Los Angeles International
Airport, (LAX) - is the
primary airport for Los Angeles, we have spent more than our fair share
of time in this airport. LAX is
located 15 miles South West from downtown Los Angeles off of the 405 on
the western end of the 105 freeway. This is the major domestic and International airport for
the Los Angeles metropolitan area serving thousands of passengers
daily.
If you are driving to LAX tune your radio to AM 530 as this
local airport radio station provides lots of useful airport info.
Eight terminals are located at LAX with a 9th one being the major terminal (Tom Bradly Terminal - named after a former Los Angeles Mayor).
This is a large airport and some of the terminals are located a ways
from each other - however free shuttle buses serve all the terminals.
You can also walk between the terminals. Several major open air parking lots are located in the vicinity of the
airport - free shuttle vans run to and from the parking lots to all the
terminals.
Not a member of an airline lounge or don't have an access card? Not to
worry. At the Tom Bradly Terminal between Terminal 3 and 4 before the
security checkpoints, check out the reLAX Lounge (nice play on letters
there!). For reasonable hourly fees this lounge is open to all travelers
and features complimentary beverages and food for purchase. For more
info visit:
www.relaxloungelax.com
2 billion dollars are currently being invested in a major upgrade
and renovation of LAX. Some of the related projects will continue
through 2013. These projects include "new generation aircraft gates" to
handle large aircraft, a Crossfield Taxiway, a two-level Pedestrian
bridge, People-Mover between terminals and a Central Processing Facility
for security screenings.
Wondering about that interesting building in the center of the terminals
- it is LAX's "Encounter Restaurant. This restaurant and lookout are
located in the center of the airport in between the terminals. This
space age looking building is a great place to enjoy a meal or better
yet a drink at the bar in between flights. The lookout is only open
during certain hours - you need to give the guard your ID and he/she
will give you access to the special elevator. Is that supposed to be
"alien" music playing in the elevator? Either way its complemented well
with the purple lights above you! Visit:
www.encounterlax.com
Track flights to and from LAX here:
www.res99.com
More information & the official website for LAX here:
www.lawa.org/welcomeLAX.aspx - and more information is
available here. Click on thumbnails below for our
LAX photos
Need nearby LAX hotels? Airport Hotels LAX offers great rates on over
50 hotels near LAX Airport - Visit
www.airporthotelslax.com
Additional major airports in the LA area are the following:
Bob Hope/Burbank Airport, (BUR)
- serves the Burbank, Glendale and
Pasadena areas (domestic flights only). It is located near where the 170 and the 5 freeways meet
and is the closest airport to downtown Los Angeles. More information:
www.burbankairport.com
John Wayne Orange County Airport, (SNA) - is a
modern state of the airport serving Orange County and is
located off of the 405 just south of the 55 freeway. All flights are
domestic. There is a lot of wealth in Orange County and if you spend any
time at this airport you will see some of this wealth arriving in the
form of fancy sometimes fairly lengthy vehicles. During a recent trip we
happened to see a yellow Ferrari gunning down the departure level at a
rather high speed - producing that beautiful sound that only this type
of vehicle can make. Within 30 minutes of waiting we also saw a Humvee
Limo, perhaps a quarter mile in length and some handsome guy comes
striding out wearing huge sunglasses on a cloudy day. Everyone stared -
perhaps some young TV actor?
This airport is of
course named after the famous Western cowboy actor John Wayne (be sure
to check out the statue of him in the lower level of the main terminal -
against the backdrop of the USA flag, this statue is larger than life).
Did you know that hang gliding started in Orange County in the early
1970's? You may seen an exhibit about this during your visit to this
airport.
This is without a doubt one of our favorite small to mid size airports
anywhere in the world. (Changi Airport in Singapore wins for best large
airport). John Wayne is clean, modern, efficient - friendly security and
lacking the hoards of people you have coming through LAX.
Note that the best area to pick up or drop off passengers is at the open
air departure level (Upper Level). The police on the lower level are
somewhat strict about people pulling up to the curb for any length of
time. More information:
www.ocair.com
Long Beach Airport, (LGB)
- serves the Long Beach area and is located
right off of the 405, almost exactly half way between the 710 and the
605 freeways. This airport serves a very large community of general
aviation pilots. Long Beach has a long history of aviation, dating soon
after the Wright Brothers historic flight. JetBlue is one of the primary
carriers that serve this airport. More info:
www.longbeach.gov/airport
Ontario International Airport,
(ONT) is located just off of the 10 right
before it meets the 15 in Ontario, pretty much due east of downtown Los
Angeles (close to San Bernardino). WiFi is available throughout
Terminals 2 and 4 International flights arriving at this airport are
from AeroMexico only. More information:
www.lawa.org/welcomeONT.cfm
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