"Flying to LA" doesn't have to mean flying to LAX. Greater Los Angeles has five commercial airports, and the one you pick can change both your fare and how long you sit in traffic afterward. Here's how to choose the cheapest and most convenient airport for your trip.
The five LA-area airports at a glance
| Airport | Code | Best for | Fares |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Intl | LAX | Most routes & airlines, international | Often cheapest on competitive routes |
| Hollywood Burbank | BUR | The Valley, Hollywood, studios | Mixed — easy airport, sometimes pricier |
| Long Beach | LGB | South Bay, Orange County edge | Limited flights; varies a lot |
| John Wayne (Orange County) | SNA | Anaheim, Disneyland, OC | Convenience can cost more |
| Ontario Intl | ONT | Inland Empire, east of LA | Often low, less crowded |
So which is actually cheapest?
Counterintuitively, LAX is frequently the cheapest for the simple reason that nearly every airline competes there, and competition drives prices down. The smaller airports (Burbank, Long Beach, John Wayne) trade lower fares for convenience — you're paying a little extra to skip LAX's size and traffic.
Ontario (ONT) is the quiet exception: it's often cheaper than LAX and far less crowded, if you're headed anywhere east of downtown.
Match the airport to where you're staying
- Hollywood, Universal, the Valley: Burbank (BUR) is small, fast, and close.
- Santa Monica, Venice, the Westside: LAX is your best bet.
- Anaheim / Disneyland / Orange County: John Wayne (SNA) or Long Beach (LGB).
- Inland Empire, Palm Springs direction: Ontario (ONT) wins on both price and distance.
- Downtown LA or unsure: LAX — most options, usually most competitive fares.
How to compare them in one shot
The smart move is to search "all airports" for Los Angeles rather than locking onto LAX. Most flight search tools let you do this, and it surfaces the cheaper smaller-airport fares you'd otherwise miss. Then weigh the fare against how far each airport is from where you're actually going.
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The bottom line
Start with LAX for the widest, usually-cheapest set of fares, but always compare Ontario and the smaller airports — and factor in the drive to your hotel. The cheapest flight and the cheapest trip aren't always the same airport.
Search flights to Los Angeles
Ready when you are — search live fares into LAX and the other LA-area airports: