Early start - we hit the lounge at 6 a.m. for a swift breakfast and were then back to LAX for our 8.55 flight to Mammoth.

We've driven this journey on 3 or 4 occasions and its a 6 hour monster - so it was so good to do it in less than an hour. Only 17 people on the Air Alaska/Horizon flight - we took off on time, straight out over the water, turning north with some great views over LA, Hollywood and the canyons.

Fantastic views of the desert and of Mammoth Lakes, smooth landing, fastest ever deplane and baggage sorted and we're in the car heading for the inn.