San Diego Airport

[PryncessChrysty]

Has anyone flown in/out of San Diego? How is it compared to John Wayne or LAX?

The worst part of flying for me is the landing and I heard it can be kinda scary in San Diego. However, flying through there will give us better flight times and will save us a couple hundred bucks. We LOVE Orange County and would prefer to go there, but the cost difference is really pulling me toward SD. I'm just nervous cuz I've never been there..... Any pearls of wisdom or experiences you can share?


Thanks!

 

[GrandBob]

I've flown into San Diego. The landing isn't scary for the passengers. It will look perfectly normal to you from inside the plane. What's scary is to watch the planes coming in from the terminal, or from outside the airport. It's scary to see how close they have to come in over the parking structure. It looks like they're almost going to scrape their wheels on the cars parked on the top floor. But you can't see any of that from within the plane. You should be just fine. Just forget everything I just said about the parking structure

-Bob

 

[sonnyjane]

Will you be seeing any sights in San Diego, or will you be driving up to the Anaheim area immediately? I only ask because you say that the times and prices are more convenient to San Diego, but make sure you factor in the price of renting a car and at least a two hour drive to get up to Anaheim.

Other than that, San Diego is my local airport and I fly into and out of there several times a year and nothing has ever seemed "scary" to me.

 

[PryncessChrysty]

I've flown into San Diego. The landing isn't scary for the passengers. It will look perfectly normal to you from inside the plane. What's scary is to watch the planes coming in from the terminal, or from outside the airport. It's scary to see how close they have to come in over the parking structure. It looks like they're almost going to scrape their wheels on the cars parked on the top floor. But you can't see any of that from within the plane. You should be just fine. Just forget everything I just said about the parking structure

-Bob

That is helpful, thank you. I found some videos on YouTube from both perspectives - inside & outside of the plane. I see what you're talking about! I'll just try to forget what I know when we're landing.

Will you be seeing any sights in San Diego, or will you be driving up to the Anaheim area immediately? I only ask because you say that the times and prices are more convenient to San Diego, but make sure you factor in the price of renting a car and at least a two hour drive to get up to Anaheim.

Other than that, San Diego is my local airport and I fly into and out of there several times a year and nothing has ever seemed "scary" to me.

Those are great tips, thank you! We're actually flying from So Cal to WDW. We live at just about the exact mid-point between LAX & San Diego, so we have a decent lot of airports to choose from. We're OC transplants now living in Riverside County, so I normally stick to the airports north of us just because that is what's familiar. We normally prefer John Wayne since it's so compact and easy to get around, although I know people complain about the take-offs there, but it has never bothered us.

After reading both your perspectives and watching the videos, seems I don't have anything to really be worried about so I think I'm gonna go for it! Thank you, both!!

 

[rtobe]

San Diego Airport is small compared to LAX. From inside the plane, you really don't notice anything landing - sitting at the traffic light on Pacific Highway and Laurel (I think its Laurel) when a plane is landing ... that's a bit scary the planes are closer than they are on the 14th St. Bridge in Washington DC landing. From what I recall about John Wayne and LAX the major difference in San Diego is after bag claim you have to go up the escalator or elevator and over the sky bridge to get to bus to parking or taxi etc.

 

[PryncessChrysty]

San Diego Airport is small compared to LAX. From inside the plane, you really don't notice anything landing - sitting at the traffic light on Pacific Highway and Laurel (I think its Laurel) when a plane is landing ... that's a bit scary the planes are closer than they are on the 14th St. Bridge in Washington DC landing. From what I recall about John Wayne and LAX the major difference in San Diego is after bag claim you have to go up the escalator or elevator and over the sky bridge to get to bus to parking or taxi etc.

Thanks, Ros!

 

[GrumpyGoat]

The parking structure has been at that location for so long now the pilots flying into SAN have the approach wired. It feels no different than a landing at any other airport...