Record-setting post-July Fourth travel leaves a mark on LAX

Austin Turner and Jennifer McGraw

10 mins ago

The promise of blistering heat, beautiful beaches and some delicious food was too enticing for people across the country to turn down for the Fourth of July weekend, as travel into Southern California in recent days was about as busy as it’s ever been.

Late last month, AAA predicted that nearly 71 million Americans would travel more than 50 miles during the Independence Day week. That number was apparent at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday as a lengthy line queued up to check bags for travelers to return home.

“We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel.

Car travel was busy as well, with the national average gas prices lower than this time last year, according to AAA. Those returning home after a road trip on Sunday should avoid the roads between 2-8 p.m., as that’s when the traffic will hit its peak.

Back at LAX, KTLA’s Jennifer McGraw talked to a pair of young brothers that were about to go back home to New York after spending a “lovely” week visiting their aunt in the Southland.

“We had a lovely Fourth of July,” one of the unidentified boys said.

Throwing it back to the 1990s, of course McGraw had to bring up the West Coast-East Coast rivalry, and even a pair of young New Yorkers knew the right answer to tell the viewers of L.A.’s Very Own.

“Who’s nicer, California people or New York people,” McGraw asked.

“I think California people,” the young boy replied.

California: 1, New York: 0.