TSA Precheck finally opens @ SAN (San Diego: prices, vs., airports)

[bluespanishsky]

Originally Posted by malcorub16

We've got direct flights to every major US city..or are you guys talking international flights? Now those are definitely lacking in SD.
For Mexico, we have the Tijuana airport, for everywhere else its LAX.

International mostly. To go to Australia or Asia you have to first fly through LAX or SFO. I live in Seattle and fly directly to those places. I also feel that the direct domestic flights to the east coast are lacking and anything close it seems that Southwest airlines has the most options. Sorry I'm just not a fan of Southwest!

[ShelbyGirl1]

We don't travel anywhere near as much as we use to when DH was working. Now that he has retired...and we live in a "vacation destination area", the trips are not that frequent. BUT....sure would have loved a certification a few weeks ago coming back from Hawaii! Just not sure it is worth the $100 ea. at this point in our lives tho.

[earlyretirement]

Originally Posted by malcorub16

We've got direct flights to every major US city..or are you guys talking international flights? Now those are definitely lacking in SD.
For Mexico, we have the Tijuana airport, for everywhere else its LAX.

I was referring to international flights. While it's nice there are flights to London direct non-stop....many other places suck as you have to connect. For instance, I fly down to South America quite a bit and from other cities it was fairly easy.

But it's a brutal all day thingy sometimes flying to other places. For example, when I fly down to Buenos Aires it's a nightmare as I typically have to leave in the morning to make it to Dallas or Miami and then it's an all day/night wait as the flights don't leave until night. So it's literally a 24 hour type thing flying to some international destinations from San Diego.


I agree flying to other cities here in the USA aren't bad at all and I can get flights but international flights are usually a drag from SAN.

[malcorub16]

Originally Posted by earlyretirement

I was referring to international flights. While it's nice there are flights to London direct non-stop....many other places suck as you have to connect. For instance, I fly down to South America quite a bit and from other cities it was fairly easy.

But it's a brutal all day thingy sometimes flying to other places. For example, when I fly down to Buenos Aires it's a nightmare as I typically have to leave in the morning to make it to Dallas or Miami and then it's an all day/night wait as the flights don't leave until night. So it's literally a 24 hour type thing flying to some international destinations from San Diego.


I agree flying to other cities here in the USA aren't bad at all and I can get flights but international flights are usually a drag from SAN.

I never been South of Mexico, but have always been curious for future possible vacations and look for flights from time to time to places like Santiago, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Rio, Lima and it seems the flight selection to South America is not that great from LAX either (it seems great for Asia). As you said, the flights are usually thru Dallas and especially Miami which seems out of the way.

I've looked for South American flights also by way of Tijuana to Mexico City and then on to the South American destination but the price looked to be a little more.

[earlyretirement]

Originally Posted by malcorub16

I never been South of Mexico, but have always been curious for future possible vacations and look for flights from time to time to places like Santiago, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Rio, Lima and it seems the flight selection to South America is not that great from LAX either (it seems great for Asia). As you said, the flights are usually thru Dallas and especially Miami which seems out of the way.

I've looked for South American flights also by way of Tijuana to Mexico City and then on to the South American destination but the price looked to be a little more.

Yep. It basically sucks going down to South America from the West Coast. At one time I believe they flew from LAX to many destinations in South America but they got rid of them as the major airlines are based in other cities so they want to just have the flights connect via those hubs.

It's really horrible. Heck, even some destinations like Cali, Colombia used to fly out of Dallas (DFW) and it was super convenient when I lived in Dallas. But then even those they cancelled and route via Miami now. And I HATE flying in/out of MIA. It's always a nightmare.

Definitely make your way down South past Mexico. South America is a glorious and wonderful continent to explore. I love it.

[bluespanishsky]

Originally Posted by earlyretirement

I was referring to international flights. While it's nice there are flights to London direct non-stop....many other places suck as you have to connect. For instance, I fly down to South America quite a bit and from other cities it was fairly easy.

But it's a brutal all day thingy sometimes flying to other places. For example, when I fly down to Buenos Aires it's a nightmare as I typically have to leave in the morning to make it to Dallas or Miami and then it's an all day/night wait as the flights don't leave until night. So it's literally a 24 hour type thing flying to some international destinations from San Diego.


I agree flying to other cities here in the USA aren't bad at all and I can get flights but international flights are usually a drag from SAN.

I love Buenos Aires! You are right it sucks to get there from the west coast. I've traveled both those routes you mentioned (via MIA and DFW) and they are exhausting! Those long layovers are horrible.

[sdurbanite]

Originally Posted by earlyretirement

I don't travel as much as you do bluespanishsky but I opened an office up in Toronto recently so I have to fly up every two weeks or so. The last few times I've been driving up to LAX then flying to YYZ but I think I'll just fly direct from SAN with a connection from now on. I'm getting tired of that drive. I HATE that LA traffic.

Ditch that drive to LA. There's a nonstop flight from SD to Toronto on Air Canada at 8:30am everyday!

[sdurbanite]

Originally Posted by bluespanishsky

International mostly. To go to Australia or Asia you have to first fly through LAX or SFO. I live in Seattle and fly directly to those places. I also feel that the direct domestic flights to the east coast are lacking and anything close it seems that Southwest airlines has the most options. Sorry I'm just not a fan of Southwest!

As others have already said, our international destinations are lacking (London and Tokyo are the big ones), but you can fly nonstop to anywhere on the east coast from here. Something to consider is that they are building a cross border terminal at the Tijuana Airport that will make flying to Mexico's largest cities much easier. I'm guessing they have connecting flights to other cities in South America? Heck, there is even a nonstop from TJ to Shanghai.

Construction Begins On Cross-Border Airport Terminal | KPBS.org

[earlyretirement]

Originally Posted by sdurbanite

Ditch that drive to LA. There's a nonstop flight from SD to Toronto on Air Canada at 8:30am everyday!

Yeah I saw that but the flight price is typically several hundred more bucks vs. American. Plus I'm Executive Platinum on American so I typically do all my flying with American Airlines.

Plus YYZ is almost always one of the Reduced Citibank Offers so with FF miles you can go up to Toronto for only 17,500 miles which is a bargain. http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/ea...ed_mileage.jsp

The problem is most times the Frequent mileage miles from SAN to YYZ isn't that great but they always have LAX. But still I'll just fly from SAN with a connection in LA as it's not too bad and prices seem like they are coming down. I'm heading back next month and just flying from SAN this time.

But typically I stick with the same airline for FF miles.

[malcorub16]

Originally Posted by sdurbanite

As others have already said, our international destinations are lacking (London and Tokyo are the big ones), but you can fly nonstop to anywhere on the east coast from here. Something to consider is that they are building a cross border terminal at the Tijuana Airport that will make flying to Mexico's largest cities much easier. I'm guessing they have connecting flights to other cities in South America? Heck, there is even a nonstop from TJ to Shanghai.

Construction Begins On Cross-Border Airport Terminal | KPBS.org

Finally, I hope this is not just smoke screens as I use this airport at least a couple of times per year and this bridge from Otay Mesa will definitely make it easier especially when I need someone to pick me up. I can get to Mexico City or Guadalajara in 2 1/2 hours for about $120 US dlls one way.
Half the time it takes to the East Coast and a 3rd of the cost.