Flying out of Long Beach Airport

[jamesnnb]

We are considering flying out of Long Beach Airport (instead of LAX) on our next Mariner cruise and wondered if anyone has flown out of there after a cruise and could fill us in on any details (long lines, quick service, easier than LAX...that sort of thing).
Also, is there a longer wait to SuperShuttle it over to LGB as opposed to LAX (which has always been fast to load up and head out).
Not that it matters, but we would be flying LGB to Seattle to Spokane and Alaska Air has an 11:15am flight, which should be pretty easy to catch (we carry our luggage off ourselves).
Any comments for us?

[Desert Cruizers]

James we have not had any personal experience, using LB Airport but have read posts saying it is less congested then LAX. Sounds like you have a nice schedule out and of course, less driving time. I think on a good day you have at least a 45 min drive to LAX. We try and use our airport in Palm Springs before driving 2 hrs to LAX.

[JJ2sail]

Long Beach is very easy to fly in and out of. Just did it this past weekend again. There is just one terminal, and check in is a breeze. The shuttles do mostly go to LAX, but if you pre-reserve the shuttle to LB you should be okay.

[silentbob007]

It's been a long time since flying into LGB but I remember it being a very small airport (where we collected our bags outside). I know that many find it preferable to LAX if they can find a reasonable flight. You might have a little bit more of a wait on a shared-ride as obviously more people are heading to LAX, but even then I don't think they are allowed to wait more than 15-20 minutes once the first passengers are loaded.

[lcguy]

LGB is a great little airport. I was sorry to see American pull out. Alaska/Horizon is a breeze. Easy check in, short lines- especially on a Sunday morning. It's a blast from the past so to speak, with its art-deco look and pax walking out onto the tarmac and up the steps to board the plane. And frankly, it's closer to the port than LAX.

[Bxc53]

Another thumbs up for LGB. I use it frequently for work travel and for a Princess cruise a couple years ago. It's so much nicer than the 'LAX experience' . If time permits, head upstairs to the restaurant and photo gallery for lots of area history.

[telecruiser]

Remember the airport terminal in the TV show Wings?

[lappy22]

I would have to agree with everybody else. If the price and flight times are right then it really is a no brainer to fly out of Long Beach. We try to stay away from LAX.

[emilygrace]

I LOVE flying in and out of LGB!!! It is a very user friendly airport because it is teeny tiny. If you're sitting in the waiting area for your flight and you find out they moved you to another gate you just move over 3 or 4 seats!!! My friends hate it because there aren't all the shops and stuff that a big airport has, but I'd rather go with the non-existent ticket and security lines any day!

As Bxc53 said, go upstairs and check it out!

[critterchick]

Add me to the Fans of LGB club! We try to fly from there whenever we can - it's even worth a connecting flight instead of a nonstop in some cases. I've been known to arrive at the airport with less than an hour until my flight (carry on luggage only)

Just be aware that there are no jetways - you walk out of the terminal (if a collection of pre-fab sheds can be called a terminal, LOL) onto the tarmac and go up the stairs to board. I recall seeing ramps for wheelchair access as well.

[SomeBeach]

Used LGB for a flight from PHX to LA and really liked it.

Check the airline policy for carry ons if you are use to taking 2 bags. My flight was very restrictive on size, which was smaller than normal and only one was permitted. Ladies, that means if you had a purse and a carry on bag, you had one too many.

[Happy ks]

The last time I flew out of LGB I arrived an hour and a half before flight time, mainly because my husband had to drop me off and go to work. After going through check-in and security, I had an hour and 55 minutes to wait. Both the airline counter and the security person was waiting for someone, anyone, to show up.

No, it doesn't have the shops and such, but I don't care, I just take a magazine or book with me. Love it. And....it's closer than LAX!

[hcat]

We flew in & out of there for a cruise leaving from San Pedro-- we had a good pre-booked shuttle service to our hotel & from ship to airport on disembarkation day... probably could have made an earlier flight than the one we booked--so we had to hang around there quite awhile..

. There is really no decent place to eat & no shopping--sandwiches were about all we could get. It is quite old but clean (how our local airport was in the 50's) & I recall we went through a long fenced area (like a kennel run) at some point--felt a bit confining.. but it was much preferred than going to LAX...

[jamesnnb]

Thanks everyone! Looks like it shall be Long Beach for us. Sounds really good. Our last (Oct) LAX experience wasn't tooooo bad -- but the one in April was BAD. Once checked in at the counter, you have have to take your checked luggage to the XRay machine (which was true in Oct, too), then get in line to go through security -- only that line went out the door, down the block and on and on and on. You walked and walked just to get to the end of the line. It did move along, but it was a long-long line!
The flight fare is just about the same for us out of LAX or LGB. We don't mind going 'back in time'.

[cougfan]

We flew out of Longbeach for our Christmas cruise in 2006. We had the 11:15 flight to Seattle also. We walked off the ship with our bags, grabbed a cab and were at the airport by 8AM. We had breakfast at the restaurant which overlooks the runway. For us the flight was $100 cheaper than flying into LAX. I would do it again.

Julie

[seeship]

We flew out of LB after our Mariner cruise in Sept. It was a breeze. There were 4 of us ,so we took a taxi, I think it was $40 total.