AM flight times to make the boat?

[JungleCruiser]

Hi Everyone,
I thought I would ask the DIS experts as to how early we should plan to arrive in California to make the boat. (Aug 20th 14 day repo) I found a flight that lands at 11:40 at LAX. Would I be cutting it too close?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Hi Everyone,
I thought I would ask the DIS experts as to how early we should plan to arrive in California to make the boat. (Aug 20th 14 day repo) I found a flight that lands at 11:40 at LAX. Would I be cutting it too close?

Keep in mind that flights are often delayed. The reason can be weather, mechnical, congestion at the departure or arrival city, traffic flow, late arrival by the aircraft at the departure city, and even crews arriving late. Also, flights are cancelled for various reasons, and passengers are rebooked onto later flights.

The advice you'll often read on this board about Orlando and Port Canaveral is to fly in the day before. I think that's also good advice for LA area airports (LAX, LGB, SNA) and the Port of Los Angeles. You'll have a much more relaxed cruise vacation if you don't try to fly on the morning of your cruise. And a flight delay of a few hours on the day prior to the cruise is just an inconvenience. But on the day of the cruise, such a delay can mean the ship will depart without you.

 

[PPFQP]

Keep in mind that flights are often delayed. The reason can be weather, mechnical, congestion at the departure or arrival city, traffic flow, late arrival by the aircraft at the departure city, and even crews arriving late. Also, flights are cancelled are various reasons, and passengers are rebooked onto later flights.

I can not agree more -- Fly in the day before if at all possible. Whatever it takes, even if there is extra expense.

We thought we would be safe -- a nonstop flight that arrived in Orlando at 9:45 am, private car service to the terminal, the first flight out of the morning on a fairly reliable airline, getting to the airport very early, good weather on travel day, a plane that overnighted at our airport so it would be at the gate the morning of departure. Everything was in our favor.

Our flight was delayed by four hours. We got to the terminal after 3pm. It wasn't a big crisis, but it started the trip in a very stressful and frustrating way, and there were times when we didn't know if we would make it to the terminal before the ship sailed.

If there is any way possible -- fly in the day before. It's not worth the risk.

 

[E&BMom]

I was on the same ship and one family actually missed the boat and didn't get on until Tues. We where delayed and then had to wait for 1 1/2 hours for our luggage. Luckily we had flown in the day before. Good luck.

 

[melissa64153]

As a Travel Agent and former Princess Cruise Employee...I can say you really really don't want to do this....I have heard and had to experience way to many broken hearts....not worth the risk...especially with all the airlines...claiming strikes due to bankrupt issues.

 

[cruiseletters]

as a californian i cannot urge you enough to fly in the day before, we go to the southern cal. area quite often. there is no good time of day to be traveling on the freeways. we have been down there when it took us 4 hours to go 30 miles if you leave LA international and run into something like this on their freeways you'll never make it to san pedro on time. It's not worth the chance or the stress. I'm also going on that cruise and will be traveling down the day before and staying as close as i can to san pedro for the next mornings drive to the port, we can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tvguy]

Where are you flying in from? If it's more than about a thousand miles away, I suggest flying in the day before. If less, you should be okay.
LA traffic can be unpredictable, but a Saturday should be less of a problem.
I have a co-worker who used to live in Long Beach and she just can't believe what good time I can make in LA on the freeways. With the help of a Highway Patrolman friend of mine who used to patrol in Garden Grove, I mapped out a route that got me from LAX to the parking lot of the Disneyland Hotel in 30 minutes on a weekday afternoon. Stayed off I-5, took 405 to Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove......even with the traffic lights on Harbor it was quicker than the backed up traffic on I-5.