Contact information and flight status
•lawa.org; 310-646-5252
•Twitter | Facebook
•Terminal map
•Current departures
•Current arrivals
Checkpoint savvy
Busiest times: Domestic terminals: 5 a.m. to 8 a.m.; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. International terminals: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. No real workarounds, as each terminal is a separate building.
Parking
Parking information: 310-646-5252.
Most convenient: Eight garages across from terminals, $30/day. (No valet.) Motorcycle parking free inside Central Terminal area parking structures. Charging stations (fee required for parking, charging is free) for electric vehicles located on lower/arrival level of parking structures 1 and 6 and Economy Lot 6.
Least expensive: Economy Lot C (at 96th St. and Sepulveda Blvd.), $12/day ($4 each hour or fraction of an hour). Free shuttle to terminals. LAX operates Park One public parking, adjacent to Terminal 1, $16.95/day. Valet (uncovered), $22.95. (Discounts for seniors and AAA members.) Shuttle to terminal.
Cellphone lot: NW corner of 96th Street and Vicksburg Avenue, by southwest corner of Economy Parking Lot C. No amenities.
Transportation to/from city
Most convenient: A taxi to downtown Los Angeles, about 20 miles away, will cost about $50 and take between 35 and 50 minutes, depending on traffic. Uber and Lyft are permitted to operate at LAX and a ride to downtown is estimated at about $30 outside of peak hours.
Least expensive: LAX FlyAway bus offers regularly scheduled round-trips between LAX and Union Station (Downtown Los Angeles), Van Nuys (San Fernando Valley), Westwood (West Los Angeles), Santa Monica, Hollywood, Long Beach and the Orange Line.
Wi-Fi and charging stations
Forty-five minutes of complimentary Wi-Fi available in all terminals. (Click "Get Free Access" on LAX Wi-Fi.) Additional/upgraded Wi-Fi available for a fee from Boingo.
Fifty-one free charging stations available throughout the terminals. Each station has four electrical outlets. In Terminal 6 and Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), half of all boarding-gate seats have outlets. Counter-type seating for work includes 40 at TBIT and 10 at T-6.
Go local
Best source for local gifts: Terminal 1: Sol Surf (surf wear/lifestyle items), I Love LA (souvenirs, travel items), Treat Me Sweet (candy). Terminal 5 (Delta): I Love LA, Ripcurl (surfing and snowboarding), Mattel Experience, Magic Johnson Sports and Farmers' Market (candies, fruits, nuts, sauces). See more options.
Best source for local food: Terminal 1: Rock & Brews (craft beers/American comfort food, in partnership with KISS bandmembers Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley), Pinkberry. Terminal 2: BUILT Custom-Built Burgers, Ciabatta Bar, Fresh Brothers, Pick-up Stix, SeaLegs Wine Bar, Slapfish Restaurant. Terminal 3: Gladstone's 4 Fish Restaurant. Terminal 4: Kogi BBQ Food Truck (Chef Roy Choi), Sammy's Woodfired Pizza, Homeboy Café, Campanile, 8 oz Burgers, Real Food Daily (organic), Cole's (sandwiches), La Provence cafe. Terminal 5: Lemonade Restaurant, Skewers by Chef Morimoto, Ford's Filling Station (gastropub), Rock 'n Brews, L.A. Farmers Market and Loteria Grill. Terminal 7: B Grill by BOA Steakhouse, Wolfgang Puck Express, Loteria Grill, The Counter (burgers), BLD (breakfast/lunch/dinner), Yogurtland. Terminal 8: Engine Co. No. 28, Marmalade Café. Tom Bradley International Terminal: Ink.sack sandwiches, Border Grill, Umami Burger, Larder at Tavern, 800 Degrees pizza, Chaya, Petrossian Caviar & Champagne Bar, Vino Volo, Lucky Fish sushi, Vanilla Bake Shop, James' Beach, LA Mill. See more options.
Tips and tidbits
LAX has complimentary shoeshine stands (tips not included) in each terminal. There’s one pet relief station post-security at Tom Bradley International Airport and three pre-security: on the Lower/Arrivals Level between Terminals 1 and 2, next to Parking Structure P6 across from Terminal 6, and at the southeast end of Terminals 7 and 8.
The Outdoor Observation Deck at the top of the Theme Building is open Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nearby layover options
A free airport museum, the Flight Path Learning Center, is on the south side of the airport; a short cab ride from the terminals.
Westchester Golf Course is adjacent to LAX and is open until 10 pm.
In-N-Out Burger is adjacent to a small park popular with plane spotters. (Take the free shuttle to Economy Lot C and cross the street at 96th St. and Sepulveda Blvd.)
Dockweiler State Beach, under LAX flight paths, is a 7-minute cab ride from the terminals. There are restrooms, snack bar and outdoor showers.
The Ocean Express Trolley leaves from Century Blvd. for Manhattan Beach Pier, Manhattan Beach and El Segundo Plaza.
Your tips and picks?
Please share your time and money-saving tips, favorite restaurants, bars and stores in comments below.
These guides are written by Harriet Baskas, who is the author of six books, including the airport guidebook Stuck at the Airport and a blog of the same name.
