Irvine Marriott, CA [Master Thread]
 

Anyone with experience on its shuttle service to SNA? Google Maps shows that it's very close to the airport, so how long is the ride? How frequent are the shuttles? Lastly, does the shuttle really stop running at 11PM? What if my flight gets delayed? TIA.

LAX

The hotel is less than 2 miles from the airport, 5 minutes ride or less (every 30 min) and they do stop around 11:00 PM. SNA has curfew after 11:00 PM due to noise reg.

If your flight is delayed into SNA beyond 11 PM, you will be taking a shuttle from LAX or renting a car. All flights are diverted after that, so there is no need for hotels to keep their shuttle running.

I stayed there twice and I think it comes every 30min....However, if you can afford to stay there why wait for the shuttle? Just take a taxi for $10!

Really! How often does that happen? I supposed they would just end up canceling the flight rather than diverting, right? Unless something happens mid flight that causes the delay?

LAX

While I am sure it has happened, I haven't ever seen the flights cancelled. They divert to Los Angeles (twice for me). They don't cancel because the people still want to get *near* OC. And the airplane needs to be in OC in the morning.

Not very often. I lived in Irvine for 5 years, and flew at least 15 trips out of SNA every year, and it happened to me only once. Even then, the airline was very accommodating and got me on a Super Shuttle from LAX to my home without problems.

SNA is one of the best airports in the Country! Enjoy it!

^+1

I probably have flown the late flight into SNA 15 times and have had it happen 3 times, which is 20%. The other posters said it was rare, but it happened to them 5% of the time, which to me is more than rare. Obviously, the only flight this is really an issue on is the ones that get in late at night. I actually started flying out of LAX when it was going to be a late flight because of this.

It makes for a long night, but the airline will get you back to SNA if you want them to, or you can get your own transportation. They have a bus sitting outside baggage claim waiting. You will notice they are running close to curfew when the flight attendants start rushing everyone to their seat as you are boarding. I did get lucky one time when the weather was bad in Atlanta and the got a waiver to be 15 minutes late.

Different set of circumstances, but I was on a flight last January that was diverted to LAX due to weather at SNA. The storms cleared and the flight went on to SNA....arriving a little over an hour late.

All told, not that big of a deal. Pax were given the option of deplaning at LAX if they wanted, but were told all check bags would be going on to SNA. Also, there was an announcement that if the plane wasn't able to continue on to SNA in a timely fashion, bus transportation (presumably including the checked bags) would be provided.

The flight was full (MD-80, IIRC), and I'd say about 15-20 pax opted to deplane at LAX.

What was made more clear than anything else....via repeated announcements....was that absolutely no refunds or reimbursements of any type would be provided to anyone opting to get off at LAX.

Stayed here a few months ago. This hotel now has a very nice sleek lobby with on-site Starbucks. The outdoor ping pong tables by the pool area were a great touch! I wish more hotels had these.

Was your stay on a weekend? What's the latest re: exec lounge open/closed & what they do if it's closed?

Cheers.

Not a weekend stay, sadly. I stayed on a Wednesday night and we were given access to the lounge. Lounge yielded access at all hours even if no one was staffed, and water and soft drinks were available.

S
 

Sharon-

For your sticky update- I stayed there a couple times last year over the weekend and both times the lounge was open. In fact, they had two or three hot items- actually one of the better weekend offerings I have seen in a while (in a US lounge).

Greg

Thanks. I'll update the sticky.

Cheers.