The Consolidated LAX Plane Spotting/Viewing Thread
#46
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2
Public Long-Term Parking Lot C is ideal for north runway as it is directly in the path of incoming airplanes for landing. The lot security is pretty relaxed about the enthusiasts photographing and although they come every 15 minutes protecting the lot, they just wave and let you be.
Radisson Hotel, I had a top floor southward view and it is a great view of the south side of the LAX and you can see the take off on that runway from start to finish. Only issue is there is a really baked purple colored film that's not optically nice, and although to spotting it's not a issue but it may be for any critical photography.
The In and Out is an exciting lot for getting close, but for photographers, it may be a bit TOO CLOSE as when they are near, they pretty much are too fast and too large, and you get a very good shot of every spec of dirt in the landing gear and tires. LOL!
Lookout point on the South end on Imperial Blvd is a cool place to get a big overview of the south complex. It's beautiful there at night too.
Embassy Suites South LAX used to be a nice hotel to shoot from 4th floor towards the south side of LAX, but tall trees cover most of the view now and its pretty much a luck of the draw to get a room that has a wide view into the airport. Also there is a nasty telephone/power cable in front that distracts photographer's frame as well.
The BEST point I know now is at this restaurant-weekend club called THE PROUD BIRD.
http://www.theproudbird.com/proudbird/
There are several WW2 warplanes parked there as a private collection, and the windows are crystal-clear for any photographer. The restaurant windows ALL look out toward the low sky of the VOR path of incoming south runway airplanes, and they fly directly in front of the window... Excellent vantage point and distance for photography. Also the fact that the window faces north, the sunlight is always perfect, hitting the planes just right no matter what time of day. about 4-6pm is when the sun is dramatic and the airplanes get lit well with nice dark red to purple sky.
If you go to the restaurant on slow days/hours, you can literally sit there for couple of hours with a nice meal. The meal can be pricey at night at about $50 a person, but the food is really on par with the price, and lunch is somewhat more reasonable. I love it there.
Do check with the restaurant though for weekends as they frequently get rented out to private parties for special occasions, and when that happens, its RSVP. Most of the weekdays are fine, and I recommend it to be the best place to see airplanes at LAX.
Radisson Hotel, I had a top floor southward view and it is a great view of the south side of the LAX and you can see the take off on that runway from start to finish. Only issue is there is a really baked purple colored film that's not optically nice, and although to spotting it's not a issue but it may be for any critical photography.
The In and Out is an exciting lot for getting close, but for photographers, it may be a bit TOO CLOSE as when they are near, they pretty much are too fast and too large, and you get a very good shot of every spec of dirt in the landing gear and tires. LOL!
Lookout point on the South end on Imperial Blvd is a cool place to get a big overview of the south complex. It's beautiful there at night too.
Embassy Suites South LAX used to be a nice hotel to shoot from 4th floor towards the south side of LAX, but tall trees cover most of the view now and its pretty much a luck of the draw to get a room that has a wide view into the airport. Also there is a nasty telephone/power cable in front that distracts photographer's frame as well.
The BEST point I know now is at this restaurant-weekend club called THE PROUD BIRD.
http://www.theproudbird.com/proudbird/
There are several WW2 warplanes parked there as a private collection, and the windows are crystal-clear for any photographer. The restaurant windows ALL look out toward the low sky of the VOR path of incoming south runway airplanes, and they fly directly in front of the window... Excellent vantage point and distance for photography. Also the fact that the window faces north, the sunlight is always perfect, hitting the planes just right no matter what time of day. about 4-6pm is when the sun is dramatic and the airplanes get lit well with nice dark red to purple sky.
If you go to the restaurant on slow days/hours, you can literally sit there for couple of hours with a nice meal. The meal can be pricey at night at about $50 a person, but the food is really on par with the price, and lunch is somewhat more reasonable. I love it there.
Do check with the restaurant though for weekends as they frequently get rented out to private parties for special occasions, and when that happens, its RSVP. Most of the weekdays are fine, and I recommend it to be the best place to see airplanes at LAX.
#47
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2
Here's a few photos of airliners taken from Proud Bird Restaurant
Lufthansa 747-430 "Keil" by Moto@Club4AG, on Flickr
United 777-200 by Moto@Club4AG, on Flickr
DSCF0086 by Moto@Club4AG, on Flickr
#48
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1
ummm... you guys mean 24r
I take shots at lax atleast twice a weak (i know i must have no life) but the runway you guys are reffering to is 24r no planes land on 24l though there are rare ocassions that a plane will i doubt the a380 would though and im pretty sure it never will because it may strike a plane on hold for rw 24l with its huge wings (it already has to be escorted so it doesnt bump into things) also if you hear people say itll land 25l most of the time it never happens although the runways 25l an 25r were redesigned for it were the a380 parks is closer to 24r so yeah if you wanna see it go to in-n-out its prety cool seeing thousands of tones effortlessly move right over your head.
#49
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
I take shots at lax atleast twice a weak (i know i must have no life) but the runway you guys are reffering to is 24r no planes land on 24l though there are rare ocassions that a plane will i doubt the a380 would though and im pretty sure it never will because it may strike a plane on hold for rw 24l with its huge wings (it already has to be escorted so it doesnt bump into things) also if you hear people say itll land 25l most of the time it never happens although the runways 25l an 25r were redesigned for it were the a380 parks is closer to 24r so yeah if you wanna see it go to in-n-out its prety cool seeing thousands of tones effortlessly move right over your head.
#50
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,897
#51
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,897
Arrivals from Australia typically come in through Catalina, and thus end up on the south complex (25L), but for ground traffic reasons, the A380 is routed through Ventura/Santa Monica and land on the north complex (24R).
#52
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,391
Be at In-N-Out Burgers around 9 AM and wait for it to arrive. I have seen it myself several times ^
Also, you get a pretty good view of 2x A380 parked at the mid-field complex with 2 or 3 more QF 747 from about 11 AM to 3 PM - you can get a pretty good view from Westchester Parkway, about half a mile west of In-N-Out Burger. During the A380 grounding, I even saw 3x A380 at the same time, parked side by side.
Also, you get a pretty good view of 2x A380 parked at the mid-field complex with 2 or 3 more QF 747 from about 11 AM to 3 PM - you can get a pretty good view from Westchester Parkway, about half a mile west of In-N-Out Burger. During the A380 grounding, I even saw 3x A380 at the same time, parked side by side.
#53
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
I flew the QF A380 a couple of weeks ago, a remarkable plane. The shuttle bus from T4 pulled right along side the a/c to unload at TBIT. The a/c is huge! The a/c is extremely quiet even on take off and landing.
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,295
Be at In-N-Out Burgers around 9 AM and wait for it to arrive. I have seen it myself several times ^
Also, you get a pretty good view of 2x A380 parked at the mid-field complex with 2 or 3 more QF 747 from about 11 AM to 3 PM - you can get a pretty good view from Westchester Parkway, about half a mile west of In-N-Out Burger. During the A380 grounding, I even saw 3x A380 at the same time, parked side by side.
Also, you get a pretty good view of 2x A380 parked at the mid-field complex with 2 or 3 more QF 747 from about 11 AM to 3 PM - you can get a pretty good view from Westchester Parkway, about half a mile west of In-N-Out Burger. During the A380 grounding, I even saw 3x A380 at the same time, parked side by side.
#58
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 32
Early in the morning when the Qantas arrival banks come in. Check schedules to see times. Also late at night during Qantas' departing bank, best seen from the parking garages closest to TBIT.
Also, Singapore is supposedly beginning their A380 service starting July 1st, so look for that around the noon hour.
Also, Singapore is supposedly beginning their A380 service starting July 1st, so look for that around the noon hour.
#59
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
#60
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 9
A380 watching (location/times)
Good evening,
Coming to SoCAL for one week, and wanted to catch an A380 landing at LAX. From what I have read on this forum, it appears a 0945 landing is the only daylight opportunity (3x a week) and the best location is the In n Out parking lot.
Is that true.....or are there other times and a better location??
Thank you....vr John, MCPO, USN
Coming to SoCAL for one week, and wanted to catch an A380 landing at LAX. From what I have read on this forum, it appears a 0945 landing is the only daylight opportunity (3x a week) and the best location is the In n Out parking lot.
Is that true.....or are there other times and a better location??
Thank you....vr John, MCPO, USN