Los Angeles LAX Airport

I arrived from Salt Lake City and had to make my way to Tom Bradley International. It would seem that whoever is responsible for this airport has decided to cut costs by not providing suitable signage. All the shops and restaurants are on the checking side of the airport so once you clear TSA that's all the entertainment you have the small kiosk shops are not worth a mention. I arrived early expecting to be able to pass time at the airport but instead ended up bored.

At TBIA after I'd picked been vetted by the surly immigration official (do they need to pass a non-smile test?) I passed by customs and was then called back. A little red light on a device on the man's hip was flashing red. He took me aside and round the back after a wait he conferred with another official who came and stood beside me with his flashing red light - they conferred again then he said " you can go ma'am". When I asked what the problem was he said "There's no problem". If after a 12 hour flight they want to scare the pants off me and hold me up - at least they could have the courtesy of explaining why!

Arrived on a Virgin Atlantic flight just after an Air New Zealand flight had landed. Long queues and total disorganisation. Waited over an hour in line only to be treated badly by immigration officer. I come to the States at least twice a year and I have never experienced such rudeness and hostility. A real shame when most US immigration officers seem to be friendlier than ever.

My recent experience with LAX was transfer between a United flight from NRT and another United flight to Denver. The incoming flight was full. However I was able to go through immigration (Economy Class-Non US passport) 15 mins after we had disembarked. It looks like there was no other international flight arriving at the same time so I expected to clear customs quickly. However we had to wait 45 mins to receive baggage. The flight arrived at Terminal 7 but the exit of the customs is located in Terminal 6 and there was no display indicating the departure gate for the connecting flights nor a sign leading to the security check for those flights. The waiting time for security was acceptable considering that this is a big airport.

TPE to LAX and I have to say the experience was merely average. When we got off it was a long trek to the immigrations hall and when we got there were greeted by long lines and most of the immigration booths closed. We waited a long time to get through although it's acceptable as 3 long haul flights were arriving at virtually the same time. When we finally got to the end of the line we were greeted by a cheerful immigration officer. Baggage claim was also a time consuming ordeal but when we did get our bags we zipped right out and left the carpark in about 10 mins.

Including my flight there were 6 arriving in 45 mins. Result - chaos in the immigration hall. At least 10 booths were not open. Some people did not like the look of the line so were allowed to start another one. Those who were supposed to organise the line were useless. After 55 mins in the line my passport was finally checked by an abrupt official. I then had to go and find my luggage that had been offloaded from the carousel which by then was being used for another flight. I found my bag after a few minutes amongst dozens of others. I then had to join another line for customs who insisted on checking everyone's passport again. Only 15 mins waiting this time.

I was in Tom Bradley having landed at 9.30 pm. Less than half the immigration desks were open with queues for more than 50 yards immigration took more than 90 mins and a further 35 mins for customs. Tom Bradley is a needs a big make over.

I give Tom Bradley Airport the lowest rating of any airport. Coming through Immigration you are greeted by the rudest people and it continues during the process of clearing customs and collecting your bags. Clearing a commercial import as I was can become a nightmare now 6 days later my commercial import is still not cleared through US customs.

Arrived from TPE. Landed 4:30pm dis-embarked at Tom Bradley did not leave terminal until 6:30pm. The immigration lines were all open however each of them had about 100-150 in each. Luggage was backed up with 3-4 planes worth of bags in each carousel. You could hardly move to get your luggage let alone figuring out where the customs line started/ended. Baggage attendants were throwing bags all over the place. I saw a lost child trying find his parents get shouted at by a TSA agent because the kid inadvertently passed a sectioned off area looking for his dad. Tom Bradley: its facilities and workers are an embarrassment. I've been at many other international and domestic airports worldwide and have always been treated with courtesy and respect.

LAX is one of the airports I dread using and avoid if at all possible. I was amazed on this visit however. After disembarking and the long trek to the immigration hall I was amazed to see it almost empty. we were treated with courtesy by the immigration official another first and were through and out of the airport waiting for the courtesy bus to car hire in under 25 minutes. Our friend who was travelling in economy took just over two hours to clear immigration however because two other flights had arrived and the usual chaos had ensued. she said that when she got to the front of the queue she was through in mins.