Airport Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX, is the world's sixth-busiest airport, handling nearly 60 million passengers a year. It is efficient, with small, easy-to-use terminals, and is located 15 miles from downtown LA between Marina del Rey and Manhattan Beach. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to drive, depending on the traffic.
Make your own arrangements in advance for transport to and from the airport
Distance from city centre
15 miles (24km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Airport parking
There are eight short-stay (and expensive) car parks within the main concourse building and two long-stay parks situated on 96th Street and Sepulveda Boulevard and 111th St and La Cienega Boulevard. A free bus service runs between these long-stay car parks and the terminals. There is a free 24-hour Cell Phone Waiting Lot at 9011 Airport Boulevard for drivers picking up passengers. Valet parking is available at Terminal 4. Reserve your parking space online.
Specific airport features
Heightened security regulations make check-in and immigration queues tediously overlong so expect a long wait at immigration and allow three hours to check in for international flights. Note also that, if you move between terminals, you will need to pass through security screening again. Only ticketed passengers are allowed past security.
Airport code
LAX
Airport telephone number
+1 310 646 5252
Airport website
Transfer airport
If you fly to this destination, it is possible that you will have to transfer at one or more of these airports:
Amsterdam -Schiphol
Paris -Charles de Gaulle
Minneapolis -St. Paul
Detroit -Metropolitan Wayne County
Click on the link for more information about this airport.
Terminals
KLM operates out of Terminal 2, with flights bound for Dutch destinations. Fly to Amsterdam Schiphol to connect with long-haul and pan-European flights.
No. of terminals
Nine terminals, all arranged around a rectangular concourse.
Transport between terminals
All nine terminals are served by shuttle bus travelling every 12-15 minutes around the central loop. Look for blue signs showing Shuttle Bus A on the Arrivals level of each terminal and allow at least 30 minutes to transfer.
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 serves domestic flights from small US carriers.
Terminal 2
A combination of long-haul flights for international carriers, including KLM, and domestic flights, operate from Terminal 2.
Terminal 3
Terminal 3 is for predominantly domestic commuter flights.
Tom Bradley International Terminal
Tom Bradley International Terminal is home to most major international long-haul carriers, including many to the Far East.
Terminal 4
Terminal 4 runs US domestic and long-haul departures to Australasia.
Terminal 5
Long- and short-haul domestic carriers and Mexican airlines arrive from Terminal 5.
Terminal 6
Long- and short-haul domestic flights fly from Terminal 6.
Terminal 7
Terminal 7 is for long- and short-haul domestic airlines.
Terminal 8
Long- and short-haul domestic airlines operate from Terminal 8.
