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Terminals at Los Angeles Airport
Interactive LAX map and meeting point
Tap the map to mark a meeting point and share it by link. Layers show terminals, parking, gates, food and coffee, restrooms and ATMs.
Quick questions about LAX terminals
How many terminals does LAX have?
Nine terminals in a horseshoe: 1 to 8 and Terminal B (Tom Bradley International). Terminal 5 closed in October 2025 to be demolished and rebuilt; it is expected to reopen before the 2028 Olympics. American moved to Terminal 4 and JetBlue to Terminal 1.
Which airline uses which terminal?
The main ones: Terminal 1 Southwest and JetBlue; Terminals 2 and 3 the unified Delta complex; Terminal 4 American; Terminal 6 Alaska and Air Canada; Terminals 7 and 8 United; Terminal B most long-haul international airlines. Always check your boarding pass and airline app. See the list of airlines.
Which terminal handles most international flights?
Terminal B (Tom Bradley International), although some airlines also use Terminals 4, 6 or 7 for specific arrivals or departures. Always double-check your terminal on your boarding pass and in your airline app before heading to the airport.
Strategy: If you are connecting onto an international flight, try to stick with the same airline or alliance to minimize terminal changes and simplify baggage transfers.
How do I know which terminal I should use as reference?
LAX is often grouped into three areas: the North Terminals (1 to 3), with Southwest, JetBlue and Delta; the central and south block (4, 6 and B), with American, Alaska and many international airlines; and Terminals 7 and 8, dominated by United. If you always fly the same airline, your “home terminal” will usually repeat on most trips.
Strategy: Choose parking, nearby hotels or pick-up points with your usual terminal in mind (for example, the area closest to Terminal 1 if you often fly Southwest).
How much time should I allow for connections between terminals?
At least 2 hours for domestic connections and 3 hours if Terminal B, immigration or customs are involved, especially at peak times or on holidays.
Is it better to walk or take the shuttle between terminals?
Walking inside security is usually more predictable. A post-security connector links most terminals; for long distances or a lot of luggage, the free LAX Shuttle helps, but it runs outside security and can be slow. With Terminal 5 closed, ask staff whether your route between Terminals 4 and 6 stays inside security. See connections between terminals.
Where do I take Uber, Lyft or a rental car shuttle?
Ride apps pick up at LAX-it, next to Terminal 1; rental cars are at the LAX Rental Car Center, reached by shuttle from the purple signs on the Lower/Arrivals Level. Taxis, FlyAway and hotel shuttles leave from their own signed zones in front of each terminal.
Is the People Mover running?
Not yet. The latest date announced is no earlier than January 2027.
Critical points and traveler’s manual at LAX
Signage and terminal changes
User experience:
- Signage between terminals is the most repeated complaint: travelers coming from Terminal B to Terminals 1 to 4 find few or contradictory signs.
- Several reviews say staff gave different directions to the same question.
- Construction makes routes change and signs incomplete.
Strategy: Before landing, check the terminal and gate of your next flight in the airline app and follow gate numbers, which are better signposted than terminal names.
Distances and walking
User experience:
- Walks of 15 to 30 minutes between terminals are common, and some gates require 15 minutes of fast walking.
- Many travelers miss a train or moving walkways; the People Mover is still not running.
- Some flights use remote gates reached only by bus.
Strategy: Wear comfortable shoes, travel with easy-to-handle luggage and add time if you have reduced mobility or travel with children.
Traffic and construction
User experience:
- Getting from the freeway to the terminal door can take 30 minutes or more at peak times.
- Many reviews see progress ahead of the 2028 Olympics, but describe the airport as a permanent construction site.
Strategy: Add at least 30 minutes to your usual timing if you arrive by car or ride app.
Terminal changes and connections
User experience:
- Changing terminals can involve long corridors, tunnels, several escalators and, in some cases, an internal shuttle.
- It feels especially complex for passengers arriving on an international flight who must clear immigration, collect their bags and re-check them.
- With Terminal 5 closed, some travelers report having to go through security again between Terminals 4 and 6.
Strategy: If you connect between Terminal B and a distant terminal, get off the plane already knowing whether it is better to walk through the post-security connector or exit and use the LAX Shuttle.
Baggage, customs and re-check
User experience:
- On many international arrivals continuing to another U.S. destination, you collect your bags in Terminal B, clear customs and drop them again for your next flight, which adds a step and potentially another line.
Strategy: Traveling with optimized carry-on luggage reduces time at checkpoints. If you have checked bags and a tight connection, ask your airline before flying how the re-check process works.
Food, prices and options by terminal
User experience:
- Travelers appreciate the number of food and drink options, especially in Terminal B and the renovated terminals.
- They agree that prices are high and that remote gates offer limited or unappealing choices.
Strategy: Use the areas with more variety (Terminal B or the Delta complex at Terminals 2 and 3) before heading to a remote gate, and when your connection is short, buy something to go as soon as you find a good option. See restaurants at LAX.
Comfort in the waiting areas
User experience:
- Terminal B, the Delta complex (Terminals 2 and 3) and the renovated Terminal 4 get good comments for design and services.
- Older areas have worn seats, few working outlets and no water refill stations.
- Cleanliness of restrooms varies a lot by terminal and time.
Strategy: Carry a power bank, and on long waits consider a lounge or a less crowded gate area.
Pros and cons of LAX terminals
- Pros:
- Renovated terminals: Tom Bradley, the Delta complex and Terminal 4 are modern and comfortable.
- Services: wide offer of food, shops and lounges after security.
- Connections: one of the largest route networks in the world from a single airport.
- Contras:
- Distances: long walks between gates and terminals, with no train yet.
- Signage: confusing directions for terminal changes and ground transport.
- Construction: Terminal 5 closed and works that change routes and add traffic.
How LAX terminals are organized
LAX is laid out around a central horseshoe with terminals 1 to 8 and Terminal B (Tom Bradley International), which handles most long-haul international flights. Terminal 5 is closed for reconstruction until 2028. The free LAX Shuttle connects the terminals, ground transport areas and parking lots, though travelers mention waits and crowded buses at peak times. A post-security connector lets you walk between most terminals without going outside; depending on the route, walks can exceed 15 to 20 minutes.
Passenger experience in LAX terminals
As one of the largest and busiest airports in the world, LAX offers a wide range of services to move millions of passengers each year, but the overall feeling is one of constant motion, long waits and a kind of “controlled chaotic organization.”
Modernization and standout services
Terminals have been upgraded in recent years with more dining options, shops and rest areas, especially Tom Bradley, the unified Delta complex at Terminals 2 and 3 and Terminal 4. Travelers value the many options to eat or relax before a flight and the presence of well-known lounges (Delta One, Delta Sky Club, Flagship Lounge, United Polaris, Star Alliance and others).
Strategy: If you have time before boarding, walk to a nearby terminal connected after security (for example, from Terminal 4 to Tom Bradley) for more food and shopping.
Organization and signage
One of the most frequent complaints is the lack of clear signage for changing terminals or reaching ground transport, rental cars and international connections. The shuttles to LAX-it and to the Rental Car Center add a step that confuses many travelers, especially those with tight connections, families with children or heavy luggage.
Strategy: Look at the LAX map before landing to see whether your next terminal is connected after security, and have your route ready before leaving the plane.
Distances and waiting times
Walks of up to 15 to 20 minutes between areas, or between Terminal B and Terminals 6 or 7, are common, and some routes mix corridors, escalators and buses. With congestion at security and immigration, plan 2 hours for domestic flights and at least 3 hours for international flights or complex connections.
Amenities and areas for improvement
Wi-Fi and restrooms generally meet expectations and renovated areas feel new and clean, but cleanliness and maintenance are not consistent across terminals and times. Travelers appreciate the food after security but complain about high prices, limited options at remote gates and a lack of comfortable seating for long waits. Staff service ranges from very friendly to impatient at busy times.
A balanced view
LAX is a major gateway to the United States, with flights to the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Experiences differ widely by terminal, airline, time of day and type of trip. Planning ahead, checking your terminal and gate and using airline and airport apps makes your time at LAX much smoother.
Terminal by terminal: levels and services
Terminal 1
Together with Terminals 2 and 3, Terminal 1 forms the North Terminals. It mainly handles domestic flights and is Southwest Airlines’ base at LAX; JetBlue moved here from Terminal 5 in October 2025. The LAX-it ride app lot is next to this terminal.
Levels
Arrivals level: baggage claim and access to transport, including shuttles to the Rental Car Center, LAX-it, FlyAway and other buses.
Departures level: check-in counters for domestic and international flights. Passengers on some international and low-cost services are taken by bus to Terminal B or remote gates. Gates 9 to 18B. SEE AIRLINES
Services
- Fast food, cafés, restaurants, shops
- Family restrooms
- Free Wi-Fi
- Shoeshine stands
- ATMs
- Baggage carts
- TSA screening and TSA PreCheck
- Volunteer assistance
Terminal 2
Part of the North Terminals. Terminals 2 and 3 operate as a unified complex run by Delta Air Lines: passengers enter through a central headhouse where check-in and security are consolidated, and the gates share a common checkpoint and baggage claim. Since June 2026 Terminal 2 also has a second Delta One Lounge.
Services
- Fast food, cafés, restaurants, wine bars and shops
- Family restrooms
- Wi-Fi
- Baggage carts
- TSA screening and TSA PreCheck
- Volunteer assistance
- Access to Delta and partner lounges (eligibility applies)
Terminal 3
Part of the North Terminals and of the Delta complex, with renovated facilities and wide corridors connecting it directly to Terminal 2.
Levels
Arrivals level: baggage claim and access to transport.
Departures level: check-in counters, TSA checkpoint, gates 30A to 38.
Services
- Family restrooms
- Wi-Fi
- Currency exchange
- ATMs
- Baggage carts
- TSA screening and TSA PreCheck
- Volunteer assistance
- Lounges (Delta Sky Club and Delta One Lounge for eligible passengers)
Terminal 4
Image from YouTube
American Airlines’ main terminal at LAX, where all its operations were concentrated after Terminal 5 closed in October 2025. It has a direct post-security connection to the departures level of the Tom Bradley International Terminal, which makes international connections easier without going outside. Part of the terminal is still under construction.
Levels
Arrivals level: baggage claim and access to transport.
Departures level: check-in counters, gates 40 to 49.
Services
- Fast food, cafés, restaurants and shops
- Family restrooms
- Shoeshine stands
- Wi-Fi
- Currency exchange
- ATMs
- Baggage carts
- Volunteer assistance
- Lounges (Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge, eligibility applies)
Terminal 5 (closed)
Closed since October 2025 for demolition and full reconstruction. Reopening is planned before the 2028 Olympics, possibly in stages from 2027. Its airlines moved to other terminals: American to Terminal 4 and JetBlue to Terminal 1.
Terminal 6
Hosts a mix of domestic and international airlines, notably Alaska Airlines and Air Canada.
Levels
Arrivals level: baggage claim and access to transport.
Departures level: check-in counters, gates 60 to 69. SEE AIRLINES
Services
- Fast food, cafés, restaurants and shops
- Family restrooms
- Shoeshine stands
- Wi-Fi
- Lounges (Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and Alaska Lounge)
Terminal 7
Together with Terminal 8, this area is dedicated almost exclusively to United Airlines and United Express.
Levels
Arrivals level: baggage claim and access to transport options.
Departures level: check-in counters and gates 70 to 88. SEE AIRLINES
Services
- Fast food, cafés, restaurants, shops
- Family restrooms
- Shoeshine stands
- Wi-Fi
- Currency exchange
- ATMs
- Baggage carts
- Volunteer assistance
- Lounges (United Club and United Polaris Lounge for eligible passengers)
Terminal 8
Levels
Arrivals level: baggage claim and access to ground transport: taxis, shared shuttles, FlyAway, hotel shuttles, LAX Shuttle, rental car shuttles and shuttles to private parking lots.
Departures level: check-in counters. Gates 70 to 86. SEE AIRLINES
Services
- Fast food, cafés, restaurants, shops
- Family restrooms
- Shoeshine stands
- Wi-Fi
- Currency exchange
- ATMs
- Baggage carts
- Volunteer assistance
Terminal B (Tom Bradley International Terminal)
Photo by Daniele Levis Pelusi - Unsplash
The main international terminal and the most iconic building at LAX. It includes the "West Gates" sector.
Levels
Level 1: arrivals area and baggage claim (carousels A, B and C). Outside you will find buses, shared shuttles, taxis, the LAX Shuttle and rental car shuttles.
Level 3: check-in counters. SEE AIRLINES
Level 4: TSA screening and departures. Gates 130 to 225: north concourse (130 to 146), Great Hall (148), south concourse (150 to 159) and West Gates (201A to 225). Most shops, services and dining options are here.
Mezzanine Level 5: airline lounges.
Mezzanine Level 6: Star Alliance and Emirates lounges.
Services
- Fast food, cafés, restaurants, shops
- Duty free
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Family restrooms
- Shoeshine stands
- Wi-Fi
- Currency exchange
- ATMs
- Baggage carts
- Children’s play area
- Nursing room
- Volunteer assistance
- Lounges
- Interactive visitor centers
