Flying from Los Angeles to Vancouver: what you need to know
Get your holiday planning started by considering where you'll board your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Van Nuys Airport (VNY) are Los Angeles's main airports.
Vancouver has a variety of airports you can jet into. Disembark at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH) or Abbotsford Airport (YXX).
Around 3 hours is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct Los Angeles to Vancouver flight.
Los Angeles and Vancouver are in the UTC-7 timezone. That means there's no time difference to adjust for.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is the most popular route that connects these two cities. There are 64 weekly departures to pick from. If you have things to finalize before heading off, the last flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver is with WestJet at 21:10. Choose the first LAX to YVR departure operated by Air Canada at 06:00 to maximise your time in Vancouver.
To ensure you catch your Los Angeles to Vancouver flight, allow plenty of time to check in and find your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
You can expect longer lines during popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
How to find the cheapest flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver
Lock in cheap Los Angeles to Vancouver flights by booking two months ahead. According to our research, that's the ideal time frame for bagging a bargain.
May is the best month for landing an awesome deal on a plane ticket from Los Angeles to Vancouver. If you need to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices across every month.
There's no need to check every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll tell you as soon as a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Select your departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' Los Angeles to Vancouver flights.
Flying from Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Jet off from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on a nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver. From LAX, you can travel directly to Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
These are some of the major airlines offering direct Los Angeles to Vancouver plane tickets with departures from LAX:
Consider adding a stopover to potentially save on your Los Angeles to Vancouver flight. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Los Angeles International Airport. Break up the journey at one of these popular airports:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Calgary International Airport (YYC)
LAX is about 19 kilometres from central Los Angeles. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're using public transport, expect the journey time to be around 55 minutes.
After a relaxed start to your journey? Stay near Los Angeles International Airport. Whether you're boarding an early flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are ideal:
Los Angeles International Airport earns top marks for on-time performance. 81.05% of flights that take off from LAX arrive at their destination without delay.
You'll find LAX at One World Way.
Arriving in Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to central Vancouver takes about 25 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 10 kilometres away.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of about 35 minutes.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Stay at one of these accommodation options near YVR instead:
Explore without limits with a Vancouver International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Routes Car Rentals, Thrifty or Avis and find adventure across Vancouver and beyond.
To get the lowest price, reserve your ride from Vancouver International Airport around one week in advance of your Los Angeles to Vancouver flight.
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH) is roughly 0.80 kilometres from central Vancouver. Once you've hopped off your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver, it takes approximately 5 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
Public transport will get you there in around 15 minutes.
After your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver, tuck yourself in at a hotel near CXH. These are some great options that'll help you sink into relaxation mode:
Lock in the vehicle you want, not just whatever's left, by securing your ride from CXH before your arrival. You can also avoid paying more than you have to, especially when demand is high.
Abbotsford Airport (YXX)
Step off your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver and travel to your hotel or jump right into sightseeing. Central Vancouver is around 64 kilometres from Abbotsford Airport (YXX) and takes roughly 1 hour to reach by car.
If you go by public transport, the journey will take you around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Enjoy a more leisurely start to your trip by staying at a hotel near YXX after your Los Angeles to Vancouver flight. Recharge after a day of travel or just take a moment to get your bearings in a new city at:
Begin your travels without stressing about how to reach your destination with an Abbotsford Airport rental car. Book your ideal wheels with trusted names here like Hertz, Thrifty and Enterprise.
About one week before your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver is a good time to book your vehicle from YXX. You're likely to snag a better deal or score some early bird savings.
Best time to go to Vancouver
August is the busiest month for flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver. To travel when it's less crowded, head to Vancouver in May.
Book a Los Angeles to Vancouver ticket departing in August if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Vancouver to range from 13ºC to 24ºC.
Look for cheap flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver in December if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -1ºC and 7ºC on average.
More about Vancouver
After booking your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver, take your pick from prime hotels that put you close to the action. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Vancouver:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. Stanley Park, Granville Island and Science World are top sights which should feature on any well-planned Vancouver itinerary.
Explore more of Canada
You've done Vancouver, now it's time to discover other parts of Canada. Travel about 32 kilometres south-east to Surrey to tick off its top attractions. From Senator Reid Park to Port Mann Park and Morgan Creek Park, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
Victoria is another essential stop in Canada and is around 97 kilometres south of Vancouver. No journey is complete without seeing Royal BC Museum, Craigdarroch Castle and Inner Harbour.