Great tips. Thank you!

I am shocked, shocked I tell you, to learn that you had a problem at LAX, that epitome of effortless modern air travel. I ##%^&##@ despise LAX and avoid it whenever possible. Burbank, John Wayne, Long Beach, or Santa Barbara are all better.

My rule is to fly from the smallest airport possible (in the US at least). My favorite is Rapid City, SD (because it is)