Why so few shuttle options from ONT..?

[AquaDame]

For various reasons we ended up booking a flight into Ontario instead of SNA for the first time. I admit I've never flown into ONT before and I'm puzzled by how few shuttles run there. It's about the same distance from LAX (35 miles) so I assumed we'd have some options but no one seems to go there....? I'd rent a car but they're still stupid expensive for just a few days (and then we'd have to pay Disney prices to park it to boot, so its not worth it).

The fare estimator says a Lyft XL will be about half the price of a private transfer but the lack of shuttles has me wondering if we'll be stranded at the airport with no one willing to come get us that way either. Any advice on what we should do?

 

[edhmom]

It's a pretty small airport, so while it may be the same distance as LAX, it has far fewer people moving thru it.

 

[Wesley815]

As edhmom mentioned, ONT is a very small airport (2 runways vs. 4 at LAX), only slightly larger than SNA (which has 1 commercial runway, 1 general aviation).... ONT added the International name to build business with very limited actual flights. A few tips are listed on their official website under "Parking & Transportation" at flyontario.com

I should add that ONT is a nice airport and similar to SNA, easy access.... it's just used more by local SoCal residents for nearby flights, Vegas, etc. and cargo. UPS/FedEx/Amazon have giant centers nearby. Even Amazon Prime Air has a new terminal at ONT for package shipments.

 

[edhmom]

As edhmom mentioned, ONT is a very small airport (2 runways vs. 4 at LAX), only slightly larger than SNA (which has 1 commercial runway, 1 general aviation).... ONT added the International name to build business with very limited actual flights. A few tips are listed on their official website under "Parking & Transportation" at flyontario.com

I should add that ONT is a nice airport and similar to SNA, easy access.... it's just used more by local SoCal residents for nearby flights, Vegas, etc. and cargo. UPS/FedEx/Amazon have giant centers nearby. Even Amazon Prime Air has a new terminal at ONT for package shipments.

I should have added as well that it's a great airport. I fly in and out of there to visit my daughter in college. When she drops me off I can get thru security and be at my gate before she even hits the freeway, and it's not far off the freeway.

 

[AquaDame]

Well and if its a locals airport that makes sense... I imagine most can arrange a ride from a friend or family member! I mentioned it to my husband as well, and he assumed way more services are based out of LA which was also a moment for me... he's right and a majority of places would probably have to drive out TO ONT and then back again.

 

[PirateBrigade]

All good points above, it just doesn't get the passenger traffic numbers to justify shuttle services anywhere.

ONT

2019	5,583,732 passengers

LAX

2019	88,068,013 passengers

Also, as an aside, LA World Airports (LAWA) owned both LAX and ONT for a period of time and there were accusations in a lawsuit that they were intentionally ignoring ONT in favor of LAX, which resulted in a massive decline in traffic 2007-2014.

https://la.curbed.com/2013/4/11/10254312/ontario-is-getting-ready-to-sue-la-for-airport-neglect
Ontario sued LAWA in 2013, and the lawsuit was settled in 2015 with control of the airport passing out of LAWA's hands.

 

[PirateBrigade]

Fun fact of the day: ONT was the filming location in Catch Me If You Can (2002) and subs for Miami Int'l Airport when Tom Hanks' character swarms the airport searching for Leonardo DiCaprio's character.

 

[starry_solo]

I believe the sole international (non stop) flight it has is to Asia, either China or Taiwan. I vaguely remember some newspaper articles.

For shuttles, look at those originating near the airport. There are a few Riverside based shuttle services.

I'll see if I can find links. I've been researching flying out of ONT to MCO a few times here and there but so far, have not yet done so. Of course, that was back when there was super shuttle around

 

[edhmom]

Fun fact of the day: ONT was the filming location in Catch Me If You Can (2002) and subs for Miami Int'l Airport when Tom Hanks' character swarms the airport searching for Leonardo DiCaprio's character.

I'll be flying out of it in a couple weeks and will remember that fun fact. Thanks!

 

[PirateBrigade]

I'll be flying out of it in a couple weeks and will remember that fun fact. Thanks!

I love filming locations, but quick warning, the current/modern ONT terminal is not where they filmed it. They used an older administrative building (former terminal) since it was set in the 1960s and they didn't have these glass/steel monstrosities back then . They also filmed 24 at the same terminal.

 

[pharmama]

Saving Mr Banks was also filmed at the original ONT passenger terminal (after it was out of service) which is located at the west end of the current property.

I believe they have flights to/from Mexico as well as the Asian route.

 

[archobum]

Well and if its a locals airport that makes sense... I imagine most can arrange a ride from a friend or family member! I mentioned it to my husband as well, and he assumed way more services are based out of LA which was also a moment for me... he's right and a majority of places would probably have to drive out TO ONT and then back again.

I know this is a super old post, but we are flying into ONT in a month and are hoping to not have to rent a car for a week only to have it sit in the parking garage (staying at the Marriott across the street with the water park). Wondering what you may have decided to do back then. Thank you. I've been searching posts trying to find my answer before needing to ask in my own post.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I know this is a super old post, but we are flying into ONT in a month and are hoping to not have to rent a car for a week only to have it sit in the parking garage (staying at the Marriott across the street with the water park). Wondering what you may have decided to do back then. Thank you. I've been searching posts trying to find my answer before needing to ask in my own post.

Uber or Lyft will be your best option. $55-$70 each way.

One-way car rental will set you back around $100 each way. Shared shuttles are pretty much extinct.

 

[China Expat]

I live 2 miles from ONT airport. It's my favorite airport! Car rental is right at the terminal, so I would rent a car or you'll have to UBer. Warning- driving from the airport west toward LA or the OC in the morning is horrendous. DUe to the thousands of warehouses in Ontario, all westbound lanes between 7 am-10 am are parking lots of big rigs. It's bad.

 

[OlliePop27]

I have had positive experiences with ONT as well, but travel to DL is always the challenge. I agree that a rental car is at least worth looking into. You can try to return to one of the rental agencies along Katella or in the DL area. If you don't need car seats, then an Uber/Lyft might be even easier.

I have found ONT to be a great option if SNA is not available or too expensive. ONT is a bit easier to get to DL than Burbank, and any of the other LA area airports are less intense than LAX. I am fortunate to have nonstop options to all LA area airports - I would not take a connecting flight just to avoid LAX (it's not ideal, but it's not so bad as to merit connections). Even if SNA is more expensive, it's important to keep in mind that the cost of transportation from ONT might be more expensive and offset any savings from airfare.

 

[DizMe]

I have found ONT to be a great option if SNA is not available or too expensive. ONT is a bit easier to get to DL than Burbank, and any of the other LA area airports are less intense than LAX. I am fortunate to have nonstop options to all LA area airports - I would not take a connecting flight just to avoid LAX (it's not ideal, but it's not so bad as to merit connections). Even if SNA is more expensive, it's important to keep in mind that the cost of transportation from ONT might be more expensive and offset any savings from airfare.

Excellent point. I know this has been mentioned in other threads, but LGB (Long Beach) airport is also a great option for the DLR area. It is less likely to be a direct/non-stop option, though. I fly from Sacramento and use LGB or SNA--whichever has cheaper flights. The cost of transportation to/from DLR is about the same but it's generally quicker and easier to get in and out of LGB. I used to use ONT sometimes but as mentioned, transportation to/from the resort has mostly removed it from my list when going to DL.

 

[AquaDame]

I know this is a super old post, but we are flying into ONT in a month and are hoping to not have to rent a car for a week only to have it sit in the parking garage (staying at the Marriott across the street with the water park). Wondering what you may have decided to do back then. Thank you. I've been searching posts trying to find my answer before needing to ask in my own post.

We ended up trying our luck with Lyft. As I’d feared there just weren’t many in the area, and I had a tense start when no one accepted the request for a bit. It worked but we had to wait for someone to accept, and another 20 minutes for them to get to us. That was two years ago though when masks were still around and possibly less drivers on the app in general. It might be easier now!