Flying from Seattle to Los Angeles: what you need to know
Many exciting adventures kick off from Seattle's main airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Check out the options for catching a flight from Seattle to Los Angeles leaving from this base.
The primary gateways to Los Angeles are Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Van Nuys Airport (VNY).
Take a direct Seattle to Los Angeles flight and you'll be in the air for an average of 2 hours 50 minutes.
Los Angeles's timezone is UTC-7, which is the same as Seattle.
You can pick from 144 weekly services between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and {"defaultCase":"Los Angeles International Airport","accusativeCase":"Los Angeles International Airport","nominativeCase":"Los Angeles International Airport","dativeCase":"Los Angeles International Airport"} (LAX). SEA to LAX is the most popular route when booking flights from Seattle to Los Angeles.
To ensure you make it on your Seattle to Los Angeles flight, leave enough time to check in and find your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
Travelling during a peak time like July? Busy periods (like spring break, Christmas and Thanksgiving) can add an hour at security. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Seattle to Los Angeles
Book two months before you want to travel. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Seattle to Los Angeles flights.
May is the best month for scoring an amazing deal on a plane ticket from Seattle to Los Angeles. If you'd like to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
There's no need to search every day to see if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll tell you the moment there's a better deal on cheap flights from Seattle to Los Angeles.
Save money on your Seattle to Los Angeles flight with the help of our filters. Choose your ideal times, airlines and number of stops, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Jet off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on a nonstop flight from Seattle to Los Angeles. From SEA, you can fly directly to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
These are some of the popular carriers offering direct Seattle to Los Angeles plane tickets with departures from SEA:
Travelling from central Seattle to SEA takes around 55 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a cab, you'll cover the 18 kilometres in 20 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Want a relaxed start to your travels? Stay near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from Seattle to Los Angeles or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are ideal:
81.27% of flights leaving Seattle-Tacoma International Airport arrive at their destination as planned. Given its strong on-time performance, you're unlikely to experience delays when setting off from SEA.
Arriving in Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to central Los Angeles takes about 30 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 19 kilometres away.
It usually takes 55 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
Reserve a hotel near LAX if you're coming in on a late flight from Seattle to Los Angeles. Select one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Pick up a Los Angeles International Airport rental car and discover Los Angeles and beyond with your own wheels. Dollar, Thrifty and Hertz are popular providers you can book with here.
To secure the lowest price, reserve your vehicle from Los Angeles International Airport around one week ahead of your Seattle to Los Angeles flight.
You'll find LAX at One World Way.
Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
Van Nuys Airport (VNY) is about 29 kilometres from central Los Angeles. Following your flight from Seattle to Los Angeles, it'll take you approximately 35 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
You can expect the trip to take approximately 1 hour 40 minutes on public transport.
After your flight from Seattle to Los Angeles, rest your head at a hotel close to VNY. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
Forget about public transport timetables or long cab lines. Pick up a Van Nuys Airport rental car and go in any direction that inspires you. Compare rates and availability from Budget, Dollar and Hertz.
Avoid filling out paperwork at the rental desk by completing your booking beforehand. Secure your ride from VNY in advance so you can just pick up the keys and get on your way.
Best time to go to Los Angeles
It's time to pick your trip dates for your flight from Seattle to Los Angeles. July is the most popular month for a trip to Los Angeles. If you like a more low-key vibe, go in May.
Before locking in your Seattle 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 (61ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF).
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Seattle to Los Angeles in February when temperatures average between 6ºC (43ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF).
More about Los Angeles
Start your Los Angeles trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Seattle to Los Angeles, browse our selection of hotels including:
Griffith Observatory and The Broad are just two of the leading attractions to put on your Los Angeles to-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.
Explore more of United States
Los Angeles is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other parts of United States waiting to be explored. About 177 kilometres south-east of Los Angeles, a visit to San Diego will fill your itinerary to the brim. Don't miss top attractions like San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum and SeaWorld San Diego.
Around 499 kilometres north-west of Los Angeles, San Jose is another essential stop in United States. Start your sightseeing at Winchester Mystery House, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and San Jose Museum of Art.