Yikes! SNA *is* more expensive than LAX!

[bumbershoot]

I'm getting a reality check here.

When planning our September trip, whenever I looked, going into SNA vs LAX was either the same or less expensive. I kept seeing posts about SNA being so much more, but I wasn't having that experience.

Well I sure am now!

Guess we'll be getting from LAX to HoJo's, rather than SNA...now to find the best way to do that. All my plans for a cab from SNA, gone...

 

[disney-super-mom]

A year or two ago it used to be less expensive to fly into SNA, but not anymore. I guess the secret is out.

Did you try looking into flying to Long Beach? You could take a cab from there too.

We flew into LAX this year because it was cheaper, and we rented a car, but we had plans to go to Knott's and the beach as well as DLR, so we needed a car for this trip anyway. We flew in on a Sunday, so there was hardly any traffic on the freeways. It took us about 30 minutes to get from LAX to the HOJO.

I've found the cheapest to fly into is Ontario, which is about a 35 minute drive to DLR during mid-day, non-rush hour traffic.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm not 100% sure why I decided on LAX, but shortly after making the "internet fare" booking on SW, I got a Ding for the exact same flight...so I'm taking it. Unless something better comes along.

This is becoming a very complicated trip...I feel like I should pay myself for being my travel agent.

 

[bouncy54]

I'm not 100% sure why I decided on LAX, but shortly after making the "internet fare" booking on SW, I got a Ding for the exact same flight...so I'm taking it. Unless something better comes along.

This is becoming a very complicated trip...I feel like I should pay myself for being my travel agent.

How much are the tickets from Sea-Tac to SNA now? I paid $312 back in March with Alaska.

With a barrel of oil hitting nearly $100, airline tickets must be going through the roof.

 

[Vanvmom]

My son and I flew down last March, and we took JetBlue into Long Beach instead of SWA into SNA. It was a MUCH nicer experience than the SWA flights I've been on. We planned to do it again this month, but the flight times worked better for us to do SWA this trip. I feel you pain though, it seems that there are so many options to choose from and the prices keep bouncing all over the place.

 

[bumbershoot]

How much are the tickets from Sea-Tac to SNA now? I paid $312 back in March with Alaska.

With a barrel of oil hitting nearly $100, airline tickets must be going through the roof.

From what I remember while looking last night (delayed posting, lol), it was something like 229 or 279, plus taxes and fees?

got a Ding for Seatac to lax for 91 plus tax+fees. I'll take it!

Of course, that's only getting us there. Still gotta get DH back to WA for work on that Sunday, and then figure out what DS and I are doing with my brother and SIL for the rest of our trip. Poor DH missing out, but he just switched companies, so his vacation time went bye bye!

 

[Vanvmom]

Bumbershoot my DH has had to miss parts of vacations due to work before too. Once he drove down with another family 2 days after the boys and I did, and another trip he had to leave early to fly to China for work... but we'll take a vacation any way we can get it! A few days together beats missing out entirely. And that fare you got is AMAZING!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

After our BORING 2 hour wait in LAX for our flight home I don't want to do LAX again... it was fine going in (you aren't going to spend any time at the airport when you arrive) but leaving was murder... no restaraunt selection and no shops...

Anyhow, we paid $200 RT pp for PDX (oregon) to LAX last month, and I was doing a little snooping to go back in May, and its ~$350 RT pp for similar flight times to SNA... come on Alaska points, add up quicker!!

--Lisa

 

[Mrs. Bee]

How much of a price difference is it? In my opinion it's worth the extra cash to fly to SNA instead of LAX. Especially if your main trip is for Disneyland. It's super close, first of all. And John Wayne is just an easier airport to use. The check-in and security lines are super quick. There are plenty of places in the terminal to get food and beverages. Definitely worth the extra money. In the past 3 years I've flown from Omaha to Santa Ana more than a dozen times and have never had problems. Definitely better than LAX.

 

[Husker Mickey]

We experienced a difference of $10 per person for flying into John Wayne. It was worth every penny. We have flown into LAX 4 other times and found it a hassle and very confusing. John Wayne is closer and much smaller. The security lines are short and fast and the food selection is just fine for a small airport. When, and you see I said when, we go again we will really try to fly into John Wayne.

 

[godalejunior]

We usually get PDX to LAX for around $200 pp. When I have looked into SNA it was running about $60 more each person. So far LAX has won out but if I could get SNA for the same price I would definitely go for it.

 

[Tink208]

My son and I flew down last March, and we took JetBlue into Long Beach instead of SWA into SNA. It was a MUCH nicer experience than the SWA flights I've been on. We planned to do it again this month, but the flight times worked better for us to do SWA this trip. I feel you pain though, it seems that there are so many options to choose from and the prices keep bouncing all over the place.

I priced a trip to Anaheim (from the San Francisco Bay Area) for a convention a year or so ago, and factoring in airport/hotel transport and my time, flying to Long Beach and taking SuperShuttle to my hotel was the best bang for my buck. Plus, Jet Blue totally rocks as an airline!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

I priced a trip to Anaheim (from the San Francisco Bay Area) for a convention a year or so ago, and factoring in airport/hotel transport and my time, flying to Long Beach and taking SuperShuttle to my hotel was the best bang for my buck. Plus, Jet Blue totally rocks as an airline!!!

Unfortunately, from Seattle, Jet Blue only goes to the east coast! I was going to get DH on a JB flight back home, b/c the last of SW flights leave before 6pm, but no luck.




For those wondering about my costs...like I mentioned, SNA was running about 229 one way on SW while LAX was 99, and then I got a Ding to LAX for 91 one way (no Ding to SNA yet). Multiplied by 3, I'm going with the annoyance of LAX.

And only DH is leaving from the LA area...DS and I will be leaving from San Diego, so that's not really an issue.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

When I've searched in the past for Omaha to SNA and Omaha to LAX....it's never been a huge price difference. That's why it's really worth it to fly to John Wayne.

 

[NVDisMom]

I distinctly remember traveling LAX when I was a kid...NEVER again. I can't even imagine how ad it is now. I don't care how much more it cost me...we fly SNA. This year I bought early, so the difference was about $10 pp each way. I can live with that. LAX sucks, and LA traffic is even worse. Time is money on that front for us. We're gonna enjoy flying into SNA and a quick limo ride to the airport. We did consider Jet Blue and Long Beach, but I have heard mixed opinions on them. With SWA I know what I'm getting, and how to play by their rules.