Los Angeles Airport Guide

Los Angeles Airport TBIT

The vast Los Angeles International Airport complex, known to almost every passenger just as plain LAX (it's IATA code) is one of the largest airports in North America, however it is only the seventh busiest airport by passenger traffic in the world, way behind London Heathrow, Tokyo, or Dubai.

Never the less it seems big, and it is one of few US airports with four parallel runways. Partly why it seems so big - and part of the problem - is that each airline was allowed to build it's own terminal, and these are all separate, just offering chaotic connections served by buses. New walkways are helping, but it really is a depressing, unglamourous airport.

The nine largely disconnected terminals were mainly built in the 1970s with depressing interiors.

Los Angeles airport Terminal 3

Los Angeles International Airport is surrounded by the city itself - and so it should only be a short journey to your destination - and yet there is no transit link to the city, adding to annoyance. The Airport was planned to be on the Los Angeles Metro Rail Green Line, however opposition from local taxi drivers prevented any direct rail link.

Despite the airport being well past its prime, LAX is advertised a the premier "Gateway to the Pacific Rim", perhaps as an indication that it is easier to fly out of, than get to.

Inter-terminal connections are easy: Terminals 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are connected airside, via an underground walkway (in the case of terminals 4, 5, 6) or a corridor tacked on the side of the terminal (Terminal 7 and 8). There is also a brand new airside connector between Terminal 4 and the TBIT.

Los Angeles Airport TBIT

Los Angeles Airport International Terminal - TBit

Passengers either love or loath the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). However, you can't ignore it. Most international airlines leave for here, except for American Airlinesm, United and Delta. It is by far the smartest terminal at LAX, but it is also a bit grubby and down at heel. Built in 1984, and rebuilt in 2013 at a cost over four billion dollars, it has 18 gates, and a vast central concourse, in which Southern California scenes and eccentric videos are played on seven huge multimedia screens. It has many popular LA restaurants including Umami Burger, 800 Degrees, Larder, Ink.Sack and Lucky Fish, and by far the best shopping of any terminal at LAX. From the American Airlines Terminal 4, it is an easy walk airside to TBit.

Los Angeles Airport Pay in, First & Business Class lounges

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge

The new Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, which is housed in Terminal 6's mezzanine level, is decorated in a light, airy, and contemporary style that honours Canadian design and materials. Decorated in an ad hoc manner, with everything from large leather recliners, to blocks of wood to sit on, is a expression of an exquisite living room space. In the press ph ...read more.

Location: Open:

Alaskan Airlines Lounge

Alaskan Airlines Los Angeles Lounge isn't especially large or modern, but relatively comfortable and is basically one big, rectangular room with some partitions for privacy. The middle of the room just has some lounge chairs. Across from that are some more dining tables and the bar. ...read more.

Location: Open:

American Airlines Admirals Club

To find the American Airlines Admirals Club Los Angeles Lounge enter through the doors in the middle of Terminal past the Qantas kangaroo logo (this used to be the LAX Qantas Club too) to the reception and up the stairs or lift. If you get given a door card, with no explanation, it means you also have access to the flagship lounge too. Take this at all ...read more.

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American Airlines Flagship Lounge

The American Airlines Flagship Los Angeles Lounge is now vastly improved, and indeed now a quite pleasant place to be. You enter by the common entrance at Gate 40 via the Admirals Club, where at the downstairs reception desk the agent will give you a black card that allows you entrance on the left beside the customer service desk upstairs. The agents th ...read more.

Location: Open:

Delta Skyclub T3

If you've been to some of the great airline lounges in the world, be prepared to be massively disappointed by the Delta Airlines Skyclub T3 Los Angeles Lounge. It is a very much makeshift lounge, before the whole terminal is demolished. Indeed, Delta used to have a fantastic lounge over in the Terminal 5. However, that alas was handed over to American A ...read more.

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Delta Skyclub T2

The Los Angeles Delta Skyclub lounge Terminal 2 looks like no other Sky Club. That's because it isn't. It was built as the Air Canada lounge, and still has most of it's features, but with a few bits of standard Delta furniture and the snackery plonked in the middle. It is due to be revamped soon for the new Delta terminal at LAX. Never the less, compare ...read more.

Location: Airside, Terminal 2 Open: 0430-0100

Emirates Lounge

Emirates brand new lounge at Los Angeles LAX Airport has all the classic Emirates facilities you'd expect with lots of leather armchairs, plenty of marble walkways, a large dining room, a good walk up bar, computers, prayer room and showers. Finding the lounge isn't the easiest in the world: from the ground floor of TBIT you need to take a lift up two f ...read more.

Location: Open:

Etihad Lounge

To find the Los Angeles Etihad lounge, after you make your way to the 6th floor of TBIT and you walk in, you immediately see the separate sitting, viewing and TV area. The Los Angeles Etihad lounge is divided into distinct zones linked by a central walkway, with décor drawing inspiration from the geometric patterns of Abu Dhabi's modern architec ...read more.

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Korean Airlines Lounge

Korean Air brand new Business Class (Prestige) and First Class Lounge at Los Angeles' TBIT Terminal is large, comfortable, and a bit dull. It's easy to find, up on the main balcony of TBIT. Just take the lift up one floor. The new 305 seat, 1,320 square-meter lounge is 68% larger and can accommodate 135 more passengers. However, when multiple A380s depa ...read more.

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Oneworld Business Class Lounge

The quasi-oneworld lounge for 'top of the alliance' airlines Qantas, British Airways and Cathay Pacific shows what can be done when designing a lounge from scratch, and is a world away from the older cramped Qantas and oneworld lounge at the Los Angeles international TBIT terminal. The Qantas Los Angeles Business Class Lounge has seating for 600 travell ...read more.

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Qantas First Class Lounge

The Los Angeles Qantas First Class lounge is one of the best lounges you can find. What a lounge. There is an 80 seat restaurant and bar with an theatre style kitchen and a la carte dining options from a Neil Perry designed menu - yes, him of Sydney's Rockpool restaurant fame. The lounge itself was the first lounge designed by Marc Newson and it has an upda ...read more.

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Star Alliance Lounge

The stunning Star Alliance Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport offers impressive facilities and services. It is very good, and nearly makes up for the closure of some specific star alliance lounges at LAX. To find the Star Alliance Los Angeles Lounge once through security (of if you have walked through the underground linking tunnels at LAX from ...read more.

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United Airlines Polaris Lounge

The new United Airlines Business Class lounge at Los Angeles is a fantastic new lounge, and one of the best on the United network. At some 1,200 square yards it isn't overly large, and it only seats 140 passengers, however it has a dining room with waiter service and a great bar, showers and daybeds. The Polaris lounge itself sits on the terminal's u ...read more.

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United Airlines United Club Lounge

A huge, vast, brand new lounge, the Los Angeles United Airlines United Club is great, with a sleek outdoor terrace, great bar, and plenty of space. And space again. Indeed, when it launched the United Club Los Angeles Lounge was the airline's biggest and best in the US, although the new 'Newark' style has somewhat overtaken it. At 29,000 square feet, ther ...read more.

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Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

Virgin Atlantic's Clubhouse lounge in Los Angeles operates in two modes. In the morning before midday, it accepts all passengers with Priority Pass and other lounge membership cards. In the afternoon it is just for Upper Class (business class) passengers and those with frequent flyer cards. Firstly though you have to find the lounge. There are few sig ...read more.

Location: Open:

Los Angeles Airport Terminal Map

Los Angeles Airport transportation

Travellers should know that many bus, limousine and shuttle bus services operating to and from Los Angeles Airport usually require pre-booking.

Los Angeles Airport TBIT connector walkway

Los Angeles Airport train

Los Angeles Airport shuttle bus services

Los Angeles airport Terminal 2

Los Angeles Airport taxi services

There are also a number of private shuttle companies also offer limousine and bus services to LAX Airport.

Car Hire at Los Angeles Airport

Los Angeles airport Underground walkway

Los Angeles Airport Hotel

You are never going to be able to walk to the airport hotels at Los Angeles airport. The airport is just not designed for it. However, all the main hotels are in one long strip along W Century Blvd.

The closest hotel are the Concourse Hotel, and the Sheraton Los Angeles Airport Hotel.

Further along W Century Blvd is the Hilton Los Angeles Airport hotel. It is an inexpensive solution for a lengthy transit, and has a good view of the runways, a surprisingly decent pool, an Italian restaurant called Andiamo, and a nice Executive Lounge. There is a transit bus every half hour from the airport. Make sure you get the right Hilton - there is also an Embassy Suites by Hilton on the same road.

Los Angeles Airport Bars and Restaurants

Rock and Brews Los Angeles Airport Bar

Rock and Brews Bar

The list of beers is long - from Hoegaarden to Dogtown, Spaten to Michelob. Food is more down to earth, with Garlic Cheese Fries, several Burgers ($15.25 for the ultimate), and Artisan pizzas.

Border Grill Los Angeles Airport Bar

LAX Border Grill

Ford's Filling Station Los Angeles Airport Bar