Same day flights: East Coast into LAX

I've never flown in for a cruise on the same day, and I am generally opposed to doing so, for a variety of all the obvious reasons.

But I've never cruised out of a west coast port before either.

Looking at the flights and schedules for a cruise out of LA, it looks like you can get a direct flight that arrives in LAX by 10:30 or so, which leaves several hours to spare.

So my question is this... how have your experiences been with same day direct flights into LAX? The time zones seem to be favoring rather than opposing the cruiser in this case.

Theron

I've never flown in for a cruise on the same day, and I am generally opposed to doing so, for a variety of all the obvious reasons.

 

But I've never cruised out of a west coast port before either.

 

Looking at the flights and schedules for a cruise out of LA, it looks like you can get a direct flight that arrives in LAX by 10:30 or so, which leaves several hours to spare.

 

So my question is this... how have your experiences been with same day direct flights into LAX? The time zones seem to be favoring rather than opposing the cruiser in this case.

 

Theron

I've never flown in from the east for a cruise (obviously), but I have flown back and forth across the country often...and I've entertained relatives from the East Coast often...

The time zones DO act in your favor...but, it's still a five to six hour flight, time zone changes notwithstanding...

So, to get here at 10:30, you're likely leaving the East Coast around 7:30 am, correct? Let's say you live an hour from the airport and you have to get there, say, an hour and a half before the flight to check in and clear security...So...you're leaving home at 5 am and you're likely waking up around 4 am...By the time you eat dinner on the ship (let's say you have main seating--late seating would be even more outrageous)...it's after 6 pm LA time and you've been "up" for over 14 busy hours...Want to enjoy your first night on the ship? A show? Dancing? Karaoke? Casino? You are going to be EXHAUSTED...

My East Coast relatives all seem to have trouble staying up after dinner on their firt day here...THAT would be the main reason for fllying in early...Far more relaxing, easier to adjust...

But, yeah...If you've got a flight that gets into LAX at 10:30, you'll have your luggage by noon (local joke)...Shuttle right to the pier and you'll be having lunch in the buffet...

Good luck if you try to do it the same day. I just went on the Pride traveling by air from Cincinnati. Going out the flight was delayed several times but we did make it that day. Coming back we were to be home on Sunday. We were home Monday at 1:30 P.M. Needless to say flight problems--cancellation-- due to flight crew problems.

I would never think of coming in the same day, but some do.

Even flying from the bay area to southern california there are flight delays and even cancellations. My husband recently had to hire a driver at 2 am to drive across the bay because of flight cancellations eventually having to change airports. I would caution to to rethink this plan. Imagine being cancelled or delayed, missing your trip because your flight crew had logged too many hours, or a thunderstorm in say another state grounds your plane, or you get in a traffic accident on your way to the airport and you miss your flight. Leave the evening before and sleep in, have breakfast in bed, enjoy a leisurely day.

I do not recommend flying in the day of your cruise. There is still too many things that can occur that can significantly delay your arrival time from weather, to the delay of the incoming flight, to computer malfunctions, to airport closures due to security breaches and on and on and on. Add to that the fact that if your flight is canceled most other flights after yours may be fully booked. I would fly in the day before and spend the time before your cruise relaxing and seeing some local sites.

Keith

I feel the same as the others posting here. The only time we don't go in a day early is when we're driving...and we're 50 miles away from the port. And even then, we leave in the morning just in case we have a problem with the car.

Thanks for all the comments. As I said, I've never done a same day flight, and am hesitant to do so. If I go in the day before, I can also take the next later flight, which does save me from getting up in the middle of the night! San Pedro hotels aren't cheap! Lots of other threads for that though. :)

Theron

When are you cruising? If it's in winter, there's no way I'd do a same day flight. There are too many weather variables coming from the east. Even if the weather in your area is ok, there could be storms elsewhere that would cause major air disruptions and delays. We're flying into LA two days early just to give us some cushion. On the way home we don't care if we get delayed, but missing the ship would be a disaster.

I've never flown in for a cruise on the same day, and I am generally opposed to doing so, for a variety of all the obvious reasons.

 

But I've never cruised out of a west coast port before either.

 

Looking at the flights and schedules for a cruise out of LA, it looks like you can get a direct flight that arrives in LAX by 10:30 or so, which leaves several hours to spare.

 

So my question is this... how have your experiences been with same day direct flights into LAX? The time zones seem to be favoring rather than opposing the cruiser in this case.

 

Theron

We are in the same situation; but we are going to chance it. We have a non-stop from Atlanta to LAX that arrives at 0849am and there are hourly flights between ATL and LAX so if something happens to that flight we should have no trouble getting another.

It would be extremely rare for weather to be a problem on our route.

Mike

:)

My husband & I live within 2 1/2 hours of the San Diego Terminal so could drive in. For the relaxation, we are still driving in the day before, enjoy the Pre Cruise activities planned with our group and avoid the stress of driving for that 2 hrs, parking car and getting to Terminal.

We flew from PHL on Saturday and the flight left at 8:00 am and we were in the LAX terminal at 11:30am (west coast time). You would easily make the ship since it leaves at 500 pm, but I would do this only with a direct flight. If there are connections involved too many variables. Also if you do not book thru cruise line the ship will sail with out you. We went a day early and used the afternoon to take an LA tour. Got up the next morning and were picked up by Prime Time shuttle and on the ship by noon. Coming back we were on a 1:00 pm flight and were at the airport by 10:00am. Hope this helps.