Distances/time from LAX

[Scooter42]

We are heading to Disneyland and Universal in the 1st week of March (we are not sure when to stay in each area) and I was wondering if one is closer to LAX than the other. Our flight will leave LA at 8 pm on a Wednesday and we want to avoid as much traffic as possible and stay at the parks as long as possible, so any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Rapunsel]

Stay on the west side of the 405/91 freeway..

That way you don't have the morning traffiic..

Might not be as chaep but if you head east in the AM and west in the PM you will have lots of congestion.

Also make sure you are to LAX no less than 2 hours before your flight...
If you are flying southwest make it 3 hours..
Also do curbside check in. It will save you time.. The main problem can be the security check of the baggage. Each airline is different, but sometimes you have to haul your own luggage to be security checksd, then stand in line to check in..

At curbside it is so much easier. I always do it. Even flying with 2 kids...

Security inside can be horrendus. Some times I have waited up to 45 minutes with 2 kids and no one to be able to help me.

You don't want to 'run' to a flight after that..

Also plan on at least an hour to get to LAX from DL and an hour plus from Universal...


HTH...


Rapunsel

 

[JLSM97]

If you have a choice, never EVER fly out of LAX! Their pre-security procedures are ridiculously slow. You'll wait in longer lines than the most crowded day at Disneyland, and there's no fun ride at the end. I flew into LAX in July and it was no big deal, but flying out a few days later went like this:

45-50 min.: Wait in a confusing mass of non-lines to check in, even with an e-ticket (Alaska Air, though I'd bet most airlines were similar).
20 min.: Wait in a line to tell some TSA dude that yes, my suitcase was unlocked
15 min.: Wait in a line that extended out from the terminal and along the curb, so someone could check my boarding pass and give me permission to go up the escalator! Talk about a waste of time! At best, this process eliminated a teensy bit of crowding in front of the actual security checkpoint. Big deal.
10 min.: Get through security checkpoint. This was actually not a bad wait at all, especially for such a busy airport. But getting up to it was god-awful. I was glad I'd gotten there with plenty of time before my departure or I'd have been super-stressed.

I don't know if this is true anymore, but it used to be that a lot of airlines would let you fly into one airport and out of another (in the L.A. area) and still considered it a round trip. Worth checking into, that's for sure.

 

[wwithers]

pssst...

Fly into/out of Orange Cty Airport (SNA)

 

[Pinboys]

Any thoughts on Ontario Airport?

 

[momsgoofy]

pssst...

Fly into/out of Orange Cty Airport (SNA)

Yeah...would love to fly in and out of SNA, unfortunately for the dates I'm traveling there are no flights available on Southwest (I'm trying to burn a travel credit before it's lost)...so as Pinboys asks....

...Any thoughts on Ontario Airport?

This is where I'm getting the cheapest airfare and the best flight times at this time...what can ya tell us about it?

 

[CherCrazy]

Airlines WILL let you fly into one airport and out of another. It's called an "open jaw". You will get a discounted price on it too, if discounts are available and you meet the airlines requirements.

Have done this lots of times. Last time flew into Las Vegas, and out of LAX. Great trip!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Yeah...would love to fly in and out of SNA, unfortunately for the dates I'm traveling there are no flights available on Southwest (I'm trying to burn a travel credit before it's lost)...so as Pinboys asks....



This is where I'm getting the cheapest airfare and the best flight times at this time...what can ya tell us about it?

Coming from Denver I don't have much luck lately flying in and out of SNA, too bad, its so nice and close. However, Ontario has been a great option for us on two separate occasions. Really easy check in, it hasn't been busy either time we have flown in/out. The drive didn't seem too bad. Last time we landed around 5:30 and my fil got us to Paradise Pier in about 35 minutes. There was a ton of traffic going the other way which was nice. I have no idea if that is the norm or if we were incredibly lucky. As for LAX I have flown into that one twice with no problems either time. We were on Frontier, I can't remember what area of the airport that is in but we had no problems getting through security. Flew in off times and it took right around 45 minutes I think to get to the Disneyland Hotel. The last 4 times we have been to Disneyland SNA would have cost my family of four a couple of hundred dollars more so it just didn't seem worth it.

 

[momsgoofy]

Thanks for the info!

CherCrazy...I had completely forgotten about that option...since there are several locations around DL...all I need is to find the cheapest one with the best flight times as long as they get me in and out of the same airport at home.

 

[JLSM97]

I think Ontario is a terrific option to SNA. Assuming $ and schedules are similiar, I'd take Ontario over LAX. Another option would be Burbank. It's farther from Anaheim than LAX, but I think the extra distance is worth avoiding the bigger airport.

Vic

 

[momsgoofy]

I think Ontario is a terrific option to SNA. Assuming $ and schedules are similiar, I'd take Ontario over LAX. Another option would be Burbank. It's farther from Anaheim than LAX, but I think the extra distance is worth avoiding the bigger airport.

Vic

That is my logic! ONT is actually coming in just at $200/person, which is cheapest of all the airports around DL. It's just the flight times are not the best...the only availability will get us in around 4pm or later...and on the return flight home we'll have to be at the airport earlyish...by 9am or late afternoon. We'll probably take the late afternoon departure and just get home late.