Airport Suggestions

[spacemouseneer]

Hello all,

I am looking at airfare right now, and want to know any one's experiences flying into ONT or LGB. I've flown through LAX and SNA and LOVED SNA but at the time I'm going it seems to be the most expensive option. Who has flown through ONT or LGB and what were your experiences?


Thanks,


Spacemouseneer

 

[DangerMouse]

I have flown into LGB before. It's a very small airport with no jetways, so you have to deplane using stairs. Kinda fun. It is just about the same distance from DLR as SNA and it's a quick trip in a cab or shuttle.

Never flown into Ontario, but I do know that it's quite a ways farter out. I've heard it can take anywhere from 30-45 min and shuttles are expensive, so most people rent cars.

 

[vbecky]

I have flown into sna and LGB and I must say after flying into LGB I if possible will always choose that airport. It is small it doesn't take forever to get through security and it is a quick hop onto one road that takes you right to DL no Freeway. I would highly recommend it.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I really like Ontario but its a hike. My fil lives in LA so both times we flew into that airport he was able to pick us up thankfully. If you are planning on renting a car and can save flying into ONT I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Its a nice airport. Never very crowded, I think its used for lots of cargo carriers like Fed Ex. So the security lines aren't bad, its just much more mellow than LAX or even SNA.

I think when I was quoted a cab (my fil was having car issues so he wasn't sure he could pick us up one time) it was going to be around $100. So be careful, you may not save too much if you have to cab or shuttle to the DL area!

 

[bumbershoot]

I have flown into LGB before. It's a very small airport with no jetways, so you have to deplane using stairs. Kinda fun.

Ooh I love that! My first flying memory was getting into Phoenix and deplaning by stairs (and the reaction of my lungs to that dry dry heat)...taking the ramp always feels like cheating to me!

LGB will get a try someday, it's been decided.




I really disliked ONT. It was cheapest, but then when figuring out how to get me and my son to Disney, I didn't look as far as I should have.

The supershuttle rate for me and my son *one way*, with Entertainment Book coupon, was about $50. I figured that SS was the same from any airport, so I didn't check that out.

Well, it was a LONG drive on a scarier-than-usual highway IMO, and I just hated that drive.

We didn't fly out of ONT (we went to San Diego after Disney and flew from there) so I don't know about security...but I remember (could be faulty) that baggage pickup was a very very long walk from the gate, and then the exit to the shuttles was at the "beginning" of the luggage carousels while our bags were at the furthest away carousles. Not ONT's fault, but it was all part of a bad experience.


When next I flew, I went into and out of SNA. Found out that the fare on SS is 10 bucks per person. AUGH.

Since hubby flew in separately from us (and he flew out separately too) we spent more total (I recently figured that out...I thought we still came out OK until I added hubby to the calculations) in airfare to ONT (and hubby leaving from ONT) plus the higher SS rate, than we would have spent with the higher airfare to SNA (and from for hubby) but much lower SS rate.


Be sure you're checking ALL the options, and don't just go by airfare alone.

 

[dmked]

LGB is a very small airport, I too was suprised when we got out and we were outside on steps! For me, I have always been able to find great deals into LGB and it is close to DL, I think only 20 min away! The airport is small so it is fast to pick up luggage and get out of there. I would recommend it to anyone going to Disneyland (I also used it when going on a cruise)

 

[seattlebusymom]

LGB 100% It is my new piece of hidden Disney magic! Small airport = Fast service = Disney sooner!!!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We flew in and out of Burbank on this trip. Small airport too, we also had steps to get off and on the plane. LOL But it was a nice airport, and was the cheapest I found.

It was about a 30-45 minute (depending on traffic of course) drive to DL. But we were renting a car anyway, so that part didn't matter to us.

 

[kajcwman]

I've flown through LGB and ONT.

As far as DLR trips go I'd rate LGB as my cofavorite with SNA, and I know that's heresy to many in these parts. I've only flown here once. It's very small. I like the quaintness of walking down the stairs of a jet, outdoors. I suppose if it was raining I might've felt differently.
ONT I also like. I thought it was easy to navigate. It is quite a bit farther from DLR than LGB or SNA. I'm not as nervous about driving the SoCal freeways as some other seem to be. It's still #3, IMO, far ahead of LAX.
(I might be crazy here, but I think I'd even prefer flying into Burbank over LAX for DLR. Again, I've only flown into this airport once. I know it's farther than LAX, but just the ease of getting around the airport is worth it.)

 

[Armadillo4]

I've had good experiences at LGB too! Small = fast. But as Bumbershoot mentions, you'll need to figure out how to get from the airport to DLR and that may or may not add to your overall cost since you'll probably have to rent a car, go by taxi or find a shuttle service. I did a quick MapQuest check at LGB-DLR and the default routing showed it to be 19.35 miles (which is definitely closer than ONT and LAX). But in terms of flying in and out, LGB a great little airport!

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

long beach all the way cheaper and easy to get to DL

I have done burbank it is a ways out but if done right it not a bad alternative.

Fly delta into burbank and luggage is a few steps away I flew jetblue before and it was miles away from luggage.

If you rent a car into burbank go with avis or alamo because it is on airport property. If you go with anyone else it is a shuttle ride downtown and that sucks.

 

[CalvaryMike]

LGB and ONT are defintely better than LAX. Of course, SNA is the preferred. The security lines at LGB and ONT are pretty much non-existent. I've also found that car rental rates are cheaper at ONT.

I'm a OC local, so I'm not sure about the earlier comment about the scary freeway (91) from ONT. I think driving from LAX is a worst drive. The one huge caveat about ONT is to stay away from the 91 freeway (it's a parking lot):
Westbound (towards DLR) from M-F 6 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Eastbound (towards ONT) from M-F 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Although with the price of gas, traffic has lightened up.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm a OC local, so I'm not sure about the earlier comment about the scary freeway (91) from ONT. I think driving from LAX is a worst drive.

Well I've only taken super shuttle from ONT and SNA, and SNA was much more comfy for me. Reminded me of driving in Portland OR. The ride from ONT was very different to me.

And the only time we've driven (not shuttled) from LA (not LAX) it was a very slow parking lot, so not very scary at all, LOL.