Flying from Vancouver to Los Angeles: what you need to know
Planning your flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles begins with finding the most convenient airport to start your holiday. Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH) and Abbotsford Airport (YXX) are the main terminals in Vancouver.
Hop off your plane in Los Angeles at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Van Nuys Airport (VNY).
Jump on a direct Vancouver to Los Angeles flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 3 hours.
Los Angeles's timezone is UTC-7, which is the same as Vancouver.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the most popular route between these two cities. There are 64 departures a week to choose from. If you prefer a later start to the day, the last flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles is with Air Canada at 21:15. Go for the first YVR to LAX departure operated by United Airlines at 06:15 to make the most of your first day in Los Angeles.
To ensure you make your Vancouver to Los Angeles flight, leave enough time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Turning up two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is a good rule of thumb.
Travelling during a peak time such as August? Public holidays and other high seasons can lead to longer lines at security. Play things extra safe and get there up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
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)
Take off from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on a nonstop flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles. From YVR, you can fly straight to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
There's a good selection of airlines that offer direct Vancouver to Los Angeles plane tickets out of YVR. Take off with any of these:
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 will take roughly 35 minutes.
Need a handy hotel close to Vancouver International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles, these stays will have you sleeping moments from your departure gate:
When it comes to Vancouver International Airport's on-time performance, data shows 71.77% of flights complete their journey on time.
Abbotsford Airport (YXX)
The trip to YXX from central Vancouver is around 1 hour 30 minutes by public transport. If you're in a car, it'll take you roughly 1 hour to cover the 64 kilometres or so.
Make catching an early Vancouver to Los Angeles flight one of the easiest parts of your trip. Stay at one of these hotels close to Abbotsford Airport and get to your departure gate feeling relaxed and unhurried:
Flights that take off from YXX make it to their destination as scheduled 67.97% of the time.
Arriving in Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
The distance from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to central Los Angeles is approximately 19 kilometres. It'll take you around 30 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It typically takes 55 minutes to get there on public transport.
Book a hotel close to LAX if you're coming in on a late flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Choose one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Pick up a Los Angeles International Airport rental car and explore Los Angeles and beyond with your own set of wheels. Dollar, Thrifty and Hertz are top providers you can book with here.
To secure the lowest price, reserve your vehicle from Los Angeles International Airport about one week ahead of your Vancouver to Los Angeles flight.
The address for LAX is One World Way.
Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
Van Nuys Airport (VNY) is about 29 kilometres from the centre of Los Angeles. After your flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles, it takes approximately 35 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
You can expect the trip to take about 1 hour 40 minutes on public transport.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and rest at a hotel close to VNY. Here are a few options where you can kick back after your flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles:
The quickest 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 be on your way in a flash.
Save time at the rental desk by completing your booking beforehand. Reserve your ride from VNY a few weeks in advance so you can simply grab the keys and be on your way.
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 perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles, browse our selection of accommodation options including:
Griffith Observatory and The Broad are a couple of top-rated attractions to put on your Los Angeles itinerary. Keep the momentum going by heading to La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.
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.