I live in So Cal and never use LAX for international travel if I can avoid it, at least not on the return leg. I find that LAX has the surliest, most unpleasant, unfriendly I&C agents I've ever seen. SFO is my first pick when coming back from the Orient & South Pacific, but I'd rather connect through HNL or PHX if I have to than fly non-stop to LAX and DFW, ORD or DEN for Europe and South America.

SFO has the most efficient of the I&C agents I encounter and the nicest. They genuinely seem happy to see you coming back to the US.