Booking Own Flight

[simphhcc]

How early would you book a flight? I'm cruising in November, would April be too early to book flight.

[f-mattox]

I assume you are flying into L.A. for your Mexican Riviera cruise, although you don't say where you are coming from;
but with all the airports in proximity to Long Beach there are usually some pretty good sales after Labor Day.
Wait! Hold everything!!
After looking at the calendar I realize you are leaving on Thanksgiving Day! There will be no bargains to be had around that time. April would not be too early to book.
Have a great Thanksgiving cruise.

[Oggy Boy]

I agree. I would also offer that you should try to arrive in LA the day before your cruise (at least) to accommodate possible travel interruptions and delays. LA can be a wonderful place to spend a day or two before your cruise.

Tmo

[simphhcc]

Thanks. I will be leaving from VA and flying into San Diego. I will be actually leaving two days before my cruise. I plan to enjoy every moment of it. Can't wait. Flights from VA to SD and very expensive (for 4) so I keep checking pricing trying to get a bargain. I think I deserve it no matter what the cost.

[Jim C.]

Definetly go before the cruise. For Thanksgiving week, you can run into travel nightmares. Having the 2 day buffer will make things stress free.

With today's airfare climate, you never know what the prices are going to do. But I agree with Mattox.. go ahead and book now since you are traveling on such a peak travel week.

[f-mattox]

Just an afterthought;
it might be a lot less expensive to fly into LAX and rent a car.
You wil have transportation for your two days and it's an easy drive to San Diego (it didn't occur to me your cruise might leave from SD).

[Jim C.]

Very good catch... Yes, the fares to LAX (or even one of the other LA airports) may be cheaper due to competition and availablity. Check those out before booking... Then contact the rental car companies and see if any of them are near the port and maybe offer a free shuttle from the car drop off to the port. Then you can save expense of a cruise shuttle.