LAX Experience

[Steve Miller]

Please let me know your experience with the wait times at LAX. I am flying out in June and returning in July and need to arrange return air and I need to know how long to allow to get luggage, clear customs and check back in for the return flight. I have heard horror stories concerning long lines and rude staff.

Thanks.

 

[diversteve]

Please let me know your experience with the wait times at LAX. I am flying out in June and returning in July and need to arrange return air and I need to know how long to allow to get luggage, clear customs and check back in for the return flight. I have heard horror stories concerning long lines and rude staff.

Thanks.

I have no personal experience there but our divetravel agent told us to allow 2hrs. to clear customs at LAX last summer. We changed our plans to clear in San Juan instead.

 

[hermosadive]

Please let me know your experience with the wait times at LAX. I am flying out in June and returning in July and need to arrange return air and I need to know how long to allow to get luggage, clear customs and check back in for the return flight. I have heard horror stories concerning long lines and rude staff.

Thanks.

Allow the same time as you would at any major airport. There's nothing unsual about flying with your gear from LAX, just give yourself enough time. If you have a light cannon, you might want to read this new tread http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=91098

"Long lines and rude staff" usually go hand an hand with "long lines and rude passengers"

 

[xSandman3]

I refuse to go to LAX. I fly in and out of Ontario quite a bit, and never have to wait in line for anything for more than a few minutes.

 

[ChrisM]

I fly internationally a couple times a year, and domestically as well. Never have I had to wait any more than any other major airport, nor have I encountered much rudeness. If you are clearing customs in LAX, I have never had to wait more than an hour total, usually it's been about 1/2 hour

YMMV

 

[bigbadwolfe]

I came back from Fiji in Jan with a full plane and was out of customs in less than 45 min including the time waiting for my luggage. Perhaps I was lucky and traveling alone I did not have to wait on anyone else.

 

[RonDawg]

I travel a lot out of LAX, and yes the wait times through security can be pretty long. According to United Airlines, "peak period" waits can be as long as 45 minutes. They are being rather nice to the TSA. Arrive at the airport no later than 90 minutes before your flight if you have checked baggage, 2 hours if international. Personally I arrive 2 hrs and 3 hours before my flight for domestic and international respectively.

However in-aiport delays aren't just the issue; LAX is in a part of LA County (the South Bay) with the absolute WORST traffic. The I-405 (San Diego Freeway) which most people use to get to LAX has often been described as "America's longest parking lot." If you've ever heard stories about LA traffic and wanted to know if they're true, such as a "rush hour" that begins at 5 AM and ends some time after 8 PM, "The 405" as locals call it is the place to find out.

If you're lucky and are coming to/from LAX to points east or southeast, the I-105 (the freeway used in the filming of the movie "Speed" with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock) is somewhat better. However, the freeways that connect to the I-105, particularly I-5 coming from Orange County, are almost as bad as the I-405.

News is better coming back into LAX: I've flown several times from London, and find the US Customs and Immigration staff to be at least polite, if not downright friendly. For Virgin-Atlantic and United Airlines, I've found the waits to clear Customs/Immigration at LAX are no worse than at Chicago, Washington, or San Francisco. Of course YMMV.

As others have suggested, if you can fly into other LA airports such as Burbank, Ontario, or Long Beach it's better. Obviously these aren't available choices if you are flying internationally, unless you enter via another international airport such as San Francisco.

Also, if LAX is simply a connecting airport, allow a MINIMUM 2 hours between flights, 3 if you're coming back from an international flight. This is particularly true if flying into LAX on one airline and leaving on another.

 

[Steve Miller]

Thanks for the great information. I am taking you advice and booking the later return connection out of LAX.

Thank again,

Steve

 

[fdog]

Generally LAX is a nasty airport and we try to avoid it. When routing forces us, we've found it's a PITA to change airlines, and that the TSA is only marginally better than Orlando FL (this, BTW, is not a compliment). Clearing customs on the return has actually been not too bad. MIA has been our worst portal for US customs.

All the best, James

 

[Mo2vation]

Wow. Where's the love?

I fly out of LAX almost weekly - and to me, its one of the fastest, easiest airports in the country to navigate.

A lot of your wait time, etc. depends on your carrier, not the airport. I fly American mostly, and Delta second. Both have Kiosk check in - brainless and quick. Lately, I've een printing out my boarding docs the night before (!!!!) so there is no stop... right ot the gate, baby. I carry on, so no worries there. I have a zillion miles on American, so check in is quick through their dedicated FF area - gets you into the security line via a back entrance... very cool.

One of the best things about LAX is they have security check points in each terminal - as opposed to many airports (ahem - ATLANTA) that has one general checkpoint for ALL outbound flights. That completely blows. I've waited up to 2 hours at ATL more than once.

With LAX there are no wacky trains to board - you check in, and walk to the gate - always a plus over many airports (ahem - ATLANTA, DFW) as the gates are in the terminal / ticketing area.

Honestly, LAX is very small. If you have to change planes within the same carrier, its an easy walk, unlike many airports (ahem - O'-freaking-HARE, DFW.) If you have the change planes with other carriers, there are busses that roll along every few minutes to take you between the terminals - which are very close to each other if you don't want to walk.

LAX has very expensive on-site, at terminal parking (like all the rest), but they also have reasonable near-terminal parking and TONS of close, cheap off-site parking. Its LA - we know parking. The airport hotels are very close, unlike a lot of Airports (ahem - NEWARK, DF-friggen-W) I live in MDR / Westchester... bad news, I can hear my plane come in from my house. Good news, its like an $8 - $9 cab ride. I never drive to LAX.

The International terminal is a little funky, and I've only been through there about half-a-dozen times, but I've never had a problem. We've always wisked in and through.

At LAX you get jet bridges for all major airlines, unlike a lot of local airports (ahem - Long Beach and Burbank) where you're on the tarmak walking up a ladder like Airforce One. But even that beats walking the dirt like Cowtario.

Warning: If you're on SouthWest, pack a lunch. They're terminal one, the only profitable airline in the Sky and have grown beyond the capacity of the building... if you're going out on a Monday AM on Southwest, you're gonna be backed up to Virgin in terminal two. Hope it isn't raining....

LAX rules. Its managable, security check though is managed at the terminal level, not the airport level, and ticketing is in the same terminal as departure... so you walk to your gate - no train, or tram, or moving walkway. No jogging required.

---
Ken


PS: Ignore these Philistines, LAX is part of the fashionable Westside, not the South Bay. Please... its north of El Segundo :10: