If you need to catch a flight from Rancho Cucamonga, LAX is too far, and the airport you can conveniently use is Ontario International Airport.

It takes about 10 to 15 minutes by car, so considering the distance, it feels like a local airport. There's no need to go all the way to LAX; most travel plans can be handled here.

The reason this airport is great is simply because it's convenient. You know how it is at LAX.

Traffic is heavy, and if you take an Uber or Lyft, the fares are extremely high. Even if you drive, long-term parking is expensive, and the long lines at the TSA checkpoints can be stressful.

But at ONT, none of that exists. You can check in right away, security checks are quick, and the boarding process is smooth.

It's easy to calculate your time. There's no need to arrive 3-4 hours early; you can move at a comfortable pace.

American, Southwest, United, and Delta all operate here, with direct flights to Seattle, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago, and New York. Honestly, most domestic travel can be covered by ONT.

Parking is also convenient. These days, they don't accept cash.

Starting in 2026, the parking booths that used to take cash will be removed, and it will now be a cashless system where you pay with a card or app.

The premium parking in front of the terminal is about $35 per day, general parking is $30, and economy parking is around $20. You can also get discounts for early reservations.

If you've ever experienced parking stress at LAX, coming to the spacious and less crowded ONT will make you think, "This is what an airport should be."

And there's something new that's been noticeable lately. There are direct flights from ONT to Taipei, Taiwan.

This is quite nice. China Airlines operates daily, and Starlux Airlines also has daily flights. Starlux has been getting a lot of praise for its service lately, giving it a premium airline feel.

Combined, these two airlines offer about 12 to 14 flights a week, so the options are pretty good. The flight time is about 14 hours, arriving at Taoyuan Airport.

In the past, you had to go to LAX without fail, but now that ONT has direct flights to Asia, it's a significant change.

However, realistically, you still need to go to LAX when traveling to Korea. Korean Air, Asiana, and Air Premia all depart from LAX.

It takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to get there via I-10 from Rancho Cucamonga, but it can take longer depending on traffic. In such cases, it's more convenient to take an Uber or Lyft.

Alternatively, you can go to Union Station and take the FlyAway bus. Long-term parking is cheaper at private lots around the airport than at the airport itself, usually around $10 to $20 per day.

I also occasionally use Burbank Airport. It's about a 40 to 50-minute drive. It's small, so it's good for quick movements, but there aren't many routes. You can choose based on the situation.

There's also a train. If you take the Metrolink from Rancho Cucamonga Station, it goes directly to LA Union Station. It connects to Orange County as well. It mainly runs during rush hours, so you need to time it right, but it's useful when you don't want to drive.

For domestic flights, you can use ONT, and for international flights, especially to Korea, you still need to go to LAX, but some flights to Asia can now be handled at ONT.

Living here, you realize how significant this difference is. Having a well-connected airport makes travel much more convenient.

There's a reason people living in Rancho Cucamonga talk a lot about ONT. I researched and wrote this hoping it would help those living nearby.