How much time to allow to Long Beach Airport?

[bleeps]

Hello!

We're WDW vets who are excitedly planning our first DL trip.

On Friday, April 20, 2012, our flight leaves Long Beach Airport at 9:20 p.m. I am looking for advice about what time we should leave GCH; we'll have a rental car to return and we'd rather have breathing room at the airport than cut it too close.

I see that "on paper" the airport is under 30 minutes away, but I'd love to hear about the realities of Friday night traffic, how busy this airport generally is, getting through security, etc. etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

LGB is a fantastic little airport... your plane will probably have steps up to it, not a real gate like you are used to. Security is quick and efficient. I've never made the drive on a Friday night, but we usually leave our DL hotel (PP last time) at 5 pm on a Monday (so still rush-hour), made it to the airport in 30 minutes (we went by cab), and took about 5 minutes to get through security (carry-on's already printed boarding passes), and had IMHO too much time to spare for a 7:15 pm flight, since we couldn't board until 6:45, and we were pretty much sitting at the gate at 5:45. There aren't many places to eat or shop, so not much to do to kill time.

 

[bleeps]

LGB is a fantastic little airport... your plane will probably have steps up to it, not a real gate like you are used to. Security is quick and efficient. I've never made the drive on a Friday night, but we usually leave our DL hotel (PP last time) at 5 pm on a Monday (so still rush-hour), made it to the airport in 30 minutes (we went by cab), and took about 5 minutes to get through security (carry-on's already printed boarding passes), and had IMHO too much time to spare for a 7:15 pm flight, since we couldn't board until 6:45, and we were pretty much sitting at the gate at 5:45. There aren't many places to eat or shop, so not much to do to kill time.

Hugely, hugely helpful -- thank you SO much!!

 

[gardengirl2790]

We have flown out on a Friday evening from LGB. We left GCH very early to allow for traffic. We had a 35-40 minute commute at about 3:30p.m. We hit traffic on the 405 freeway. Security was quicker than any airport I have ever been to. The airplanes have sets of stairs brought to them upon landing, and you will walk the Tarmac to the stairs then board the plane. It is a small, charming airport without a lot of places to sit, or things to do. We ate dinner at the largest restaurant there on the upper level, and it was good for an airport. There is also a small museum area on the upper floor that gives you information about early aviation in the area. My child and husband enjoyed looking at that. All in all, a VERY low-stress airport.

 

[rentayenta]

It's 17 miles from LGB to the DLR area and you can take Katella the whole way there. When I drive from/to LGB, I don't take the freeway. It's never taken me more than 30 minutes. LBG is the best airport ever. There's only one luggage carousel even.

 

[bleeps]

Wow -- more great info, including the tips about what's available there, traffic, and a route to take! Really, really appreciate it!

 

[Brady's Mom]

We always take Katella, too. It's never taken us more than an hour to load the car, return rental car, check luggage, go through security and be at the gate. It usually takes us a little less - more like 45-50 minutes.

Be sure to bring something for kids to do (if you have them), because it is SMALL, very small.

We love LGB for the size and convenience - I think there are 5 or 6 gates so you can't really get lost!

 

[jdb in AZ]

If you have to use stairs to get to/from the plane, what do disabled passengers do?

 

[jlmarr]

If you have to use stairs to get to/from the plane, what do disabled passengers do?

They have a lift/elevator kind of thingy.

 

[jlmarr]

It's 17 miles from LGB to the DLR area and you can take Katella the whole way there. When I drive from/to LGB, I don't take the freeway. It's never taken me more than 30 minutes. LBG is the best airport ever. There's only one luggage carousel even.

Ball Road dead ends at LGB but Katella would work too. See the Mapquest map.

 

[jdb in AZ]

They have a lift/elevator kind of thingy.

Thanks. DH has bad knees, and stairs are a real pain -- literally.

Sorry for hijacking the thread.

 

[robinjh7]

I second the drive down Katella suggestion. I just did the trip from the Fairfield Inn to LGB on Friday and Monday. On Friday night, I went down the freeway and back on the freeway. It was late so there was no traffic, but I found getting on the 405 from the 22 to be stressful because I have missed it in the past.

So on Monday, I drove my fliers down Katella and came back the same way. Came out of the airport on Douglas, turned right on Lakewood and left on Willow after passing under the freeway. (Willow has a controlled left.) Continued down Willow to Harbor and turned left. (Willow becomes Katella.) It was much easier and took 29 minutes. But it was a holiday, so I don't know how long it would take on a normal evening.

 

[bleeps]

I second the drive down Katella suggestion. I just did the trip from the Fairfield Inn to LGB on Friday and Monday. On Friday night, I went down the freeway and back on the freeway. It was late so there was no traffic, but I found getting on the 405 from the 22 to be stressful because I have missed it in the past.

So on Monday, I drove my fliers down Katella and came back the same way. Came out of the airport on Douglas, turned right on Lakewood and left on Willow after passing under the freeway. (Willow has a controlled left.) Continued down Willow to Harbor and turned left. (Willow becomes Katella.) It was much easier and took 29 minutes. But it was a holiday, so I don't know how long it would take on a normal evening.

Can't tell you how much I appreciate the details!!!

 

[kyden]

Does anyone know if the rental car return there is easy to access, and if there is wi-fi at the terminal?