TERMINALLY BUSY Thanks to Southwest and Jetblue, Terminal 1 at LAX is bustling. Expect a bottleneck outside this popular terminal due to so many drop-offs and pick-ups. If you take a shuttle, they have an exclusive lane that lets them navigate faster. TSA usually moves fast, but sometimes the lines are long. Mid-day, I waited less than 5 minutes. Pre-dawn, can be busy. Food options include Urth Caffe & Bar, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Chick-fil-A, and Rock & Brews. Restrooms tend to be clean, and there are water refill stations near them. Gates are often overflowing with people, so I'll find a quiet spot with a view as soon as I've reached the concourse. It's usually peaceful until someone inconsiderate puts their phone on speaker. Dude, NO ONE wants to listen to your nonsense. NO ONE. If only Southwest had a club lounge! read more

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I'm really not a fan of LAX. It is highly congested with both foot and car traffic. Getting dropped off is the way to go, but it is still hectic and drivers charge a premium. Driving here to pick up or drop off people is a nightmare and gives me anxiety every time. They have a newer section at the Tom Bradley International Terminal that makes you walk for 20 minutes to get to your gate. I called this area the Annex. Plan ahead if you're flying international because you never know if you may end up having a really far gate assigned to your flight. read more

Been flying in and out of LAX since the 70's. Can be a little hectic, but if you are pretty familiar with the terminal, it is easy to get around. Busy and vibrant, easy to hop on a shuttle, but you have to beat the crowds. Put your "city slicker pants" on and be assertive. read more

One thing about LAX airport is that it's never quiet. The times that I have traveled through here there's never been a time where I've seen an empty gates or empty tunnels. One of the most well known airports in the United States and around the world for passengers coming in or leaving the country. It's almost a nostalgic feeling being here. Terminal one is mainly Jet Blue based flights. Easy to navigate, but still a very busy terminal. read more

LAX Terminal 1 - Airport Terminals Near Me - Los Angeles, California

LAX Terminal 1 is one of the terminals in the airport. This is primarily house Southwest airlines for its fleet. Similarly, It also serves as a check-in and security hub for several other carriers such as Jetblue, Allegiant etc. They have a food court, coffee shops, souvenir stores and an irish pub. Overall, it's a nice clean terminal. read more

LAX Terminal 1 - Jet Blue. Why so blue?? :D - Airport Terminals Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Landed in Terminal 1 because I took Southwest. It was pretty easy getting out of the gates and to baggage claim. It was nice at first because I got on the free shuttle that's to my nearby hotel. But unfortunately it stopped at all 8 terminals so it took a while to get to my hotel. I landed at night around 10pm and there was so much traffic. It's crazy there was delay at night time but I guess you have to prepare for that in LAX. Pretty spacious terminal. I did follow the signs to the shuttle. They have a small red sign for hotel pick up. It can be a little confusing but there's lots of workers to ask for help. read more

LAX Terminal 1 - Airport Terminals Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This was a great terminal-taking a Southwest flight tonight home to Sacramento we arrived at 630p for an 8:50 flight-again we had 4 travelers-1 with Clear security clearance-1 with TsaPrecheck & 2 with regular clearance-let me tell ya how it went. Again the person with Clear was the "clear" winner in getting thru security the quickest as they were thru security in under 4 minutes with zero people in their line. Myself with TsaPrecheck was a close second as I was thru the security line in 7 minutes with 3 people in front of me-pretty good. Bringing up the rear-my mother and sister with no special clearance and a solid 40-50 people in front of them in the normal security line-they got thru security line in 19 minutes-pretty darn good if u ask me-especially when you consider there is an ongoing national TSA crisis happening at the moment. I've taken 2 flights in last 36 hours and both times TSA was a breeze-maybe I just got lucky with the efficient workers at Sacramento International and LAX but in my experiences I dont see any real travel issues at these 2 spots in the terminals for Southwest Airlines-Safe Travels Out There... read more

LAX Terminal 1 - Security line for regular clearance - Airport Terminals Near Me - Los Angeles, California

What do we really expect of a terminal when flying? Airports are busy as they are in most major cities. Sometimes getting in and out can be quick, sometimes it can be long. Regardless, staff is friendly with the occasional rude person behind the counter. Restaurants are busy with overpriced beer. But that's the beauty of flying right? It's having that 7am beer knowing in just a few hours you will be at an all inclusive resort getting your money's worth. read more

Food is super expensive near the gates. Be sure to pack your own snacks so that you minimize your spending. Otherwise, area is clean. read more

LAX Terminal 1 - Airport Terminals Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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LAX is always an adventure, so many drivers seem to be in a hurry and don't pay attention at times. Today it wasn't bad, at least not in the arrivals section. I found good parking, was able to cross the road and get to baggage claim with no problems at all. I think for someone unfamiliar with LAX it wouldn't be hard to navigate today at all. I have been at LAX other times when it was a nightmare because it was so busy. Be careful, be bold and be polite - the combination usually works very well. read more

Customer service is great. The wait for a shuttle bus to take you to Frontier planes is terrible. They need a train/tram or something better than a shuttle bus. This is soooo inconvenient. read more

LAX Terminal 1 - The view while waiting for the shuttle bus for Frontier. - Airport Terminals Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I have layovers here often so I cannot speak to security here. There are plenty of restaurants to and 3 bars to choose from. All clean and speedy. I took a star away simply for the bathrooms. Absolutely horrible- you can't tell if they are empty or not creating long lines for no reason. And they are divided so you are constantly going back and forth looking under the stalls to see if empty or not. Gate 9 is a hidden gem. Quiet, plenty of seating and chargers. And of course the sound/light walkway is very cool. read more

LAX Terminal 1 - Sound and light walkway - Airport Terminals Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Pre check was breeze. Despite all that the TSA agents are going through with no pay, they were all working hard and friendly. Shuttle from Terminal 1 to get to my gate 227. New terminal with a few food options. read more

LAX Terminal 1 - Airport Terminals Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I dropped off some precious cargo and returned two weeks later to pick her up. I sent my daughter on her first trip alone as an unaccompanied minor all the way to New York. Since this was her first time I made sure to make her understand each sign so that the next time she can do it on her own and I won't have to pay the extra $150 each way. I told her that airports are pretty much set up for dummies and it's pretty hard to get lost as long as you can read! The unaccompanied minor aspect was nice as we were allowed to take her all the way to the gate like we use to be able to do before 9-11. Upon her pickup in New York, her designated pickup person was a bit late and she was set up in a nice room with all kinds of amenities like games and a recliner so she was comfortable! TSA was a breeze this time around especially since you no longer have to take your shoes off! It was truly painless. read more

am i really yelping an airport? YES, yes i am. 2 stars, the others ones are stuck on the tarmac in a traffic jam. see what i did, wrapped all the fun of LAX into one sentence, traffic and transferring yourself on a PACKED bus all over the airport, seriously, give yourself plenty of time, between TSA, transferring all over the place, rental car (thats a whole other yelp) sheesh. anyways, ill leave it as this, its one of the busiest airports at least on the west coast, maybe one of the busiest you will ever encounter, but act accordingly, dont come out with 15 minutes before your flight, this isnt rookie camp! its not all bad you know, they do have cali/LA sweatshirts for pretty cheap, you might need one for the flight! no LOST references here.... read more

Been flying southwest out of terminal 1 late night a few times now, barely anyone here for tsa, fast tsa, the tsa workers more chill and laid back. Reilly a great place to get drinks, beer and shot deal for $24. Reilly open till 10am, but let you say as late as 1015pm. Staff nice and chill, highly recommend getting drinks ay reilly irish pub at terminal one for the beer and shot deal. Southwest at terminal 1 at lax is the best. read more

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Southwest is great... until you hit LAX. I was having an issue getting my boarding pass pulled up so I went to the help Desk. He just shrugged his shoulders so I went elsewhere to ask. Turns out I was outside the 4 hour check in Window. Now I'm sitting in the front area where disabled people can sit. It's FULL of SWA employees. 2 are sleeping. WTH?? read more

LAX Terminal 1 - Airport Terminals Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Closest for drop off and pickup for van nuys flyaway. This is ideal, since there's a chance the buss is full of you are at terminal 5 or higher. At times, we've taken the lax bus to drop us off terminal one 1. ! read more

The first terminal of LAX and I would say this is the Southwest Airlines terminal, with many other airlines added together. The reason I was on Terminal One was because of Frontier. The line to get on a bus which says it takes 10 minutes to get to the gates was insanely busy this December. It is probably because most people are on vacation or visiting family for the holidays. But literally, this took so long to get on the bus, over 35 minutes in this massive line. That literally wrapped around like a Disneyland ride. Some people were so anxious that they were going to miss their plane ride but there were no shortcuts happening. Overall a sad situation. Plan to come super early just in case. read more

Got dropped off at Terminal 1 (LAX) to catch a Frontier flight to Chicago. It was the first time actually using Terminal 1 (instead of always passing by it on the way to Terminal 3). Ended up being a suboptimal experience: some of it caused by my planning but also some by not great execution. Due to a variety of reasons, my wife and I are frequent Delta flyers, often paying more than lowest cost to make use of their lounges and many connections around the country from LAX. A frequent destination is Chicago, and unfortunately, that's one major airport where there is no direct Delta flight from LAX. We will still use them (even with the extra hop), if fares are competitive. But for a summer trip, booking 3 months ahead, they were not. I wanted to get it out of the way, so found that Frontier (a Low Cost Carrier (LCC)) flew one-way for under $100. Figured it was a good opportunity to try it out, and figure out the rules and learnings. LAX terminals are basically a big horseshow with terminal 1 being the first once you enter the airport, so there is that positive. Everyone is expected to go print out their luggage tags first, then stand in line to get it checked and sent through. There are only 3 kiosks, and one of them was defective. It wasn't so crowded so didn't wait long, but once we scanned our barcode, we were notified that Frontier doesn't allow you to check your bags more than 3 hours before your departure time...didn't know: Learning 1. So we hung around the crowded ticketing area until exactly 3 hours before departure. By that time, the queue had gotten a bit longer with only 2 working kiosks. Once we got to front, we easily printed out the 4 baggage tags and waited in a different line. One of our bags was close to 80 lbs, but we had already pre-paid an extra $100 (on top of the normal checked bag fee of $40). That all went smooth. My wife's mom needs wheelchair assistance, so was told to wait in the same ticketing area. After about 40 minutes, nobody had still come (others had been picked up before...there just isn't enough wheelchair attendants at Terminal 1). So we slowly went on our way to security, taking our time. So asking for wheelchair assistance in Terminal 1, not nearly as efficient as Terminal 2/3: Learning 2. Pre-check line was working, and quite a bit shorter than the normal, which was a big plus. You are given a pre-check card so you don't have to take off shoes, or put out laptops. I thought the screening agent was a bit grouchy, and didn't really explain which line one was supposed to go through for scanning: his unclear directions caused confusion which flustered the passengers and irritated him. Once we got through, that's when I fully realized that the gate we were going to was in Terminal B Tom Bradley, and required waiting for a shuttle (this was never reflected in any communication until we got to airport). It was crowded with a lot of people and not enough shuttles...a guide did direct us to a elevator which did help. The same issues exist here with the shuttle only having enough room for a certain number of wheelchairs, so mom had to stand and it wasn't a particularly short trip. Once we got off, everything else was good, with an on-time departure. The need for a shuttle post security for some flights in Terminal 1: Learning 3. There is an airside (i.e. post security) connection between terminal 1 and terminal 2, and with the new(er) walkway between terminal 3 and Tom Bradley, I THINK the shuttle wasn't the only option. But it would have been way too long a walk for mom. Because it is Terminal B, the gates are very large with plenty of seating space and the most modern ticket scanning process (built for international flights). But as we learned, the boarding process is very chaotic...more than half of the people waiting were boarding group 1 and most had carry-on luggage (which surprised me since the last time I flied Spirit, there was no issue with overhead space). It was really messy: Learning 4. In conclusion, I don't think anybody need anything wrong...it's just that in this case, you get what you pay for. A LCC pays less to the airport for a variety of services, and it is reflected in the level and quickness of services....and the frequent passengers expect AND accept that. Just not us again, unless for a quick trip and no baggage. read more

LAX Terminal 1 - Modern entry gates - Airport Terminals Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Arriving by Southwest went very smooth. It is an easy 5 minute walk to the baggage claim area to catch the shuttle to the car rental outside of the airport. It is marked by the purple signs on the island. Wrapping up my trip, I returned from my rental car by a shuttle that dropped me off at the baggage claim area and then it was an easy walk up to the departures level. On a Friday at 1pm the security line was quite short, it was about 10 minutes. Then a short walk up the gate where I grabbed a drink and waited for my flight. The terminal is big, open, and well lit. The chairs have outlets for charging devices too. They had 120V power, USB-A, and USB-C ports. It was a comfortable space to wait for my flight. read more

First, good job on the new Southwest terminal! I love all the food options! There is a very small pet area though better than nothing. LAX has moved away from plastic and gone towards aluminum water bottles and glass bottles. The largest size I was able to find was 750 mL. So why would I spend nine dollars on water you ask? Because the water tastes terrible! It absolutely tastes like tapwater that has not been filtered at all. So even though I brought my environmentally, happy water bottle, I bought nine dollar water. What a financial trap! And 750 mil is not going to be sufficient for my cross-country trip. Additionally, I do recommend bringing back the hand sanitizers near TSA. read more

Imo, LAX Terminal, which houses Southwest Airlines is better than the other terminals... especially the Bradley International Terminal. Terminal seems a bit more free flow. But parking enforcement is still there to enforce smooth traffic, and to keep a close eye on the arrivals and departures (upstairs, 2nd floor). They expect you to immediately load or unload and to be on your way right after, or you'll get cited. Inside the terminal seems busy as well, especially during departures. The TSA security check points can either be quick or slow, pending on who's working along with knuckle head passengers who are slow and entitled. This makes the process much slower, unless you have TSA pre-check, where in most cases you go straight through. The best times to be at Terminal 1 is during the week in the afternoon. Less people, less headaches. Forget about the evenings and weekends. It's pure hectic. It's time for the airport to expand again, as it already is expanding. read more

Let's be clear, LAX Terminal 1 is nowhere near my house. Getting here requires mental preparation, traffic strategy, and possibly a podcast lineup. That said... I don't actually have much to complain about. Everyone knows LAX is one of the busiest airports in the country. That's just facts. So the secret isn't complaining, it's time management! Check in online the second that 24-hour window opens. Pre-pay for your bags if you're checking one. Give yourself realistic time for bag drop, security, and the general airport shuffle. If you plan accordingly, it runs the way it's supposed to. What makes airports chaotic isn't the airport but really it's stressed travelers running late and trying to bulldoze their way through lines. You know who you are! Be considerate. Be kind. Move with purpose. Have your ID ready. Know your gate. Keep it moving. Terminal 1 itself is efficient. Lines flow, TSA moves steadily, and once you're through security there are decent food options and enough seating if you didn't roll in five minutes before boarding. read more

YIKES !! If you're flying out of or landing at LAX Terminal 1, be ready for crowds beyond description. Allow extra time if you need to use Terminal 1's parking facility. Airline check-in lines are beyond busy. The TSA lines can easily take 45 to 60+ minutes. Seating at the gates is inadequate and often in disarray. Be patient !! read more

Busy airport, and busy Terminal. Getting in and out of the terminal was smooth. Not so smooth getting to the designated shuttle pick up location. Inside of terminal 1, the TSA lines were short, and quick to get through. There's a few shops for your snack or last minute needs, a bar, and a few food places to grab a bite to eat. Plenty of seating throughout while waiting for your plane. read more

LAX is so annoying ... the plugs in this airport never work and I mean never ! The entire food court full of chargers that's don't work. I travel here almost monthly and it's not only an inconvenient airport in terms of gait changes and constant rescheduling, but they don't even provide a way for you to charge your phones while you're waiting. The food is subpar at all the restaurants, TSA is always slow and bathrooms are always unkept. Once they started their construction things were even worse especially if you were on an international flight. What can I say positive about Lax.... give me a min I'm searching read more

Just did not meet expectations especially for Southwest. First, the lack of water fountains was a problem for my family and others. Several families commented on it and another family was walking with water bottles looking for a hydration station. Seats appear to have charging but they have limited amperes so you can't use for example your high speed charging cable. Not much food or shopping offered. No Starbucks. Limited seating. So it gets you in and out the terminal with minimal amenities. But it is clean and nothing really broken or problematic. So it's a solid three. read more

Visit in was good. I understand that Southwest is terminal 1. Just understand where you're gate actually is

Very clean and modern. Very nice compared to other airports I've been. It's just huge. Prepare to walk a considerable amount.

For the weekend before Christmas, the traffic wasn't too bad leading to the airport. It's bad upon the approach to the terminals where it is the heaviest. There are available parking spaces in Terminal One parking deck. read more

Give yourself plenty of time this airport stays busy around the clock. Tons of stores and food options to keep you entertained. But I've got to give them props: baggage claim was on point. By the time I walked to the carousel, my luggage had already made a full lap. Now that's efficiency!!! read more

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Team southwest occupies terminal 1. They really have it together and it shows. The availability to use the kiosk to check your baggage or you can go to the counter and speak with an agent. TSA is usually a long line. Not this time. The boarding area is clean and the ticket agent are clear in giving information to passengers of early flights, delayed flights, cancellation, and gate changes. They will inform you if this is a full flight and when baggage should be checked. You rock Southwest!! read more

LAX Terminal 1 - Southwest terminal 1 - Airport Terminals Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Can't really say I recommend this airport cause what choice do we have lol. I will say they're somewhat organized well but TSA have some bad attitudes. Not to mention when they checked our baby bag they completely tear it apart leaving us to reorganize the entire thing. I wish they were more polite and professional because they really put you in a bad mood. read more

If you can fly out of Burbank, it's way faster, way more friendly or people and you have to as much as so much wait time

first terminal around the airport! can be a lil busy because of that but yeah. i really like the food court here all the restaurants and bars are naice c: read more

LAX Terminal 1 - 1/2 - Airport Terminals Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Pleasant experience overall flying Frontier out of LAX. After getting through TSA Checkpoint at T1, passengers will be shuttled to Terminal B (Bradley Terminal but the domestic side, not the international side). Take the escalators downstairs after TSA checkpoint to hop on the shuttle bus then once you arrived at terminal B go up the escalators where you will end up by the food hall and shops area. Your gate info may say gate B6 which is confusing, but the actual gate will be something like 209 if flying to Sacramento or San Francisco, just check the departures screen information. A few food dining options by the food court such as Ramen Santouka, Burger King, Chicken Guy and Playa Coffee. There's a spacious seating area by the food court with tables and booths overlooking the tarmac so you can watch the planes go by while enjoying your meal or sipping a cup of Joe. Allow extra time as the shuttles could add up to 15-30 minutes depending on how busy they're. Bon Voyage, and safe travels fellow Yelper travelers! read more

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Personally I don't think that there is any better airlines than Southwest. Whenever I need help the agents are there to assist with a smile. No other airlines lets you fly with two FREE bags!!! I love that Southwest is the first terminal at LAX (because I am always running late) Lol And through the years they have added lots more food options. When I use to travel with my mom (she was in a wheelchair) all the attendants were always friendly and helpful. Thank you Southwest I know this should've been more about the terminal but how much can you really say about a terminal without mentioning everything else that goes with it read more

There's so many seats until they all fill up! Luckily there's plenty of eaters and little shops to walk around and grab a bite from. You can grab a drink from Starbucks, there's a pizza spot, salad etc. I love grabbing a bottle of water and some wipes before my flight to wipe everything down! read more

Occasionally I trade for a Sydney and dead head on B6 to LAX and they land at T1. It's convenient cause I just walk to my hotel. I'm a fan.