Long Beach vs. LAX vs. John Wayne/OC

[2tinkerbell]

I do a complete analysis but that is just the way I am. I add up airfare, travel time, shuttle expenses (including tip), as well as arrival & departure times and your touring plan.

The last time I did this, we were wanting to be in the Park on arrival day - easy to do when it is about a 2 hour direct flight. When I added up the costs, SNA was only about $2 pp more, however, Southwest had no direct flights and flight time was anywhere between 3.5 hours to 5 hours and the arrival times were late morning/early afternoon unless we departed at 6:00am. It really didn't matter coming home because we weren't doing a park day. Doing my analysis and also the fact that I was running a 1/2 Marathon that trip, we flew into LAX. It was not a big deal and I found it very easy. Got there, got our luggage and called for the shuttle and were on the road in 1/2 hour.

 

[Disney-&-Baseball]

And I live in Forest Grove...DEFINITELY A SMALL WORLD

Lebanon OR here. We will be flying into LGB for the first time in Nov. Jet Blue prices were too good to pass up. DH,DD15, and I are flying from PDX to LGB for $426. And that's for all 3 of us, not apiece. My sister has DVC so we will be staying at a 2 bedroom at the Villas at the Grand Californian for the first time. We are way excited!!!

 

[summerw]

What time are the flights arriving and departing? Traffic here is related to rush hours, just long ones. Weekends are pretty easy minus random accident traffic or a maybe a few miles of congestion Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. However anything can go. Lgb is a good airport. A little farther than sna but closer and not as crazy big as lax. So you never have the twenty minutes of runway taxing you get at lax. I can't speak to ground transport though. If Lgb is a similar price, take it.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

If the cost to fly into LB and LAX are the same or similar, fly into LB. We avoid LAX unless there's no other option.

Agree 100%!!!!!

 

[pixiepowers]

We should start an Oregon dis thread! Don't worry, Redwing...I never seem to get the best deals on flights, and regret waiting too long. You are right...just don't look to see if there are better deals after you purchase!

 

[Morgan063006]

Another Oregonian here, just saying hi from Gresham and thanks for the info. We were planning in driving but will check air as it might actually be more affordable than I imagine!

 

[Stitch35]

We should start an Oregon dis thread! Don't worry, Redwing...I never seem to get the best deals on flights, and regret waiting too long. You are right...just don't look to see if there are better deals after you purchase!

If you buy directly from the airline and the price drops, call the airline they will give you credit towards another ticket for the difference.

 

[jdb in AZ]

A couple of years ago I got a great fare flying out of Burbank, but since it's farther away than SNA, the $$$ we saved were pretty much eaten up by the taxi fare.

One other factor -- costs for checked luggage. Since SWA doesn't charge, that's a savings of $25 per person each way compared to the airlines that have luggage fees.

 

[MillauFr]

We used Ontario airport last time as it cost half as many miles as SNA. It was small and easy in and out. The drive was 38 miles from Disneyland but there was no traffic arriving on a Sunday afternoon and leaving on Saturday morning.

 

[FourM's]

I enjoy LGB airport but have found the transportation options to be more expensive than at Orange Co. Airport. Sometimes we'd find flights were cheaper into LGB but the higher cost of rental cars, shuttles or taxis negated any savings. Darn it!

 

[naebear]

Well, I grew up in Lebanon before we moved to Scio!! Lots of Oregonians on this thread...anyway, on the real topic of airports, we have flown into both SNA and LGB. I like them both!! Both are easy, small, and close. I always look at fares and flight times and choose the better for our trip. Last time we flew into SNA and went out via LGB. We saved $140 on the way home, minus the extra $10 for the cab. Well worth it!!