Preparing for BlizzCon: Getting there by air

BlizzCon approaches! Preparing for BlizzCon is your regular source for tips on how best to prepare for Blizzard's gaming extravaganza.

You have some time to make travel arrangements for BlizzCon, but you should be aware of your options now and be looking for deals. In general, it is best to make your reservations at least 2 weeks in advance for most carriers, but there are sometimes last minute deals and also specials run periodically. Take your time and choose wisely.

There are many airports in the local area, but here are the 3 best options:

• Los Angeles: LAX is the largest airport near Anaheim, but is an hour away, with good traffic (a rarity in Los Angeles). Regardless, it may be your cheapest option and most airlines fly there.

• John Wayne: SNA is the closest airport to Anaheim. Many airlines fly into it, including Virgin. It is smallish and only a half an hour away with traffic. If you can get a good deal, this is a better choice than LAX.

• Long Beach: LGB is my personal favorite airport. It is only a couple miles farther away from Anaheim than SNA and you can travel between the convention center and airport via surface streets easily. (L.A. freeways can be scary.) It has a single terminal with an authentic Art Deco decor -- a historical landmark even. Only a handful of airlines fly in and out of there, but one of them is JetBlue.

I like cheaptickets.com, but there are a lot of bargain-hunting travel sites out there for you to find the best deals. Flights you can cancel tend to cost more than non-refundable flights, so make sure your plans are firm before booking.

Something to remember when you are choosing your flights to BlizzCon: rush "hour" traffic is nasty and should be avoided if you value your sanity. Los Angeles problem times on weekdays are approximately 7am to 9am and again between 4pm to 7pm or later. So plan your arrival and departure times accordingly. All three airports have multiple shuttle vendors to get you to and from the airport, should you not want to rent a car.

And don't ever expect to see empty roads in the greater L.A. area. 3am is just uncrowded on the freeways and main streets -- never deserted. Big city is big.

BlizzCon 2009 is coming up on August 21st and 22nd! We've got all the latest news and information. At BlizzCon, you can play the latest games, meet your guildmates, and ask the developers your questions. Plus, there are some great looking costumes.