You need to list a length of stay, arrival time, departure time for anything more than a general answer.

Go Stanford!

Watch the Tree stomp the cheeseheads!

Thanks, Rastaguy, but a general answer is actually what I'm looking for here. I don't expect anyone to find me a car deal. I'm just wondering whether this is par for the course for John Wayne airport, whether we can expect the prices to start going down or whether we need to consider finding a way to rent from somewhere other than that airport -- like possibly taking a shuttle to LAX.

If they go the shuttle route, one way to do it is to take public transit to Union Station in LA and then take the Flyaway bus to LAX.

You can check out public transit schedules/costs at http://www.metro.net (cost will probably be about $12 each SNA-Union Station). Use the Metro Trip Planner on the right-hand side, from "John Wayne Airport" to "LAX".

FlyAway bus is $7 from Union Station to LAX. http://www.lawa.aero/welcome_LAX.aspx?id=292#tabulation

It looks like a shared ride SuperShuttle van from SNA to LAX would be $45 or so total for 2 adults. http://www.supershuttle.com/Locations/LAXAirportShuttleLosangeles.aspx

Can't help you with the car question. Do you belong to any associations (like AAA) that offer discounts?

I often fly to San Diego, and always price flights into John Wayne vs LAX. They are often cheaper and It would save me about a half hour in travel time to land at SNA.

Unfortunately, cars always seem to be a lot higher at SAN. In probably 15 trips over 10 years, I have never been able to keep the costs (air + car) lower that doing the flight into LAX.

Thank you very much, Cranachin and Icuy! That's exactly the kind of info I needed. I really appreciate the detail on the shuttle. And now I know that's just the way it is at John Wayne.

So frustrating when, pretty much on a daily basis, I get e-mails from Priceline and Hot Wire offering car rentals for $15 a day or less, only to find that the best they're offering for SAN is something like $70 a day! I had no idea that could happen with particular airports. A lesson learned!

Or is Orange Co. always more expensive for some reason?<<

I fly into LAX & SNA often, and I havent noticed that. While there are smaller fleets at SNA, prices have been in the same ballpark. What are the dates? as I wouldnt consider wasting hours taking a bus to LAX & back.

Thanks, Frank. They're flying in 12/31 and leaving 1/4.

Carrentals.com has them both high, $46/day at American Eagle @ the Travelodge(Ive never dealt with them, I guess you would take the shuttle to that hotel?)

Another option would be taking a caor better yet see if you can use Enterprises free 'pick you up' service from the airport) to the nearby Enterprise location in Santa Ana at $22/day

Thanks, Frank! That Enterprise deal looks well worth looking into!

If there is an Enterprise location at an airport the neighborhood Enterprise locations usually refuse to pick you up at or drop you off at the airport. You'd probably need to take a cab.

Lets see...if they wont PU at the airport, its a safe short walk across the street to Dennys Restaurant(I think its a Dennys), DH can stay with the bags while DS gets the car as SNA is a not a bad place to wait.
Let see..another idea..There is a Enterprise on Dyer near several hotels that have free shuttles, Ill guess a $5 tip can get you there on one of those
...or of course a short cab ride

Thanks again, Cranachin and Frank! Probably would have to be DS staying with the bags while DH gets the car though, Frank. DS is 23 so they'll probably have to put the car in DH's name!

CAPH, hope they find a good deal on the car as they will love flying into and out of John Wayne. So much easier than LAX.