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Coachella Festival Attendees Opt for Premium Flights Amid Traffic Gridlock
Music enthusiasts heading to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival are reportedly spending hundreds of dollars on alternative transportation to circumvent significant traffic congestion. As massive crowds descend upon the Southern California desert for the globally recognized event, many are seeking to avoid lengthy car queues and opting for expedited, albeit pricier, travel solutions to reach Coachella.
Festival-goers Voice Traffic Frustrations
Online forums are awash with complaints regarding severe traffic delays. “This is my fifth Coachella,” one Reddit user lamented, “and I have never witnessed such disorganization for car camping. I’ve been here for hours, just passed security, and absolutely no one is moving.” This sentiment echoes widespread discontent among attendees facing substantial traffic turmoil upon arrival.
The Price of Convenience: Bypassing Coachella Traffic
To escape hours of waiting in traffic, Coachella attendees are reportedly paying between $200 and $800 for faster transportation alternatives. This year, JSX, a semi-private airline in the United States, has launched premium flight services aimed at festival-goers wanting to avoid road delays and reach Coachella with ease.
JSX Offers Premium Flights to Coachella Valley
JSX is providing flights from Burbank, California, to Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, situated a mere seven miles from the Coachella festival grounds. These flights, lasting under an hour, start at approximately $500 for a one-way ticket. According to JSX spokesperson Ben Kaufman, passengers choosing this luxurious option can arrive just 20 minutes before departure and experience a comfortable 30-seat jet, with the added benefit of bringing pets for an additional charge.
The airline is also advertising return flights after the festival concludes on April 20, with prices commencing at $295, as reported by SFGate.
Early Festival Excitement Marred by Initial Setbacks
Despite the anticipation surrounding the highly awaited music festival, early arrivals have encountered significant frustrations. Some attendees have already described this year’s Coachella as “the worst in history,” drawing comparisons to the infamous Fyre Festival, primarily due to the extensive delays experienced upon arrival and during campsite setup.
Social Media Alight with Delay Reports
On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), numerous users reported waiting times of up to 12 hours to access the campsites. One account shared a direct message from an attendee stuck in traffic stating, “‘Not only did we show up at 2 am to get in line for a good spot, but now have waited OVER 12 hours to even get to the security check.'”
The message continued to detail the challenging conditions: “‘No porta potties in sight as we waited from 2 am until 3 pm now. The only porta potties available were at the security checkpoint inside the gates. We were turned down all 12 hours and were forced to pee on the side of the roads. A lot of people running out of gas and no restrooms.'”
The disgruntled attendee concluded, “‘This is the worst organization I have ever seen at a festival, and this is Coachella for god sakes.”
Reddit Forum Flooded with Camper Complaints
On the official Coachella subreddit, a hub for ticket holders to share updates, advice, and grievances, a discussion was initiated with a post demanding: “Car campers need either a partial or full refund.”
Further comments echoed the initial complaint, with one user stating, “‘We’ve waited nine hours to get inside this festival. No bathroom, no food. Likely won’t be returning.'”
Other attendees corroborated these experiences, labeling the camping line wait times as “chaos” and “bonkers.” Questions arose regarding the causes of the delays beyond security checkpoints, with inquiries such as, “‘What is the hold up once you get past security?'” and “‘What is ‘security’ even doing??? Confused.'”
Another festival-goer remarked on the recurring nature of the issue: “‘Wait times. After doing this for thus many years. You’d think they’d have figured out how to get cars through the queue. This is INSANE.'”
One frustrated ticket holder jokingly suggested, “‘Whoever is responsible for planning and logistics should be fired and forced to give us all a personal apology. Joking… but not really.'”
Another simply questioned, “‘This has to be the worst day zero in history, right?'”
Coachella Promotes Car Camping Despite Issues
Coachella’s official website advertises car camping as its “most popular overnight option,” inviting guests to “build an oasis for you and your crew.” The website indicates that for Weekend One, this option is priced starting at $160, posing the question: “If you’ve never camped, have you really experienced everything Coachella has to offer?”
Justin Bieber Coachella Appearance Rumors
Separately, fans of Justin Bieber speculate about a potential surprise Coachella appearance by the artist, fueled by beliefs that he is currently in Palm Springs. While Bieber has not headlined the festival, he has previously performed as a special guest at Coachella on four occasions.