OVERVIEW

REMOTE CHECK-IN

U.S. domestic travelers can obtain boarding passes and check baggage, for a $5 fee, at several locations before arriving at the airport:

  • Van Nuys FlyAway Bus Terminal
  • Los Angeles Convention Center
  • Union Station FlyAway
  • Westwood FlyAway station
  • Port of Los Angeles Cruise Ship Terminal

DRIVING

LAX is about 15 miles from downtown Los Angeles, but it can take 35 to 40 minutes to get from one point to the other, depending on the city's infamous traffic.

Drivers meeting arriving passengers can wait for free at the LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot until the passengers are ready to be picked up. The lot is at 9011 Airport Boulevard near Arbor Vitae/Westchester Parkway, about five minutes from the Central Terminal Area.

PARKING

Cheapest: You can park for 2 hours for free in Lot B (111th Street and La Cienega Boulevard) and Lot C (96th Street and Sepulveda Boulevard). Otherwise, it's $8/day in B and $10/day in C. A free shuttle will take you from those lots to the main terminals.

Most convenient: It costs $30/day at the Central Terminal Area structures. Locals will tell you parking is more plentiful at off-site lots along Century Boulevard. They cost $11 to $14 a day.

Check rate information and parking maps.

LAX will restrict parking within 300 feet of the terminals when the U.S. government deems the national security risk "severe" or "high." Find the current risk level.

GROUND TRANSPORTATION

Train: A free shuttle (G) connects the airport to the Metro Rail system's Aviation station. The base fare for Metro Rail is $1.25. For more information, use the Metropolitan Transit Authority's Rider's Guide.

Cab: A taxi to downtown Los Angeles will run you about $30 - $35.

Shuttle: Door-to-door shuttles cost at least $15 -- and at least $25 if you're going to or from the Valley.

All car, taxi and shuttle services pick up passengers on the lower level.

RENTAL CARS

About 40 rental companies serve LAX, including Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, Fox/Payless, National and 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 for the others can use the LAX Shuttle Bus that stops at Parking Lot C to reach the rental car facilities.

GETTING AROUND THE AIRPORT

LAX Shuttle A circles the lower level and provides free transportation among terminals.

Shuttle A is equipped with a wheelchair lift for travelers with disabilities.When airline assistance is not available, contact the wheelchair shuttle service at Parking Lot C at (310) 646-6402 or (310) 646-8021.

Navigate the airport with terminal maps.

AMENITIES/USEFUL INFO

Internet access: Neptune Networks has over 60 kiosks in Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 6.

The Travel Right Cafe in Terminal 4 Departure Level offers free Internet access to travelers with laptop computers or other devices configured for Internet access.The cafe has 48 ports/phone jacks and electrical outlets accommodating up to 68 users. Customers with a toll-free or local 310 area code access number from their Internet Service Provider (ISP), such as America Online or Microsoft Network, can make the connection for free. The customer is subject to ISP customary per-minute fees, if applicable.

Traveler assistance: LAX Ambassadors -- wearing white polo shirts, khaki pants, navy blue windbreakers and white visors -- are available between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. to answer questions, offer help and give directions.

First aid: Upper/Departure Level of the Tom Bradley International Terminal, open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call (310) 215-6000.

Lost and found: Lost and Found at (310) 417-0440. The Lost and Found hours are Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time. It is located at 5600 W. Century Blvd.

ATMs: American Airlines Federal Credit Union operates ATMs located in each terminal on the Upper/Departure and Lower/Arrival levels.

Airport Insider
  • The familiar, futuristic Theme Building at LAX has a pan-Asian restaurant, Encounter, with live music on weekends. The top of the building also has an observation deck.
  • A 24-Hour Fitness Club is less than a mile away at 5959 Century Blvd., and a day pass is $10.  
  • Sample an array of ales at Gordon Biersch Brewery in Terminal 1, Redondo Beach Brewing Co. in Terminal 6, and San Diego's Karl Strauss Microbrewery in Terminal 7.
  • If you're into real surfing -- not just the Web variety -- visit Venice, Hermosa, Manhattan and Redondo beaches about 5 to 7 miles south of the airport.