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LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 24 December 2008 : by K Simpson

Customer Rating :  3/5

I travelled through LAX from LHR in November. Arrivals immigration was, for want of a better word. 'dire'. I was almost interrogated about my visit by the immigration officer and whilst I understand the need for security, his demeanour was rude and could have been perceived as intimidating. I felt lucky that I have transited through LAX numerous times and knew how srtoppy some immigration officers can be. To a tourist arriving on a first visit, I would imagine they would be so put off, they wouldn't return. On a plus note, my baggage was one of the first off the carousel and I exited the airport quickly. My departure was non eventful. There is a distinct lack of shops and the surroundings are drab and tired. I have only rated this airport fair given that my luggage arrived quickly.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 15 December 2008 : by H Albertse

Customer Rating :  1/5

I have been around the world and through excellent, good, fair and poor airports. In my experience LAX is a total disgrace - and I live in a "so-called" Third World Country. I found T4 poor and Alaskan T3 very poor. There is not nearly enough space between the entrance to terminals and the check-in counters, in order to handle the hordes of passengers. Security was an absolute joke, with TSA staff clearly not in the mood to process as many pax possible in a timely fashion. Why in the world stall checked-in passengers on the ground floor at the crowded ID checkpoint, while there are inoperable carry-on-and passenger scanners on the first floor at security?? I find it extremely ironic that the airport of "the rich and famous" is such a hole in the ground and astounding that the people of LA actually put up with it. In the future, I will personally avoid LAX like the plague - it is a joke of an "airport" and not worth the discomfort and stress.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 2 December 2008 : by C McLain

Customer Rating :  1/5

I travel to LAX about 2 times a year from Heathrow and I dread it. Although I live in the UK, I am a dual passport holder (US/UK) and my husband has a British passport. It's a nightmare for him. They have a bad habit of using 2 carousels for the luggage so if you are travelling alone, and have more than one bag, it's very difficult to keep an eye on 2 carousels. The staff are often abrupt and the panhandlers annoying. Limited choice of food unless you love McDonalds and the Duty Free shopping is a complete joke.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 11 November 2008 : by A Mendoza

Customer Rating :  3/5

First trip to LAX in 4 years. I was pleasantly surprised that immigrations was a breeze, and customs was also fast. From landing to the curb took all of 30 minutes, which was great. For my departure, most of the airport was already closed (midnight flight). The security screening was a bit slow, with slightly over dramatic personnel screaming instructions at everyone. Aside from that, almost everyone in the airport was pleasant and cordial. Most of the airport is under renovation, so the appearance is forgivable. The posters of the new airport look very promising indeed.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 11 November 2008 : by John Oram

Customer Rating :  4/5

On this occasion, LAX-LHR, it was difficult to find fault with LAX. TBIT has I think been refreshed a little and the eating facilities were perfectly acceptable. Security did not cause delay and in fact it was interesting to see that the TSA drones were disinterested. So, although we went through all the laptop/shoe etc thing I believe they are now starting to see for themselves how ridiculous it all is. ATC never do things the easy way at LAX and we had a massive taxi to 25L.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 7 November 2008 : by Michael Casey

Customer Rating :  4/5

For the most part, each airline is within one terminal, and the terminals aren't at all terribly large. True, much of LAX is completely outdated, especially on the north side of the airport (T1-T3). T2 and 3 are just horrible. I've never ever experienced any horrendous waits through security. I've always found something good to eat and drink, and a place to sit. T2 is pretty bad in terms of gate queues, I must say. Terminals on the south side of LAX are in much better condition (there was damage to this part of LAX during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, so a lot of it was re- done). T6 aside, the terminals have plenty of food and drink options, and plenty of space. Yes, LAX needs to be a LOT bigger, and, well, there's no space to expand! But in terms of getting from one terminal to another, if you have to, it's never more than a 10 minute walk. Compared to almost any other big-city airport I've been to in the US, LAX really stands out as one of the better designed airports I've seen.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 30 October 2008 : by Sri Narayan

Customer Rating :  2/5

I was thankful to have made it through on time. Checked-in at T-6 for Continental. Got expedited through security with Elite Access. Most terminals were overcrowded from outside to inside. Lines for TACA check-in were out on the road. TBIT looked completely chaotic. The problem (at least in T6) is that there is limited choice of food after security. Moral of the story: Bring your own food, come real early to clear the long security lines.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 28 October 2008 : by J Weiss

Customer Rating :  3/5

It's big and ugly, but I experienced no real hassles or grief at LAX. Using the TBIT and Terminal 2, there were long lines at security and immigration checkpoints but they moved quickly. Airline staff (Air Canada and Singapore Airlines) were friendly and helpful at check-in and lounges. TSA staff were moderately pleasant and immigration official was stone-faced but not difficult (although I noticed others who were). Arriving from Singapore it took about 45 minutes from plane to curb at the TBIT. Gate areas are hopelessly overcrowded with about half the necessary seats and if it wasn't for the lounge access, my opinion may have differed.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 16 October 2008 : by Richard Turnley

Customer Rating :  1/5

I left LAX with Malaysia Airlines. The herding pen outside the gate contained seating for less than a third of the passengers and the others were marshalled into lines in a very crowded and small area - then the first class and business class passengers were told to get on a bus and were left standing there for 20 minutes. Then the other passengers filled the bus so that it was impossible to fall, as everyone was wedged like cattle including the old and the children. We moved to the remote set of gates far from the main terminal and we took off 58 minutes afterwards with all passengers complaining. On my return I checked in to the first/business section of AA and was subjected to more than 45 minutes of ill temper and cross examination from an AA employee because LAX is a 'target airport'.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 13 October 2008 : by Andy Lowe

Customer Rating :  1/5

Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX is a national disgrace. I last had the misfortune to use this terminal 4 years ago when the chaos was blamed on the impact of 9/11. Four years later nothing has changed. On the evening of 5 October I checked into a TG flight heading for BKK. It was like being in a refugee transit camp. The place was overcrowded with poor signage and incompetent staff. Worst still was the crazy procedure in place which followed the checkin. Upon checkin the airline customers were told to take their checkin bags to be individually X-rayed. What happened to the belts which automatically move the checked in bags to be screened automatically was not explained. This meant that over a thousand hapless airline customers has to stand in line. This was located in another part of the terminal which had no signage. Here people waited for their individual bags to be screened. This is nothing to do with higher levels of security but instead has everything to do with the total lack of customer care which is endemic through this terminal.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 4 October 2008 : by Peter Hutchinson

Customer Rating :  2/5

Overall the facilities at LAX are terrible. Arrived early morning at TBI on QF flight from BNE and was through immigration and customs inside 45 minutes - and the immigration official was polite & courteous! Departure through T2 the next day on NZ to LHR was a different story - congested & slow check-in not helped by the need to check in and then deliver checked baggage to baggage X-ray followed by a slow security check manned by obnoxious TSA staff. Airside facilities at T2 adequate but prior to check in they're almost non existant (1 Starbucks & 1 small concession outlet). Arrived 27th Sept at TBI on BA from LHR and whilst transit through customs & immigration was once again quick (I was in my hotel inside 45mins after disembarking) this time the officials were rude and officious (the customs agent was shouting at the passenger in front of me because she had missed her flight details off the customs form). In addition the flight had to wait 25mins for a gate to become available. Departed TBI late night 28th Sept on QF to BNE - checked in early to avoid queues but not impressed with the departure lounges and airside facilities - they're laughable for a major airport in the 21st century. Is there anybody who has actually said anything good about LAX ?

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 25 September 2008 : by O Bennett

Customer Rating :  1/5

Bradley International Airport provides 3rd world standards at best. Check in for all airlines is chaotic, baggage check security lines long and Immigrations personnel unfriendly. The boarding area is a dark, gloomy hall with virtually no facilities and insufficient seating. Passengers are herded onto busses and board aircraft through remote satellite stations. I recommend avoiding any airline that departs from this Terminal.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 19 September 2008 : by J Hallgreen

Customer Rating :  1/5

What a dreadful place! Flew for the first time into LAX from Melbourne. The nightmare started the moment we got off. No signs or directions anywhere, and the immigration was a mess, full of tired passengers who were being treated like a bunch of criminals. The officials are extremely rude and have no patience or compassion whatsoever. I was told my passport was not being read by the machine, and that if it didn't work with the other scanner I could not enter. Not very encouraging words for an Aussie visiting the US for the first time! Anyway, fortunately it worked and I was let through. Expect to be in the immigration queue for at least an hour (took me 1h 20min). After that, I had to literally crawl on top of other peoples' luggage to find my bag, which had been dumped carelessly on top of another elderly gentleman's bag. The airport is an absolute mess, I've seen better airports in third world countries. No food anywhere, just an old coca-cola machine. Not what one would expect in the US. Avoid LAX if at all possible. A dreadful experience, especially for a first-timer.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 15 September 2008 : by G Howard

Customer Rating : 2/5

Flew in and out of the Tom Bradley Intl Terminal from London. The arrival was pretty shabby, the immigration hall was far too small for the amount of passengers it was processing and it was filled with disorganised lines of tired travellers. The hall was very hot as well. It took well over an hour to get my passport stamped. Once that was done I had to hunt around to find my suitcase which had been loaded off the conveyor belt along with the other London passengers. When I left LA the check in process was remarkably painless, the only annoyance was that I had to load my bag separately although apparently this system will or has already been changed. The next problem was when I got through security there was nowhere decent to get food. They were apparently redeveloping part of the terminal which is fair enough, but at that point there was a choice of 2 small cafés, not acceptable for an international gateway.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 21 August 2008 : by M Brown

Customer Rating : 2/5

Dreadful place. The main problem is that the attitude of the staff is so poor. They might as well hang up a sign saying you are not welcome. Immigration took over two hours on arrival and I had run to get near the front of the queue. Not enough staff that have the correct language skills to deal with the passengers. Avoid.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 7 August 2008 : by Jonathan Liu

Customer Rating : 1/5

Leaving for a 20% overbooked CX flight to Hong Kong at Tom Bradley, we had to wait more than 90 minutes just to get our boarding passes, and another 20 minutes to drop our bags in that TSA drop. Another 30 minute wait at security. Staff there wern't cooperative and slowed down the entire process. In the end, all gates at Tom Bradley were demolished and became bus piers instead. 15 rows of coach passengers were stuffed into a cramped small bus that circled the tarmac for 15 minutes until it arrived at a shabby temporary building with (only) one about-to-collapse aerobridge for boarding. Although Cathay is an excellent airline, we finally pulled back 45 minutes late despite the majority of passengers arived at the sharp hour when the check-in desks opened. If you are going to Hong Kong and/or transit through there, I'd think that SFO is much better than here. Avoid at all times. If you really are flying from here and at the Tom Bradley Terminal, allow at least 4 hours if you want your pre-flight experience smooth.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 6 August 2008 : by Bernard Feissat

Customer Rating : 3/5

LAX Terminal 2, to and from Paris, and terminal 5 to Honolulu and from San Francisco. I was a bit worried about our connection in LAX, arriving from Paris at T and connecting on a Delta flight to Honolulu from T5. Arriving from Paris with Air France at T2, everything was OK; travelling first class, first off the plane and reached immigration desks when nobody was there; an agent was controlling correct filing of the green cards before letting passengers stand in the line, actually we were among the first and there was so to speak no line, an immigration officer waved us at once; he spoke calmly and slowly making his english easy to understand and willingly repeated every time I asked him to (I am deaf) or mimed what he expected from us (finger prints, taking off glasses for photo); altogether 10 minutes no more. We cleared customs easily and arrived at once at the re check in desk where we could get rid very quickly of our checked in cases; easy and quick way to the shuttle bus; terminal was very busy, but we made our way to the 1st class check in, and got our boarding passes. Again quick and easy security control, and we got to the Delta Crown room lounge; settled down in the lounge less than an hour after touchdown of our flight from Paris. SFO to LAX and onwards to Paris, quickly out of terminal 5 we moved by bus to Terminal 2; we had left SFO very early and had a 5 hour lay over in LAX - we thought we could get some nice breakfast there, but no restaurant in T2 outside the boarding zone. Since we were very early at LAX, it was too early for us to get our boarding passes and go through security; so we walked to T3 - even poorer if possible; so we walked to T4 where we could get a decent meal for a reasonable price in an upstairs restaurant. Can you imagine there is absolutely no shops and food hall in the public zones of these terminals? Moreover, altogether the buildings of this airport look very old and out of date now. Certainly not adapted to such a large world famous city.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 15 July 2008 : by D Greenaway

Customer Rating : 2/5

Certainly the worst airport I have used in the USA. Having arrived in the last year at both Bradley and terminal two, they both have been cleaned up but are still staffed by some ignorant immigration staff. If your flight arrives at the same time as either one or two others, then be prepared for up to a two hour queue to get thru immigration. When you have located your luggage then stand in another long queue to get past customs, all done without a smile and often without any eye contact. LAX even makes New York seem friendly.Certainly the worst airport I have used in the USA. Having arrived in the last year at both Bradley and terminal two, they both have been cleaned up but are still staffed by some ignorant immigration staff. If your flight arrives at the same time as either one or two others, then be prepared for up to a two hour queue to get thru immigration. When you have located your luggage then stand in another long queue to get past customs, all done without a smile and often without any eye contact. LAX even makes New York seem friendly.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 15 July 2008 : by Avert Pyne

Customer Rating : 3/5

Flew into LAX on the fourth of July and out to SEA on the 7th of July at terminal 6. The terminal was very dated with a few of the washrooms being out of service. All of the restaurants had long lines so if you're running late for a flight you may have a hard time getting something to eat before hand. I also found the spaces were very crowded with lots of people waiting for their flights. The security personel on the way out for once were very friendly which was a nice change.

LOS ANGELES LAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 11 July 2008 : by M Branham

Customer Rating : 3/5

LAX is getting better. A couple years ago the Bradley Terminal was an absolute mess with nobody knowing what they were doing, and no communication to the passengers as to what they were supposed to do. Now, it is smoother, although it could be a lot better. Security is still very slow, with some long lines.

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