Tell me about Jet Blue & Long Beach

[MommyWithDreams]

So maybe I should have asked about this before booking the flight this morning but I couldn't resist the $44 fare!

I've never flown on Jet Blue, nor have I ever flown into Long Beach.
How is the airline and any difficulty with cheap transporation to Disneyland?

 

[FlameGirl]

Never flown Jet Blue.

But...LGB is a piece of cake to get in and get out of. It's tiny, tiny, tiny. You should be able to grab a cab and it's $45 or $50 to Disneyland. Nothing could be easier.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

Never flown Jet Blue.

But...LGB is a piece of cake to get in and get out of. It's tiny, tiny, tiny. You should be able to grab a cab and it's $45 or $50 to Disneyland. Nothing could be easier.

Sounds like a cab may be cheaper than the shuttle rates I just ran across. Thank you! How's the traffic to DL from that way?

 

[FlameGirl]

Sounds like a cab may be cheaper than the shuttle rates I just ran across. Thank you! How's the traffic to DL from that way?

I have flown out of LGB twice now (never flown in) and both times, we've cruised on in with light traffic. Takes 25 minutes or so.

 

[Brady's Mom]

We love to fly JetBlue into Long Beach. JetBlue has tv's in the headrest of every seat and they take a standard headphone/earbuds. We bring headphones for our kids and they end up watching cartoons on our flight (it's only 1.5 hours). They used to offer snacks, for free, but I haven't flown with them in a year and a half so don't know if they still offer this.

Long Beach is TINY - it reminds me of schools that have too many students and put up some sort of portable classroom on the playground. The buildings at Long Beach remind me of the portables. There are 4 (maybe 5) gates, I think, and you actually board and deplane onto the tarmac. You have to climb the portable stairs to get into the plane. We have gate checked our stroller before - if that is something you might be doing.

There are NOT a lot of food choices at LGB, so you might want to make sure you have food before you leave or pick up something on the way to the airport.

It took us 1/2 hour to get from LGB to DLR on surface streets when we flew in last time. I think we took Ball Road all the way. There are grocery stores along that route. We ended up stopping to pick up some water bottles and snacks.

There are car rental places directly across a small 2 lane street if you want to rent a car. There are shuttles available - but we've never used them since the prices always seemed so high compared to John Wayne. It was always cheaper to rent a car than to pay shuttle prices.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

We love to fly JetBlue into Long Beach. JetBlue has tv's in the headrest of every seat and they take a standard headphone/earbuds. We bring headphones for our kids and they end up watching cartoons on our flight (it's only 1.5 hours). They used to offer snacks, for free, but I haven't flown with them in a year and a half so don't know if they still offer this.

Long Beach is TINY - it reminds me of schools that have too many students and put up some sort of portable classroom on the playground. The buildings at Long Beach remind me of the portables. There are 4 (maybe 5) gates, I think, and you actually board and deplane onto the tarmac. You have to climb the portable stairs to get into the plane. We have gate checked our stroller before - if that is something you might be doing.

There are NOT a lot of food choices at LGB, so you might want to make sure you have food before you leave or pick up something on the way to the airport.

It took us 1/2 hour to get from LGB to DLR on surface streets when we flew in last time. I think we took Ball Road all the way. There are grocery stores along that route. We ended up stopping to pick up some water bottles and snacks.

There are car rental places directly across a small 2 lane street if you want to rent a car. There are shuttles available - but we've never used them since the prices always seemed so high compared to John Wayne. It was always cheaper to rent a car than to pay shuttle prices.

Thank you! Great tips. I have not boarded a plane on a tarmac since Hawaii many many years ago. My son will get a kick out of that.

 

[chrissiecutie]

OP- when are you traveling?

I looked at jet blue but they were same price as Alaska air at $74-89. How'd you find that awesome rate!

 

[MommyWithDreams]

OP- when are you traveling?

I looked at jet blue but they were same price as Alaska air at $74-89. How'd you find that awesome rate!

Going our rate is 73 it's coming home that it's $44. We come home first weekend in March.

 

[DizFan13]

We love flying JetBlue and love LGB. The car rentals can be pretty cost effective, depending on how long you are there. For our coming weekend, the total will be just over $70 for a mid-size, Friday morning to Sunday evening. The drive is very simple, and we prefer the surface roads, as a previous poster mentioned. You can start out on Wardlow and it turns into Ball, and you can just drive it all the way to Disneyland.

 

[haydeecm]

I think you have done good with your $44 fare, our last trip was all planned around a $54/ow fare I couldnt resist too.

I loved Jetblue, I love supporting JB cause they (and Southwest) are the only airlines still checking bags for free. Great snacks that have no trans fats and are actually relatively healthy and tasty. We doubled up on snacks cause we missed lunch at the airport. Blue chips and kettle chips were yummy. They also don't use those carts down the aisle, the snacks come in a big tray carried by the attendant, and do did the drinks. I like that they default to giving you the whole can, they never asked me, seemed to do that to everyone. I hate the carts that block the aisle, always have to go to the bathroom right then. They have free TV so I didnt have to bring a DVD player (pack your own headphones, though, those arent free).

I was not crazy about the LGB airport, too crammed for my taste. Dont get to the airport too early, there is no space for the kids to run around, I almost didnt know what to do with my stroller. Would HATE being stuck at that airport. Baggage pickup is outdoor and is superfast.

Only bad is you cant get the super cheap shuttles fares over there (I paid $7/person from SNA with supershuttle and coupon), at LGB everyone seems to charge $45 flat. But a great experience. And Jetblue is awesome, highly recommended.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

Sounds like we made a good choice and the only issue could be transportation. I have plenty of time to look into that further. Thank you everyone for all the great feedback.

 

[rune_74]

If you use priceline to rent a car you can get a steal...I paid 185 for a car for 8 days out of LGB and ended up with a deluxe car. Jet blue was awesome and easy to use. The drive was simple to the hotel as well.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

You made a great choice ~ we love JetBlue & LGB!!

We use a car service ~ "my guy" is Ron ~ his business card says VIP Service (Kim Sontha Transportation). The number is (562) 396-8106 (company number) OR the number where he has always answered is 562-895-6713 We've had a Toyota Highlander & Lexus SUV for our past trips. He's great ~ this past July his buddy Jefferson took us from the airport to our hotel and Ron took us back to the airport ~ Jefferson's # is 909-754-5822

We've had as many as 5-6 people *sometimes just 2 or 3* ~ I pay him $45 + a $5 tip each way.

**We have stopped at a grocery store for a quick shopping trip a couple times.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

We flew Jet Blue last trip for the firs time. We typically fly Southwest into SNA (the Bay area flights that are 59.00 each way).

I really didn't like Long Beach Airport. It was tiny and crowded. It took us forever to get our rental car (Avis), and then the drive to Disneyland wasn't as easy as the one from SNA. We typically just take a cab/van from SNA, but we have rented a car from there as well. Once you rent the car at SNA you are off on the freeway, and within 10 minutes you are seeing the "Ball Drive/Disneyland Exit". It is just so easy. The drive from Long Beach is much more complicated. We took surface streets, because that is what everyone at the rental car place said to do. It took us a little about 40 minutes to get to Disneyland, and I can't imagine paying for a cab there! There was a lot of traffic and stop lights as well--it just seemed to take forever. I know some people say they can get there in 25, but you would have to time the lights just right.

If you are taking a pre arranged shuttle or car service, that would probably be your best bet. You have gotten some great advice about that!

After we went through all of that, I told my husband that the small amount of money we saved flying Jet Blue (it wasn't significant) compared to Southwest in SNA just wasn't worth the hassle, and he agreed. It is doable, but just not as nice or user friendly to me. Hopefully it will be fine for you.

 

[DisneyMax74]

We love jetblue and flying into LGB. Like other posters have said, each seat has its own tv. Bring headphones or you can buy them for a buck or two from jetblue. My girls end up watching cartoons while I watch ESPN and the wife watches whatever looks good to her. Its only about an hour and a half flight for us.

Long Beach is a small airport but I have never noticed a problem. Its very very easy to get into and out of, very easy. Also they do have a snack shop with sandwiches and stuff. Vending machines and there is a bar/restraunt upstairs. Good place to grab some food or a drink or two.

Getting to Disneyland is so easy from LGB. There really is only one way to get out of the airport. When you come out there is a light at lakewood Blvd, you can go left, right or strait. Just go strait on Wardlow RD, stay on that road and it becomes Ball Rd. This will run almost smack dab into Disneyland. As soon as you hit Harbor Blvd turn right and you're there.

We love Long Beach and jetblue.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

We love jetblue and flying into LGB. Like other posters have said, each seat has its own tv. Bring headphones or you can buy them for a buck or two from jetblue. My girls end up watching cartoons while I watch ESPN and the wife watches whatever looks good to her. Its only about an hour and a half flight for us.

Long Beach is a small airport but I have never noticed a problem. Its very very easy to get into and out of, very easy. Also they do have a snack shop with sandwiches and stuff. Vending machines and there is a bar/restraunt upstairs. Good place to grab some food or a drink or two.

Getting to Disneyland is so easy from LGB. There really is only one way to get out of the airport. When you come out there is a light at lakewood Blvd, you can go left, right or strait. Just go strait on Wardlow RD, stay on that road and it becomes Ball Rd. This will run almost smack dab into Disneyland. As soon as you hit Harbor Blvd turn right and you're there.

We love Long Beach and jetblue.

Nice to see the drive is so easy. Sounds easier than John Wayne? My son is going to LOVE the tv's in the headsets. I'll be sure to pack his headphones. Thanks!

 

[iKristin]

I fly into Long Beach using Jet Blue every year and LOVE IT!!! It's so easy and the flight is wonderful with the free cable TV

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

rent a car use hotwire or priceline or alamo got a rent a car tax and out the door 95 bucks for 5 days