Trying to plan a summer trip in JUly to the Calif. coast and want to try to avoid the airports that are so troublesome and hard to get in or out of....please let me know what you know. Thinking of San Jose instead of SFO, maybe Orange County instead of LAX.

Would love opinions......want to do Carmel down to Santa Barbara or maybe L.A.
Many thanks for your help.

Jennifer

Well, where will you be flying from?

I'd start there.

Having said that, I have NEVER had difficulty in and out of SFO. Still, OAK is a far better alternative to San Francisco than SJC.

LAX can be a hassle, no question. But there are five airports in the greater LA area (that is, within an hour's drive of downtown LA) with regularly-scheduled commercial airline flights: LAX, SNA, BUR, ONT and LGB. JetBlue flies into LGB (their West Coast focus city), ONT and BUR. If you have a choice to fly JetBlue, DO. That said, LAX is not horrible, just somewhat overextended relative to its daily usage. What specifically has you wanting to avoid LAX (which I do myself but for selfish reasons)?

If you expand your circle to two hours' drive from LA (barring traffic), that could get you to SAN and PSP. You have lots of options.

I flew out of LAX, and the lines were long and many! 4 lines: check in, suitcase to TSA, ID check, TSA x-rays, and these were 4 separate lines.

If the ticket price is lower to fly to/from LAX, why avoid? Just make sure you have enough time for a layover there, or come in a little earlier then you'd do in another airport.

And I agree, OAK is better then San Jose, closer, easier to get to the city or to the airport.

If you're buying an "open jaw ticket" check out Southwest - don't penalize you for one-way flights.

Faina, that sounds like LAX's dreaded Terminal 1-- Southwest and US Airways/America West. The lines are numerous, but they move quickly.

My preference is always to fly out of my home airport, LGB. Unless the LAX or SNA alternative is $100 or more cheaper. It's usually not once you factor in parking/SuperShuttle.

You can't beat the BART system from SFO to downtown, however, two years ago I flew from SFO to Vancouver on United. I arrived two hours early, stood in line for the automated check-in and when it was my turn, it said, "Not enought time." They put me on the next flight at no charge and I even got the exit-window seat. Nice view.

Last year I flew from SFO to Vancouver on Qantas and it was a picture perfect flight. The aircraft was a full 747-400, and the elderly lady in charge of the boarding process said, "everyone is being so good."

What airline are you flying in on? Perhaps the problem is just with United domestic flights? SFO is their hub. American and Continental seem very small at SFO, so I don't think you will have a problem with them.

I hope it's changed but when I flew out of San Jose a couple years ago it was an awful mess. Security line even snaked upstairs.

For your itinerary I would use LAX and not SNA. SNA is farther to go for you and the fares tend to be higher. It is simpler than LAX but not worth it, imo.

I prefer to use LGB too, but can't very often. It is slightly farther for you than LAX, coming from the north. Would be about 25 minutes more driving if the freeway is moving. Worth it because the airport is tiny and easy to use. And if using LGB you would likely be flying on jetBlue which I think is great.