T6 is already in decent shape (relative to T7). TSA security isn't cramped like T7's. Plus UA shares T6 w/ Alaska, so it gets a little complicated. UA controls T7, plus it's central to UA's 3 concourses.

I actually think LAX is fine for connections as it is, but improvements to compete w/ LAX's other tenants is OK w/ me.

Then there's Terminal 8, which reminds me of UA's IAD C

The improvements they could make for connections: moving walkways (at least in the hall at the base of the three terminals), and of course, something for the international-to-domestic connections (which if you're at all unfamiliar with LAX can be quite confusing, and inconvenient for those who are familiar).

True. about 25 years ago, when I was less familiar with airport, I took the shuttle bus from T7 to T6 :eek: At least I got to see the layout of the entire airport...

I miss Spago's in Terminal 7; that was good food and I always looked forward to eating there. And Terminal 6 is such a dump, I hate having to use that.

T-6 was remodeled in 2011/2012 at a cost of about $271m when Alaska moved from T-3 to T-6. About the only thing that wasn't touched was the PC/UC. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...nal-6-lax.html

And the escalator is not always working. On one memorable day I arrived from Sydney and the (well hidden and equally unsigned) elevator was under repair as well.

Intl to domestic transfers are the pits. There is no signage which can create a crowd of confused foreign visitors just as you exit customs. Frankly it is appalling and reminds me of MIA 10 years ago. Some things had no signs, some had English only, some English and Spanish, and some English/French/German/Japanese but not Spanish. The parking garages had directional signage but no rhyme or reason in their naming. The aprking areas were named after colors or fish or anything random. Dr Seuss would have had a ball. Elsewhere for international arrivals you had free cart service, but not at MIA.

Well, this thread explains what I saw Wednesday in the LAX GFL waiting for the PVG flight. A group of UA corporate "visitors" was welcomed into the lounge from departments like Real Estate, Facilities Maintenance and Architecture. They kept their voices low so despite my attempts to listen in, I just heard a few things. They discussed the need for changes, how out of date the lounge is and how poor the kitchen facility is considering that they are supposed to prepare a decent offering for UA's best passengers.

Later they discussed putting in work stations in the far left corner (as you are walking in) in front of the windows and using the natural light. That concerned me and after that I got the impression the lounge may close and be used for something else. I was starting to worry we may lose the lounge but after reading the proposal being put forward it all sounds good. The GLF will be co-located with the United Club on the new fourth floor and will enjoy better access to the gate level than the current situation of an elevator which primarily moves trash from the restaurants or UA's highest premium passengers.

So glad they are going to do some revamping at LAX, it could be so much nicer!

I was through there a couple of weeks ago and just LAUGHED when I saw this billboard exiting the train station at C. Nobody around me understood what I was going on about.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/membe...312-dulles.jpg

Correct, though it sounds like they're just going to update the mechanical/HVAC and repaint it, not expand the space and put in moving sidewalks.
Yup...that is explicitly stated.
Correct. It will be 35,000sf, a huge expansion from the current ~12,000sf in T7. But it also has to cover for the T6 lounge which will eventually close and the GFL which will move to the new lounge space; the current GFL space will become offices.

Two security areas. One will be at the center of T7 on the departures level with 12 lanes.

http://boardingarea.wpengine.netdna-.../09/image1.png

The second will be at the T8 end of T7 on the ticketing level and running east/west rather than north/south. It will have 5 lanes and will be "exclusively" for T8 passengers, though the terminals will remain connected.

http://boardingarea.wpengine.netdna-.../09/image2.png

There will also be a GS lobby adjacent to that T8 checkpoint.

Amazing how little $400mm gets these days. ;)

Terminal 8 doesn't even deserve a number. It's the back closet of Terminal 7. It also has no edible food. At least IAD Terminal C has Wendy's!

My bad - meant LAX is fine for domestic connections. The walk between concourses isn't as bad as at some other airports since the tarmac alleys are narrow.

UA is slow to catch on. They were consistently told that as a premier airline at LAX they were eligible for free terminal and gate upgrades, but these never materialized. They finally caught on when they kept seeing other airlines receiving gate and terminal upgrade offers for only tens of dollars.

Terminal 8 has a Marmalade Cafe, which is a respectable LA area operation. There is also a Carl's Jr for burgers - it is as edible as Wendy's.

It still requires some CapEx from UA. And for years leading up to the merger they routinely spent nil unless absolutely necessary to keep the books looking good as they pursued the deal.

$11,000+ per Sq Ft. High costs for Construction.
 

That is a high cost.

I am sure UA will be paying for lots of it, albeit not up front, but in long term lease rates.

There must be lots of structural, mechanical and infrastructure costs on this project.

All I can say is that is that it is about time...that T7 was renovated!

It--like the rest of LAX, to be honest--has been so ghetto for too long. The odd times I flew AA out of T-4, I was embarrassed to be a UA flier because T-4 was definitely more modern.

I'm sad, however, to hear that the UC at T-6 will be closing. As long as they continue to operate flights out of T-6 and that distance between T-6 and T-7 exists, T-6 deserves its own UC. Moreover, at least make sure that there's a TSA Pre-Check at T-6.

Even when I have a flight out of T-6, I enter through T-7, because of the TSA Pre-Check, then waltz on over to T-6. It would be nice to just go directly to T-6.