Let’s be real: a 90-minute flight sounds foolproof, but the aviation gods love a good prank. If you’re flying out of LAX, you might spend 30 minutes taxiing to the runway while looking at other planes. Then, if there’s a thunderstorm over the Colorado River—which happens like, every August—your pilot might announce a “holding pattern,” which is just a fancy way of saying, “We’re going to circle for 20 minutes because nature hates your schedule.” Suddenly, your 90-minute flight becomes a two-hour epic.
Direct (non-stop) flights from Los Angeles to Phoenix - schedules
And don’t get me started on the flight itself. Because the route is so short, you won’t get a meal, but you will get a lot of turbulence over the mountains near Palm Springs. It’s like riding a shaky kangaroo through the air. By the time you land, your pretzels will be crushed and your dignity, slightly bruised.
But Wait, There’s More: The Secret Shortcut
Here’s a fun tidbit for your next trivia night: some smaller regional jets can make the flight in under 75 minutes on a good day with a tailwind. That’s faster than a full meal at a sit-down restaurant. If you’re on a plane like the Embraer 175, you’ll feel like you’re in a celestial drag race. You take off, the pilot announces, “We’re at 30,000 feet,” and then 20 minutes later, “Start your descent.” It’s the aviation equivalent of ordering fast food and getting it before you’ve finished paying.
Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines—which dominates this route—often schedules flights that are exactly 1 hour and 15 minutes. They’ve optimized this hop like a science experiment. If you’re flying Southwest, you’ll likely hear the flight attendant’s stand-up comedy routine mid-flight. Pro tip: bring earplugs or embrace the chaos. Your call.
