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See Current LAWA LAX Terminals Map and Airlines Listing Key here
Complete list of lounges with full reviews and details:
https://loungereview.com/lounges/airport/lax/
See Current LAWA LAX Terminals Map and Airlines Listing Key here
Complete list of lounges with full reviews and details:
https://loungereview.com/lounges/airport/lax/
Lounges at LAX - Access, Showers, Questions, Which One? [Consolidated thread]
#151
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP 1.5MM, Asiana Club Silver, KE Morning Calm, Hyatt Platinum, Amtrak Select
Posts: 7,161
I think the topic of this thread is diverging into "what to do when you have a long layover at LAX"
I'll put in my share:
If you like old WWII style planes and a bunch of pictures of the now defunct aerospace industry back in the good ol' days of LA, I recommend the Proud Bird Restaurant. Take the free "G" shuttle which takes you to the Metro Green Line LAX/Aviation station. You'll see it on your left side as the bus passes by the restaurant to the intended train station. Once you reach the station, walk back to the Proud Bird Restaurant, ~5 min walk.
How to kill time if you have a long night-time layover at LAX:
Take the Thrifty rental car shuttle. 24 hour Denny's right across the street. It's part of the Travelodge there, but you don't need to be a guest there to get a midnight grub.
I'll put in my share:
If you like old WWII style planes and a bunch of pictures of the now defunct aerospace industry back in the good ol' days of LA, I recommend the Proud Bird Restaurant. Take the free "G" shuttle which takes you to the Metro Green Line LAX/Aviation station. You'll see it on your left side as the bus passes by the restaurant to the intended train station. Once you reach the station, walk back to the Proud Bird Restaurant, ~5 min walk.
How to kill time if you have a long night-time layover at LAX:
Take the Thrifty rental car shuttle. 24 hour Denny's right across the street. It's part of the Travelodge there, but you don't need to be a guest there to get a midnight grub.
Last edited by kebosabi; Dec 19, 2008 at 3:02 pm
#152
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
The OP is from Australia so would also have to pay CDW and liability insurance. If I have a layover in LAX, I also use public transport to get to either the Culver City mall or maybe downtown LA depending on where I want to shop. Other thing to note is baggage storage is with a private company and very expensive so best if you can check your bags all the way to final destination after customs.
If I were in this situation with friends, we would rent a car and go to Duke's in Malibu if the weather was nice. But then, I really like their food and ambiance. The idea about visiting AF1 at the Reagan Museum has a lot of appeal also.
#153
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Other than a mention of the Admirals Club, this (now retitled) thread is about a LAX layover, so it will make a short trip to the appropriate Forum.
AA Moderator
AA Moderator
#154
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Silicon Valley
Programs: Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 1,243
Add me to the chorus of those advocating renting a car. LA by bus can be daunting for those who do not know the city. Renting cars in LA seems unnaturally cheap. I guess they have fewer add on fees than many other places.
#155
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Blue Mountains, Australia
Programs: QF PS, AA
Posts: 50
Thank you all for your advice. I will pass it on to my friends. They are all Australians and I am not sure if all have been to LA before. I am not sure if they will want to leave the airport and risk missing their connection however some of the nearby attractions sound interesting. The Alaska Airlines lounge was not an idea that had occurred to me as my limited experience in the USA has mainly been on AA, which has been a very pleasant airline to travel on.
#156
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP 1.5MM, Asiana Club Silver, KE Morning Calm, Hyatt Platinum, Amtrak Select
Posts: 7,161
Our motto is: if we're gonna have to invest in rails, let's use that money to expand our freeways instead
Basically if you're in LA, everyone is expected to drive, including tourists.
I'm all for investig in public transportation, and I've seen it work elsewhere, but sadly our city thinks differently. Welcome to L.A.!
#157
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA, USAir, UA
Posts: 868
1-1.5 hours is a lot more likely...plus whatever time you take to rent & drop off the car.
Yes, you can make it in an 8 hour layover.....but it's roughly 50 miles away and transverses several tough freeway interchanges and bottlenecks, and unless you are used to driving busy urban highways, it's apt to be a shlep.
I'd frankly look for places a little closer in to LAX.
#158
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA, USAir, UA
Posts: 868
Los Angelinos are addicted to their cars. Why do you think we're the second largest city in the US but yet without any direct rail link to the airport or even a people mover at the airport? And they want us to use ONT as a secondary airport to LAX. I'm all for the idea, but there are no public transportation means to get there!
Our motto is: if we're gonna have to invest in rails, let's use that money to expand our freeways instead
Our motto is: if we're gonna have to invest in rails, let's use that money to expand our freeways instead
Incidentally, yes, there IS public transit to ONT... just not terribly handy one-seat connections. (IE: from LA Union Station take either the Metrolink San Berdo Line *or* the Foothill Transit "Silver Streak" Bus to Montclair station/transit center and change to Omnitrans Bus 80 which will drop you off at Vineyard & Holt, a short block away from ONT) Incidentally, that's 40 miles...between the two, which is NOT a short public transit route anywhere in the US.
I'm all for investig in public transportation, and I've seen it work elsewhere, but sadly our city thinks differently.
#159
Join Date: May 2006
Location: LAS
Programs: United 1K, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 583
I just had a 6 hour layover so I called Hilton and asked for the cheapest day room in the area. Stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn LAX for $79 which included, shuttle to and from terminal, a full breakfast for the three people in my party, some much needed rest and a shower, and a stay credit with Hilton. I finished up only being there for about four hours but I still consider it a very well spent $79 in my opinion.
#160
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
My own choice when having an over-day connection at LAX is to rent a car and drive up PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) towards Malibu. Generally light and predictable traffic (an important consideration if you have ever been in an LA 3 hour traffic jam). Stay off the highways in LA unless you know what you are doing!
#161
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA, USAir, UA
Posts: 868
Originally Posted by mlshanks View Post
... Can you name a "transit friendly" city that is both as large and that has as low a population density as LA?
... Can you name a "transit friendly" city that is both as large and that has as low a population density as LA?
Sydney. Very similar (and sprawls to 60 mile radius, so directly similar to LA. But the difference: Sydney started out with a govt owned suburban rail system 80 years ago and built on it without building freeways or good roads (until recently). LA also started with a private rail and excellent private bus system; GM bought it in the 30s, tore up the rails and sold the right of way, and shut down the buses, while lobbying govt to build lots of roads and highways. Flash forward 70 years, govt owned rail is working pretty well and cost-effective despite the low population density, while in LA the profit motive has shifted the costs onto the public sector, while GM has done so well (3 months from bankruptcy at this point, so their plans didn't quite work in the long run). Most americans don't realize that LA started out with one of the best streetcar systems in the world, and it was the auto industry that demolished it.
You can follow the various threads of LA transit history at the website of The Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California.
Incidentally, LA public transit currently DOES NOT MAKE SUFFICENT MONEY FROM FARES TO OPERATE , requiring 86% of their revenue come from federal, state, or local grants, subsidies, and taxes. Less than 14% of their annual budget is fares collected... LINK
Last edited by mlshanks; Dec 30, 2008 at 1:35 pm
#162
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: AA EXP LT GLD 1MM, BA GLD, NH/UA*G, Hyatt Dia, Marr Tit LT PLT, IHG Spire,HH Dia, MGM NOIR,Hertz PC
Posts: 10,571
It really is a plague !
When I came to LAX as a tourist I always decided to stay downtown and then used Metro to go to different places.
The Metro system has a bad reputation here, I dont know why. Even though the ezpensive gas prices of the summer pushed more people into using it.
No idea why people think of it as dirty and shameful to use, in other cities of the size of LA it is business as usual. Talking NY, London, Tokio, Paris... of course these cities have a very extensive public transportation system which is easy and excellent to use.
#163
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,930
Exactly !
It really is a plague !
When I came to LAX as a tourist I always decided to stay downtown and then used Metro to go to different places.
The Metro system has a bad reputation here, I dont know why. Even though the ezpensive gas prices of the summer pushed more people into using it.
No idea why people think of it as dirty and shameful to use, in other cities of the size of LA it is business as usual. Talking NY, London, Tokio, Paris... of course these cities have a very extensive public transportation system which is easy and excellent to use.
It really is a plague !
When I came to LAX as a tourist I always decided to stay downtown and then used Metro to go to different places.
The Metro system has a bad reputation here, I dont know why. Even though the ezpensive gas prices of the summer pushed more people into using it.
No idea why people think of it as dirty and shameful to use, in other cities of the size of LA it is business as usual. Talking NY, London, Tokio, Paris... of course these cities have a very extensive public transportation system which is easy and excellent to use.
#164
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SYD
Programs: UA, VA, ZL, Priority Club, HH. Rydges.
Posts: 126
Lounge LAX
Flyers who do not have airline lounge access like me can use the "reLAX LOUNGE" in the middle of the restaurant area in the TBIT, before security. I am there as I post, it cost me $35 for 5 hours. The price varies depending on how long you are staying. I find it Ok, just refreshments but the bathrooms are outside in the main area. There are 10 computers and only four of us in the place. If it wasn't foggy the view would be great.
I will post photo's of it when I get home on Friday.
Happy New Year, Ray
I will post photo's of it when I get home on Friday.
Happy New Year, Ray
#165
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: AA EXP LT GLD 1MM, BA GLD, NH/UA*G, Hyatt Dia, Marr Tit LT PLT, IHG Spire,HH Dia, MGM NOIR,Hertz PC
Posts: 10,571
Flyers who do not have airline lounge access like me can use the "reLAX LOUNGE" in the middle of the restaurant area in the TBIT, before security. I am there as I post, it cost me $35 for 5 hours. The price varies depending on how long you are staying. I find it Ok, just refreshments but the bathrooms are outside in the main area. There are 10 computers and only four of us in the place. If it wasn't foggy the view would be great.
I will post photo's of it when I get home on Friday.
Happy New Year, Ray
I will post photo's of it when I get home on Friday.
Happy New Year, Ray