Travelling from Vancouver to Los Angeles: what you need to know
Planning your flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles begins with finding the best airport to start your holiday. Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver Coal Harbour Airport (CXH) and Abbotsford Airport (YXX) are the main terminals in Vancouver.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY) are Los Angeles's major gateways.
The average length of a direct Vancouver to Los Angeles flight is 3 hours.
Vancouver and Los Angeles follow the same timezone, UTC-8.
The busiest route for flights from Vancouver to Los Angeles is from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Choose from 53 services every week between these two airports. If you want to set off at the first opportunity, the earliest flight from YVR to LAX is the 07:00 Flair Airlines option. If you have other commitments or plans on your day of travel, the last scheduled departure is at 20:55 with Air Canada.
For a stress-free start to your trip, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to catch your Vancouver to Los Angeles flight.
Travelling during a popular month like August? Public holidays and other popular seasons can mean longer lines and delays at security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Vancouver to Los Angeles
Don't leave things to the last moment. You're more likely to find cheap Vancouver to Los Angeles flights if you book in advance. Airlines often offer some great early bird deals.
Getting cheap plane tickets from Vancouver to Los Angeles is easier if you can be flexible with your travel dates. Use the 'Whole month' function to see the lowest prices across every month and pick up an awesome deal.
Getting a cheap flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as the price has dropped.
Tailor your trip using filters. Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' Vancouver to Los Angeles flights.
Flying from Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Set out from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on a nonstop flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles. From YVR, you can land directly at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
These are some of the most popular airlines offering direct Vancouver to Los Angeles plane tickets from YVR:
YVR is around 10 kilometres from central Vancouver. If you're catching a taxi, driving or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 25 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the journey time to be around 25 minutes.
Have an early flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles? Avoid the stress of rushing to the airport (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays close to Vancouver International Airport:
Of all flights departing from Vancouver International Airport, 77% land on schedule at their destination.
Abbotsford Airport (YXX)
The journey time to YXX from central Vancouver is around 2 hours 30 minutes by public transport. If you're going by car, it'll take you about 1 hour 20 minutes to cover the 64 kilometres or so.
Set yourself up for a smooth departure — stay near Abbotsford Airport and know you'll get to your boarding gate with time to spare. Check in to one of these hotels the day before if you're catching an early Vancouver to Los Angeles flight:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that tracks how often flights arrive at their destinations without delays. At YXX, that figure is 75%.
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 taxi or a ride-share, the drive takes roughly 35 minutes.
It usually takes 1 hour to get there on public transport.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing soon after at one of these hotels near LAX:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Los Angeles International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Hertz and explore beyond Los Angeles's main sights.
For the best deal, reserve your vehicle from Los Angeles International Airport around one week ahead of your Vancouver to Los Angeles flight.
The street address for LAX is One World Way.
Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY) is around 27 kilometres from the centre of Los Angeles. Following your flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles, it takes approximately 35 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a taxi or ride-share.
If you hop on public transport, you'll reach the centre in 1 hour 15 minutes or so.
Hang up the 'Do not disturb' sign and rest at a hotel close to VNY. Here are a few options where you can check in after your flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles:
Forget about public transport schedules or waiting forever for a taxi. Pick up a Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport rental car and let your trip unfold on your terms. Check out the availability and rates from Budget, Dollar and Hertz.
Generally speaking, the earlier you book, the more you save and the better your options. Reserve your ride from VNY as soon as you've confirmed your plans.
Best time to go to Los Angeles
March is the quietest month for flights from Vancouver to Los Angeles, while July is the busiest. Figure out the best time to visit Los Angeles based on whether you like a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.
The warmest month in Los Angeles is August, with temperatures ranging between 16ºC and 32ºC. Lock in your Vancouver to Los Angeles ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
February sees average temperatures of between 6ºC and 26ºC. Search for cheap flights from Vancouver to Los Angeles around that time if you like travelling in cooler conditions.
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 selection of hotels including:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be hard to work out where to begin. Hollywood Sign, Universal Studios Hollywood and Hollywood Bowl are major attractions which should feature on any well-planned Los Angeles itinerary.
Explore more of the United States
Los Angeles will leave a lasting impression, but there are so many other parts of the United States waiting to be explored. Around 177 kilometres southeast of Los Angeles, a trip to San Diego will keep your itinerary busy. Start with leading sights like San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and USS Midway Museum.
Around 499 kilometres northwest of Los Angeles, San Jose is another favourite stop in the United States. Experience major highlights starting with Winchester Mystery House, The Tech Interactive and Santa Clara Valley.