Our Review of Ontario Airport (ONT)

Our Review of Ontario Airport (ONT)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Other Reviews

The following summary is based on passenger feedback from Google Reviews and Skytrax (AirlineQuality.com), two widely used platforms where travelers rate airports based on their real experiences. Google provides a large volume of user ratings, while Skytrax collects more detailed aviation-focused reviews about airports worldwide. 

On Google Reviews, Ontario International Airport currently has an average rating of about 4.5 out of 5 stars from more than 9,000 reviews, indicating generally very positive passenger satisfaction. 

What passengers like most

The most commonly mentioned positive aspects include:

• Easy navigation and small size: Many passengers highlight that the airport is compact and simple to move around, making it less stressful than larger airports. 
• Fast security lines: Travelers frequently note that TSA security checks are quick and efficient compared with busy airports like LAX. 
• Convenient parking and access: Parking areas are located close to the terminals, and the airport is easy to reach by car. 
• Clean facilities and friendly staff: Passengers often mention that the airport is clean and staff are helpful. 
• Less crowded environment: Skytrax reviews frequently describe the airport as “small, fast and convenient,” with far fewer crowds than major hubs. 

Common complaints

Although reviews are generally positive, some recurring criticisms appear:

• Limited international flights: Compared with major airports, ONT offers fewer long-haul destinations.
• Food prices: Several passengers mention that airport dining can be relatively expensive. 
• Limited entertainment and shopping: Because the airport is smaller, retail and dining options are fewer than at larger airports.

Final Score

Overall rating: 4.3 / 5

Justification:
Ontario International Airport receives consistently strong feedback for its efficiency, easy navigation, and relaxed atmosphere. Travelers particularly appreciate the quick security lines, convenient parking, and lack of congestion compared with larger airports in Southern California. While the airport offers fewer shops, restaurants, and international routes than major hubs, most passengers consider these trade-offs worthwhile in exchange for a faster and less stressful travel experience.

Conclusion: ONT is widely regarded as one of the most convenient and passenger-friendly airports in the Los Angeles region.

Pros and Cons of Ontario Airport (ONT)

Pros

1. Easy and quick navigation – The airport is compact, making it easy to move between check-in, security, and boarding gates.

2. Short security lines – TSA wait times are usually much shorter than at larger airports like LAX.

3. Convenient parking – Parking areas are located close to the terminals and are generally more affordable.

4. Less crowded environment – The airport is calmer and less stressful than major hubs.

5. Good road access – Located near major highways (I-10 and I-15), making it easy to reach by car.

Cons 

1. Limited international flights – Most routes are domestic, with fewer long-haul options.

2. Fewer shops and restaurants – Dining and shopping choices are limited compared to larger airports.

3. Limited public transportation – The airport lacks a direct train or metro connection.

4. Fewer airline options – Compared with major hubs, there are fewer airlines operating.

5. Some destinations require connections – Travelers may need to connect through larger airports for certain routes.
   
   
   

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is one of Southern California’s most convenient and traveler-friendly airports. Located in the city of Ontario, about 35 miles (56 km) east of downtown Los Angeles, it serves as an important gateway to the Inland Empire region. Many travelers choose ONT as an alternative to larger airports such as Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) because it offers shorter lines, easier navigation, and a more relaxed travel experience.

The airport currently operates two passenger terminals: Terminal 2 and Terminal 4. Both terminals are modern, efficient, and easy to navigate, with clear signage and relatively short walking distances between check-in counters, security checkpoints, and boarding gates. The airport mainly handles domestic flights, with airlines such as Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, and Frontier providing connections to major U.S. cities including Las Vegas, Dallas, Seattle, Denver, and Phoenix.

One of the biggest advantages of Ontario Airport is its efficient security process. Compared with larger airports in the Los Angeles region, security wait times are typically shorter, and passengers can often reach their gate within minutes after clearing TSA screening. This makes ONT especially attractive for business travelers and passengers who prefer a less crowded airport environment.

Despite being smaller than major international hubs, the airport still offers a good range of passenger services and amenities. Travelers will find restaurants, cafés, coffee shops, and convenience stores in both terminals. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport, along with charging stations, ATMs, and information desks to assist passengers.

Ground transportation at Ontario Airport is also straightforward. Travelers can choose from taxis, ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft, rental cars, hotel shuttles, and local buses. Many passengers choose to rent a car because Southern California is a car-oriented region and the airport is located near major highways such as Interstate 10 and Interstate 15.

Parking is another area where Ontario Airport stands out. The airport offers short-term, long-term, and economy parking options, all located close to the terminals and generally more affordable than parking at larger airports in the Los Angeles area.

Overall, Ontario International Airport combines convenience, efficiency, and accessibility. Its manageable size, easy parking, and shorter wait times make it an excellent option for travelers flying to or from Southern California who want a smoother airport experience.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Ontario Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Ontario Airport (last month)