The planes on this route are usually Airbus A320s or Boeing 737s. That’s the same plane you’d fly from New York to Chicago, but squished into a much shorter ride. The result? You get none of the perks. No lie-flat seats, no hot meal, no in-flight entertainment that doesn’t cost $9.99. You’re basically on a flying Greyhound bus with pretzels and a half-cup of soda.
Surprising fact: Because the flight is so short, the pilots often skip the full safety demo. They’ll just say, “Seatbelt on, electronics off, don’t panic if the engine coughs.” I’ve had flights where they literally announced, “Folks, we’re going up, then down. Thank you for choosing not to drive.”
The Turbulence Factor
Here’s where it gets fun. The route between Phoenix and LA goes over the Mojave Desert, which is basically nature’s rumble strip. Summer afternoons bring thermals that bounce the plane like a pogo stick. You’ll hit hilarious turbulence—the kind where your soda does a triple backflip into your lap. I’ve had flights where the pilot said, “We’ll be in some light chop,” and then we dropped 200 feet. Light chop, my foot. That was fine chop with a side of existential dread.
AA1675 Flight Status American Airlines: Los Angeles to Phoenix (AAL1675)
But here’s the silver lining: because it’s so short, the turbulence never lasts. You’ll grip your armrest, sweat through your shirt, and then suddenly you’re over the San Gabriel Mountains, and the pilot hits the brakes. Yes, planes have brakes. You’ll feel them slam down like a teenager learning to drive a stick shift. Welcome to LAX.
