Long Beach (LGB) vs Orange County (SNA) Airports and Jet Blue?

[Chereya]

I have a trip planned for the 3rd week of April at VGH. Been trying to keep an eye out for airfares but it's so hard being patient and feeling anxious. I have to get 5 tickets for my family. We usually fly into SNA, John Wayne airport in Orange County because it's close and small. I never have to worry about big crowds, long security lines or keeping a grip of death on my kids.

The non-stop flights from Seattle to SNA on Alaska have been hovering just under $400 per ticket. Tried an expanded search today and Jet Blue has a non stop Seattle to Long Beach for $240 per ticket. This looks really tempting to me but I've a) never flown into Long Beach airport before and b) never flown on Jet Blue before. We ordinarily only bring carry on luggage with us so cost of check in baggage is not a factor (just car seats but those are usually free right?).

Would love some input about Long Beach airport and/or flying on Jet Blue.

 

[danimaroo]

We are from Seattle and will be flying down to Disneyland in November on JetBlue, into Long Beach. While I'm not sure how the airport is, I do know that I couldn't pass up 2 free RT tickets using our JetBlue points. It's probably one of the cheaper ways to fly down there, I'd think! I'm not sure on Long Beach Airport, but it doesn't seem to be far from DLR at all.

I will say, in terms of JetBlue, they are my favorite airline to fly, 100%! The TVs in the back of each seat, the comfortable seats (well, comfy for an airplane), and just overall service is pretty fantastic. I fly them every time I possibly can (wish they did a direct flight to Orlando from Seattle, but unfortunately we're stuck with Alaska Airlines for that, haha). AND, also, great perk with JB? First checked bag is FREE! I am definitely planning on bringing down a bag just so I can bring home all of my awesome souvies, and not having to worry about paying $20 each way on checked baggage is really awesome.

 

[JacksGirlz]

I have flown a handful of times on Jet Blue into Long Beach. Long Beach is not that much further than Orange County for DLR. Maybe about 15 minutes depending on traffic. Long Beach airport is not as nice as Orange County but it is small, possibly smaller than Orange County. Long Beach airport always puts me in mind of school portables all grouped together. The first portable is where the ticket counters are. Then you walk outside down a corridor to enter the security portable and the gate portable. You walk outside again to get to your airplane and I have always boarded the airplane via stairs or a ramp.

We are flying down again this October via Jet Blue into Long Beach. I like Jet Blue as well. On the flights I've taken with them, they always have free satellite TV and plenty of free snacks to choose from.

 

[bonedoc]

Long Beach is actually quite small compared to John Wayne. You really do walk up to each plane.

But the benefit is that you can almost arrive at boarding time and still get on the plane. Getting off on arrival is just as quick and easy. No long walks, no long waits, and the parking and rental is right next door.

If you can save money as well? What's not to like?

 

[FlameGirl]

We like Jet Blue just fine. For us, flying into LGB is fine, but we hate flying out of there.

We were able to find a good price on airfare with "hacker" flights...buying one way tickets on separate airlines. We are going to flying JB into LBG and Alaska back home out of SNA.

Good luck!

 

[KateDrake]

Do it! Jet Blue is great, we've had really wonderful experiences with them. The free checked bag is so nice, especially when traveling with kids. So much nicer to not have to heard all the children and bags through security. We also love the snacks - the popcorn chips are awesome! And my DD3 loves that each of the planes have names, and remembers which ones we've flown on before.

Long Beach is kind of a strange little airport. My family jokingly calls it the "double wide" because it is like a couple of little trailers put together. So there isn't shopping or a ton of great restaurants, but the good parts are that it is so small, it's easy to get around. You really can show up half an hour before the flight and be fine. And claiming your luggage is a breeze. So if it will save you around $500, if I'm understanding your situation correctly, you should totally do it!

 

[planningjollyholiday]

I have never actually flown with jetblue, but i did just book our flights with them, the same route as you from seattle to longbeach. For months i looked on their website everyday moning and afternoon. what i have learned is that their flights go up and down so much. I think april is still too far away and you can for sure get cheaper flights if you wait and be patient. They often have one day sales or even sales that only last a few hours. We finally got our flights for $55 roundtrip per person!!!!! The week before we bought them they were $291 per person, and i just checked today and now they are $207. My point is to just be patient, prices fluctuate so much so check everyday, and when you find an amazing deal book right away.

 

[belle'ssister]

Another Jet Blue fan here. We like the small airport compared to the craziness of LAX. However we would be happiest if JB flew into SNA. Great size.

Love the personal tv screens with headphones. Good sized snacks. One free bag can be checked.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

oops, i meant $55 each way, $110 roundtrip

 

[lulugirl1968]

We flew in/out of Long Beach on Jet Blue, in May and loved it.

-Small, easy airport.

-Jet Blue has no baggage fees(well, first bag is free) and they have Direct Tv on the flights (screens on the seat in front of you)

The flights were much cheaper than Alaska or SW (we flew from Portland)

 

[belle'ssister]

We used LB for a Carnival cruise that we took almost two years ago. The ship got back into port about an hour before our flight on Jet Blue. The cab driver did a great job of getting us to LB.(6 hours late) it was nuts getting off the Splendor, finding our bags and getting the cab. If the airport wasn't as small and convenient we would never have gotten on the plane in time.

 

[jlmarr]

Driving directions from LGB to DL are easy: http://goo.gl/maps/YKkdR

 

[smithfamilyof7]

I'm so glad to read this post! We are flying down in October and haven't bought our tickets yet. (kind of a last minute trip and we're still nailing down the details) I've been checking Jet Blue's website daily and it's steadily gone down from about $105 each way (which I thought was cheap!) to $75 each way. We're flying with 4 kids plus 1 baby so I'm super happy to hear they have DVD players in every seat and the small airport is really appealing.

 

[FlameGirl]

I'm so glad to read this post! We are flying down in October and haven't bought our tickets yet. (kind of a last minute trip and we're still nailing down the details) I've been checking Jet Blue's website daily and it's steadily gone down from about $105 each way (which I thought was cheap!) to $75 each way. We're flying with 4 kids plus 1 baby so I'm super happy to hear they have DVD players in every seat and the small airport is really appealing.

They do not have DVD players in each seat - they have Direct TV. I'm sure you'll all be able to find something to watch, but I didn't want you to show up with your DVD library in hand, expecting to watch them.

 

[Disneyluvr2]

Another Jet Blue fan here! I love that airline! LB airport is a tiny little thing compared to John Wayne. I don't mind flying in or out of LB, but just plan ahead if you're there at meal time. There's one sit down restaurant up stairs and that's it. You can grab a soda or a snack in the terminals but no real food...unless you count a cold, pre made, over priced sandwhich as food.

 

[ToodlesRN]

Ive been tempted to give long beach airport a try as the flights are cheaper, but every time I checked on rental car prices at long beach they have been outrageous $800 for 5 days standard car if your not renting a car then its worth it, but I'd check rentals at all airports before booking a flight to make sure your actually going to save money.

 

[Mazel]

Ive been tempted to give long beach airport a try as the flights are cheaper, but every time I checked on rental car prices at long beach they have been outrageous $800 for 5 days standard car if your not renting a car then its worth it, but I'd check rentals at all airports before booking a flight to make sure your actually going to save money.

I used priceline for our car rental out of there. A full size for $188 for 8 days. With Hertz. Not too shabby.

We're also flying JetBlue into LGB I love flying them, keeps my little guy happy, my big guy too.

 

[Mousequake]

I'm planning a trip flying into LGB in September, and I found some the rental rates on cars to be a BIT higher than other airports, but nothing outrageous. I booked a full-size through Priceline for $20/day.

 

[lulugirl1968]

Ive been tempted to give long beach airport a try as the flights are cheaper, but every time I checked on rental car prices at long beach they have been outrageous $800 for 5 days standard car if your not renting a car then its worth it, but I'd check rentals at all airports before booking a flight to make sure your actually going to save money.

Do you have a costco card? We flew into Long Beach in May, and booked a car thru costco. It was so much cheaper than booking directly the the car companies.

 

[ToodlesRN]

Do you have a costco card? We flew into Long Beach in May, and booked a car thru costco. It was so much cheaper than booking directly the the car companies.

We do, I always use the costco coupons and get alamo for cheap at SNA for about $100 8 days standard suv. We fly non busy times as our children are young. Everytime I check into Long beach the rentals are expensive compared to airfare and rental at SNA is so much cheaper. Guess it's a hit miss for us!!