Roberta Aguirre
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has a U-shaped layout, with parking lots and ground transportation located inside the U, and 8 terminals on the outside. All areas inside the U have landside access (pre-security), where passengers and non-passengers are permitted. However, federal regulations prohibit non-ticketed persons from going beyond the passenger security screening at all US airports. To get between terminals, passengers can use the free shuttle bus service, which runs in a counterclockwise loop every 10 minutes, or walk via the outdoor sidewalks or through the garages between the northern and southern terminals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of terminals | 9 (Terminals 1-8 and Tom Bradley International Terminal) |
| Terminal layout | U-shaped |
| Parking lots and ground transportation | Inside the U |
| Terminals on the north side | 1 and 3 |
| Terminals on the south side | 4-8 |
| Terminal on the west side | Tom Bradley International Terminal |
| Areas with landside access | All areas inside the U |
| Security checkpoints | Every terminal except Terminals 7 and 8 (which share a checkpoint) |
| Recommended arrival time for domestic flight departure | 2 hours before |
| Recommended arrival time for international flight departure | 3 hours before |
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What You'll Learn
- LAX is open 24 hours a day, but check-in and security screening have limited operating hours
- Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B) is the primary international terminal
- Terminals 1 and 3 are on the north side, Terminals 4-8 are on the south, and Terminal B is on the west
- There are various lounges in the airport, including the Centurion Lounge and the Emirates Lounge
- LAX is undergoing a $15 billion modernisation program, including a new centralised area for taxi and rideshare pick-ups
LAX is open 24 hours a day, but check-in and security screening have limited operating hours
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is open 24 hours a day. However, check-in and security screening services have limited operating hours. The operating hours of check-in and security screening services depend on flight schedules for each terminal. Typically, these services are available between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. and closed between 11:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m., Pacific Time.
LAX has nine passenger terminals, designated as Terminals 1 through 8, in addition to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B). Terminal 2 still operates, but gates 20 to 28 have been incorporated into Terminal 3. WestJet customers can check in at Terminal 2 but must depart from gates in Terminal 3.
Each terminal at LAX has a security checkpoint, except for Terminals 7 and 8, which share a checkpoint. Terminal 1, Terminals 3, 4, 7, and Terminal B have upgraded their security checkpoints, with Terminal B introducing 14 automated screening lanes. Passengers can check estimated security wait times online.
LAX has a U-shaped layout, with parking lots, ground transportation, and airport parking inside the "U," and terminals located on the outside. Flight departures are on the upper level, while arrivals are on the lower level. Passengers can walk between terminals via airside walkways without having to pass through security again. Additionally, a free LAX-it landside shuttle bus runs on a loop, stopping at all terminals.
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Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B) is the primary international terminal
The Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B) is the primary international terminal at LAX, located on the airport's west side. It is named in honour of Tom Bradley, the first black and longest-serving mayor of Los Angeles, and a champion of LAX. Terminal B has connector bridges to Terminal 4 and Terminal 3 for easy connections to the southern and northern terminals. The terminal features a central "Great Hall" with premier dining, retail shopping, luxurious airline club lounges, and other amenities for travellers, such as pet relief areas, nursing rooms, and children's play areas.
The Tom Bradley International Terminal has nine lounges, three of which are operated by major airline alliances (Oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance). The remaining lounges are operated by American Express, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, and Qantas, alongside the independent "Los Angeles International Lounge". The terminal's west gates are beyond the first concourse and have 15 gates, numbered 201A, 201B, 202 to 208, 209A, 209B, 210A, 210B, 221, and 225. This concourse has a small selection of shops and restaurants. However, passengers can use the concessions in the Great Hall before heading to the west gates.
The Tom Bradley International Terminal underwent a $1.9 billion modernisation in 2013, creating a world-class experience for travellers. In May 2021, the new $1.73 billion West Gates (Gates 201-225) opened, equipped with the latest technology and innovations. Terminal B has 40 gates in total, numbered 130-225, and hosts more than 45 airlines, primarily foreign carriers.
Passengers can ride the inter-terminal shuttle bus from the lower level of the west gates to Terminal 1. However, walking to the next terminal may be quicker and easier than catching the shuttle bus, especially as LAX is under construction and roadways are congested. It takes around 5 to 8 minutes to walk between each terminal.
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Terminals 1 and 3 are on the north side, Terminals 4-8 are on the south, and Terminal B is on the west
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has a U-shaped layout, with a double-level road and airport parking inside the "U" and outside terminals. The airport has 9 terminals, including Terminals 1 through 8 and Terminal B (Tom Bradley International Terminal). Terminals 1 and 3 are on the north side, Terminals 4 through 8 are on the south, and Terminal B is on the west.
Terminal 1 is on the northwest side of the airport and has 13 gates, numbered 9, 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, and 13 through 18 (including A and B suffixes). Terminal 2 still operates, but gates 20 to 28 have been absorbed into Terminal 3. WestJet customers can check in at Terminal 2 but must depart from gates in Terminal 3.
Terminal B, located on the west side of the airport, is the primary international flight terminal. It has 15 west gates, numbered 201A, 201B, 202 to 208, 209A, 209B, 210A, 210B, 221, and 225. The west gates are accessible through a long walkway from the Great Hall, where passengers can find shops and restaurants. Terminal B has connector bridges to Terminals 3 and 4, allowing easy connections to the northern and southern terminals.
Terminals 4 through 8 are on the south side of the airport. Terminal 4 provides access to Terminals B, 3, and 1 via airside connectors. Terminal 7 and 8 share a security checkpoint and a baggage claim area, and they are considered separate terminals with distinct gate numbers.
Passengers can walk between all the terminals via airside walkways without passing through security again. The walkways connect the terminals in the following order: Terminal 1, Terminal 3, Terminal B, Terminal 4, Terminal 5, Terminal 6, Terminal 7, and Terminal 8. Additionally, there is a free LAX-it landside shuttle bus that runs on a loop, stopping at all terminals.
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There are various lounges in the airport, including the Centurion Lounge and the Emirates Lounge
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has a U-shaped layout, with parking lots and ground transportation inside the U, and 8 terminals on the outside, as well as the Regional Terminal and Terminal B (Tom Bradley International Terminal). Each terminal has a security checkpoint, except for Terminals 7 and 8, which share a checkpoint. Passengers can walk between all the terminals without passing through security again.
LAX has various lounges, including the Centurion Lounge and the Emirates Lounge. The Centurion Lounge can be found on level 2 of the Tom Bradley International Terminal. It has a manned bar, with a bartender who can make cocktails, and a 'secret area' for families. The Emirates Lounge is located on level 6.
The Oneworld Lounge, located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, is another lounge option. It has a large rectangular bar with leather seating, self-pour wine, beer, spirits, tea, and coffee. The lounge is beautifully designed and atmospheric, with low lighting and unique pieces of furniture.
The Delta Sky Club is another lounge option, located in Terminal 3. This lounge is very quiet and relaxed, with no crowds, as only passengers travelling on Delta One or an equivalent can enter.
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LAX is undergoing a $15 billion modernisation program, including a new centralised area for taxi and rideshare pick-ups
LAX, or Los Angeles International Airport, is undergoing a $15 billion modernisation program, which includes a new centralised area for taxi and rideshare pick-ups. The airport has long been ranked as one of the nation's most congested and difficult to navigate. The modernisation program is a response to this, aiming to transform the way people use LAX.
The new centralised area for taxi and rideshare pick-ups is called LAX-it (pronounced LA Exit). This area is designed to reduce traffic congestion and allow faster, easier access to and from the airport. The LAX-it shuttle is free, fast, and ADA accessible, with some shuttles having low floors and ramps for wheelchairs, and others with stairs and wheelchair lifts. There are also ADA-friendly restrooms at LAX-it. For those with visual impairments, a Customer Service Agent can be called ahead of time to assist with boarding a taxi or rideshare app service.
The modernisation program also includes a $2.6 billion automated people mover system, a $1.5 billion consolidated car rental facility, and a $900 million station to connect the airport to the regional train network. This station will be connected to the LAX West Intermodal Transportation Facility (West ITF), a $294.1 million parking structure with a lot for pick-up and drop-off, as well as areas for shuttle buses. The upcoming Airfield & Terminal Modernization Project (ATMP), scheduled for 2028, includes roadway improvements, with an elevated roadway system to separate airport traffic from local traffic.
In addition to these transportation improvements, four of the nine existing terminals are being completely renovated, and a new $1.7 billion concourse has opened behind the Tom Bradley International Terminal. A $2.5 billion extension of Terminal 1 and a new $4.5 billion Terminal 9 are also in the planning stages. These improvements are part of the $15 billion second phase of the airport's capital improvement program, which is the largest modernisation program at an existing airport in the nation's history.
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Frequently asked questions
The fastest way to get between terminals at LAX is to walk. It takes around 5 to 8 minutes to walk between each terminal. You can also take the free LAX-it landside shuttle bus, which runs on a loop every few minutes and stops at all terminals.
LAX has a variety of lounges, restaurants, cafes, shops, and retail areas in its terminals.
It is recommended that passengers arrive at LAX two hours before a domestic flight departure and three hours before an international flight departure.
