Amtrak Los Angeles Union Station with baggage

We arrived at Union Station ahead of schedule. I struggled to force myself awake and collect my things. The coach car had already begun to exit, and when we landed on the platform, all of the seats in the red cap cart were taken. Note to future travelers: set your alarm for arrival in Los Angeles. Have your belongings ready to exit; support at the station is limited, and coach travelers are ready when you aren't. Luggage carts are no longer made available to travelers at this location, so if you prefer to handle your own baggage, pack lightly.

They let us know we could wait on the platform and they would return. But it was cold, so we began to walk, and those left waiting with us followed. Once in Union Station, a long line began to build for baggage claim. Finally able to obtain our bags, there was yet another line for red cap golf carts. We inquired about a baggage cart, as advertised on their website. They have since removed this. Sadly, they are no longer able to keep carts at Los Angeles Union Station; they kept losing them to the streets.

For us, this meant two hours after arrival, we were finally in a red cap cart and on the way to the FlyAway bus. The bus fare was about $13 per person, and it was packed. The ride was short and convenient enough to make it the prime choice over an Uber, which was approximately $75. We finally made it to LAX.

What can I say about LAX? I attended college in Atlanta and thought it was the absolute worst until my experience at LAX. There was ongoing construction, never-ending chaos, and it reeked of disorder. We struggled to locate the international terminal and finally made it to the self-service check-in for Emirates, only to find out they would not be available to take bags until about 30 minutes before check-in. Well, we had a few hours to kill and needed a place to dump the luggage. I moved quickly to plan B, which would be to stay the night in LA. The hotel reservation would provide a place for us to drop the bags and do some sightseeing ahead of the departure, or so we thought.