LAX - 5 hour layover!!! Please help!

[AussieCaribou]

I'm so excite. I get to go to the US to visit family and friends...and I get to go to Disneyland (happy dance!). I get to take DD14 and, although I love traveling with DH, we can't afford both of us going this time (sad panda)...but hey! I get to go! (Bright side)

However, there is a cloud over my happy mood...(cue dramatic music and ominous lighting change) ...yep, my least favourite airport in the world - da da dom - LAX. Why? Why does this airport haunt me so? I feel like I am trapped, never to escape, when I am there. And what's worse? This time, we have a 5 hour layover - both ways!!!! - before we catch our flights to San Diego and then Sydney on the way back.

Please, oh travelers of the great airs between here and there, tell me that it's improved from my last visit (2.5 years ago). I won't wade through puddles from the leaking roofs or be bored by lack of anything to do...ease my fear that my DD and I will starve to death because the food outlets are only fast food. (Annoying record scratch sound, cut music, being up lights)

Okay, I know - first world problems...and really, at 45, I should just shut up and stop being so dramatic. ;0) But I really do hate LAX because it lacks any sort of facilities. Please tell me that in the last 2 and a half years this has changed...or help me with strategies to keep from going bat poo mad in those 2 five-hour layovers.

 

[aussietravellers]

It hasn't improved .

But maybe you could take a shuttle to say... the Sheraton LAX and have a meal in their bar/lounge area (it's nice, open overlooking the pool) or their restaurant. Then take the shuttle back

 

[kylieh]

AussieTraveller's idea is a good one.

Last time we went we thought we would have three hours between flights - we ended up with perhaps 1/2 hour to spare after 1/2 delay by Qantas, not enough customs people being on, ticket problems, etc. And we were seated at the front of the plane.

I'm not sure what terminal you're going to/from, Tom Bradley is reopening with fresh new shops in the next month or so, and more food choices.

Random idea- would you be up to driving after the flight / time of day etc? Or are the flights booked? It would be a 2 1/2 drive between the two.

 

[AussieCaribou]

Interesting...hadn't thought about escaping! Might see what we can do there. I knew you were the people to ask!

And cool that Tom Bradley is being updated! We are on Delta (well co-share with Virgin...) and will be in and out of TB on our transits.

We thought about driving, I've done it more than once, but extra wonderful, supportive hubby booked us through to SD. :0) He just wanted to save the stress of the drive. Gotta love him.

 

[aussietravellers]

We have stayed at the Sheraton a couple of times in the last couple of months. The shuttles back and forth have been really regular and it's so close to the airport. About 5 minutes going around to all the terminals doing pickups and then 5 minutes to the hotel (if that, it may be just a couple of minutes). Then back the shuttle seems to be about every 10 minutes (longer in quiet times, like we waited almost 20 minutes at LAX at 2am) but that's probably because there weren't many flights or people around. During the day we never waited longer than 10 minutes, often less.

So if you had 5 hours (even 4), that would be enough time to go out, get the shuttle, order, eat, and get the shuttle back.

 

[ky71]

Club lounge?

Even if I had to pay for access I think it would be $$$ well spent!

 

[shushh]

I'm pretty sure both delta and virgin use terminal 5 and not TB. Perhaps someone can verify. Didn't want you to get too excited about being at the newly opened TB terminal!

 

[aussietravellers]

I'm pretty sure both delta and virgin use terminal 5 and not TB. Perhaps someone can verify. Didn't want you to get too excited about being at the newly opened TB terminal!

Yep, Delta is terminal 5

Virgin Australia arrive TBIT and leave out of terminal 3. (virgin America is terminal 3 too)

 

[gogo65]

You could get a taxi down to manhattan beach.
There is a shuttle from the airport hotels for $5, however by the time you get from the airport to an airport hotel, wait for the manhatten beach shuttle etc, probably quick and easy to get a taxi direct to manhattan beach, have some lunch do a bit of shopping etc

 

[ILUVALASKA]

Local So Cal resident here. Sorry, but LAX is still an armpit airport!

 

[Sugarglider]

hmmm ... it would be faster to drive to San Diego - it is only a couple of hours. have you considered the drive?

 

[Toy Story]

We had about a 10 lay over on our return trip last year. We had purchased the Delta Lounge 30 day pass - it is $90.

On the way over we had about two hours in the lounge in between flights, my Dh showered, while DD and I shared a shower room to freshen up (you were meant to book showers), we then snacked checked mail etc.

We used the lounge for breakfast on the way out of Orlando, then in LA our plan had been to leave the airport. But I had been really sick and we were really tiered, so we took turns sleeping, watching movies, and snacking. We kept swapping chairs to get a better seat (i.e power points). There is no main meals served in the lounges like in Australia, so we did leave to get something to eat - we were under strict instructions that no external food could be bought in. We left about four hours before our flight thinking we kill time at Tom Bradley - I think it took 30 minutes to look at the lack of shops, eat at Panda Express, then we made our way over to terminal 5 and resumed our sleep/movie watching pattern. We didm't try and enter the Virgin lounge with the pass.

 

[Franrose]

We had about a 10 lay over on our return trip last year. We had purchased the Delta Lounge 30 day pass - it is $90.

I see that Delta Sky Club members can bring in their immediate family (spouse, kids under 21) - does that apply to this pass? Did you buy one, or one per person? Thanks in advance

 

[Toy Story]

I see that Delta Sky Club members can bring in their immediate family (spouse, kids under 21) - does that apply to this pass? Did you buy one, or one per person? Thanks in advance

Hi, We had one pass for the three of us - my DD was 14 at the time.

 

[Franrose]

Thanks