Obama, first lady fly to Los Angeles on same day but take separate flights

FILE: Sept. 11, 2012: President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama mark the 11th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. (AP)

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama flew to Los Angeles on Thursday for TV appearances but took separate flights, collectively costing taxpayers at least $1 million.

The president went to appear live on comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show on ABC, while the first lady went to Warner Bros.’ studios in nearby Burbank to tape an appearance on Ellen Degeneres’ popular daytime show that is scheduled to air on Monday.

Obama traveled on Air Force One, which reportedly costs taxpayers at least $200,000 per flight hour. So the price of his five-hour, coast-to-coast trip will be roughly $1 million.

The cost of an Air Force flight like the one the first lady took reportedly costs more than $28,000 an hour.

After appearing on “Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel,” the president attended a Democratic National Committee fundraiser, then left Friday morning for Phoenix to visit a veterans’ hospital before returning to Washington.

The first lady returned directly to Washington.