Los Angeles International Airport (also called LAX) is the second busiest airport in the United States, after Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), and the fourth busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic. Spread on 3,500 acres to the southwest of the city, this enormous travel hub handles over 85 million passengers every year and is only expected to get busier. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has nearly doubled its passenger volume in the past decade, yet its sophisticated infrastructure has kept up with the demand.
Most beaches, towns, and mountains dotting the West Coast can be reached with a quick flight from Los Angeles International Airport. For example, you can reach the Playa del Rey beaches in under 10 minutes, the city center in under 30 minutes, and palm tree-lined San Diego in under 2 hours. Also within driving distance are Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, and Las Vegas. For parking related lots, you can visit our LAX parking page.
Gates 9–18B in Terminal 1 are used by Southwest Airlines (except for foreign arrivals). In addition, there are restaurants and cafes located in the food court on the Departure Level of Terminal 1. An ATM, interactive Visitors Centers, baggage carts, Volunteer Information Professionals, Hudson Newsstand, and a Dunkin' Donuts Express are also available on the Arrival Level of Terminal 1.
Only Southwest Airlines operates out of LAX Terminal 1.
Gates 21A–28 are located in Terminal 2. Terminal 2 features a shopping concourse, a dining patio, and "The Strand," an LAX eatery, bar, and shopping mezzanine. Those flying Upper Class on a Virgin Atlantic flight between London Heathrow and Los Angeles International Airport can take advantage of the airline's new Clubhouse Lounge at no additional cost.
On the Departures Level of Terminal 2, you may find restaurants, bars, shops (including a duty-free store and an ICE currency exchange), a nursing room, and free Wi-Fi. There is currently a separation between airline check-in activities in the lobby where tickets are sold. At Terminal 2's Arrivals Level, you can use an ATM, exchange currencies, utilize a luggage cart, speak with a volunteer information specialist, watch a Univision broadcast, or grab a coffee from Starbucks.
Gates 30-39 are located in Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport, with Gate 30 located immediately after the security check. On the Departures level of T3, you'll find a food court with a Burger King, a Starbucks, two other restaurants, a Hudson's News shop, newsstands, a DFS Duty-free, and an ICE currency exchange.
A cash machine, interactive Visitors Centers, baggage vehicles, and Volunteer Info Professionals can all be found on the Arrivals level of LAX Terminal 3. Also, the courtyard past Gate 30 has been converted into a service-animal relieving facility. Gate 30 is also close to a Point The Way Cafe, Angel City Brewery, Peet's Coffee, Blue Window LA, and Starbucks.
Gates 41–49A are located in LAX Terminal 4, which serves American and American Eagle. At present, the Departures Level of Terminal 4 is home to a food court with six different eateries, two additional restaurants, a DFS Duty-Free shop, six other shops, and an ICE currency exchange. In addition, there is an ATM, an Interactive Visitors Center, baggage carts, a Starbucks, and volunteer information specialists on the Arrivals level of LAX Terminal 4.
You can get to the north end of the gateway and gates 46A through 47A once you've gone through TSA screening. Near gate 43, you'll find the American Airlines Admirals Club. The Alaska Airlines boardroom is located up several stairs.
To avoid having to go through customs again, arriving passengers can take advantage of the new Terminal 4 Connector that links the south sides of T4 through T8 to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), skipping that process altogether.
Only American Airlines operates out of LAX Terminal 1.
There are fifty-nine gates in Terminal 5 for American and American Eagle passengers. In addition, there are four restaurants, five other food and drink outlets, a duty-free shop, five other shops, an ICE currency exchange, and a nursing room on the Departures Level of Terminal 5.
An ATM, two visitor centers with interactive exhibits, baggage carts, a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and a team of volunteer information specialists may all be found on the Arrivals Level of Terminal 5. Gates 51A, 51B, and 50B can be found to the left of the security checkpoint; gates 2A and B, and gates 53A and B, can be found on opposing sides of the gateway; and gates 51A and 59 can be found surrounding the northern end of the entrance.
Gates 60-69 in Terminal 6 are used by many airlines, including Air Canada, Alaska, Copa (only for departures), and others. You'll find Delta's eight check-in desks west of the main building's escalators. In addition, find the ICE currency exchange and the Hudson News & DFS Duty-free shop on Terminal 6's Departures Level.
After passing through TSA, travellers will enter a "downtown LA" zone where they may shop, dine, and people-watch at Sunset Plaza before proceeding to the "Sunset Strip" and "Garden Terraze" areas. The terminals, now resembling beaches with other food and shopping options, are where passengers say goodbye. ATMs, interactive Visitors Centers, baggage carts, and Volunteer Info Professionals are all available on the Arrivals level of Terminal 6. The atrium, with a relief space for service animals, is located past Gate 62.
Terminals 7 and 8 have shared Arrivals and Departures areas, but after passing through security, passengers are directed to their respective concourses, each of which houses a different airline's gates and additional amenities and services.
In the Arrivals area of T7/T8, you'll find an ATM, a currency exchange, an interactive Visitors Center, baggage trolleys, and volunteer information specialists; in the Departures area of T7/T8, you can check in and use the security checkpoint and one of two gates.
United Airlines Red Carpet Club is close to Gate 70A, and the airline's Customer Service desk is next to Gate 71B.
The Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (Terminal B) is also known as TBIT Terminal and TB. It occupies the westernmost part of the space between Terminals 3 and 4. The annual capacity of Tom Bradley International Terminal is over 10 million people.
After passing through security, families with children under the age of eight can enjoy LAX Beach, a huge children's play area, and 60 upscale shops and restaurants on the Terminal Retail & Dining Deck.
Customs officials at TBITs use color-coded placards to direct arriving passengers to their offices. In addition, baggage claim, a FIS passport control facility, ATMs, ICE currency exchange, visitor centers, Smart Carte baggage carts, family restrooms, Airport Volunteers, and VIP services may all be found on this floor.
Hotel shuttles, shared ride vans, taxis, FlyAway, buses, long-distance Vans, LAX shuttle buses, and rental vehicle shuttles all stop at certain locations outside the hotel, and signs of varying colors indicate these locations. In addition, airport Terminal 3 transfer customers can use the safe passageway.
Lounge | Location | Hours of Operation |
---|---|---|
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge | Terminal 6, near gate 65B | Daily: 4:30 am to 9:45 pm |
Alaska Airlines Lounge | Terminal 6, near gate 64B | Sunday to Thursday: 4:30 am to 8 pm Friday and Saturday: 4:30 am to 11 pm |
American Admirals Club | Regional Terminal, near gate 52D | Daily: 5:15 am to 10:30 pm |
Terminal 4, near gate 40 | Daily: 4 am to 12:45 am | |
Terminal 5, near gate 53B | Daily: 4:45 am to 12 am | |
American Flagship Lounge | Terminal 4, near gate 40 | Daily: 4 am to 12:45 am |
Centurion Lounge | Terminal B, on the left after security | Daily: 7 am to 3 pm |
Delta Sky Club | Terminal 2, near gate 23A | Daily: 4:30 am to 12:30 am |
Terminal 3 (north), near gate 34 | Daily: 4:30 am to 12:30 am | |
Terminal 3 (south), mezzanine level | Daily: 6 am to 10 pm | |
Emirates Lounge | Terminal B, Level 6 lounges | Daily: 12:40 pm to 4:40 pm |
Etihad Airways Lounge | Terminal B, Level 6 lounges | Daily: 1:30 pm to 4:55 pm |
Korean Air/SkyTeam Lounge | Terminal B, Level 5 lounges | Daily: 12 pm to 6 pm |
LA International Lounge | Terminal B, Level 6 lounges | Daily: 6 am to the last departure |
Oneworld International Business Lounge | Regional Terminal, opposite gate 52D | Daily: 6:30 am to 11:30 pm |
Qantas Lounge | Terminal B, Level 5 lounges | Daily: 6:30 am to 11:30 am |
Star Alliance Lounge | Terminal B, Level 6 lounges | Daily: first departure to 12:30 am |
United Club | Terminal 7, near gate 71A | Daily: 4:30 am to 12:15 am |
United Polaris Lounge | Terminal 7, near gate 73 | Daily: 6:45 am to 10:15 pm |
USO Lounge (Free for Active Military) | Center Way, LAX Theme Building, ground floor | Daily: 4 am to 10 pm |
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse | Terminal 2 | Daily: 5 am to the last departure |
For more information on LAX lounges, read LAX Lounges – All You Need to Know - Way
Yes, you can walk between some of the terminals at LAX.Terminal 4, the Tom Bradley Terminal, Terminals 5, 6, 7, and 8 are all connected airside by an above-ground passage.
It takes around 6-10 minutes to walk between the terminal at LAX Airport.
Southwest operates out of Terminal 1 at LAX.
United Airlines operates out of Terminal 7 at LAX.
Delta operates out of Terminal 3 at LAX.
Spirit operates out of Terminal 5 at LAX.
Alaksa Airlines operates out LAX Terminal 6.
Hawaiian Airlines flies out of Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX.