Can anyone give me a straight answer - John Wayne Airport

[momoftwins]

I have looked at several hotels near the airport and have seen that their shuttle services start mostly at 5:30 AM. Our flight leaves at 6:40 AM. I just spoke with someone at the Doubletree Hotel and they said that flights do not take off from the airport, before 7:00 AM due to some sort of curfew??

Does anyone know if this is true??

We will return our rental car the day before so we do not incur another days charge. Since the shuttles do not run before 5:30, do you take a taxi or a bus from the hotel to the airport? The hotel is only 1.5 M from the airport. Does anyone know how much it costs?

I really do appreciate your help.

 

[Uncle Buck]

from OCAir.com :

Curfew to remain in effect that restricts departures to the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Arrivals are allowed until 11 p.m. Monday-Sunday.

 

[Michelle]

Yes, it's true and it is the silliest thing if you have a flight that is supposed to take off before 7:00 am. They really do not let you take off until 7:00 and then there is a big log jam of planes getting ready to leave.

I would take a taxi to get there if the shuttle doesn't run early enough. It's a small airport but in the early morning hours it is PACKED with business travelers and the check-in and security lines can be very long.

 

[hookedup]

Ditto Michelle -
Take a cab - go early - it will be a zoo - but still a WAY better experience than LAX!

 

[annsteere]

Yes, because of noise abatement rules nobody takes off before 7:00. When you make your plans remember that there is a crush of people arriving all at once "early" for those first flights. I've found that by taking an 8:00 or later I can arrive and get thru the check in lines much easier. (I fly out of John Wayne often).

If you arrive at 6:00 lines will be formed at the ticket counters. Once they are processed lines never get that long again all day long.

 

[momoftwins]

Thanks to all for your responses. I hate flying out at the crack of dawn with kids. However, the 6:40 flight was the only one I could use with my FF miles.

We will try and be there by 4:30-5:00 - yucky!