Los Angeles LAX Airport

I flew to Hawaii from DIA and had a 7 hour layover to change planes at LAX. What absolutely surprised me was that the departure/arrival monitors at the United terminal only showed United flights and vice-versa: the other terminals do not show any for United. Maybe they don't get along. I'm lucky I had seven long hours to figure it out because unless a flight was boarding there were no gate attendants around to answer any questions. Outdoors the only monitors I found that showed departures were on the other side of security so until I was at my gate I wasn't positive about even being at the correct terminal. I wonder how many flights are missed while the customers wander around confused. After I was able to find out where I needed to go I was told about a tunnel that ran between the terminals. They said it was a new tunnel and they were happy to have it. Perhaps that is true as it was clean but traveling underground by foot from Terminal 6 to Terminal 4 through two long echo-ey tunnels is not my idea of spectacular customer service. It resembled a 1950s civil defence shelter. If you must pass through LAX do your homework first and get a map! Once you arrive there you'll be mostly on your own. Note: The people who work there are friendly and helpful but they're outnumbered and hard to find.

I flew from LAX to MUC with LH453. There was a fast lane for security but it didn't seems to be faster than the regular lines because there was just one body scanner. The new Star Alliance lounge was quite nice but the food takes some getting used to. Nevertheless there was no smoking area on airside and it is quite annoying to leave the airport and get back in.

I've recently had 2 long layovers at LAX and they could not have been more droll and uncomfortable. The food options are terrible it seems they are pumping in warm stale air there are no comfortable or user friendly places to wait (besides once table near the Delta section where they have a tabletop with plugs for usage) and the layout of the airport is poor. I tried the free internet and it was so slow that I used their pay internet - and noticed no difference in download speed. (And I can't post about baggage issues or I would). When we landed from our international flight the majority of us on the flight had to get out at Terminal 2 go through customs and get our bags then walk with our bags outside along the outside of the airport to Terminal 7 to re-check our bags and re-go through security with everyone else. Thankfully I had a little more time before my connection than some others did. Turns out I would have a lot of time as someone spilled oil on the runway so our plane couldn't get to the hanger so I would be missing my connection and stuck at my next layover as there were no other flights out to my final destination that day.

I would recommend anyone who uses LAX as a connection airport to get as much information regards their connection before they arrive as there is precious little available once you land. We arrived from Las Vegas to connect to a flight to Europe and not knowing LAX at all were a bit surprised that there was no ongoing flight information for flights outside of Terminal 4. We looked in vain for an information desk of any kind in Terminal 4 and so found ourselves heading to Terminal 5 hoping to find one there. Was a little surprised that an airport of this size an importance relied on its passengers walking down claustrophobic tunnels between terminals with no transport or moving walkways but put this down to the redevelopment going on. Once in Terminal 5 it took another round of searching for an info desk (with our flight departure time getting ever closer) to eventually find one tucked away in a corner. The patronising attendant told us that we needed the Tom Bradley Terminal which was two terminals along and waved in the vague direction of a corridor which led who knows where. The corridor eventually led outside where we would have hoped to find a map or some form of signage to the terminal. Nothing of the kind could be seen. We ended up asking a shuttle bus attendant for directions after which we walked for 10 minutes to eventually find the right place. We are not stupid people and do not get overly stressed but it was a good job that we had a three hour connection time as anyone with a short interval between flights would have missed by a mile. More overall information spanning LAX flights and signposts maps etc required before we ever choose a connection through LAX again.

I arrived January 14 on Air New Zealand into TBIT. For years Air NZ flew into Terminal 2 which whilst dowdy and lacking services at least had a relatively quick US Customs clearance time. I often bring candy back from NZ and so check yes to the relevant question on the Customs Declaration. TBIT has an electronic 'triage' system - the queue for which took 10-15 mins. Because I checked yes on one question I was sent to the queue manually checking incoming passengers who needed palm prints or eye scans. This line took over 30mins to navigate whereas those with all "No" checked sailed through. Needless to say bags were on the carrousel once through those two lines only to be greeted by a 3rd queue for another almost 30mins to hand over the Customs printout and clear the terminal! I only just made my connecting flight. The rule of thumb should be to allow 3 hours all up for a domestic connection if arriving at TBIT. USCBP staff were busy and overloaded and so not particularly sympathetic to tired and fed up passengers.

A very old and run down airport. one of the worst big airports on this planet. It looks like there is not on dollar to maintain renovate the infrastructure or to improve things. Very long queue everywhere bad facilities dirty unfriendly staff. Try to avoid LAX at all.

This airport is getting worse instead of better. Getting through immigration and customs took over 3 hours. The officers servicing the travelers are mostly unfriendly and don't care how long you have to wait in line. They get paid no matter if they perform or not. Lines were very long but that didn't stop the officers from standing around.

Tom Bradley Intl Terminal was a pleasure to use. The lines at security were short and the staff very friendly. In fact this was my 50th visit to LA over a period of 30 years and the most pleasant experience so far. Once airside the facilities are a vast improvement. On a side note TSA employees at JFK and Honolulu as well as LAX terminal 5 were also very customer focussed.

Landed at Terminal 6 (Alaska Airlines) and a week later departed from Terminal 5 (Delta). Had no problems whatsoever. Neither was a connection so no need to walk between terminals. Upon arrival baggage was quick to arrive. It was midday on a weekday and I had no problem getting the shuttle to my rental car company. Upon return I had stayed at a local hotel so took their shuttle to the terminal. No skycaps that I could see so I paid the standard $5 baggage cart charge. I was flying first class and at Delta's priority check-in desk I did not have to take my bags over to the x-ray machine. I went to the Delta Sky Club before my outgoing flight so didn't look for any eateries. All in all both experiences were painless.

Leaving LAX is really a pain in the neck. I always take night flights when I visit Taiwan or Hong Kong. No matter how early I arrive at Bradley the check-in lines are long and the lines to get through security are even longer. The TSA employees are for the most part rude and each time I have flown they have some "official" with a bull horn repeating the same stupid message over and over. It is truly a pleasure to leave LAX. Upon returning from overseas it is quite distressing to enter the terminal. The Bradley Terminal is akin to arriving in some third world airport. The "World Class" terminal is a national disgrace. Immigration was not too bad but once at the carousel to retrieve my baggage I noticed there was not one scintilla of security for the baggage. I wish ONT had flights to Taiwan.