Air travel for Diamond Princess Christmas Cruise

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egee

Guest
We will be coming off the Diamond Princess in LA (San Pedro)Christmas week. We're booking the air ourselves out of LAX. We want to book a 12:30 flight. Our TA says this is okay, but Princess advises earliest disembarkation flight time as 1:00 p.m. or later. Assuming there are no really unusual events, such as what happened to the Diamond in Seattle, is this a "safe" booking schedule wise?
 
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paljoeysmom

Guest
Stick with your 12:30 flight. You will probably be dropped off at the airport before 10:30.
 
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Alley

Guest
I disagree... we didn't make it to LAX until 12:30 last year. So this year we're booking a flight at 2:00.

Alley
 
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Sharkin

Guest
egee,
I wouldn't cut it that close. We weren't in the parking lot before 10:00. Even with it being Saturday, LA traffic can get ugly between the port and LAX. I know some people don't worry about this type of thing, but I do. I wouldn't wait until the last morning, but would start worrying as soon as I booked the air. If there are no later flights there is always the next day. I am sure you could find something in our fine city to entertain you overnight. I might even be able to suggest something myself.
 
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egee

Guest
Sharkin,

Thanks. It will be a week day (Wed. to Wed.) cruise, so I guess that makes your point even stronger. Would I stand a better chance if I tried for a 12:30 out of of Long Beach airport--or is it still to early to schedule, especially if I'm the worrying type?
 
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Sharkin

Guest
I would be less uncomfortable with a 12:30 out of LGB, but still think it's a little too close. If there isn't anything later I guess you kinda have no choice, but I would look hard before I settled for 12:30. As I said before a lot of people will be ok with this timing, it's just me being a worry wort.



Post Edited (06-30-04 17:16)
 
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CaribbeanSun

Guest
Considering this is a busy travel period -- I would listen to Princess and make a later flight. We were in LAX last December on Dec 30th and it was a zoo.
 
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cnmiranda

Guest
I guess you have to ask yourself "Do I feel lucky"?lol. When we cruised RCCL we had a 10:30 am flight and made it in plenty of time, disembarked at 8am. However, Princess seems to be having a lot of embarkation/disembarkation problems and San Pedro is a new pier compared to the Diamond leaving from long beach last winter. Personally I would do it but I hate hanging around the airport.
 
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Lizaluu

Guest
LAX has four lines before you get to your flight area. There is the ticket check-in line, the luggage security check line, the I.D. line to go up the escalator, the security line where you get checked, and then you run to your flight area and hope they haven't changed the gate number while you are running towards your gate.
You will be begging people if you can cut in front of them and they all will say, "NO".
If that day happens to be an ORANGE ALERT day.... it will take longer to reach the airport due to a long line of vehicles. Plus, I have seen special lanes set up by security to check-out certain cars, so even if you are in a shuttle bus, there may be a traffice jam due to cars blocking the shuttle.
I would rather set a time for 2p.m. or later and have peace of mind.
I have had that experience and I live in Los Angeles.
The worse part is to see your plane still there being loaded with your luggage but they won't let you on the plane because you were 10minutes late and the gate is closed. Your luggage will be on the plane but you won't be. That happened to me.
Yes, Lady Luck may show up that day and everything will go as planned and you will leave on your flight at 12:30. Are you a gambler? Does stress give you more energy? Are you a high risk taker?
 
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