Scared of LAX

[Harmony]

I've been reading posts about LAX and the horrible traffic from there to DL. Not to mention the crowds at the airport.

Of course, I read all this *after* I already purchased my airline tickets. Well, I couldn't pass up the deal...it was good! (that should've been my first sign,huh?)

Here's my question..how *bad* will it really be? We are flying in May 30th and leaving June 5th. There are 5 of us, one happens to be a toddler.

Please someone...calm my nerves!

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

I've been reading posts about LAX and the horrible traffic from there to DL. Not to mention the crowds at the airport.

Of course, I read all this *after* I already purchased my airline tickets. Well, I couldn't pass up the deal...it was good! (that should've been my first sign,huh?)

Here's my question..how *bad* will it really be? We are flying in May 30th and leaving June 5th. There are 5 of us, one happens to be a toddler.

Please someone...calm my nerves!

Consider this a nerve calming email...... it is really not that bad. Yes, it is crowded. Yes, it takes longer to go through security than other airports. Plan to come early on June 5th to allow time for check in, getting to your gate and then to relax a bit before boarding the plane. On the 30th you should be fine. Label your luggage so you can find it quickly. They don't usually check ID or tags after you pick up the luggage. You pick it up and leave.

I have flown alone with a toddler to and from this airport. I always did a gate check for the stroller so I could contain my son and have something to help carry the diaper bag, toys etc.

Don't worry you will be fine.

 

[carinv]

Harmony,
I understand entirely where you are coming from!!!

I flew last year from Australia with my 2 daughters and I was really anxious about how I would find my way around LAX.

We also ended up flying one day earlier than planned (last minute change due to flying standby) and had no accommodation book for our first night!

I just took a deep breath and told myself it was all part of our adventure.

We arrived at 4pm and breezed through customs, no problem.

Once outside, we were greeted by some lovely volunteers at the help desk who booked us a hotel room and directed us to the shuttle.

It really was all so easy!

That is one thing I took home from my trip. Just how friendly and helpful American's are to stangers! Nothing ever seemed too much trouble. It really made our stay so enjoyable.

So my advice is, not to worry. Take a deep breath and if in doubt, ask. There will be someone there to help!!

 

[Harmony]

Thanks so much! Honestly, it does help to read positive experiences from LAX! lol We will be flying from Houston so we are used to large airports. Still, all the negative reviews got to me! Again, thanks for taking the time to post something positive! My nerves are calm now.

 

[albianne]

Actually LAX was one of the easiest airports we have ever visited (worst was Toronto where you have to take little shuttle buses just to board the plane), we arrived at LAX de-planed followed the crowd/signs to luggage pick-up and then walked a few feet to the car rental shuttle pick-up. We followed the written instructions that Dollar Rental gave us and voila we were on the freeway headed to disney. We stayed in the middle lane because the freeway exits seem to all exit on the right and when we saw are exit number come up just merged right - very easy.

On our way back we just followed Dollars instructions again and after dropping off our car, they dropped us at the appropriate terminal.

Anne

 

[MissKIA]

I've flown in there twice now and I just don't see what the big deal is! Yes it's a big airport, but it's not scary and it's not hard to navigate. These things never even occured to me until I started reading them on here. I haven't been there since 9/11 though (March 01 was the last time) so maybe that has something to do with it? Has it changed much since then?

 

[carmel]

I have been through LAX more times that I can count. I find it the easiest airport in the lower 48. Everything is marked very well and it has never felt overwhelming to me. I think the smaller airports are worse because you are packing a lot of people in a small space. I especially think the area where you get the hotel/rental car shuttles is easy. I don't think any rental car company is at the airport but you can catch very nice busses that take you right to the front door. From the rental car place, you just get on the expressway and head to OC. The traffic is heavy but if you just go slow and steady, it starts to thin down a bit about 2-3 miles across the county line. Getting to Harbor Blvd from the expressway is easy too.

I would, personally, never fly into John Wayne over LAX. The flights are almost always more expensive and John Wayne has that crazy noise abatement thing that makes the takeoff seem like Space Mountain.

 

[ktulu]

LAX is no big deal, you'll be fine

carmel: the noise abatement is why I like flying out of SNA

darren

 

[Chicago526]

I would, personally, never fly into John Wayne over LAX. The flights are almost always more expensive and John Wayne has that crazy noise abatement thing that makes the takeoff seem like Space Mountain.

The take off is half the fun! One last "ride" before you head home!

I also like Orange County because it's small, easy to navigate, quiet and not crowded. Also closer to DLR, and that's the whole reason for going! And from Chicago fares to SNA are about the same (or less) than LAX. For me, it's all good!

Anyway, I flew out of LAX once and found it to be just fine. No better or worse than any other large airport. But then I fly out of O'Hare, so I'm used to chaos. The key to smooth airline travel (and this goes for any airport) is to just give yourself enough time. Plan on bad traffic, plan on the baggage check-in line to be long, plan on long lines at security. Chances are not all of those things will happen (maybe even none of them), but if they do, you won't have to worry about running down the length of the terminal, hopping to break the land speed record in order to make your flight. I find the more time I have, the lower my stress level is. And if you find yourself at the airport with plenty of time to spare, I find it tons of fun to go window shoping and/or find a nice restaurant or bar to kill some time (just don't lose track of time!).

 

[amw]

Actually LAX was one of the easiest airports we have ever visited (worst was Toronto where you have to take little shuttle buses just to board the plane)

Wow! I'm from Toronto, and have never heard of that! The biggest inconvenience of our airport is the fact that the subway doesn't go to it. Tourists are forced to shuttle or taxi into downtown -- but, that's very similar to any other major airport.

Which airline were you flying? We have three terminals. Maybe some of the tiny airlines may do that, but I've never heard of the major airlines needing their own bus to the tarmack

Don't discourage visitors to YYZ!

As far as LAX, I can't see it being any worse than any other North America major metropolitan. Rush hour traffic should be avoided at any airport.

 

[Rapunsel]

LAX is a breeze.. I have flown in and out of about a hundred times over 25 years...

Chicago Ohare is bigger and scarier..

Do curbside check in if it is avaliable and it will be easy...

 

[diamondprincess]

Hi Harmony! Thanks for the post! I am flying into LAX on a day later than you, May 31st and leaving the same day as you, June 5th! I was a little worried too, but these posts have helped calm the nerves! I hope you have a blast!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I have to agree with others, LAX was not a big deal. When we flew into it, I had my two parents with us, which includes my mom who has Alzheimers. Let me tell you, I have had some hairy airport experiences with her, including once at Dallas Fort Worth, where she got lost (we were separated at security, they would not allow me to go in the same line with her even when I explained to them what the situation was) and I was frantic for about ten minutes. But LAX was fine, we breezed right through coming and going. I think with any airport, you can hit it at a good, not busy time, or the opposite. You just never know! But my experience (which I was dreading) was just fine. I love Orange County due to its proximity to Disneyland but have had long, slow, pain in the rear experiences with their security each time we have flown into there.

 

[albianne]

Sorry this is not LAX related, but just replying to AMW. We were last in the Toronto airport when we were headed to Philly via AirCanada and we had to board a shuttle type bus to get to another terminal, if this does not happen anymore maybe they were under construction or something, it was 2 yrs ago at the beginning of July.

Another weird thing that happened to me was at the gate when they made the announcement for people travelling with kids or anyone handicapped etc to board we got up and after we were checked thru and started going down the ramp I was asked by a security person to step over while they went thru every thing, my purse, (my carry on was dumped out on a table while everyone walked by)and I was wanded several times.

I explained that I had a prosthetic leg when the wand beeped as it passed oved my leg and that I had obviously already passed the regular security where I had already endured the humiliation of them knocking on the leg, and swabbing it for explosive residue (just to make sure I guess). It was all very bizzare and thank heavens I have never had this happen to me before. I don't think I look like a drug dealer, just an overweight middle-aged house wife-type travelling with a child LOL

The thing that bothered me the most was they did it during the pre-boarding, don't they realize that people who require pre-boarding do it for a reason. I have difficulty walking down inclines with a prosthetic leg, I usually hang on to the railing and go slowly. By the time the security had finished with me I was boarding with the rest of the crowd, basically slowing them all down plus I had to hunt for an available overhead bin able to hold my crutches. It was just an overall strange experience that left me with bad memories of the Toronto Airport.

 

[honeymom]

I used to live in So. Cal. and fly every week on business (sometimes several times a week). It was 12 years ago, but LAX's reputation was the same then as now and I have flown in there since.

I never understood the bad rap. It had to be the easiest big airport in the country to deal with. The ONLY time it was ever bad was Thanksgiving and Christmas.

So relax and have a great vacation!

 

[SunshineOR]

We always do LAX because it's cheaper. It's fine--we never really have a problem. We get where we need to go fine and have never experienced a major delay. What bothers us about it is just that it appears really dirty and poorly maintained and there's sometimes a real scarcity of employees to assist you. I remember flying in and out of there right when they were making a tv drama that supposedly took place at and I think was even called "LAX". We were chuckling walking through saying, "How will the airport look in the show, because certainly they're not going to make it look dumpy and dirty like this, are they?" It's not scary or anything, it will just bother you if you prefer clean bathrooms and floors.

 

[amw]

Sorry this is not LAX related, but just replying to AMW. We were last in the Toronto airport when we were headed to Philly via AirCanada and we had to board a shuttle type bus to get to another terminal, if this does not happen anymore maybe they were under construction or something, it was 2 yrs ago at the beginning of July.

Yes, that sounds right. There was construction going on at that point. They added a terminal, and then updated the other two. I don't think it's done that way anymore.

I absolutely hate flying, and have only been through the airport 3 times, but I always found it an easy process. I found Orlando fairly easy too... Miami a little harder... Heathrow very busy. I'm not too worried about LAX. My DH flies out of Toronto every week to work on the west coast. He always goes an hour before and has plenty of time to walk on board (he's not checking luggage). I don't suggest that for travellers, but it's not that congested at YYZ except during March Break, which is when we're going next year!

Albianne, no wonder you have bad memories of the airport. That sounded like a terrible situation -- and tiring too. I don't know why you would have been stopped in the loading ramp. There's certainly no way to excuse security's behaviour. I've only ever been checked through at security, never while boarding. I hope you experienced friendlier faces during the rest of your stay in TO

 

[SamIAm21]

I've been through LAX and I found it to be a super easy airport to navigate. Heck, if you can survive O'Hare or McCarran in Vegas, you got it made.

When making my reservations for DL this June, the airfares on SWA for John Wayne (SNA) were easily double what it cost to fly into LAX and there was no direct flight. That's a pita when you have kids!

I'll take LAX anyday! And you never know, you might see them filming that Airline show! I did when I flew into LAX!!

 

[E(ticket)lizabeth]

We just returned late Mon. night from our trip to DL, and we flew in & out of LAX. I was a little worried, too, but decided we could handle it. It was easy! The signs are good, the people are nice--we were traveling with a toddler, so security took a little longer to get everything unloaded from the stroller, all of us through the detector, and everything loaded back up, and the security personnel were very nice, very patient. The only problem we had was I couldn't find my instructions from Dollar, so I called them from the baggage claim area to make certain I didn't need to call for a shuttle or anything. It took them a little while to answer the phone, but all I had needed to do was walk right out the doors by baggage claim and turn right to the purple "rental car shuttles" sign. Easy-peasy! The airport is large, but since the airport is divided up into fairly small & manageable terminals, it was just as easy as anyplace else we've ever been, and easier than a few. You shouldn't have any problems at all.

By the way, kudos to Infoline@lawa.org. There's a very nice person there who answers your email questions and seems genuinely concerned that you have a good trip in and out of LAX! Write and ask him/her anything! We had several conversations about the airport, and I got some great information.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Wow! I'm from Toronto, and have never heard of that! The biggest inconvenience of our airport is the fact that the subway doesn't go to it. Tourists are forced to shuttle or taxi into downtown -- but, that's very similar to any other major airport.

Which airline were you flying? We have three terminals. Maybe some of the tiny airlines may do that, but I've never heard of the major airlines needing their own bus to the tarmack

Don't discourage visitors to YYZ!

As far as LAX, I can't see it being any worse than any other North America major metropolitan. Rush hour traffic should be avoided at any airport.

I'm also from Toronto. Markham, in fact, I've never had to take a bus ride from departure gate to the aircraft. When was this?