from the I-10 to the US-101 this weekend.
According to the JetBlue web site: Fares are $4 each way so get on board quick – book now through July 16 or while supplies last. Or for $5 each way customers can also enjoy an Even More Space seat on their Carmageddon Fly-over, which includes early boarding and early access to overhead bin space as well as a spacious seat with extra legroom – limited quantity available on each flight.