Travelling from Melbourne to Los Angeles: what you need to know
Planning your getaway starts with figuring out where you'll leave from in Melbourne. Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is the city's main base, so explore your options for booking a flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles jetting off from here.
When it comes to working out where to land in Los Angeles, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Van Nuys Airport (VNY) are the major entry points.
14 hours 15 minutes is the average journey time for a direct flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles. Based in the UTC-7 timezone, Los Angeles is 18 hours behind Melbourne.
The most popular route for flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles is from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Take your pick of 16 weekly services between these two airports. If you'd like to get going first thing, the earliest flight from MEL to LAX is the 09:30 United Airlines option. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the final departure is at 21:15 with Qantas.
For stress-free travel, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to board your flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles.
Delays at check-in and security are likely if you're jetting off during high season, so give yourself even more breathing space. A good rule of thumb for peak times? Arrive up to four hours ahead for international flights and two hours for domestic departures.
To visit United States for tourism purposes, you will need an ETA if you hold a passport from Australia. However, visa rules are subject to change and you may need further documentation depending on the duration and purpose of your trip. Always check the latest guidelines before booking your cheap flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles.
Flying from Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
If you're searching for a direct flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles, you can depart from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL). Travel from MEL to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in one continuous trip.
You can get away on a direct flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles with Qantas. This popular carrier operates departures from MEL.
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to take a travel break — and maybe even tour another city. When browsing flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles departing from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Here are some popular options to consider:
Auckland Airport (AKL)
Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)
Nadi International Airport (NAN)
The journey from central Melbourne to MEL takes about 42 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or get a cab, you'll cover the 24 kilometres in 28 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
After a leisurely start to your travels? Stay near Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. Whether you're taking an early flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are perfect:
Arriving in Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is around 32 kilometres from the centre of Los Angeles. With your own car rental or in a cab, the drive is about 32 minutes.
It typically takes 54 minutes if you're travelling by public transport.
Consider staying in a hotel close to LAX if you're catching a late flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles. Pick one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
Van Nuys Airport (VNY) is about 32 kilometres from central Los Angeles. Following your flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles, expect a drive time of approximately 34 minutes to reach the heart of the city.
You can also travel using public transport, which typically takes 1 hour and 41 minutes.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and rest at a hotel close to VNY. Here are a few options where you can tuck yourself in after your flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles:
How to find the cheapest flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles
Currently, ج.م. 18,884 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Melbourne to Los Angeles. The cheapest price for a return flight is ج.م. 37,349. Remember fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.
To snag cheap tickets from Melbourne to Los Angeles, book your trip 9 months ahead of the departure date.
Organise your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for flight tickets from Melbourne to Los Angeles. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across every month.
Sign into your online account or use the app to create a Price Alert. You'll be notified straight away if there's a cheaper deal on this route. It's simple to do, and it'll save you the hassle of searching for cheap tickets from Melbourne to Los Angeles every day.
Play around with filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by airline, departure and arrival times, and journey duration.
Best time to go to Los Angeles
It's time to plan your travel dates for your flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles. July is the most popular month to travel to Los Angeles. If you want a quieter atmosphere, go in May.
The warmest month in Los Angeles is August, with the temperature ranging between 16ºC and 32ºC. Book your flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles in this month if you like this kind of weather.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, book a cheap ticket from Melbourne to Los Angeles in February when temperatures average between 6ºC and 26ºC.
More about Los Angeles
After booking your flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles, think about where you'll stay in this city. Make one of these options your base for exploring Los Angeles:
Every great adventure has to include a little sightseeing. Griffith Observatory, The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum are must-visits when exploring Los Angeles.
Complete your Los Angeles trip with a car rental
Browse our range of car rentals once you've found your hotel and cheap flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles. Whether you want a compact ride, spacious sedan or something that makes a statement, you can compare companies in one go to find the perfect deal.
