Non-Stop to LAX or One Stop into SNA?

[OneThree]

For our trip this summer I can either book direct into LAX (Delta) or one-stop into SNA (Alaska)? Price is about the same as are the arrival and departure times give or take.

The wife and I will be flying with DS (8) and DD (5) so I'm kinda leaning to the straight shot into LAX even though LAX can be a pain to get in and out of. We are planning on using the Disneyland Resort Express from either airport since we'll be traveling with another family.

Thoughts?

 

[ParkHopper1]

Where ya coming from?

 

[OneThree]

Where ya coming from?

We'll fly out of Spokane, WA. Delta flys direct into LAX once a day. Alaska is almost every hour into Seattle and into Portland nearly as much. Either of those locations would be transfer point into SNA.

 

[sherilaine]

How much longer does the stopover add to your overall flying time? LAX is not going to add hours onto your commute time, at least so far it hasn't to us.

I always prefer non stop flights over any form of stop over though. They add time and opportunity for delays and lost baggage.

 

[SuperRob]

For our trip this summer I can either book direct into LAX (Delta) or one-stop into SNA (Alaska)? Price is about the same as are the arrival and departure times give or take.

The wife and I will be flying with DS (8) and DD (5) so I'm kinda leaning to the straight shot into LAX even though LAX can be a pain to get in and out of. We are planning on using the Disneyland Resort Express from either airport since we'll be traveling with another family.

Thoughts?

Have you looked into Long Beach (LGB) at all? I know Alaska doesn't fly there any more, but JetBlue does (from SEA). No shuttle, but you could get a rental car/van and the price difference may be enough to pay for the van. Distance to Anaheim is roughly the same as SNA.

 

[OneThree]

How much longer does the stopover add to your overall flying time? LAX is not going to add hours onto your commute time, at least so far it hasn't to us.

I always prefer non stop flights over any form of stop over though. They add time and opportunity for delays and lost baggage.

We'd add about an hour if we fly into SNA. I'm leaning towards LAX for the reasons you mentioned, direct and the baggage. Seems SNA is by far the most popular so I guess I was wondering if I wasn't thinking about something in regards to LAX other than traffic. Of course its SoCal so traffic is a given right?

 

[OneThree]

Have you looked into Long Beach (LGB) at all? I know Alaska doesn't fly there any more, but JetBlue does (from SEA). No shuttle, but you could get a rental car/van and the price difference may be enough to pay for the van. Distance to Anaheim is roughly the same as SNA.

I thought about Long Beach but one of my kids and one of the other family's would have to have car seats which adds another wrinkle. That and we would have to change airlines in Seattle.

 

[MICKEYFIL]

My kids are thee same age and I hate transferring planes. Then again, I hate LAX. I say it is a coin flip. Really depends upon so many factors (delays, time of arrival, transportation to the park, etc.) I say make a decision and realize you are probably wrong.

 

[sherilaine]

Only adding an hour when changing airlines seems tight too - considering they begin boarding for a flight half a hour prior to take off.

The traffic is always there but it's not always gridlock - it all depends on when you fly in. We have always been driving in from LAX around 1 in the afternoon or 10 at night - so we've not hit a lot of traffic. And if you are taking the express then you don't have to worry about the traffic - except for the waiting in it.

 

[SuperRob]

I thought about Long Beach but two one of my kids and one of the other family's would have to have car seats which adds another wrinkle. That and we would have to change airlines in Seattle.

Fair enough. I prefer nonstop for the same reason. Have you considered moving out of Spokanistan?

I kid, I kid ... but seriously, though ... LAX may keep you from transferring planes, but it's far less convenient in a lot of other ways. Long Beach is a GREAT airport and is a lot of business travelers secret. It's a small airport, efficient, the rental cars are literally RIGHT THERE, and the prices are far better than other routes (for both the airfare AND the rental cars). That said, you pretty much NEED a rental car if you're going to fly into LGB, because there's no shuttles of any kind, and a cab would be expensive. But if you'll need a car (like, if you want to go to Universal), it's a great option.

Whatever you choose, I'm sure it'll be a great trip. Good luck!

 

[OneThree]

Thanks for all the input!

 

[OneThree]

Fair enough. I prefer nonstop for the same reason. Have you considered moving out of Spokanistan?

Seriously. I ditch Spokcompton in a heartbeat but alas DW has family here so we are here until I can convince her parents to move!

 

[luulu1999]

I don't know if it really matters where you are but where I am Southwest has had the best prices by far and I think it was a little cheaper going to SNA, but this is also our first time flying ever so I am a little freaked out about trying to go to LAX so we are going to SNA

 

[Geemo]

A taxi from LGB to DLR area runs about $50. When we went from PPH to LGB in December with a voucher from Bell Services the cost of the taxi to LGB was $40. We were also able to get a mini van for 5 people and all luggage.

 

[ktlm]

I much prefer non-stop flights--- but SNA is a very easy airport to navigate. We have always had short security lines there. Baggage pick-up is easy. It is only 10 or 15 minutes from DLR, and we have never hit awful traffic on that route. That would be a hard choice for us.

 

[MillauFr]

Take the nonstop into lax. Transferring in sea is no picnic

 

[smartlabelprint]

We prefer SNA with one stop. It usually costs us quite a bit more but I prefer the convenience of the quick ride to the hotel. After I've anticipated the trip for so long an hour and a half in traffic makes me angry.

 

[Janemall]

We usually fly into SNA from Alberta, Canada.

Our next trip in December though i think will be LAX.

LAX is direct, and over $1000 cheaper between the flights and rental car!

 

[Aladora]

We've done Victoria-Seattle-SNA seven or eight times now and it really is no big deal even with having to collect our luggage, go through customs and immigration and change terminals. Sna is such an easy airport to navigate and we love how close the airport is to Disneyland. DH and I flew via lax once and that was enough for me.

 

[BethID]

We fly out of Spokane too. Go to SNA. It is around the same size airport as Spokane and much easier to navigate. LAX has huge lines. It is a pain in the rear to navigate. When my kids were small, we liked the stop in SEA. Gave the kids a chance to get a snack and go to the bathroom.