LAX to San Jose: Professor's $99 Annual Fee or 10 Hours Drowning in Traffic

Christine Ma-Kellams, a college professor moonlighting as an endurance flyer, lives in LA but works in San Jose, 350 miles away. Post-COVID remote work, she wisely ditched a 10-hour car torture for weekly flights—because who wouldn’t pick 3 hours travel with instant ramen and credit-card points over freeway Hell? Her secret weapon: a $99 Southwest Rapid Rewards card that magically turns what could be a kidney-selling price into $5 to $60 plane rides. Pro tip: book early flights, avoid last-minute San Jose airport sleepovers, and stash your own instant oatmeal for gourmet on-the-go dining, much to the envy of fellow traffic captives.

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Source: Businessinsider | Published: 11/6/2025 | Author: Christine Ma-Kellams