LAX or Orange County airport for cruises out of port of Los Angeles?

[Cruise Gopher]

Just booked the Radiance of the Seas Sept sailing to Hawaii, need advice on what airport to fly into. Looking for whatever one would be cheapest for a shuttle to the port.

 

Thanks!

[39august]

Long Beach was a little cheaper airfare for us last year. It is also about 10 minutes closer to the port at San Pedro. I think the taxi price was about $7 less than from LAX. It is also a nice little airport without the frenzy of LAX.

[Cruise Gopher]

Long Beach was a little cheaper airfare for us last year. It is also about 10 minutes closer to the port at San Pedro. I think the taxi price was about $7 less than from LAX. It is also a nice little airport without the frenzy of LAX.

 

Thanks but Long Beach is not an option for me flying in from Minneapolis.

 

So Orange County or LAX?

[audome78]

If you are looking for an RCI transfer to and from the airport- LAX is your ONLY option- they don't go to any other airports. If you are looking for the CLOSEST airport to the pier, LAX is closer.

 

We flew in and out of Long Beach and were told that we could not get an RCI transfer- only to LAX.

[Bruin Steve]

There are five main commercial airports which serve greater Los Angeles: LAX, Bob Hope (Burbank), John Wayne (Orange County), Ontario and Long Beach...

 

There are far more flights at more times to and from more places that fly out of LAX...then Ontario, John Wayne, Burbank, and, fianlly, Long Beach... So, yes, it is entirely reasonable that you have trouble finding flights from where you are into the smaller airports...

 

Distances from the pier in San Pedro to each airport (in miles):

To Long Beach Airport (LGB)--13 (By surface streets the entire way, by freeway would be considerably longer)

LAX--20

Burbank (BUR)--37

Orange County (SNA)--35

Ontario (ONT)--59

 

So, if the options are LAX versus John Wayne, LAX puts you FAR closer to the pier in Pedro. If you're using a transfer from the cruise line, it is likely the only option...If you are making the trip by shuttle or taxi, your fare will be quite a bit less using LAX...

 

The knock people have on LAX is that it is one of the world's largest and busiest airports...No question it is...

But you need only to be concerned with making it from your gate to the baggage claim to the street...which is pretty much similar anywhere. Traffic in and out will be a little thicker...but, in using a bus, shuttle or taxio, YOU won't really be dealing that much with it...

 

And, you will probably get a larger choice of flights from LAX...

 

But, the bottom line is 20 miles versus 35 miles...

[bargainshopper]

Did you check the airfare going in/out of Orange County? Generally, fares are higher at SNA then LAX.

[Cruise Gopher]

Did you check the airfare going in/out of Orange County? Generally, fares are higher at SNA then LAX.

 

Didn't look at prices, used my freq flyer miles.

 

I went with LAX, just because it is closer in distance to the pier than Orange County.

 

We are flying in the day before so it should be fine.

 

Thanks for the help everyone!

[AFT_LOVER]

that is the way Celebrity welcomed us to LAX with single woman handling all the flights coming in. 6 of us at 10AM from CLE and we were told to get coffee & a danish as she was looking for others meeting us to get he shuttle. She never returned for 2 hours as we sat & waited. Then she calls on her cell to her supervisor that no bus has shown, yet she leaves us alone again now we are up to 19 folks. Bus showed at 1:30PM with 4 seats for 26 folks who were there. We were told another hour til one shows. We all got on the 2:15 bus & then another close to 2 hour wait at San Pedro to clear customs with a line winding the terminal. We were Concierge Class, Elite members & no express line for any of us. Even the Express Pass was not working. So 8 hours to board the ship!

 

NEVER AGAIN CELEBRITY OUT OF LAX! At leat RCCL has their lines noted for Diamond & Diamon plus members.