Rental car will take about 1 hour minimum after you have arrived at curbside and you have to return to the terminal 2 hours before departure (which means return the rental car 3 hours before departure). That leaves you with about 6.5 hours with the car. Is that really worth it? It's up to you.

There is absolutely nothing (NOTHING) to do once you go past security at TBIT. There is the lounge but that is it. Do you want to spend 10 hours holed up in the TBIT lounge (which is not that great)?

If you just want a rest, I would check one of the hotels for day-rate. If you want to see some sights and perhaps eat some decent food (as opposed to airport food), take the LAX shuttle C to the bus center, and take the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus #3 to Downtown Santa Monica. You can spend a couple of hours relaxing by the beach, people watch, and eat something decent. The bus ride is about 45 minutes each way and cost $1.

3 hour layover at LAX
 

It seems silly, since I live 40 minutes away, to have any kind of layover at LAX. :) But I'm actually flying out of CLD and connecting in LAX on UA.

On the way out, I have a 35 minute layover, but on the way back I have 3 hours in the evening.

I haven't flown out of the UA terminal in many years. Is there anything to do there for 3 hours, or should I leave the airport and go to In-n-Out Burger up the street? (I love in-n-out but hate going through security again)

Moving thread to LAX forum.
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Your post was merged into a very extensive thread covering this exact topic. Scroll up. :)

I'm reading the thread now... thanks! :)

5 hour layover, looking for relaxation
 

I have got a 5 hour layover. I will arrive at Sunday 12:00 at TBIT and take off with US 5:30pm at T1. I know I have to clear customs first, but given that not many international flights arrive at that time, I do not think it will take 2 hours.

My main goal is actually to find a decent place where I can sit, have a drink and read a bit. I do not want to pay 50 dollars per person for the US airways club, since I think it is a bit overcharged. Any ideas?

Thx for the replys

Have you considered Encounter Restaurant in the LAX Theme Building?

Thank you, I have seen this, but thought it is more a bar thing. I dont want them to get mad, since I will likely have only one or two coke and a coffee. The main aim is just to read and relax a bit. Is this possible? If yes than I will likely have a visit.

They will appreciate your business and probably won't care how long you stay. I doubt that the lounge will be busy during the time that you will be spending at LAX (or most other times, for that matter).

Great. THx!!!

For 3 hours, I would not subject myself to the torture of clearing the security line. Buy a magazine inside the terminal and read it :D

8 hour stop over in LA before next long haul flight - where can I go?
 

Have just been told that my 30 hour stopover in LA has changed to 8 hours...really wanted to see a bit of LA, but guess with this I'll also need to be back at the airport 3 hours before next flight, so in reality 4-5 hours max.

Any ideas where I can head easily from LAX , are there any tours or anything, or quick and easy wins to chill and people watch?

I arrive at 3pm after an 11.5 hour flight, and leave at 11.30pm the same night.

This is a little tough... 5 hours is long enough that you'd want to leave LAX but not long enough to really do anything.

If you arrive at 3pm (I assume TBIT?) then it will take about 2 hours to clear immigration and customs. That means you'll be in rush hour traffic. You can take a taxi to Santa Monica (about 30~40 minutes) and that leaves you just enough time to eat dinner and walk around a little bit. You need to leave Santa Monica around 8:30~8:45pm to make it back to LAX by 9:30pm and check in for your flight.

I had a similar but shorter layover last month. I arrived at 3:30 pm on a Saturday from a 14 hour flight. I hadn't entered the US from LAX (TBIT) in a really, really long time and did not realize how long immigration took. I stopped by the help desk at the arrivals hall for some transport info and then walked to Terminal 7 to check-in to and drop off my bag at United for my 11:15 pm flight. I then walked back to TBIT, which turned out to be unnecessary, to catch an Airport Shuttle (maybe the parking lot C one but not sure) and then crossed the street to the LAX Airport Bus Terminal. I then rode the #3 Big Blue Bus (~45 minutes) to Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade for $1. All I really had time to do was catch a sunset at the pier, grabbed a bite to eat at the Curious Palette, and walked around the Promenade before making my return trip.

Even though the time on the bus was a little long, I still had a great time, and it felt more local. It was the first time stepping out of a Californian airport in over thirteen years, caught a sunset, and ate some delicious local food. It definitely beats spending that time inside the terminal!

5 Hour stop over.
 

Hey guys, just thought i would ask and see if any one had any advice for me.

so I'm traveling to Auckland, New Zealand on Jan 16th via L.A.

I fly from Heathrow, London on a BA flight and land into the Tom Bradley International terminal at 6:05 and i have to get my Connecting flight to Auckland in terminal 4 with Qantas at 23:30.

i wondered if anyone could tell me the process of changing terminals and whether i will have to collect my bags from the first flight and re check them. i have heard horror storied about how long this process takes and so i just wanted this to be clarified. i would appreciate any advice. thanks :)

also i will be traveling on my own for the first time so I'm a bit nervous.