Arrive Early: Navigating Lax To Mexico Stress-Free

LAX and American Airlines recommend arriving at the airport three hours before your flight to Mexico. However, many travellers say that two hours is enough time, especially if you have no check-in luggage and your boarding pass is printed in advance. If you are travelling during peak times, such as 6:30 am to 9 am, 11 am to 2 pm, and 8 pm to 11 pm, you may want to arrive earlier.

Peak times at LAX are 6:30 am to 9 am, 9 am to 10 am, 11 am to 2 pm, and 8 pm to 11 pm

If you are flying internationally, there is a 3-hour advisory time, but if you have your boarding pass printed in advance and have no check-in luggage, 2 hours is enough. For domestic flights, 2 hours is also sufficient.

Some travellers recommend arriving at LAX 90 minutes before departure, especially if you don't have to park a car and have carry-on luggage only.

Two hours is enough time to check-in, drop off bags, go through security and find your gate

One traveller who flies to Mexico twice a year says that two hours is the most time they've ever spent at the airport before a flight, and that was only because they hit all the green lights on the way there. They recommend carrying on luggage and getting dropped off at the terminal, which will save time. Another traveller says that two hours is enough time, especially if you have your boarding pass printed in advance and have no check-in luggage.

If you are flying during peak times, which at LAX are 6:30 am to 9 am, 9 am to 10 am, 11 am to 2 pm, 5 pm to 6 pm, and 8 pm to 11 pm, or during holidays or special events, you may want to arrive earlier. The busiest times to fly out of LAX are 9 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 6 pm.

If you have your boarding pass printed and no check-in luggage, 90 minutes is enough time

One traveller who flies to Mexico twice a year says that 2 hours is the most time they have ever arrived at LAX, and that was because they hit all the green lights on the way there. They add that 90 minutes is "way more time than needed". Another traveller who has flown to Mexico several times says that they have "never done more than two hours".

If you are travelling during peak times, such as 6:30 am to 9 am, 11 am to 2 pm, and 8 pm to 11 pm, you may want to arrive earlier. The busiest times to fly out of LAX are 9 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 6 pm. If you have an early morning flight before 8 am, it should be quieter, and you can plan to arrive 2-3 hours before (2 hours for domestic flights and 3 hours for international flights).

The busiest times to fly out of LAX are 9 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 6 pm

It is recommended that you arrive at LAX 2-3 hours before your flight to Mexico. The busiest times to fly out of LAX are 9 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 6 pm, so you may want to arrive earlier if you are flying during these peak times.

If you are flying out of LAX, it is recommended that you arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight. This will give you enough time to check in, drop off your bags, go through security, and find your gate. However, if you are flying during peak times, such as 6:30 am to 9 am, 11 am to 2 pm, or 8 pm to 11 pm, you may want to arrive earlier to avoid long lines and crowds.

LAX is a large and busy airport, and it can take some time to get through security and reach your gate. It is always better to arrive earlier than later, especially if you are checking bags or have a long way to go to reach your gate. The airport's peak travel hours begin after 8 am and start to taper off after 10 pm, so if you are flying during these times, give yourself plenty of time.

Friday is the busiest day at LAX, and Monday is also a busy day. If you can, try to fly on a Sunday morning, when there are comparatively fewer crowds from 7:30 am to 10:30 am. The international terminals are often busiest between 11 am and 3 pm, and between 6 pm and 11 pm. The domestic terminals operate on a separate schedule, with rush hours from 5 am to 8 am, 11 am to 2 pm, and 5 pm to 7 pm.

If you have an early morning flight before 8 am, arrive 2-3 hours before

If you have an early morning flight from LAX to Mexico before 8 am, it is recommended that you arrive 2-3 hours before your flight. This is because the airport's peak travel hours begin after 8 am, with the busiest times to fly out of LAX being 9 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 6 pm.

If you are flying during these peak times, it is advised that you arrive earlier to allow enough time to check in, drop off your bags, go through security, and find your gate. The same applies if you are travelling during holidays or special events.

However, some travellers have suggested that two hours is more than enough time to arrive before an international flight to Mexico, especially if you have your boarding pass printed in advance and have no check-in luggage. One traveller who flies to Mexico twice a year says they have never arrived at LAX more than two hours before their flight. Another traveller who flies out of LAX often says that 90 minutes is enough time to get through security, although this may depend on whether you are travelling internationally or domestically.

Therefore, if you have an early morning flight before 8 am, arriving 2-3 hours before your flight should give you plenty of time to check in and make your way through the airport, even during peak travel hours.

Frequently asked questions