Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — Terminals, Lounges & Travel Tips
Los Angeles, CA, United States · LAX
Terminal Guide
| Terminal | Airlines |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Southwest |
| Terminal 2 | WestJet, Volaris, Aeromexico, Sun Country |
| Terminal 3 | Delta domestic, Spirit, Alaska domestic connections |
| Terminal 4 | American Airlines domestic |
| Terminal 5 | American Airlines, Delta international, Alaska, Frontier |
| Terminal 6 | American, Alaska Airlines |
| Terminal 7 | United domestic |
| Terminal 8 | United international |
| Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT/B) | International carriers: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, JAL, Qantas, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines |
Getting There — Ground Transportation
- FlyAway Bus: Direct bus service to Union Station (~35 min, $9.75), Hollywood/Vine, Van Nuys, and Long Beach. Departs from Lower/Arrival level.
- Rideshare: Uber and Lyft pickup from the LAX-it lot, a short walk or free shuttle from terminals. Not allowed at terminal curbs.
- Taxi: Regulated flat rates: $58 to Downtown LA, $37 to Santa Monica. Available at the LAX-it lot.
- Metro Bus: Metro Bus Line 111 (free Shuttle C to Aviation/LAX station) connects to the Metro Green Line and Blue Line for budget travel.
- Car Rental: Consolidated rental car facility accessed via free shuttle from any terminal's lower level.
Airport Lounge Directory
| Lounge | Location | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Centurion Lounge | Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) | Amex Platinum, Centurion cards |
| Delta Sky Club | Terminal 3 | Delta Sky Club membership; Amex Platinum/Reserve (limited visits) |
| United Club | Terminal 7 | United Club membership, United Club card, business class on eligible flights |
| Alaska Airlines Lounge | Terminal 6 | Alaska MVP Gold 75K, MVPG, first/business class |
| American Admirals Club | Terminals 4 & 5 | Admirals Club membership, business class on select flights |
| British Airways Galleries Club | TBIT | BA Business/First class, BA Executive Club Gold, oneworld Emerald |
| Air France/KLM Lounge | TBIT | Business class on AF/KLM; Flying Blue Platinum; SkyTeam Elite Plus |
Pro Tips for LAX Travelers
- The LAX-it rideshare lot requires a short shuttle ride from terminals — build in 15–20 extra minutes vs. curbside pickup elsewhere.
- Avoid LAX during 4–8 pm on weekdays; the approach roads and terminals become severely congested.
- TSA PreCheck lanes are available at all terminals but can still be slow at peak times — arrive 2 hours early for domestic, 3 for international.
- The Tom Bradley International Terminal has the best duty-free shopping and dining, including Umami Burger and Barney's Beanery.
- Inter-terminal transfers require exiting security and re-entering — confirm you're in the right terminal before clearing TSA.
- Parking in city lots on Sepulveda Blvd (adjacent to the airport) costs $7–12/day vs. $40+ in airport structures.
- A new Metro K Line stop at LAX is expected to open by 2026 — check current construction status before planning rail travel.
Know Before You Land — LAX Checklist
Review these before your flight so you hit the ground running at Los Angeles.
- Confirm which terminal your airline uses — Los Angeles International Airport has 9 terminals and inter-terminal transfers may require re-clearing security.
- Rail is available: Metro Bus Line 111 (free Shuttle C to Aviation/LAX station) connects to the Metro Green Line and Blue Line for budget travel.
- Renting a car? Consolidated rental car facility accessed via free shuttle from any terminal's lower level.
- Amex Platinum/Centurion holders: Amex Centurion Lounge (Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT)), Delta Sky Club (Terminal 3).
- Multiple carriers — no single dominant hub hub: expect higher flight frequency and stronger upgrade/standby availability for Multiple carriers — no single dominant hub elite members.
- TSA PreCheck lanes are available at all terminals but can still be slow at peak times — arrive 2 hours early for domestic, 3 for international.