Sloan Marchetti
Ex-Virgin America revenue management, ex-Klook content strategist. Writes part-time about West Coast hubs through a unit-economics lens.
Sloan worked nine years at Virgin America in revenue management before the Alaska acquisition closed and he transitioned out, then five at Klook in Hong Kong and San Francisco as a content strategist before going independent in 2023. He still thinks about route economics constantly, which is partly why he writes.
His freelance arrangement with airport.flights is two-to-three pieces a month focused on West Coast hubs, route patterns, and the spreadsheet behind why a flight exists at the time of day it does. His beat is the gap between the carrier’s incentive structure and the passenger’s expected experience.
He flies SFO every week, OAK when he’s feeling efficient, and refuses to use SJC unless his calendar leaves him no choice. His coffee is good. His opinions on Alaska are nuanced. He maintains, against the prevailing Bay Area sentiment, that LAX is underrated for what it tries to do.
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Phoenix Sky Harbor Terminal 3 vs 4: parking math, lounges, and the cheapest ways to downtown
Phoenix Sky Harbor looks simple, but its 2-terminal, 110-gate layout hides real cost and time trade-offs. How to choose between Terminal 3 and Terminal 4, then pick parking, rideshare, or rail based on trip length and pa
Why Is Airport Food So Expensive? The Real Reasons
Airport food prices trace back to lease terms most travelers never see — plus real ways to beat them, from TSA-legal snack rules to refill stations.
Las Vegas Harry Reid (LAS) for Strip Conventions: When $12/day Parking Still Loses to Uber and the Deuce
For CES, SHOT, and NAB on the Las Vegas Strip, Harry Reid’s 2 terminals, 8 lounges, and RTC 108/109 plus the Deuce usually beat $12/day airport parking and a rental car.
TSA PreCheck vs. CLEAR: Which Is Actually Faster?
An honest, airport-specific verdict on PreCheck vs. CLEAR: real prices, real traveler reports from CLT, JFK and LAX, and when stacking both pays off.
SLC parking ladders and 7 lounges: when walk world beats shuttle world (and when it does not)
Salt Lake City airport parking, properly tiered: Economy vs Lot E vs Garage vs Premium Reserved, plus how SLC’s 7 catalogued lounges change the math between walk world and shuttle world.
LAS Terminal 1 vs Terminal 3: $12 vs $30 parking, 1‑minute valet, and which side actually fits your trip
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) quietly runs two different airports under one code. Here is how the Terminal 1 vs Terminal 3 split drives the cheapest parking at LAS ($12/day), the 1‑minute valet options, and whic
LAX Parking Price Ladder: $35 Economy vs $60 Terminal, $70 Valet, and Which Lounges That Actually Buys You
Start with LAX’s 10 parking products and 12 lounges, then choose flights, terminals, and buses. Use the $35 vs $60 vs $70 parking ladder plus $1–$70 ground transport to build a lower‑stress, lower‑cost LAX plan.
LAX’s 12 Lounges and the $1 Bus: How to Pair the Right Lounge Cluster with the Right Ride into LA
Los Angeles International has 9 terminals, 106 gates, 12 lounges, and local buses starting around $1. This is how to pick the right LAX lounge cluster by terminal and status, then match it with the cheapest or fastest gr
San Diego International (SAN) Car‑Free Guide: 9 Ground Links, $11 Parking Backup, and 3 Lounges
How to use San Diego International Airport’s parking, Route 992 bus, rail connections, rideshare, and 3 lounges to work San Diego car‑free, with $11/day parking as your backup.
Should You Fly Into Sarasota or Tampa? How Sarasota Bradenton Airport’s Ground Game Changes the Math
For Sarasota and Gulf Coast beach trips, most travelers should default to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and its on‑airport long‑term parking. Here’s how SRQ’s 10 parking lots and $1.50 buses actually change yo
Leaving Las Vegas by Bankroll: How I Play Harry Reid Airport When I’m Broke, Even, or Up
A unit-economics take on departures from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport: how its 12 parking lots, $12 economy cap, 8 lounges, and transport mix play completely differently if you’re leaving broke, even, or up
San Diego Airport’s 7-Lot Parking Ladder and 2 Rail Hubs: How to Skip the Rental Car Anyway
San Diego International has no rail station, but its 7 parking lots, 3 lounges, and links to Old Town and Santa Fe Depot give you a full playbook that beats defaulting to a rental car.
SAN Terminal 1 vs Terminal 2: Parking, Rideshare, and Transit from $11/Day
San Diego International looks simple on the map, but its split Terminal 1 layout and 7‑product parking ladder quietly punish bad curb aiming. Here is how SAN’s terminal geometry should change your parking, rideshare, and
San Diego Airport Without a Car: Route 992, Trolley, and COASTER From SAN
How to use San Diego International Airport’s bus, trolley, and rail network instead of driving, and when that actually beats paying SAN’s $11 to $60 parking rates.
San Diego airport parking vs Uber vs trolley: SAN’s 7 lots, $11 floor, and when to pay $38 or $60
San Diego International Airport (SAN) locals do not need to guess on parking. Use SAN’s 7-lot stack from $0 to $60/day, plus transit and rideshare benchmarks, to decide when Pacific Highway at $11/day, a $38 terminal gar
SEA’s 12 Lounges vs Your Commute: How South, Downtown, and North Seattle Flyers Should Actually Use the Airport
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has 12 parking lots, 12 lounges, a $37/day garage, and a $2.25–3.50 train. Here is how south-side, downtown, and north Seattle flyers should structure their commute and lounge t
SFO Parking, Lounges, and BART: How to Use SFO’s 4 Terminals, 8 Lots, and 12 Lounges Without Overpaying
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has 4 terminals, 8 on‑airport parking options, and 12 lounges. Here is how to pick parking, lounges, and SFO–downtown transport based on your terminal, departure time, and trip l
SFO Parking and Lounges for United and Alaska Flyers: $40 Garages, 3-Minute Walks, and When BART Wins
SFO parking and lounge strategy for Bay Area United and Alaska flyers, using 8 parking options, $40/day garages, BART, and SamTrans to trade time vs money.
PDX Layover Time: When a 45–75 Minute Portland Connection Is Actually Safe
Portland International Airport (PDX) runs a single 14‑gate terminal with four concourses and seven lounges. Here is how that layout changes your minimum connection time math, and specific itineraries where a 45–75 minute
LAX’s connected spine from T3 to T7: how much lounge‑hopping your connection really supports
A timing‑aware map of LAX’s airside spine from Terminal 3 to 7/8, showing how to use 12 catalogued lounges without sabotaging your United departure.
Las Vegas Harry Reid airport parking and lounges: how to buy back time with your car and your card
Las Vegas airport parking and lounge strategy at LAS: Remote vs Long Term vs Valet parking rates, walk times, and which lounges you can realistically reach from Terminal 1 vs Terminal 3.
SLC parking economics and Salt Lake City airport lounges: stop paying $40–$60 for a 5‑minute walk
How to use Salt Lake City International Airport’s 12 parking options, $12 economy tiers, and 7 lounge-style spaces to make rational 4–6 a.m. ski and national-park departures.
What Terminal Is Southwest at Las Vegas (LAS)? Terminal 1 Gates, Check-In, and Connections
Southwest flies from LAS Terminal 1, Concourse C. Real gate numbers, check-in and security timing, and how to connect to Terminal 3 without re-clearing security.
Myrtle Beach airport parking vs Uber: exact break-even points by trip length and group size
Myrtle Beach International has 12 parking lots and a $1.50 bus. Here is exactly when MYR parking beats Uber and taxis, and when MYR ground transportation wins on a per‑person basis instead.
San Diego Airport Evening Playbook: How $11 vs $60 Parking Changes Your Sunset Cutoff
San Diego Airport evening strategy: 2 terminals, 7 parking lots, 3 lounges. How $11 vs $60 parking, rideshare, and lounge access shift the latest moment you can leave the waterfront or beach and still make an 8:30–10 p.m
When San Jose Airport Quietly Wins: The SJC vs. SFO Math for Silicon Valley Trips
For South Bay travelers, a data-first look at when San Jose Mineta (SJC) quietly beats San Francisco International (SFO) on parking, time, and total trip cost.
Boston Logan food by terminal: why Davio’s lives in C and A passengers get Dunkin’
Boston Logan International Airport’s food reputation hides a simple truth: your terminal, airline, and departure time quietly decide if you eat a steak or go hungry. Here is how BOS’s four terminals really handle dining,
San Diego airport access for value nerds: $11 parking, $60 valet, or $3 transit?
San Diego International Airport access through a unit-economics lens: when to drive and park, when to Uber, and when the $3 bus or train connection quietly wins.
San Diego Airport parking: when $0, $11, $38, or $60 actually makes sense
San Diego International Airport has 7 parking products from $0 to $60 a day and walk times from 1 minute to a shuttle ride. Here is a parking‑first, numbers‑driven look at when each option at SAN is worth it and when you
What Terminal Is United at SFO? Gates, Map & Connections
United flies from SFO Terminal 3 (domestic) and the International Terminal's G Gates. Real walk times, MCT, construction updates, and lounge locations.
San Diego Airport to Downtown, Beaches, or I‑5: A Local-Style Playbook for Picking the Right Ride
How to choose between taxi, Uber/Lyft, bus, train, shuttle, and parking from San Diego International Airport (SAN) based on where you’re actually going and how much your time is worth.
From Strip Checkout to Takeoff: Turn Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport into Your Final Night Out
How to turn a late departure from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport into a planned final ‘night’ using LAS’s 12 mapped dining options, 8 lounges, and 2-terminal layout instead of wasting hours at the gate.
When ‘cheapest’ parking at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport quietly eats your savings
Parking at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport at the lowest rate can mean longer walks, slower shuttles and add-ons—when paying more is smarter.
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport parking, untangled: choosing the SRQ lot that really fits your plans
Weigh garages, economy or off‑site at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and match SRQ parking options to your trip length, timing and budget.
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport parking showdown: garage, economy or off‑site?
Comparing Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport parking garages, economy lots and off-site options for price, time and convenience.
Portland International Airport Dining (PDX): Smart Picks Before Your Flight
Realistic guide to eating at Portland International Airport, with PDX spots worth your time and what to skip before boarding.
How the Terminals at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Really Connect
Understand the true terminal layout at Los Angeles International Airport so you can make smarter connections and avoid misjudging transfer times.