Frequently Asked Questions

Enhanced federally mandated security measures are in place at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The new measures require travelers to be aware of changes in baggage check-in and security screening. They also require extra travel time. Please call your airline to confirm your flight before going to the airport and to receive its recommendation on when you should arrive at the airport. Flight schedules vary throughout the day and, in general, flights scheduled during LAX's daily peak travel periods when more flights are scheduled (6:30 am to 9:00 am for domestic flights, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm for domestic and international flights) will require passengers to allot more time for ticketing, baggage check-in and security screening. To be specific to CA wait time, you can find it here.

Yes. The curbside drop off is permitted, but waiting or parking is prohibited.

No. Federal regulations now prohibit non-ticketed persons beyond passenger security screening at all U.S. airports. Please meet your arriving party in the terminal baggage claim area or terminal curbside. Announcements are made to arriving passengers that they can meet their welcoming parties in these two areas. Airlines will accommodate requests by individuals meeting passengers with special needs, elderly, and unaccompanied minors. Please check with the airlines directly.

LAX's parking lots do not accept parking reservations. LAX provides extensive parking options in the Central Terminal Area (which offers covered parking in structures across from the airline terminals) and in which you are encouraged to use to help avoid vehicle congestion around the terminals. 

For specific parking availability and traffic conditions on the day of your travel, tune in to the LAX Travelers Information Service radio station at AM 530. Or, to view traffic conditions in "real-time" at LAX and on surrounding streets, log onto http://trafficinfo.lacity.org/html/lax.html. To find out more about LAX parking, visit  Parking

To increase the convenience, speed and reliability of your trip to LAX, you might want to consider other options other than driving to get to the airport. You can obtain information about a number of transportation alternatives at  Ground Transportation.

Extra-wide parking spaces, identified by symbol or marked "Disabled Parking," are conveniently located immediately adjacent to elevators on every level of all LAX terminal parking structures.

Vehicles with disabled placards or license plates have always been allowed to park in the parking structures where preferential locations near ramps and elevators have been designated for their exclusive use.

Free shuttle bus service is provided to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - Metro Rail Green Line Aviation Station. If you wish to use this shuttle bus service, please wait under the LAX Shuttle & Airline Connections blue sign on the Lower/Arrival Level islands in front of each terminal, and board the "G" Shuttle.

You also can take the "E" Shuttle from the same pick-up point to get to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bus Center, where you can board city buses serving the Los Angeles area. Information on city bus services is available by telephone on the Information Display Board in the baggage claim area in each terminal. In addition, you can obtain local transit information by calling 323 GO METRO or 323 466 3876.

Other public bus authorities serving LAX are Culver City Bus Lines, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, and Torrance Transit. (Click on each bus line name for contact information.) You can pick up these buses at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bus Center in Economy Lot E.

To plan a trip using public transportation, click here to access the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority's Trip Planner Service.

Rental Cars 
Approximately 40 rental car companies operate out of LAX, with vehicle rental sites located off the airport. Many of these rental car companies provide phone links inside the Lower/Arrival Level area of the terminals so you can request a shuttle pick up to reach the rental car sites.

Ten rental car companies are permitted to pick-up and drop-off their customers directly from the airline terminals using courtesy shuttles. These are the following companies:

• Advantage
• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Dollar
• Enterprise
• Hertz
• Fox/Payless
• National
• Thrifty

These companies are allowed to meet arriving customers under the purple sign "Rental Car Shuttles" on the Lower/Arrival level islands outside baggage claim.

Customers of other rental car companies should contact their rental car companies of choice using the Ground Transportation Telephone Boards in baggage claim areas of each terminal to arrange for pick-up.

These customers will use the free LAX Shuttle Bus to reach the Off-Airport Rental Car Terminal to meet their rental car courtesy shuttle. Customers should meet the LAX Shuttle Bus "Economy Lot E" on the Lower/Arrivals level island under the sign for LAX Shuttle to travel to the rental car terminal.

Click on the following for a list of rental car companies serving LAX. 
[ Rental car companies serving LAX]

Scheduled Buses 
The following scheduled buses provide service from LAX to various parts of Los Angeles and some surrounding regions. You are encouraged to contact the companies first for more information. These buses pick up passengers on the Lower/Arrival Level islands in front of each terminal under the green sign Buses & Long Distance Vans.

Click on each company name in this list for contact information.

• Airport Bus - Travels to Pasadena (home of the Rose Bowl and Rose Parade), about 28 miles (45 kilometers) northeast of LAX; to Anaheim (where Disneyland is located), about 32 miles (51 kilometers) southeast of LAX; and to Buena Park (where Knott's Berry Farm is located), approximately 28 miles (45 kilometers) southeast of LAX.
• Airport Bus of Bakersfield - Travels to Bakersfield, located about a two hours' drive north of Los Angeles.
• Antelope Valley Airport Express - Travels to Newhall, Palmdale and Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, with Lancaster (the furthest location) approximately 75 miles (121 kilometers) north of LAX.
• Metropolitan Express - Travels to downtown Los Angeles and to Union Station, about 19 miles (31 kilometers) northeast of LAX.
• Santa Barbara Airbus - Travels to Santa Barbara, plus nearby Goleta and Carpinteria. The drive to these areas (located northwest of LAX, along the sea coast) from the airport usually takes between one and a half to two hours.
• Ventura County Airporter - Travels to Ventura and Oxnard, on the sea coast about one hour to one hour and a half northwest of LAX.

Shared Ride Vans 
Two shared ride van companies, Prime Time Shuttle and SuperShuttle, operate out of LAX and are authorized to serve all Southern California counties. You are encouraged to contact the companies first for more information. (Click on the company names above for contact information.) These vans pick up passengers on the Lower/Arrival Level islands in front of each terminal under the orange sign Shared Ride Vans.

Taxis 
Taxis can be found curbside on the Lower/Arrival Level islands in front of each terminal under the yellow sign indicating Taxis. You will be presented with a ticket stating typical fares to major destinations. Only authorized taxis with an official seal issued by City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation on each vehicle are permitted in the airport. It is illegal for any transportation services to solicit fares, and travelers using such services do so at their own risk.

Click on the following for a list of taxi companies serving LAX. 
[ Taxis serving LAX]

When you take a taxi from LAX, you will be presented with a ticket stating typical fares to major destinations. Only authorized taxis with an official seal, illustrated on each vehicle, are permitted in the airport.

Rates for buses, shared ride vans and long distance vans vary depending on where you are traveling, so you may want to check with the companies first on prices. (See the response to the question, "What kind of ground transportation is there at LAX?" for details on the different types of buses and shared ride and long distance vans available at the airport.)

Information on taxi service, with a link to taxis serving LAX, is located at Ground Transportation page. Information on shared ride vans, long distance vans and scheduled buses, also with a link to companies serving LAX, is at Ground Transportation.

Frequent, free shuttle bus service is provided between terminals (approximately every 12 to 15 minutes) to assist travelers in getting from one terminal to another. To use this service, board the Airline Connections "A" Shuttle under the LAX Shuttle & Airline Connections blue sign on the Lower/Arrival Level islands in front of each terminal.

If you decide to walk from one terminal to another, please look at the terminal map first at LAX Terminal Maps to get an idea of how far you need to go

Yes. People parking in the parking structures must pay for parking at the posted fee.

Free parking is no longer available anywhere at the airport for vehicles displaying disabled placards or license plates.

We do not currently have plans to provide this privilege.

The primary reasons for closing the metered lots were two-fold: (1) enhanced security by removing large vendor delivery trucks from terminal curbside and (2) the cost to operate the metered parking lots was continuing to rise and outstrip the revenues received from the meters. So, to a small degree, the cost for labor-intensive Airport Police resources to enforce parking lot use (not to exceed 2 hours) and to ensure legitimate use of disabled placard use, did contribute to the increased operating costs.

While LAX does not offer shower or exercise facilities, some gymnasiums are located near the airport. Check local phone listings to find more information. You will need ground transportation to visit one of these sites.

You can access a map of the entire LAX Central Terminal Area at  LAX Terminal Maps page. Once at that website page, you can view and print maps of each individual terminal by clicking on the appropriate area on the overall map. If you want to print the map, click on Help on How to Print on the main map page for instructions.

Contact the airline of the arriving person to request a page.

If you lost an item and are searching for your item while in the terminal, the best place to begin your search is by identifying when and where you last saw your item. Check with your airline, restaurants, taxis, buses and other service areas you visited before contacting LAX Lost and Found. The LAX Lost and Found receives found property Monday to Friday, excluding holidays and weekends. To make an inquiry with the LAX Lost and Found, click here.

LAX no longer has electronic lockers or oversize item storage service. For alternatives, visit the Tenant Directory and select Baggage Services for listings.

Volunteers -- called Volunteer Information Professionals or VIPs -- are located in information booths in each terminal on the Lower/Arrivals areas from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.  Easily found in their bright red jackets, the volunteers assist passengers with directions to various airport and community facilities; transportation and accommodations; and other airport-related information.  For more info or if you’d like to volunteer, please contact vip@lawa.org or (424)646-VIP1 (8471).

Luggage carts are located at all terminals upper and lower level.  $8 for the rental. Cash, debit and credit cards are accepted.

Real-Time flight arrival and departure information is available through our website. To access the Real-Time Flight information page, please click here.

Travelers need to contact airlines directly, or go through a travel agent, for fares and flight schedules. For a list of airlines at LAX, go to  hamburger menu, and click on Airlines List. Then select an airline to obtain its contact information.

Check directly with the air carrier or shipper. For a list of airlines at LAX, go to hamburger menu, and click on Airlines List. Then select an airline to obtain its contact information.

The amount of time it takes to get from one terminal to another depends on which terminals you are going to and from, and the time of day during which you are traveling. Your airline can give you some guidance on how much time to allow for connection to another flight.

In addition, you can look at the LAX terminal map at  Getting Around LAX to get an idea of how far you need to go to catch your next flight. (For assistance in properly printing out this map, click on Help on How to Print on the map page for instructions.)

To use LAX's frequent, free shuttle bus service between terminals to assist you in making a connection, board the Airline Connections "A" Shuttle (which operates on 12- to 15-minute intervals) under the LAX Shuttle & Airline Connections blue sign on the Lower/Arrival Level islands in front of each terminal. During peak travel periods, such as holidays, please allow extra time for travel between terminals in case some shuttle buses are full.

If you arrive on a flight at Terminals 5, 6, 7, or 8 and connecting to another flight within these terminals, you do not have to exit the secured side of TSA screening as these terminals are linked with passageways. However, if you arrive on a flight at Terminals 1, 2, 3, or the Tom Bradley International Terminals (Terminal B) and connecting to a flight at Terminals 5, 6, 7, or 8, you have to exit the secured side of TSA screening and the terminal and walk across to the terminal or board the Airline Connections “A” Shuttle (which operates on 12-15 minute intervals) under the LAX Shuttle & Airline Connections blue sign on the Lower/Arrivals Level islands in front of each terminal.

Please note that if your connecting flight requires you to exit the secured side of TSA screening and leave the terminal, TSA’s 3-1-1 policy for liquids and gels still applies as you will have to go through security screening again. If you purchased liquids or gels at a previous airport, pack them in your checked baggage if possible.

Visit the Transportation Security Administration page containing many frequently asked questions.

Many hotels are located within a mile (about one and a half kilometers) or less of LAX. Some (but not all) of the major streets with hotels on them include Airport Boulevard, Century Boulevard, La Cienega Boulevard, Manchester Boulevard, and Sepulveda Boulevard.

For a more complete list of hotels throughout Southern California, go to the LA Inc. The Convention & Visitors Bureau website at www.visitlosangeles.info and select the Accommodations link.

Numerous rental car companies serve LAX. For the names of these companies, go Rental Cars link in Ground Transportation. Doing so will bring up a list of rental car companies. You then can click on each one of the names for company contact information.

You can find a general map showing LAX's location in relation to other parts of the greater Los Angeles region at LAX Terminal Maps. If you click on the flashing yellow LAX area on this map, you can view another map showing the various LAX parking locations.

For directions to the airport from a specific location, go to LAX Terminal Maps. Once there, click on the Directions from LAX link to access an interactive map. Utilize the Use Address option on the map (both for origin and destination), and input the address from which you are departing. For LAX's address, in the destination section input 1 World Way (street address), Los Angeles (city), CA (state), and 90045 (zip code). Then hit Calculate Directions (after selecting the route type and display options) to receive your directions.

Go to Getting Around LAX and click on the Directions from LAX link. The LAX address information already will be input in the origin section. For all of the other airport destinations, keep the first destination tab on Use Address, and then input the following:

• For Ontario International Airport - 2900 East Airport Drive (street address), Ontario(city), CA (state), and 91761 (zip code).
• For Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport - 2627 North Hollywood Way (street address), Burbank (city), CA (state), and 91505 (zip code).
• For John Wayne Airport - 18601 Airport Way (street address), Santa Ana (city), CA(state), and 92707 (zip code).
• For Long Beach Airport - 4100 Donald Douglas Drive (street address), Long Beach(city), CA (state), and 90808 (zip code).

Once you input this information, select the route type and display options, and hit Calculate Directions for your information.

It is easy to find out using the interactive map on LAX's website. Go to LAX Terminal Maps, and click on the Directions from LAX link. The LAX address information already will be input in the origin section. Keep the Use Address option for the first destination tab, and then just type in your destination (street address, city and state), select the route type and display options, and hit Calculate Directions to obtain the information you need.

The Theme Building Observation Deck is currently closed due to construction at LAX. For specific inquiries regarding the deck, please contact laxpr@lawa.org.

You can access a general description, timeline, historical material, statistics and other LAX information at FAQ  page.

Every airport today has a unique three-letter identifier to streamline the process of tracking the millions of items of airport data transmitted daily, including flight plans and weather reports.

Before the 1930s, existing airports used a two-letter abbreviation based on the weather station at the airports. So, at that time, LA served as the designation for Los Angeles International Airport. But, with the rapid growth in the aviation industry, the designations expanded to three letters, and LA became LAX. The letter X does not otherwise have any specific meaning in this identifier.

Positions at LAX are filled through opportunities offered by both government and private employers. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), which owns and operates LAX, uses the civil service examination process conducted by the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department.

To find a list of jobs available in the City of Los Angeles, visit the Personnel Department's website at www.cityofla.org/.

Full-time and part-time passenger and baggage security screening positions at Los Angeles International Airport and Ontario International Airport are currently available with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), an agency of the U.S. government. If you would like more information about these positions or are interested in applying for a TSA job, please contact:

• On-line at www.tsa.gov
• Call toll-free 1-877-631-JOBS (5627)

Because LAX is operated by the City of Los Angeles, the city sets policies on issues like advertising. Currently, the city does not permit commercial advertising or organization displays at the airport.

You can E-mail LAX at Infoline@lawa.org, or use the website feedback located on the page.

Yes, LAX has small "Pet Parks" on the Lower/Arrivals Level of the Central Terminal area between Terminals 1-2 and at the southeast end of the Central Terminal Area near Terminals 7-8 (United Airlines) where pets can take a potty break. There's a little dog house there and a stand with plastic bags so owners can clean up after their animals, and a trash can. Pets cannot run free (i.e., unleashed) at the Terminals 7-8 location because it is still in the Central Terminal Area and the roadway runs alongside it. There is also a “Pet Park” beyond passenger security screening in the new Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).

The upper and lower level roadways have a vertical clearance of 13'-9".

Please click here to see report.