We are booked on the Panama Canal cruise right after Christmas this year and it is time to arrange our flight home. Can anyone give me information on how early we can expect to get to LAX on disembarkation day? My elderly parents will spend the night at an airport hotel and travel the following morning back to Florida. However, Tom and I would like to travel back to the east coast the day the cruise ends. We have several options, one being at 12:30pm. Would this be a realistic flight plan?
Thanks for any help.
Cheers, Pam

Pam - I seem to remember we had the same situation in 2003 when we disembarked the PC cruise, and I don't think we booked a flight as early as 12:30, maybe a little later. We got off and got a cab and maybe were at the airport around 10:30 to 11:00, but that was 5 years ago and things are different now. Remember too, that you will be coming from San Pedro port area, on the 405 which is a commuter disaster. Grew up in SOCAL and spent many hundreds of hours on those freeways, and I am sure many people in SoCal will have different opinions, but LAX on its own is a disaster -- so my opinion would be book a flight a little later just to allow for any unforseen situations, and if you spend more time at the airport, then hey you are there.
Hi to you and Tom and give our love to you Mom and Dad. Hope someday, some how, some where to cruise with you and Tom again - but you guys are so far ahead of us!!

Pam, many LAMB'ers will tell you to book later in the day. With a planned 12:30 pm flight, the slightest delay in your itinerary and you will be scrambling to re-book your flight.

Pam, I agree with Donna. If you are late to port, you will be out of luck. On the other hand, we did the express walk off (you keep your luggage in your room and lug it off the ship yourself) And we were off the ship for at least an hour and a half before the other guests. I must say, dragging our luggage off the ship was NOT an easy task and the ship can't help you due to some weird rule.

Okay, you have all been really helpful. I found a nonstop Jetblue flight at 2:30pm. That seems perfect, however, I now have to go to their website frequently since the flights for January are not loaded yet. I don't want to waste FF miles on a one way ticket.
Thanks, Pam

We flew into Long Beach (on Jet Blue from FLL) the morning of the cruise. It was an easy short ride to the port. We spent a few days post cruise in LA but I remember we were easily off the ship by 9:30am. We took the supershuttle to Beverly Hills and there was another couple in our van going to LAX for a noon flight. Could be tight, but the 2:30 JetBlue sounds perfect for you...should be no stress with that time frame!

I got lucky! Today, Jetblue loaded their flight schedule until January 31, 2009! I got my flights from LAX and the schedule has us departing at 3:10pm. This will give us plenty of time to get my parents situated at the Embassy Suites and then we can go to the airport.
Cheers, Pam

Make sure your Jet Blue Fight is from LAX and not LGB...Would not be good to be at the wrong airport!

It is definately LAX. I do have a question regarding Jetblue.....Is it worth it to get the seats with an additional 4 inches of legroom? We are small and short (5'3 and 5'8)so I am not sure if it would make any difference to us but would love imput.
Cheers, Pam

DEFINITELY go for the extra room on Jet Blue! Worth every penny. I'm only 5'1" (on a good day ;) ) but was really glad we had the exit row! My husband is a foot taller and even more appreciative of those extra inches. Used to be that the only option for improved seating was the exit row, but I see that now they've reconfigured the aircrafts to offer more rows up front with extra space . :app:

Thanks Bonnie, It is done.....we are in row 2!

Terrific! I know those few inches (and a glass or two of wine!) will help make the flight a bit more comfortable. Most important...best wishes for a sensational cruise!!

Thanks Bonnie,

We are cruising with my parents to celebrate their 60 years of wedded bliss! It will be so fun to see them at the "longevity dance at our daughter's wedding this summer. Christine (our daughter) will be handing her bouquet to Grammy...there will be alot of tears.
cheers, Pam

Awesome!! Totally awesome!! Hope you'll share some of what I'm certain will be very special pictures! Bonnie