CA Flight question

[nmmom95]

We are planning to go to DLR next summer, but we would like to spend a couple of days in San Diego. If we fly into San Diego, can we get our return flight from Los Angeles (to Philadelphia)? Would we have to do it as 2 one-way flights? Doesn't that cost more? What would you recommend as the cheapest way to do this?

 

[backyardponder]

Southwest prices all their flight as one way flights. A round trip is simply twice the cost of the one-way. I don't think many other airlines do this. Unfortunately SW does not fly non-stop from PHL to LA or San Diego (they do from Baltimore).

You can also check fares for doing a multi-city trip. There's an option for that on all the search engines.

 

[bumbershoot]

Airlines haven't really been charging more for one way flights like they used to. I've done just what you're doing. Went to San Diego for a concert, then took the train up to Anaheim for a day at Disneyland...caught the shuttle and left from the Orange county airport. I even went on two different airlines, based on schedule. And for family trips to Disneyland, we will usually use two airlines b/c of the schedule differences as well.

If you'd like to check several airlines at once, I like kayak.com to do that. But you have to check southwest separately, as they prevent kayak from pulling info from their site (or something like that). Then just book your flights however you wish to!

The main problem is going to be a one-way car rental, FYI. Those can cost big bucks. You might consider renting a car in San Diego, returning it, then taking the train (Amtrak's Surfliner) from the downtown station up to Anaheim and taking a cab to DLR (around $13 by meter to Disneyland Hotel, as an example). Then a shuttle to the airport again.

Although...cabs, shuttles, and the train might just add up to the added cost of the one-way car rental!

 

[nmmom95]

Thanks! I didn't know it worked that way. I also found the multi-city option. As you can tell, I'm not an experienced flyer.

Bumbershoot-I didn't even think about the rental car. I'll have to check that out, as well.

 

[nono]

The main problem is going to be a one-way car rental, FYI. Those can cost big bucks.

That would depend on which company one rents from, I guess. I have returned rental cars to San Diego without even calling to say it wasn't going back to LAX and have never had a problem. I haven't done so in the last 24 months though, so just check with the rental company to see if they have an all encompassing "Southern CA" return policy.

 

[skiingfast]

The main problem is going to be a one-way car rental, FYI. Those can cost big bucks. You might consider renting a car in San Diego, returning it, then taking the train (Amtrak's Surfliner) from the downtown station up to Anaheim and taking a cab to DLR (around $13 by meter to Disneyland Hotel, as an example). Then a shuttle to the airport again.

Although...cabs, shuttles, and the train might just add up to the added cost of the one-way car rental!

You can also do the Coaster in San Diego county and tranfer at Oceanside to the Metrolink train to go into LA. The main reason to do this is they run every hour or so while the Amtrak is once daily. Also it may be cheaper. Thinking it I bet is is cheaper at least for on passenger for the two ticket. Probably around $15.