Travelling from Vancouver to Los Angeles: what you need to know
You can choose from a range of airports when organising your flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Check out your options for jetting out of Vancouver from Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH) and Abbotsford Airport (YXX).
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Van Nuys Airport (VNY) are Los Angeles's major entry points.
Around 3 hours is how long you'll be in transit on a direct Vancouver to Los Angeles flight.
Los Angeles's timezone is UTC-7, which is the same as Vancouver.
With 64 flights a week between the two airports, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the busiest route. Board the first flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles with Flair Airlines at 07:00. If you'd like to make the most of your day before leaving, the latest flight from YVR to LAX is with Air Canada at 20:55.
Leave plenty of time to make your Vancouver to Los Angeles flight. As a rule of thumb, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Flying during a peak month like August? Major public holidays and other popular periods can mean longer lines at security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Vancouver to Los Angeles
Book two months before your departure date. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap Vancouver to Los Angeles flights.
The best month for picking up cheap plane tickets from Vancouver to Los Angeles is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then choose the dates that offer the biggest savings.
Stay on top of deals for cheap flights from Vancouver to Los Angeles by creating a Price Alert. You'll get an email or push notification on the app when fares go down.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Choose your preferred arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' Vancouver to Los Angeles flights.
Flying from Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Set off from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on a nonstop flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles. From YVR, you can travel directly to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
These are some of the top airlines offering direct Vancouver to Los Angeles plane tickets with departures from YVR:
Located around 11 kilometres from the centre of Vancouver, YVR can be reached in about 25 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport is roughly 35 minutes.
Planning to catch an early flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles? Avoid the last-minute rush to the airport (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these stays close to Vancouver International Airport:
Of the departures from Vancouver International Airport, 71.77% touch down on time at their destination.
Abbotsford Airport (YXX)
The journey to YXX from the centre of Vancouver is around 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport. If you're in a car, it'll take you roughly 1 hour to cover the 64 kilometres or so.
Rest a little longer, move a little slower, and still make your Vancouver to Los Angeles flight with plenty of time to spare. These hotels near Abbotsford Airport make departure day a breeze if you're flying out early:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that measures how often flights arrive at their destinations as expected. At YXX, that rate is 67.97%.
Arriving in Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is approximately 19 kilometres from central Los Angeles. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive will take around 30 minutes.
If you're taking public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 55 minutes.
Book a hotel near LAX if you're coming in on a late flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Pick one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Get on the fast track to adventure by picking up a Los Angeles International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Hertz and experience the lesser-explored corners of Los Angeles and beyond.
Booking your ride from Los Angeles International Airport around one week ahead increases your chances of getting a good deal.
You'll find LAX at One World Way.
Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
The centre of Los Angeles is about 29 kilometres from Van Nuys Airport (VNY). Once your flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles has touched down and you've navigated your way to arrivals, the drive should take about 35 minutes.
Public transport will get you there in approximately 1 hour 40 minutes.
After your flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles, unwind at a hotel close to VNY. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you sink into relaxation mode:
The fastest way to get to where you're going is with a Van Nuys Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Budget, Dollar or Hertz and get going in the blink of an eye.
Avoid filling out forms on the spot and save time at the rental desk by having everything prearranged. Secure your ride from VNY in advance so you can simply grab the keys and go.
Best time to go to Los Angeles
July is the most popular month for flights from Vancouver to Los Angeles. To skip the crowds, go to Los Angeles in May.
When booking your Vancouver to Los Angeles tickets, consider what kind of weather works for you. August is the warmest month in Los Angeles, with temperatures ranging from 16ºC to 32ºC.
Search for cheap flights from Vancouver to Los Angeles in February if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 6ºC and 26ºC on average.
More about Los Angeles
Start your Los Angeles trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles, browse our range of accommodation options including:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be difficult to know where to begin. Griffith Observatory, The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum are popular attractions which should feature on any well-planned Los Angeles itinerary.
Explore more of United States
You've seen Los Angeles, now it's time to discover other corners of United States. Journey around 177 kilometres south-east to San Diego to tick off its top sights. From San Diego Zoo to USS Midway Museum and SeaWorld San Diego, your itinerary will be busy.
Around 499 kilometres north-west of Los Angeles, San Jose is another favourite stop in United States. Start your sightseeing at Winchester Mystery House, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and San Jose Museum of Art.