Please welcome this new version of the old "LAX FAQ" thread (which has been incorporated into this thread).
FlyinHawaiian will be the "lead FAQ maintainer" (with assistance, as needed, from the senior mods -- since all forums without named moderators are de facto moderated by the senior mods).
Enjoy and keep the information coming! Please note that this FAQ is appropriate for all Los Angeles area airports.
Information from the initial post by former member Ice Trojan is copied to this post, and the rest of the thread has been merged below
cblaisd
Senior Moderator
(who borrowed this post from FlyinHawaiian with his permission 
so he could edit this post as needed)
************************************************** *************
New info added:
- 6/29 - Question #15 added.
- 5/27 - Link to LAX-Westwood FlyAway added.
- 5/26 - More info in question #3
- 5/20 - Added FT links to info on LAX-SAN transfer.
Glossary:- BP: Boarding Pass
- (FT): Link to a FT thread
- T1-T8: Terminal 1 - Terminal 8
- TBIT: Tom Bradley International Terminal
Questions (scroll down for answers):
1) How do you do an In-N-Out run from LAX?
2) How is LAX set up?
3) Where do I board my shuttle/bus?
4) How do I transfer between terminals?
5) Is there public transportation available?
6) How do I get to the other area airports?
7) Is there luggage storage at LAX?
8) Is it safe to walk the Sepulveda Tunnel?
9) So what's the deal with the premium lounges in TBIT?
10) Do all international airlines depart from TBIT?
11) Where is the best place to park at LAX?
12) Is there a Post Office at LAX?
13) I have X hours to kill at LAX... what can I do? Where can I go?
14) I want to dine with a non-traveller... are there any landside dining options at LAX?
15) How do international connections/transit work at LAX (and generally in the US).
1) How do you do an In-N-Out run from LAX? (FT) (Obviously, the most important thing
)
2) How is LAX set up?
Think of LAX as a horseshoe/U-shape. (
see map). Traffic goes counter-clockwise in the "U." There are two traffic levels:
- Upper level for departures.
- Lower level for arrivals/baggage claim.
T1-T3 are on the first side of the U; TBIT is on the bend; T4-T8 are on the second side. For the most part, each terminal is isolated from each other.
3) Where do I board my shuttle/bus?
Go down to the lower level - there are colored signs on the "islands" across from the baggage claims. (
see map)
- BLUE: LAX Parking/Terminal Shuttles (See #4 below for terminal transfers)
- A - Airline Connections
- B - Parking Lot B
- C - Parking Lot C/96th Street/Metro Bus Center
- D - Employee Parking
- G - LAX/Aviation Station - Metro Green Line
- GREEN: Buses and Long Distance Vans
- ORANGE: Shared Ride Vans
- PURPLE: Rental Car Shuttles
- RED: Hotel and Off-Site Parking Lot Shuttles
- NOTE: Many hotels now share shuttles based on location (not affiliations), so be sure to look for the LIGHT BLUE mini-buses that have your hotel listed.
4) How do I transfer between terminals?- Airside Connections:
There are some terminals that are connected behind security, though sometimes it may take some effort.- T8 can only be accessed from T7.
- T6-T8 are connected by a pedestrian walkway just past the checkpoints.
- T5-T8 are connected via tunnels behind the checkpoints.
- T2-T5 are connected via shuttles to the American Eagle satellite terminal. While not officially connected together, you can board the shuttle to the AE satellite, get off when you arrive, then wait for the shuttle to the terminal you want. Generally, the guards want you to show a BP for Eagle, but if you have a BP/printed itinerary for another airline and you explain why you want to take the shuttle, they'll let you on.
- T2: Boards beside gate 22A
- T3: Boards beside gate 35 (see updated footnote when you scroll over the map here) NOTE: AA still has not updated their map; however, it's taken AS a long time to realize this update happened over two years ago as well
- T4: Board at Gate 44
- T5: Board at Gate 52 (perhaps 52A... can anyone confirm?)
- All other intraterminal transfers will require you to leave the security, then get rescreened when you arrive. Because of this, please be sure to book a long enough layover at LAX should you need to change terminals.
- Walking:
- Generally, if you are no further than 2 terminals away, it will be faster to walk.
- It takes about 30 minutes to walk from T1-T7 following the U. You can also cut across the parking lots on the lower level, which will take about 10 minutes (though it was set up to do that, and you will be dealing with busy roadways)
- Between Terminals 3 and 4 - it is possible to walk thru the upper level parking structures as it is connected on the departure gates level. For those passengers who already have a boarding pass, it can be easier to walk along the skybridges and thru the structure instead of walking along the sidewalk past TBIT. Just be careful of the cars.
- Shuttle Bus: Board on the lower level (though sometimes they'll let you board as they're dropping off passengers on the upper departures level).
- The LAX A Shuttle ("Airline Connections" - board at the BLUE signs) makes the loop to all terminals, going T1 to T7, then back to T1.
- For those transferring to a downline terminal, you can also take any of the shuttles (B, C, G... even the Employee Shuttle if you don't have baggage)... just note that after T7, they will depart for their respective destinations.
- Also, you can try and board any of the rental car shuttles, as they follow the same route as the LAX Shuttles, leaving the terminal area after T7.
5) Is there public transportation available?
Yes. But whether it works for you is a separate matter... unfortunately, the LA-area public transportation system isn't known for being very good. Nonetheless:
- Bus: Take the LAX C Shuttle (board at the BLUE signs) to the first stop after T7, which will be a short walk from the Metro Bus Center, which serves several bus systems:
- Light Rail - LAX is served by the Metro Rail Green Line. The LAX/Aviation Station is about 10 minutes from the airport, and is connected by the LAX G Shuttle (board at the BLUE signs).
- Commuter Train - MetroLink Trains are available at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. They generally run on weekdays only between ~5am-6pm. Please see below for the Union Station FlyAway bus service.
- FlyAway bus service - FlyAway service is available between LAX-Van Nuys and LAX-Union Station (FT). Board at the GREEN signs. They feature 24-hour service and available remote airline/baggage check-in. FTers report that the service is generally punctual, though will be subject to the same traffic that LA is known for.
- A new FlyAway route has been announced to UCLA/Westwood, to start on June 14. (FT)
6) How do I get to the other area airports?
Well, first, good luck with that. Unlike other metro areas with multiple airports (like New York City or the Bay Area), there's no real system set up to connect any the LA area airports. Taxis, airport shuttles, and one-way rental cars are basically the only real alternatives. Anyway, driving times (without traffic) to other airports (and distances added for our non-Californian friends)...
- Burbank (BUR) - about 30 minutes away (33 miles)
- Carlsbad (CLD) - about 75 minutes away (96 miles)
- Long Beach (LGB) - about 20 minutes away (22 miles)
- Ontario (ONT) - about 45 minutes away (56 miles)
- Orange County (SNA) - about 45 minutes away (42 miles)
- San Diego (SAN) - about 120 minutes away (126 miles) (FT) (FT)
- Santa Barbara (SBA) - about 105 minutes away (106 miles)
7) Is there luggage storage at LAX?
No. Best bet is to go to one of the local area hotels, or to rent a car (if you'll be exploring) so you have someplace to put your luggage.
8) Is it safe to walk the Sepulveda Tunnel?
No. In fact, someone recently died trying to do that. Also,
Chemist661 reports in post #11 that it wasn't such a great idea.
9) So what's the deal with the premium lounges in TBIT?
LAX. as part of a major renovation of TBIT
(FT), has torn out the lounges to be rebuilt into 4 large lounges: one for each of the alliances, and the 4th for airlines not affiliated with any alliance. Until the work is completed (now Fall 2007), there are 2 temporary contracted lounges, one for First passengers, and one for Business.
(FT Reviews)
The admit policies are not consistently applied, so you'll just have to roll the dice with your own airline. But the general consensus is that these lounges aren't worth getting to the airport early for.
10) Do all international airlines depart from TBIT?
NO! While generally it would be safe to assume that they do, there is a good number of international airlines don't even come to TBIT. Here is a list for those that don't operate out of TBIT:
- Air Canada - arrivals and departures in T2
- Air China - arrivals and departures in T2
- Air France - arrivals and departures in T2
- Air Jamaica - arrivals and departures in T5
- Air Zealand - arrivals and departures in T2
- Aeroliteral - arrivals and departures in T5
- Aeromexico - arrivals in T5; departures in T6
- Aviasca - arrivals and departures in T2
- Avianca - arrivals and departures in T2
- Copa - departures in T6 (arrivals go to TBIT)
- KLM - arrivals and departures in T2
- LACSA - arrivals and departures in T2
- Qantas -All QF operated flights except Brisbane now use TBIT. Brisbane flights continue to use T4 (for now).
- Departures: All flights to SYD and QF107 to JFK depart from T4.
- Arrivals: Flights QF11/107/149 from SYD, QF25/93 from MEL, and QF108 from JFK arrive into T4.
- All others to go TBIT.
- TACA - non-evening arrivals and departures in T2 (evening arrivals go to TBIT)
- V Australia -VA flights arrive at TBIT and depart from T3.
- Virgin Atlantic - arrivals and departures in T2
- WestJet - arrivals and departures in T2
All other international carriers (along with Alaska Airlines' Mexico departures) operate out of TBIT.
11) Where is the best place to park at LAX?
Check out this thread:
(FT) Consolidated LAX Parking Options and Suggestions thread
12) Is there a Post Office at LAX?
Unfortunately no... there isn't even any mailboxes. See this thread:
(FT)
13) I have X hours to kill at LAX... what can I do? Where can I go?
Check out this thread for lots of good suggestions for various layover times:
(FT)The consolidated "What to do on a layover at LAX" thread [merged threads].
14) I want to dine with a non-traveller... are there any landside dining options at LAX?
The iconic landmark at LAX is the
Encounters Restaurant, which is located in the center section of the airport, and can be accessed by leaving the terminal area and walking. There is also valet parking right outside the restaurant, and short-term parking available at nearby airport garages.
Encounter hours as follows:
Lunch 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., 7 days a week
Dinner 4:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Note - There is a cafeteria that most airline employees use on the ground level below the Encounters restaurant.
Besides that, your best bet will be TBIT, as it has a mezzanine level before security with a food court:
- Arrival Cafe
- Daily Grill
- El Paseo
- Hamada Orient Express
- Marina Bar
- McDonald's
- Sushi Boy
Travelers have also been known to take advantage of hotel restaurants by boarding their complimentary shuttles (at LAX, board on the lower/arrivals level at the
RED signs). Just make sure you have a couple hours.
15) How do international connections/transit work at LAX (and generally in the US).- International flight arrives.
- Passengers are processed through immigration/passport control.
- Baggage is claimed.
- Passengers and baggage are processed through customs.
- Passengers exit the secured/sterile area.
- Baggage is dropped off under the signs marked connections.
--OR--
Passengers bring bags with them to their next terminal of departure and check in bags.
- Passengers also check in and get boarding passes, if necessary.
- Passengers reclear security checkpoint into secured/sterile area.