CMCFlyer
Apr 4, 06, 6:56 pm
First of all, I am very appreciative to have many favorable airfares from what is my home airport this time of year. But I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow or two when they (or the Ont Chamber of Commerce) were touting why the "out of towner" should fly into ONT. Also, I thought I might post some additional info if anyone not familiar with the LA area is mulling making a vacation out of these fares. It's very easy for an outsider to underestimate the vastness of LA; I certainly did before I moved down here.
"Ontario is at the center of all that Southern California has to offer: Ontario Mills Mall, Hollywood, Disneyland, Pacific beaches and desert and mountain resorts."
-If you include PSP, Big Bear, Mt Baldy, and the wineries in Temecula to counterbalance the Westside and Disneyland, then perhaps it's in the geographic center, but if I were to leave work early on a Friday and arrive early evening into ONT, it may take upwards of three hours to reach some of the more distant attractions on the Westside. But, it is true that Ontario Mills is less than a five minute drive from the airport.
"Southwest Airlines offers daily flights from major U.S. cities to Ontario International Airport"
-True, but it is more of a regional destination for WN, with nonstops only to OAK, SJC, LAS, PHX, SMF, and BNA. (With the new Hawaii ATA codeshare, there is also a nonstop to HNL)
"Purchase tickets online to DisneylandŽ Resort!"
-If one is looking for an alternative to the high fares of SNA, I would recommend ONT. Compared to flying into LAX and trecking down on the 405, the 57 freeway has milder traffic, by LA standards.
Conclusion: The WN T4 operation is one of the better ones. It's a newer terminal with a lot of natural light, and lacks the claustrophobic feel of other WN operations, like OAK. It's a good jumping off point for an LA area vacation if you settle down somewhere else, but I wouldn't use ONT as a base if your vacation takes you out of the Inland Empire, even without traffic, it's an hour drive to the beach, Downtown, Disneyland, etc
"Ontario is at the center of all that Southern California has to offer: Ontario Mills Mall, Hollywood, Disneyland, Pacific beaches and desert and mountain resorts."
-If you include PSP, Big Bear, Mt Baldy, and the wineries in Temecula to counterbalance the Westside and Disneyland, then perhaps it's in the geographic center, but if I were to leave work early on a Friday and arrive early evening into ONT, it may take upwards of three hours to reach some of the more distant attractions on the Westside. But, it is true that Ontario Mills is less than a five minute drive from the airport.
"Southwest Airlines offers daily flights from major U.S. cities to Ontario International Airport"
-True, but it is more of a regional destination for WN, with nonstops only to OAK, SJC, LAS, PHX, SMF, and BNA. (With the new Hawaii ATA codeshare, there is also a nonstop to HNL)
"Purchase tickets online to DisneylandŽ Resort!"
-If one is looking for an alternative to the high fares of SNA, I would recommend ONT. Compared to flying into LAX and trecking down on the 405, the 57 freeway has milder traffic, by LA standards.
Conclusion: The WN T4 operation is one of the better ones. It's a newer terminal with a lot of natural light, and lacks the claustrophobic feel of other WN operations, like OAK. It's a good jumping off point for an LA area vacation if you settle down somewhere else, but I wouldn't use ONT as a base if your vacation takes you out of the Inland Empire, even without traffic, it's an hour drive to the beach, Downtown, Disneyland, etc