Lax Airport: Can You Hail A Taxi?

If you're wondering about taxi availability at LAX airport, you'll be glad to know that taxis are indeed available 24/7 from the airport's official pickup area, LAX-it. This area is accessible via a short walk or a free shuttle service. While public transport is also an option, it involves multiple transfers and a travel time of over an hour to get downtown. Taxis, on the other hand, can get you to the City of Angels in just 25 minutes. At LAX-it, you'll find taxi queues with drivers waiting to assist you. Additionally, you can opt for ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft, but these may require a short shuttle ride to a separate pickup area unless you choose their premium options.

Taxi ranks at LAX airport

LAX is the 8th busiest airport in the world, serving over 70 million passengers a year. Thankfully, there are several options for catching a taxi from the airport.

LAX-it

LAX-it is the airport's official pickup area for taxis, located near Terminal 1 at the entrance to the airport. It can be accessed via a short walk or a free shuttle from the airport. The shuttles arrive every 3-5 minutes and there is a dedicated lane for them, so you won't get stuck in normal airport traffic.

Taxi Ranks Inside the Airport

There are also taxi ranks inside the airport, so you don't need to transfer to the LAX-it lot. These are located:

• Inside Parking Structure 3 between the Tom Bradley International Terminal and Terminal 3
• At the far end of Terminal 7, outside baggage claim

Taxi Companies

LA City Cab offers a reliable taxi service to and from LAX Airport. You can book a ride with them by downloading their app, calling their dispatch, or submitting a form on their website. They offer designated lanes and pickup areas, and their drivers are background checked and safe.

Fares

The Los Angeles Airport taxi service has a standard flat rate of $46.50 to downtown LA. For other destinations, the fare is metered and will depend on factors such as distance, traffic, and time. The base fee is $3.10, and the per-kilometer price is $1.85. It is customary in LA to tip your taxi driver at least 15%.

Pre-booking

You can also pre-book your taxi with companies like Welcome Pickups, which offers a competitive, guaranteed fixed fare with no hidden fees. This can save you time and stress when you arrive at the airport.

How to get to the taxi ranks

To get to the taxi ranks at LAX, you have several options.

Firstly, you can walk to the LAX-it lot, which is located next to Terminal 1. The walk route is marked with large, clear LAX-it signs outside of baggage claim on the sidewalk. If you are arriving at Terminals 7 or 8, you can find a taxi rank at the far end of Terminal 7 outside of baggage claim. There is also a taxi rank inside Parking Structure 3, between the Tom Bradley International Terminal and Terminal 3.

Alternatively, you can take a free shuttle to the taxi ranks. The shuttles arrive outside of baggage claim on the first level of each terminal and travel on a dedicated lane. Wait by the green LAX-it bus stop signs, and the shuttle will take you to the LAX-it lot. The shuttles are available 24/7 and arrive every 3-5 minutes.

Once you arrive at the LAX-it lot, you will see taxis lined up for passengers. From here, you can also access Uber, Lyft, and Opoli services.

Taxi prices from LAX airport

Taxis are available at LAX airport. To get to the taxi pick-up spot, you can either take a free shuttle or walk to the LAXit lot near Terminal 1. There are also taxi queues at the following locations:

• Inside Parking Structure 3 between the Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B) and Terminal 3
• At the far end of Terminal 7 outside of baggage claim

The price of a taxi ride from LAX airport depends on several factors, including the distance travelled, the journey time, and the taxi fare. The taxi fare in Los Angeles includes a basic charge, a per-mile charge, and a charge for waiting time. Here is a breakdown of the taxi rates:

• Basic fee: $3.10
• Per mile: $1.85 (or $2.70 per mile, according to another source)
• Waiting time: $32.11 per hour (or $29.19 per hour, as per another source)

There is also a $4 airport surcharge for all trips originating from LAX.

To estimate the cost of your taxi ride, you can use an online taxi fare calculator. Alternatively, you can use the following formula provided by a user on TripAdvisor:

> $4 (for all trips originating from LAX) + $2.85 (for the first 1/9th of a mile travelled) + $2.70 for each mile travelled after that + 50 cents for each minute that the taxi is standing still (at a red light or stuck in traffic).

Using this formula, the estimated taxi fare from LAX to Whittier (27 miles) is approximately $89.75, excluding the tip.

Taxi companies at LAX airport

There are several taxi companies operating at LAX airport. Taxis are available at the airport 24/7.

Picking up a taxi at LAX

Taxis can be picked up from three locations at LAX:

• At the LAX-it lot next to Terminal 1. Passengers can walk or take a free shuttle to this lot.
• Inside Parking Structure 3 between Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B) and Terminal 3 – for passengers arriving at these two terminals.
• At the far end of Terminal 7 outside of baggage claim – for passengers arriving at Terminals 7 and 8.

Taxi companies at LAX

The following taxi companies are authorised to operate at LAX:

• Beverly Hills Cab Company
• United Independent Taxi Drivers (UITD)
• United Taxi of San Fernando Valley (UTSFV)
• LA City Cab
• LA Yellow Cab
• United Checker Cab

Booking a taxi at LAX

Taxis can be booked in advance or on arrival at the airport. Some of the taxi companies operating at LAX have apps, such as LA City Cab and RideYellow, which allow you to book a taxi in advance. Alternatively, you can call a taxi dispatch number to book over the phone. At the airport, taxis can be hailed from the designated pickup areas.

Other transport options from LAX airport

There are several other transport options available from LAX airport, including shuttle buses, public transport, and rental cars.

Shuttle buses

Shuttle buses are a popular option for transport to and from LAX airport. Shuttle services include SuperShuttle, which offers upfront pricing and direct rides to and from the airport. SuperShuttle also provides a shared ride service, which makes multiple stops and is ideal for budget-conscious travellers.

Another shuttle option is the LAX FlyAway bus, which offers nonstop bus services to and from LAX and Union Station and Van Nuys. The FlyAway bus service costs $9.75 one way, and buses depart from the Lower/Arrivals Level in front of each terminal.

Public transport

Several public transport providers serve LAX, including L.A. Metro, Culver City Bus Lines, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Torrance Transit, and Beach Cities Transit. Free shuttle bus services are also provided between LAX terminals and the LAX City Bus Center and the Metro C Line at Aviation Station.

Rental cars

Rental car offices are located off-airport, and courtesy shuttles are provided to and from the airport. Rental car shuttles can be found at the purple "Rental Car Shuttles" sign on the Lower/Arrivals Level outside baggage claim.

Other options

Frequently asked questions