Return Flight timeframe for LAX?

[singinglizzie]

I need to book my cruise airline tix and want to do it with frequent flier miles, so my choices are limited. If the ship (Star) is scheduled to dock at 8:00 am in San Pedro, will I have enough time to make an 11:45 am return flight at LAX? I have read that the disembarcation is crazy as more and more passengers chose not to leave their luggage outside and instead carry it off, clogging the elevators, etc. My other choice is to leave at 11:00 pm, which I prefer not to do?

 

What do you experienced travelers do?

[mikewrit]

We are not all that seasoned, but we generally take the advice of the more salty folks around here not to cut things short. I think this is particularly apt at San Pedro, where the Star and other ships seem often to run into trouble loading and unloading. Some folks think the trouble is with port employees. Others suggest the problem is in the local office of Customs or la Migra. Still others opine NCL is building a case for moving out of the Port of Los Angeles altogether.

[reefgirl]

I have read about disembarking delays at that port plus travel to LAX can take over an hour with traffic. Have you considered renting a car for the day and doing a little sight seeing?

[roger001]

This was discussed at length last week, but I can't find the thread. Basically, weekend at LAX, especially SWA can be very busy. All cruise ships arrive at once it seems . Off the Star last year, we were off the ship by a little after nine, on a shuttle to LAX and there by about 10:30. but the check in line and then the TSA lines were both out the terminal doors and up the street in both cases. I personally don't plan a LAX departure before about 2 pm, but that is just me and my anxiety.

[lambs2]

We had an horrific disembarkation hold-up (customs problems with some passengers) from the Star last December after our Panama Canal sailing. I would have hated to have a flight deadline on that cruise as we were some of the earlier ones off the ship and it was after 9 AM!!

[98Charlie]

I need to book my cruise airline tix and want to do it with frequent flier miles, so my choices are limited. If the ship (Star) is scheduled to dock at 8:00 am in San Pedro, will I have enough time to make an 11:45 am return flight at LAX? I have read that the disembarcation is crazy as more and more passengers chose not to leave their luggage outside and instead carry it off, clogging the elevators, etc. My other choice is to leave at 11:00 pm, which I prefer not to do?

 

What do you experienced travelers do?

 

Have you considered staying in Calif. an extra night and flying home the day after your cruise?

 

DH & I are from the Columbus, OH area and have sailed the Mex. Riv. many times. Our first time we flew in to LAX the day of the cruise and flew home the day we disembarked. It was truly not a very relaxing trip after spending such a great time on the ship.

 

Since that first Mex. Riviera cruise we have always planned an extra day out there, sometimes spending the day in Long Beach or San Pedro, other times spending a night closer to LAX. Last Mex. Riviera cruise we spent the night at the Foghorn Inn in Marina del Rey, detoxed from the ship by walking Venice Beach that afternoon and chilling out at some of the great restaurants in the area. Headed to the airport the day after our cruise much more relaxed and ready to get back to the humdrum of life in Ohio without the stress of getting off the ship quickly to get to the airport.

 

Dianne

[dexddd]

When we got off the Star last year in San Pedro it was the longest wait we had to get off the ship - not due to Customs, but the ship personnel scanning everyone off. They had two people working and it took awhile.

 

On top of that, we had pre-reserved a shared van at a set time and there were no vans from that company. Then one shows up and everyone mobbed it who were also using the same company (it wasn't super shuttle). There was no organization so we had to wait for the vans. It was also crowded as Princess had a ship that arrived same as us.

 

We flew out of John Wayne around noon and didn't have too much time to spare, so if you are going to take the earlier flight, maybe try a private car.

[singinglizzie]

Oh dear, not what I had hoped to hear. The thing is, that with my frequent flier miles I can get a first class flight home at 11:45 am or for the same amount of miles take the economy 11:00 pm flight which is a red-eye :( . Unfortunately I need to get back home to my kids by Sunday so I can't stay an extra night. This is a tough choice. I don't know what would happen if I missed the return flight? I used to be more lucky come and go, but as I get older I prefer everything planned out?

 

98Charlie, I had planned to fly out 1 day before, since I would be a nervous wreck if I flew the same day and missed the cruise.

 

Would anyone fly out the same day from the east coast arriving by 11:00 am, knowing you had to be at the dock by 2:00 pm.?

[Springwater21]

we are sort of in the same boat(pun). Our flight back to Yuma Arizona is at 12:50pm, thats the first flight, the next is at 3pm, then there is one more. Its only a commuter and a one hr. flight. I used reward points also, and didn't think ahead far enough. They (United) want 150.00 each to change the flight times.I only paid 80.00 total for the 2 flights. I guess if we miss it, hopefully they will put us on the next one. It may be difficult, its a plane for 30 people.! Someone on another forum, said they missed their flight and paid 50.00 for the next one. We are traveling with another couple who paid full fare(250.00rt) I would hate to see them have to spend a bunch more.

Guess we will just wait and see what happens. Could you use a different airline? with the reward points. Dona

[MMastell]

Personally I would try to get a flight after 1:00 p.m. but if the 11:45 a.m. flight is your only option then you need to make arrangements.

 

Let the customer service desk know you have an early flight. You will also fill out a form, about midway through your cruise, that tells them your flight time and airline.

 

I would go to the customer service desk and request early debarkation. I would also opt for a taxi rather than the cruise line shuttle. If you can self-disembark this would be the best but don't have more luggage than you can handle.

 

Even with this you will be rushed to make it to LAX and get through check-in and security in time.

 

Good luck,

Mike

[roger001]

You might very well make it if all goes smoothly with the ship docking and you being at the front of the exit line. But then I guess you just have to relax and realize you might be on the red eye and consider that as part of you possible experience. I don't want to keep emphasising the bad, but last spring in New Orleans, which should be pretty easy, that morning a security alert occured somewhere. Getting off the Spirit, which docked on time at 8 am, we didn't get past customs and out on the street until noon. Each passenger had to have their passport scanned and wait until the computer pulled up data on it. It's just that so many unexpecteds can occur and you have to be in a mind set to accept it.

[marelind]

If you happen to be in a suite, the concierge can arrange for you to be escorted off the ship quite early, even expediting the customs requirements. There is also an early disembarkation option where you carry your luggage off yourself. We got off in LA last April and the process was very challenging, even with the concierge taking us thru non-public areas of the ship to get off.

 

That covers leaving the port; then you have to deal with the airport. Ultimately only you can decide if the early flight is a reasonable risk for you or not.

[singinglizzie]

OK, I still don't "get it". I am realizing that getting off the ship is more than just getting your luggage and walking off - right? How long does customs take? I thought you just walked down a hallway, you are cleared and on your way? We are going to be in a family suite, but I have read that sometimes suite passangers can't get early disembarcation because everyone is trying to do the same and it gets crazy? Keep your fingers crossed that another flight option comes my way.

[roger001]

In the perfect exit situation, you should be able to leave your room and be on the street outside customs and the terminal in 20 minutes. We've had perfection occur twice, and that was without suite preference. Once outside the NCL terminal, keep in mind that possibly two other ship terminals within a stones throw are also exiting two cruise ships and the associated traffic flow, shuttle vans, busses are all out there. Super Shuttle was great for us. Although we had a reserved time, they had a line of continuous shuttles loading and you just get in the next available one. time to LAX was about 30 minutes with SWA being the first stop I believe. At that point, the world came to a halt...reference my previous post. On two cruise exits we've had, unknowns and unexpecteds added one to three hours in getting off the ship and through customs. Really can't predict what will happen....but hope for the best.

[MBprincess]

The other thing that people have not mentioned is the BAGS program. If you are using that it will save a lot of time and trouble. Basically if you are on one the airlines that participate you pay a fee to check your bags on board. That means you skip having to deal with them at the port and at the airport. You don't see them though until you get to your final destination though. If you plans you liquids out though it can work. We did it coming back to LA and it was WONDERFUL. You might also look at flights out of Long Beach with is also closer to the ship.