11:45AM LAX Flight?

[nlm74]

Staying at Paradise Pier and departing from Lax on a Tuesday (end of January), what time should we plan to leave the hotel? I don't think I planned this right, may be rush hour!

 

[Steven G]

It's "only" 35 miles from Disneyland to LAX. To give yourself peace of mind, the latest you should leave is around 8am.

Normal traffic in morning means it should take at least an hour to get from Disneyland to LAX. Giving yourself some padding for returning rental car, general airport hassles, etc , I think 8am would be good. You could probably start later, but then there could be worse traffic than normal.

 

[mom2rtk]

Did I miss something?

What time is your flight?

 

[ddwlms]

Did I miss something?

What time is your flight?

11:45 (it's hidden in the title)

What about a 4:50PM flight. Do we still need the 3.75 hours being suggested above?

 

[Steven G]

It's pretty much always an hour or so to LAX from Disney. Max could be two hours in most cases, even more for unusual situations.

If you don't need to return a rental car, you can probably shave 30 minutes or so off.

You can always risk going later, however any accident that happens or unexpected Lane closure would cause you problems. LA traffic is always on the edge of being bumper to bumper if anything unusual happens, including weather.

 

[Steven G]

Just as a point of reference, I moved to Los Angeles about 6 years ago. When I first moved here. I marveled that traffic never really ends during the day. Even at 10am or 2pm there can be congestion. I remember thinking to myself, "why aren't all these people at work now?" I still don't have a good answer to that question.

I am from Chicago and am used to bad/horrible traffic, but at least it dies down during the workday. Here in LA it never really does to where there is no congestion in many areas.

 

[SMD]

I think for 11:45 you'd be ok leaving at 8:45am for a domestic flight if you're getting a ride directly to the terminal. If you're taking a shuttle, they'll give you a pick up range, take one of the earlier options. Are you returning a rental car? Add 30 minutes. Maybe 15 more minutes if checking a bag.

For a 4:50 flight, you're looking at pretty bad traffic if you leave after 2pm. If you want to be dropped at the terminal 2 hours before your flight, I'd shoot for 1:45 for a little cushion.

 

[Steven G]

I was assuming rental car or shuttle for my estimates.

 

[mom2rtk]

11:45 (it's hidden in the title)

What about a 4:50PM flight. Do we still need the 3.75 hours being suggested above?

LOL, DUH me! I was just looking at the body of the post.

 

[ddwlms]

I think for 11:45 you'd be ok leaving at 8:45am for a domestic flight if you're getting a ride directly to the terminal. If you're taking a shuttle, they'll give you a pick up range, take one of the earlier options. Are you returning a rental car? Add 30 minutes. Maybe 15 more minutes if checking a bag.

For a 4:50 flight, you're looking at pretty bad traffic if you leave after 2pm. If you want to be dropped at the terminal 2 hours before your flight, I'd shoot for 1:45 for a little cushion.

For clarity, you're suggesting we leave PP at 1:45?

We have a dedicated shuttle, and carry on only.

thanx

 

[SMD]

For clarity, you're suggesting we leave PP at 1:45?

We have a dedicated shuttle, and carry on only.

thanx

Yes, I would expect it to take 60-90 minutes to be dropped at your terminal. That would have you arriving 2 hours to 90 minutes before your flight. Unless it's a holiday, 90 minutes can be tight, but you should make it.

 

[Steven G]

With dedicated shuttle and no checked in baggage, I agree, should be plenty of time.

 

[ddwlms]

Yes, I would expect it to take 60-90 minutes to be dropped at your terminal. That would have you arriving 2 hours to 90 minutes before your flight. Unless it's a holiday, 90 minutes can be tight, but you should make it.

thanx

 

[nlm74]

I think for 11:45 you'd be ok leaving at 8:45am for a domestic flight if you're getting a ride directly to the terminal. If you're taking a shuttle, they'll give you a pick up range, take one of the earlier options. Are you returning a rental car? Add 30 minutes. Maybe 15 more minutes if checking a bag.

We're taking a shuttle...which I haven't booked yet....and will be checking a bag.

Thanks so much!

 

[Darkbeer1]

Most shuttles ask you for your flight info and then tell you when they will pick you up. (based on traffic history at that time of day.

 

[Rabb it]

I-5 is crazy in the morning I would leave at 7 to be safe, plus mornings are the airport aren't fun anyways, so I would err on the side of caution when driving into LA.

 

[SMD]

I-5 is crazy in the morning I would leave at 7 to be safe, plus mornings are the airport aren't fun anyways, so I would err on the side of caution when driving into LA.

It's less than 4 miles on I-5 to 91W. Or the shuttle may opt to bypass I-5. Leaving 4 hours and 45 minutes before a flight is overkill.

 

[Rabb it]

It's less than 4 miles on I-5 to 91W. Or the shuttle may opt to bypass I-5. Leaving 4 hours and 45 minutes before a flight is overkill.

You're going to take 91 all the way to LAX? No, you're going to be on 91 for like 2 miles then you're going to get off on another northbound freeway.
During rush hour it's going to take over an hour to get to LAX no matter which freeway you take so really, it's a moot point.

And have you BEEN to LAX in the morning? The rule of thumb when flying is to get to the airport two hours ahead of departure. But, you're talking about getting into that labyrinth called LAX in the MORNING, when everyone else also wants to fly. I trust TSA about as far as I can throw them when it comes to getting through there in a timely manner.

So yeah, I would give myself 2 hours to get to the airport, 2 hours to get through baggage check/security and 45 minutes to get a coffee and a cinnamon roll and find a good seat next to my terminal..

 

[Darkbeer1]

The most common route, which a professional can change due to live traffic updates, is the 5 North to the 91 west to the 605 north, to the 105 west to LAX.

 

[SMD]

And have you BEEN to LAX in the morning? The rule of thumb when flying is to get to the airport two hours ahead of departure. But, you're talking about getting into that labyrinth called LAX in the MORNING, when everyone else also wants to fly. I trust TSA about as far as I can throw them when it comes to getting through there in a timely manner.

Yes. I live near LAX. I passed it every day on my way to work for years. I pass it weekly when I go to DLR. I drop clients there, sometimes multiple times per day. 90 minutes to LAX from DLR would be some pretty serious traffic. On a normal, non-holiday week Tuesday the morning rush is over with a 9:45-10am arrival. There are many routes to LAX, with a traffic app it shouldn't take 90 minutes, even with traffic on 1 or 2 freeways.

If you're hiring a shuttle company, it's smart to do a reality check with the pickup time they give you, but generally they know how to navigate the entry points and the routes between terminals and it's really not a labyrinth to a shuttle driver.

If you're worried about the TSA, consider Pre-Check to expedite security.