So, I passed the audition and got the call…I’m going to be on Wheel of Fortune!
My taping day is February 4. I’ll be flying from Denver and the cheapest flights I’ve found are to Ontario airport.
Is this at all close to LA? Will I hate myself for flying in there? Is it worth the extra $200 to fly into LAX?
Please advise!
Ontario is twenty minutes by telephone from LA, a three day ride on a good horse. It is in the sticks, the 909 area code, sometimes called the home of the dirt people.
Seriously you will be probably about 50 miles away from where you will be filming, and that could take 2 hours plus depending on traffic. if your time schedule is at all tight, fly to LAX, Burbank, or even Long Beach. All of these are closer.
I lived in Pasadena back in the early 1980’s and even though I kind of considered myself generally on the same side of the metro area as Ontario, I always flew in/out of LAX. There’s a reason it’s $200 cheaper methinks. 
Jammer
Denver, too bad you’re in the land where Southwest Airlines does not fly.
If the savings is over $200, fly to Ontario. Otherwise, forget about it. You’re better off at LAX. I believe “Wheel of Fortune” is taped in Hollywood, so you would be travelling a long way from Ontario.
A very long way. In a lot of traffic. At all times of day.
Where is Wheel of Fortune filmed? I think it’s Culver City, but I’m not sure.
ONT is a straight shot into Los Angeles, right down the 10 Freeway, about 50. If it is Culver City, exit Robertson and turn south.
Ontario is an easier airport to deal with than is LAX. I have been in state capitals smaller than LAX*, and have met people intimidated by it. I’ve flown from ONT to YYZ, and even that is easy to deal with; the point being that even though ONT is a smaller airport, it is efficent and well managed.
On the other hand, LAX is about 30 minutes (maybe 20, depending on time of day) from Culver City. On the downside, the traffic congestion is pretty bad in that area; in some ways worse than driving the 50 miles on the 10 freeway.
You could probably get to Culver City from LAX without a car, but I would not recommend it to anyone unfamiliar with LA. It could be done from ONT, as well, but the only route I could think of would be taking the MetroLink to Union Station (a pleasant trip) then the 33 to Culver City - a long, unpleasant ride.
As a side note, I would note that this is probably more suitable to In My Humble Opinion, since there really isn’t a correct answer. That said, I’d save the $200 and fly to ONT.
“Wheel of Fortune” is indeed taped in Culver City, which is pretty close to LAX.
If you’re flying from Denver to LAX and you’re flying nonstop, I have the sinking suspicion you’d be flying on United, which has a bunch of flights per day between the two cities.
I’d rather be delayed at LAX than ONT. There are more places to eat.
I don’t think LAX is so bad, I’ve flown in and out a lot. Also, around midday when there isn’t too much traffic, it would just be a 20-25 min. cab ride up to Culver City. You could just go right up Sepulveda Blvd. It would cost you a fortune to take a cab from ONT.