What does FLOAT (“fly over all traffic”) mean for L.A. commuters?

It is no secret that commuters in Los Angeles spend a long time in traffic. In fact, more than 750,000 commuters spend three or more hours behind the wheel. These unfortunate drivers have been dubbed “super commuters.” These commuters are drivers who travel in traffic, and does not include the commuters using rideshare services or public transportation.
With L.A. already congested and built to capacity, it is no wonder that alternative commuting options are now being presented to drivers. But are we ready to embrace air commuting? That’s what the founders of FLOAT hope for.

What is FLOAT?

FLOAT is a commuter flight service startup that hopes to ease the traffic woes of L.A. commuters who can afford it. The acronym stands for “fly over all traffic,” which more than a handful of commuters wish they could do on a given day. With FLOAT, commuters would drive to their local airport and park their vehicle. Then, they would board a small commuter plane to their destination.

FLOAT is already getting calls about the service, but the price might deter many drivers. A membership to FLOAT is estimated to start at $1,250 per month. That accounts for around $30 per commuter flight. AAA says that the cost is roughly equivalent to what it costs to operate a vehicle over the same distance. However, people who use FLOAT will still need their vehicle, but will be adding on the cost of the air commuting service.

How Would FLOAT Impact Commuters in Los Angeles?

Just how much time would commuters save by using FLOAT? According to reports, a FLOAT commute between Brackett Airport in La Verne and Santa Monica Airport is just 15 minutes. Commuters driving between La Verne and Santa Monica can expect to spend more than two hours making the trip.

So far, more than 3,000 people have reached out to FLOAT about the service. Flights are expected to start in January.