For what it's worth, I had to fly out to LA a month or two back, and I
was able to get a $235 ticket on (I think) Delta, flying out of
Jacksonville, which isn't exactly a major hub. I reserved the ticket
with a month's notice, which is less than what an ICT team would have.
True, it may cost more if you're flying back Saturday night or Sunday
than if you flew back on a weekday, but I'd think that tickets should
be out there for far less than $500. I've taken many cross-country
trips to LA and I doubt I've ever had a ticket that cost more than 300
bucks.
It should also be noted that LAX isn't your only option in southern
California. I usually fly into the John Wayne / Orange County / Santa
Ana airport of many names when I go out there -- it might be an hour's
drive from LA (if you can avoid rush hour on 5 or 405), but it's worth
it if it happens to save you a hundred bucks per ticket. There are a
couple other airports in the LA basin (Ontario being one of them), but
I don't know how convenient they would be.
I can't speak for my teammates at UF, but I'd go to the ICT if we
qualify. Besides, it'll take us less time to fly to LA than it will
to drive to the nearest SCT site.
--Raj Dhuwalia, U of Florida