Flights with young kids - nonstop to LAX vs connecting to SNA/ONT?

[AWalks]

I have a question for you DLR vets who have flown there with young kiddos. We are flying out in early December 2015, Monday flight out and Friday flight home, and we are struggling with flight options. When the trip rolls around, our kids will be about 3 weeks from turning 5, and 2 months from turning 3, and the youngest is not a spectacular traveler (he gets carsick easily and does not like sitting in his carseat for very long) but the oldest is generally fine. We will also be flying with my parents, so each kid will have 2 adults. Each kiddo will have his own seat on the plane, and will either be using the Diono Radian carseats or a CARES harnesses (still debating between the big Disneyland resort bus or a private car service). Our oldest has flown a few times, starting when he was about 6 months old, but the youngest has only flown once, on a nonstop flight to/from Kansas City to Portland when he was about 19 months old and it was sort of a nightmare. We’re flying on Southwest since we have the companion pass this year and enough rewards points to cover the remaining airfare, so I’m trying to decide between direct flights in and out of LAX, or flights in/out of SNA or ONT with connections. Those of you with experience with small kids and any of these airports, what would you recommend – or NOT recommend? : )

The flight from our closest airport to LAX is about 3 hours 40 min nonstop, but there are only 2 or 3 nonstop flights per day – one around 6 or 7 am, one around noon, and one in the late afternoon that gets in too late to be a real option. Our main concerns with flying into LAX are 1) how busy LAX is and traffic to/from the airport to DLR, airport security lines, delays, etc, 2) a long, uninterrupted flight with a stubborn 2-year-old (his favorite words are "NO!", "DO IT SELF!", and "DESSERT!").

There are no nonstops from our airport to SNA or ONT, so most of the options are basically a flight just under 2 hours, a 40-45 min layover in either Phoenix or Las Vegas, and then another flight around 2 hours. We have several departure options to choose from, starting around 6 or 7 am. The benefits to this are traveling in/out of airports that aren’t as busy and won’t require as much travel time to DLR, have lower risk of security or traffic delays, etc, and it will break up the time spent in airplanes and give the kids a chance to stretch their legs a bit. The downsides are that with a connecting flight, there is a slightly greater chance of flight delay or cancelation, it’s an entire extra flight that the kids have to get through, and it does add about an hour, hour and a half to our total travel time (though at least half of that is on the ground and not in a metal tube hurdling through the sky).

I know SNA and ONT are more expensive than LAX, but we have enough mileage points that we can cover it either way, so the cost is not enough of a dealbreaker for us on this trip. So we’re really just weighing 1) direct flight with hassles of LAX with kids vs. 2) connecting flights with short layover but smaller airport and less driving time to DL.

Any thoughts or advice? For those of you who recommend SNA or ONT, do you think it’s better to connect through Phoenix or Las Vegas? I have flown through Phoenix a few times several years ago and don’t remember it being as bad as someplace like O’Hare in terms of cancelations and delays, but I’ve never flown through Vegas. We do also have the option of Denver for our connecting flight, but I have had far too many problems flying through there to risk it on this trip! TIA!

 

[Imdboss]

I have a question for you DLR vets who have flown there with young kiddos. We are flying out in early December 2015, Monday flight out and Friday flight home, and we are struggling with flight options. When the trip rolls around, our kids will be about 3 weeks from turning 5, and 2 months from turning 3, and the youngest is not a spectacular traveler (he gets carsick easily and does not like sitting in his carseat for very long) but the oldest is generally fine. We will also be flying with my parents, so each kid will have 2 adults. Each kiddo will have his own seat on the plane, and will either be using the Diono Radian carseats or a CARES harnesses (still debating between the big Disneyland resort bus or a private car service). Our oldest has flown a few times, starting when he was about 6 months old, but the youngest has only flown once, on a nonstop flight to/from Kansas City to Portland when he was about 19 months old and it was sort of a nightmare. We’re flying on Southwest since we have the companion pass this year and enough rewards points to cover the remaining airfare, so I’m trying to decide between direct flights in and out of LAX, or flights in/out of SNA or ONT with connections. Those of you with experience with small kids and any of these airports, what would you recommend – or NOT recommend? : )

The flight from our closest airport to LAX is about 3 hours 40 min nonstop, but there are only 2 or 3 nonstop flights per day – one around 6 or 7 am, one around noon, and one in the late afternoon that gets in too late to be a real option. Our main concerns with flying into LAX are 1) how busy LAX is and traffic to/from the airport to DLR, airport security lines, delays, etc, 2) a long, uninterrupted flight with a stubborn 2-year-old (his favorite words are "NO!", "DO IT SELF!", and "DESSERT!").

There are no nonstops from our airport to SNA or ONT, so most of the options are basically a flight just under 2 hours, a 40-45 min layover in either Phoenix or Las Vegas, and then another flight around 2 hours. We have several departure options to choose from, starting around 6 or 7 am. The benefits to this are traveling in/out of airports that aren’t as busy and won’t require as much travel time to DLR, have lower risk of security or traffic delays, etc, and it will break up the time spent in airplanes and give the kids a chance to stretch their legs a bit. The downsides are that with a connecting flight, there is a slightly greater chance of flight delay or cancelation, it’s an entire extra flight that the kids have to get through, and it does add about an hour, hour and a half to our total travel time (though at least half of that is on the ground and not in a metal tube hurdling through the sky).

I know SNA and ONT are more expensive than LAX, but we have enough mileage points that we can cover it either way, so the cost is not enough of a dealbreaker for us on this trip. So we’re really just weighing 1) direct flight with hassles of LAX with kids vs. 2) connecting flights with short layover but smaller airport and less driving time to DL.

Any thoughts or advice? For those of you who recommend SNA or ONT, do you think it’s better to connect through Phoenix or Las Vegas? I have flown through Phoenix a few times several years ago and don’t remember it being as bad as someplace like O’Hare in terms of cancelations and delays, but I’ve never flown through Vegas. We do also have the option of Denver for our connecting flight, but I have had far too many problems flying through there to risk it on this trip! TIA!

My first instinct after reading this is go with a stopover flight and fly into SNA. I love this airport, so quick to get out of there, we fly Alaska though and I believe Southwest might be a bit more of a walk to baggage. Since your youngest isn't a great traveler I think breaking up the flight is good. I've only flown into PHX once so no real experience there but flown into LAS more times than I can count. The airport is easy in/out of but coming in for landing can be quite bumpy so something to take into account there. With either PHX or LAS I don't think you need to worry too much about flight delays and cancellations.

 

[bumbershoot]

a 40-45 min layover in either Phoenix or Las Vegas

The question ends right there for me. That is too fast when traveling with a 2 year old and 4 year old. Or a 2 OR a 4 year old. I do that connection solo or with another adult that is not my spouse (he travels half the year for work but when he travels with the family unit he loses all adult-ness about traveling, it's bizarre).

Even if you get into Vegas and the gate is in the same basic area (as I believe it was the first time we flew through Vegas), no, I'm not doing that. And if I recall, the SW terminal for Vegas has slot machines. With Star Wars themes. That minors are not allowed to touch or go near. That was hard enough with my 6 year old Star Wars freak. Let alone the flashing blinking lights of slot machines for little ones. And Phoenix was FAR busier than I've ever seen LAX, when we flew through it.

LAX and being busy. LAX isn't one main terminal and then you go off to where your flights are. It's set up in what I view as pods. So each pod has its own places to go. It's busy to drop someone off there, it's busy to pick someone up there. It's NOT busy to fly in there, IMO and in my experience. IMO and IME you just get off the plane, follow the signs to your baggage claim (not a huge hall like at Seatac, my home airport), go to your transportation area. Easy. Going to the airport, go to your area, drop your bags there, go through the security there, go to your pod. *Being* dropped off or *being* picked up is easy. It's the person in the car that has the work.


If your kids end up having ear issues (and with my son it came and went when he was little, with no predictability), that's TWO landings you're dealing with.

I'd go nonstop and I'd go with LAX.

And I would NOT go with ONT. Feels very far away and the pricing structure for SuperShuttle is totally different than for SNA and LAX, and there is no Disneyland Resort Express coach there.

SNA does not impress me like it impresses others. Maybe because when I go through there I tend to end up at the farthest-away gate, which requires more walking IMO than LAX does. Plus stairs. Plus you get to be on the tarmac for that gate. Which means more stairs to/from the plane. And with your carseats, that's not joyous.

My opinion on SNA is vastly different than many here. That's OK. Keeps LAX a bit less busy for me.

 

[VandVsmama]

I lived this about 5 years ago when my kids were 3.5 and 18 months. Only we flew from Arizona to Maui...and we flew out of Phoenix (yet we live in Tucson). It was a SUPER LONG flight (7 hours, I think) and my then-18 month old didn't handle it well.

I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND your predicament! So here are my thoughts in no particular order:

1. HUGE PLUS that you'll have 2 adults per kid to entertain/watch kids on the plane.
2. Phoenix & Las Vegas are no longer "small" airport. Both are pretty large airports and although they are Southwest Airlines hubs, you could run into problems with your connecting flight being delayed because of weather in another part of the country (i.e., wherever that flight originated from, given that you're travelling in December).
3. A layover of 45 minutes really isn't enough time, especially when travelling with young children. Even in an airport like Phoenix or Las Vegas, you should allot 1-1.5 hours' layover. Why? Because your child might suddenly need a bathroom. Or YOU might suddenly need a bathroom. Or the plane might be a late arrival, thus leaving you less time to get to the connecting flight.
4. #3 is all the more complicated by car seats & strollers. So you have to wait for everybody else to get off the plane essentially, wait for your stroller, and then you can go to the connecting flight. It makes an already stressful experience even more stressful...even with a good kid-to-adult ratio.
5. Because of these reasons, I think that you should go with the direct flight.
6. And fly out at the time slot which leaves early in the day. W
7. Why? Because that plane is likely already going to be at the airport...with no passengers in it (i.e., the plane that leaves at 6am).
8. Planes that leave early in the day are less likely to have weather delays.
9. Plus, the TOTAL flight time is reduced. You won't have to deal with your 3 yr old thinking, at the conclusion of flight #1, "YAY! NO MORE PLANE!" and then getting really cranky when he/she realizes, "OMG, I HAVE TO GET INTO THAT TORTURE CELL AGAIN? WHAT ARE MY PARENTS THINKING?"

 

[VandVsmama]

In Phoenix, the Southwest flights can sometimes be spread across TWO terminals, so you have to really book it (aka RUN) from 1 end to the other in order to make your flight sometimes. 45 minutes really isn't enough time. Imagine missing your connecting flight and suddenly you have to find a new connecting flight that has 6 empty seats on it. That can be REALLY DIFFICULT.

This could then result in you having to entertain your young children all day in the Phoenix airport while you're waiting for your next flight...and consider that if your little one still wears pull ups or diapers, what if you run out of diapers/pull-ups? ACK!

 

[VandVsmama]

RE: flying into LAX...

It's like the other poster said...it's not as bad as it sounds, especially if you're not the one doing any of the driving. If you take the early flight that leaves your city 6-7am-ish, and I'm guessing based on flight time that you're not flying from the East Coast, then you'll probably land at LAX around 9am-ish.

So even when you land, you'll be out of the rush hour time frame.

Then if you assume 30+ minutes to get off the plane, let kids run around, go to the bathroom, 15 more minutes to get your bags & find your way to the shuttle stop (for whatever transportation method you'll be using to get to Anaheim), you're now about 45 min to an hour passed after the plane landed...

...because everything takes a little longer with little kids...even with 2 adults per child. LOL. It's like herding cats sometimes...they always want to go in different directions.

I've flown in & out of LAX a couple of times on Southwest and have found it a pretty easy terminal to navigate in. It's really straight forward.

Re: stubborn 2-yr-olds on planes:

• expect that he'll be cranky part of the time
• purchase a bunch of "new" toys ahead of time...things he hasn't seen before
• take them out 1 by 1 when you get desperate
• if he wants to go see the airplane bathroom a million times, let him. My kids were fascinated with the tiny airplane bathroom on our trip to Hawaii. I lost count the # of times we visited that potty. But it was worth about 10 minutes of distraction.
• Walk him to the front or back galley and say hi to the flight attendants.
• If you have a portable DVD player, bring it and use it, preferably with some of his favorite shows/movies.
• If you don't have a portable DVD player, buy one or borrow one from a friend. If the 2 yr old isn't interested in watching TV, your older child probably will be.
• talk to him about it ahead of time. Explain what to expect, what the routine will be, you could even practice at home...set up your kitchen chairs in 2 rows just like on the airplane. Go through pretending to buckle your seatbelt, how not to kick the seat in front of you, oh gee look at this cool pocket to put our stuff in while we're here on the plane, stuff like that.
• if your kid is a runner, buy a kid leash. I used it for my younger child.
• Expect it to be a long day. Expect that there will be melt downs. Don't feel bad about it when it happens. Because there will be other moms on that plane you've been in your shoes and chances are, those moms know that you're doing the best you can with a difficult situation.
• Whichever his favorite Disney character is, you could make some special notes/letters ahead of time from the Disney character. Put 1 letter each in an envelope...maybe 1 letter for each 30-60 minutes of travel time on the plane...a note that says something like "Hi there, _insert_child_name_here! You're now 30 minutes closer to Disneyland! I can't wait to see you when you're at Disneyland this week! You're doing such a great job being so patient! Keep up the good work!"

 

[AWalks]

Wow, thanks so much guys! Lots of helpful info to consider here...and LAX doesn't sound so scary any more : ) And the bit about Southwest being in two different terminals in PHX reminded me of our oldest's first flight ever, which included a very lengthy delay, a huge diaper blowout on the tarmac, and then a mad dash from one end of O'Hare to the other to make our connecting flight...actually, that memory right there may have made this decision for us, LOL!

 

[Geemo]

One of my DGD has ear issues. Non-stop is the only way I can get her on the plane. Plus the children's size Ear-Planes ear plugs.

Book non-stops for your trip. It will be fine.... Or not.... But at least you'll be going to Disneyland!!

Enjoy
Geemo

 

[becks59]

We like to give our kids fruit snacks or gum to chew during take offs and landings to help with the pressure changes.

When we drove the 12 hrs to DL last year we gave my son a new dollar store present every 1-2 hours. My son, who was 3 at the time, loved unwrapping a new present and those calmed him down quickly when he was getting antsy.

This year we are flying and my oldest will be 4yrs and the flight is only about 1.5 hrs. I'm a little worried about my 22month old lap child though. Hopefully the iPad will help. We plan to download some Disney movies or Mickey Mouse clubhouse episodes for him to watch.

I also agree that 45 min isn't enough time for a layover and LAX isn't bad at all. Good luck!

 

[nolenbelledavis]

I just want to add that I recommend using your car seat instead of the cares harness. I thought our 2 yo stayed put much better in the car seat than our 4 yo did in a cares harness. Just make sure you get the belt extender to make installation easier. Do you have a Leap pad or similar? We put videos on there and you can break them out for the first time on the trip. Plus, there are tons of great game apps that occupied my son. If you fly AA, we had to wait about 45 minutes to catch a bus from that terminal to the main terminal, heads up on that. When are you traveling? We've only flown to LAX, but we are flying SW to SNA next month and if you still haven't booked, I can definitely give you a comparison. We'll be with a 9, 10, 3 and 5 year old.

 

[ktlm]

We live in an area where to get most places we have to do connections. We do have non stop to LAX. DD has been flying since she was 2. She is not big on take-offs and landings. BUT- we much prefer SNA and would pick that option in a minute. SNA is a nice small airport. It is very easy to deal with getting around and getting in and out. It is a short easy 15 minute drive from there. It is typically not insane to get checked in, or get through security at SNA when you are ready to leave. We really like the airport. We do fly through Phoenix or Las Vegas to get there, usually on Southwest, and we have never had an issue either place. We do prefer Las Vegas (where else can you see slot machines in the airport), and I think the walk between gates has less chance of being longer there, but really you would be fine with whichever of those connecting airports that fits best with your travel schedule. Also, we discovered when she was young, that she would get antsy on the plane after a while, and it actually was better to have a connection where she could get off the plane and run around the airport for awhile as opposed to a longer flight. I can't remember where we were going, but one time we picked a flight that was not nonstop, but it went straight through- basically, it stopped to pick up people while we stayed on the plane and was back up in 30 minutes. We thought it might be better than getting off and on, to have the shorter travel time as a whole, but we discovered that it was better to have a little more time sitting in airports for her to burn off some energy after about 2 or 2 1/2 hours on a plane, than to spend around 4 or 4 1/2 hours straight on the plane. I'm not sure where you are flying from, but if you are southern Midwest like us- in December you should not have too much trouble (unless you are unlucky enough to get a big snowstorm that impacts your home airport) . Our only issue getting out there has typically been if a thunderstorm impacts us getting out of our home airport, then we have to worry about the potential for missing a connection. That actually happened to us last summer- but because there were 31 people on our flight that were connecting to SNA, Southwest held the plane in Phoenix until our flight got there. Of course, that would be the time that we had a pretty big distance between gates, but they were counting everyone and did not close the door to the connection until everyone was from our flight had made it there. Other than that, we have had delays at our connection coming home because of evening thunder storms, but even if we had booked a non-stop flight, we probably would have been delayed or diverted from our point of origin. I had a friend coming back from LAX a couple of weeks ago non-stop, and they got diverted to an airport 3 1/2 hours from here due to severe storms, and then were allowed off the plane while it refueled and to sit out in the airport until they determined it was safe to reboard and finish the flight. You just never know!

 

[2tinkerbell]

Have your children wear comfortable clothing - pj's or sweats. Gummi bears are your friend for take off and landing. I would fly direct as it is less hassle to get settled once and forget about it. LAX is not that big of a deal. Personally I would opt for the early morning flight. Children aren't as tired and less opt to get cranky. The worst is when you think your child will sleep and therefore opt for an afternoon flight. There are so many distractions that they don't sleep and they end up tired and cranky (trust me - btdt). Also the early morning flight will get you there before rush hour evening traffic. I would also take your own car seat - the one they are comfortable with. In all the flights that I've taken, it seems to me that children in their own car seats do much better than those just buckled in the airplane seat belt. Take plenty of snacks and use their own cups with lids. In fact, I still take my own water bottle. Have it empty going through security and then fill up afterwards, before you board the plane. There is plenty of juice and water to purchase. Shy away from messy snacks (bananas, cheetos)

I use Lansky's and they are wonderful. They meet you right at baggage claim and take you directly to the vehicle. Drop off was on time and easy. By the time you pay for 6 people on the Express, it will be more than Lansky's.

Have a great time! Sounds fun.

 

[czmom]

We flew SWA into LAX with a 5 and 7 year old in December 2013. It was very easy! We also used Lanksy and the driver was waiting for us in baggage claim with a cart.

Such a great experience!

 

[GenGen22]

Another airport to consider is LGB. Its not far from DL. Its a cute little airport. Just another option & closer than LAX with less traffic. Definitely take a bag of stuff that you can pull fun stuff out of the bag when your child gets cranky. Toys or any type of activity. We used to have a mini etch a sketch & I would draw stuff & then my daughter would. Buy a few new things or things they don't play with to be more interesting to make traveling fun. Special snacks etc.

 

[Xenorye]

Another airport to consider is LGB. Its not far from DL. Its a cute little airport. Just another option & closer than LAX with less traffic. Definitely take a bag of stuff that you can pull fun stuff out of the bag when your child gets cranky. Toys or any type of activity. We used to have a mini etch a sketch & I would draw stuff & then my daughter would. Buy a few new things or things they don't play with to be more interesting to make traveling fun. Special snacks etc.

Southwest doesn't fly through LGB, unless I'm mistaken.

 

[Carolynleanne]

I get it. I REALLY do! We currently travel with a 1 year old and a 3 year old. We've done both, but REALLY prefer a direct flight. It saves us the hassle of waiting around, eliminates extra risks things like cancelled/delayed flights half way there AND makes our travel time shorter. I much prefer to fly into John Wayne, but we are once again flying into LAX because it saves us substantial time traveling!!!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Having done both with small children, I would actually fly directly to LAX. For us, manuevering around SNA was more difficult than LAX, at least in the Southwest terminal and finding the DLE bus was definitely more difficult at SNA. We have flown in/out of LAX 4 times in the last 2 years with 4 children and never had any problems. If it works with your schedule & budget, I highly recommend the DLE with small children. And even out of LAX the time seems to pass quickly on the drive.

I would not do a connecting through Vegas ever. That airport is notorious for delays, especially on Southwest. Flying out of there last year, ALL of their flights were delayed 2+ hours, regardless of where they were going.

iPads & lollipops are our friends on the plane

 

[GenGen22]

Southwest doesn't fly through LGB, unless I'm mistaken.

Sorry, I didn't know that

 

[nikkislaght]

We fly from WA into SNA or Long Beach all the time, I really don't like LAX, but the non layover flight with a grumpy passenger would win hands down every time! Even with a good travelling child I would go for the straight through flight. So many things can and will go belly up, with layovers. Hope you all have a great trip!

 

[zanzibar138]

I am not a good traveller myself - on planes I get motion sickness and extreme ear pain, so much so that I actually had grommets put in just for flying. I can tell you that take offs and landings are the worst part, both for motion sickness and ear pain. I can cope with layovers (just) because I am an adult and I understand that we're doing it that way because it was cheap/better timing/smaller airport etc. However, with a small child who is not a good traveller, I would definitely do a direct flight.

Ear pain:
The only thing that has ever worked for me was having grommets put in. I realise that it's an extreme measure and I'm probably the only one crazy enough to do it lol! Some common remedies include chewing gum/chewy lollies, sucking on eucalyptus lollies/throat lozenges (the eucalyptus helps to clear the airways - lollipops are not always enough, but anything that encourages swallowing can help), ear planes, plain old pain killers, even sniffing a eucalyptus scented towelette can help. Distractions might help if it's only a minor discomfort. The only thing that ever really provided any relief for me was yawning. Encourage them to yawn as big and often as possible! FWIW, my doctor has assured me that it is just temporary pain. It doesn't actually damage the ears in any way. Also, sometimes my ears take several days to equalise. It's nothing to worry about if this happens.

Motion sickness:
I'm not sure what's on the market for small children, but if your child is really bad, it might be worth considering motion sickness medication to make their journey more comfortable. I was really bad on my last flight back from the US (yes, all 14 hours worth), kept having to run to the bathroom every 5 minutes. The flight attendants gave me some good pointers. Sucking ice (pretty much constantly) really helped. This could help with ear pain too. Also anything with ginger is good - most flights I've taken have had ginger ale on board, or you could try ginger lollies. You could also try those pressure point bracelets. Watching a movie tends to make it worse, so if your child is feeling sick, a movie may not be a good distraction. It's also good to have some food in your stomach - try plain crackers or chips.

Good luck! Just remember (and remind your kids) that it is a necessary part of getting to Disneyland, and it will all be worth it once you get there!