LAX Terminal and Layover

[KanoMike]

I will be coming to SEA soon and have a question for those who go thru LAX quite a bit. This will only be my 2nd time thru LAX, mostly go thru SFO and SEA. I will fly Sun Country MSP to LAX and then China Airlines (CI) to Manila. I have a 6 hour layover and I wouldn't expect CI to open there ticket counters earlier than 3 hours before departure. Is there anything to do, bars, restos, on the non-airside of any terminal?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

KM

[Short]

There's the long walk from the domestic terminal to the international terminal.

 

Go ahead and get your ticket early, but once you go through the international security there is very little there.

[briguy]

I live in LA  and think LAX has always been one of the more boring airports. But at least the restaurant and bar options at the Tom Bradley International Terminal have been improved in the last few years. Food offerings include excellent pizza at 800 Degrees and good burgers at Umami Burger in the food court. For sitdown service, there's a Border Grill (Mexican), Chaya Sushi, Larder On Tavern and ink.sack (both American... reviewers tend to like ink.sack) and even a champagne and caviar bar.

[Luv2Phuket]

I live in LA  and think LAX has always been one of the more boring airports. But at least the restaurant and bar options at the Tom Bradley International Terminal have been improved in the last few years. Food offerings include excellent pizza at 800 Degrees and good burgers at Umami Burger in the food court. For sitdown service, there's a Border Grill (Mexican), Chaya Sushi, Larder On Tavern and ink.sack (both American... reviewers tend to like ink.sack) and even a champagne and caviar bar.

 

True, but that's all AFTER the security checkpoint

 

For the OP, assuming you are checking a bag, I would plan on it taking the better part of an hour to get your bag and make it around to the Bradley Terminal.  As mentioned, it's a bit of a walk and baggage claim can take decades at LAX.

 

I would think China Air's ticket counter would be open more than 3 hours before, especially if they have other flights heading out before your flight.  The recommendation at LAX is to arrive 3 hours before an International flight, so I assume they would be open before then (but who knows?).

 

Despite the improvements at the Bradley Terminal, almost all are after the security checkpoint.  That said, I think there are a couple of small airport shops (good luck killing ore than 5 minutes in them!) on the departure level, and I am 99% sure that there is a coffee shop/area to grab a bite to eat on the arrivals level below.  A bit of a pain in the ass to get down there, but may be a good place to kill about an hour or so.

 

Once the desk opens, you're good to go -- food, drinks, shopping, etc. are all top notch (BUT expensive) once you clear security!

[iluvasians/latins]

Just like Trump said, America's airports are a joke compared to the rest of the modern world.

[KanoMike]

Just like Trump said, America's airports are a joke compared to the rest of the modern world.

 

I don't know, I fly out of MSP and rate that airport better than MNL, TPE, SFO, SEA and PNH

 

KM

[HimBadMan]

Just like Trump said, America's airports are a joke compared to the rest of the modern world.

 

Not true LAX TBIT to be exact is amazing. I use to avoid LAX, but now that the T4 terminal is connected by a walkway is an Amazing addition. You no longer have to walk to TBIT and check in and go through security if you have proper boarding pass..

 

Once in TBIT. Plenty to do. Luckily for me I'm a One World Emerald member so I enjoy the Quantas 1st class lounge; which to me and many experts is the best US based lounge.

 

To OP- as others stated nothing at all in TBIT until you pass security. But once in; its Amazing best terminal in the country for sure and competes with any international terminal except HKIA Cathay Terminal which is my favorite by far.

 

 

Ps: If any BM is flying out on 8/26 out of LAX on a one world flight; let me know and I'll be more than happy to have you as a guest in the 1st class lounge.

[kash buc]

I am at TBIT now. In the departure ticketing side there isn't much. But I did see one sit down bar and pizza joint just before you enter security.

 

I fly EVA and ticketing was open at 8:30pm for their early AM flights

 

Like everyone said once you're past security there's Lenny of shops and restaurants I' m in the star alliance lounge now

[basket case]

Just like Trump said, America's airports are a joke compared to the rest of the modern world.

 

Yeah, I blame Obama for that crappy Sbarro pizza

[Explorer8939]

If you are Star Alliance Gold, the lounge at the International terminal is not bad, and they have a small First class lounge hidden off to the side. That lounge has shower facilities, I believe.