If you have an upcoming flight out of LAX, you might be asking yourself “How Early Should I Arrive to LAX”. Getting to the airport at the right time is crucial to reducing travel hiccups and avoiding a missed flight. The sweet spot would be arriving at your gate with hopefully enough time to use the restroom if needed, perhaps grab a snack or coffee, and have a few moments to gather yourself before your section starts to board.
The journey from arriving at the departure level to passing through the gates can be stressful at one of the largest and busiest domestic airports in the US. The last thing you want is to have to rush through check-in and TSA checkpoints at LAX. At the same time, arriving too early can you leave you wandering around the airport anxiously waiting to hear your plane begin the boarding process.
To help you decide the best time to arrive at LAX, we are going to break down the main factors that will dictate how much time you will need:
- Type of flight (domestic or international)
- Mode of transportation to the airport
- Time of departure flight
How early should I arrive at LAX for a domestic flight?
Travel experts recommend arriving at the airport 2 hours before a domestic flight. The recommended time to check in a bag for a domestic airline like Delta is 30 minutes. However, this recommendation varies from airport to airport. At LAX, you should your bag at least 1 hour to 30 minutes before your flight is scheduled to depart.
How early should I arrive at LAX for an international flight?
Travel experts recommend arriving at the airport three hours before a domestic flight. If you need to check in a bag for an international flight, the recommended time is at least 1 hour before your flight is scheduled to depart. However, for LAX give yourself extra time to check in your bag and plan to check it in between 1 and half hours to 1 hour before your flight.
Whether domestic or international, if you are flying during the holidays or peak travel days which are Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday give yourself an extra 30 minutes to 1 hour. Stay ahead of long wait times by downloading the MyTSA App. The app will help you estimate how much earlier you should arrive than the standard recommended time.
When to arrive at LAX based on Transportation Mode
If you are driving yourself to LAX:
Depending on your needs and preferences, travelers can arrive at LAX using a variety of transportation methods. In addition to the type of flight, your mode of transportation should be considered when planning your time of arrival. Using public transportation is absolutely possible but for the sake of arriving to LAX in a timely manner, we will stick to parking information and drop offs.
Parking on-site at LAX
If you are parking at LAX’s Central Terminal Area, you are as close as possible and will have direct access to the airport. If you are flying out on an international flight, park at P3 and P4 in CTA parking. These two parking garages are the closest to the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
Parking off-site at LAX
If you are parking at LAX’s Cell Phone Lot, Economy Lot, or a nearby airport parking facility, give yourself an extra 30 minutes to anticipate the time you will need to board the shuttle and be transported to your LAX terminal.
Getting dropped off at LAX:
Skipping the parking bit and getting dropped off curbside is the quickest, most convenient way to get to your airline’s check-in area. Depending on the airline, you might be able to check in at a curbside kiosk.
Using a rideshare service to get to LAX
A rideshare service like Uber or Lyft will leave you curbside at your terminal. However, to arrive at the airport at the time you planned, you should account for the time that you will need to wait for your rideshare to pick you up. To be safe, give yourself an extra 15-20 minutes to factor in the time it would take your rideshare service to arrive after you have requested a pickup.
Getting dropped off by a friend or relative at LAX
Other than parking at LAX’s CTA area, this arrival option will give you the most control and is the cheapest way to arrive at LAX. Chances are, your loved one is already with you when you are ready to head to the airport. If you arrive a bit earlier than estimated, vehicles can safely wait for the free at the LAX Cell Phone lot until it is time to be dropped off at the departure level.
When to Arrive at LAX Based on Departure Time
The time that your plane is scheduled to take off has a huge impact on when to arrive at LAX. If you have an early morning flight before 8 AM, it should be smoother sailing and you can plan your arrival 2-3 hours before (2 hours for domestic flights and 3 hours for international flights).
In general and airport’s peak travel hours begin after 8 AM and start to taper off after 10 PM. The busiest times to fly out of LAX are 9 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 6 PM. If your flights are scheduled to depart during these times, give yourself some extra time to account for longer check-in and security lines. Airline delays are more likely to take place later on in the day as delays from prior flights begin to add up.
LAX is open 24 hours a day and opens to the public from 5 AM to Midnight but each terminal operates on its own hours.
We have broken down the factors that determine when you should arrive at LAX. Even with prior planning, life can throw some curve balls that can keep you from arriving at LAX at your desired time. Below are additional tips to help you arrive on time and help your flight out of LAX go smoothly:
7 LAX Flight Arrival Tips
- On your flight day, check for weather advisories on your phone and on the FlyLAX website
- Download the MyTSA App available on Apple and Android to get security wait times
- Anticipate Los Angeles traffic, use an app like Waze or Google Maps to help you get travel more accurate travel times from your start point to LAX
- Give yourself extra time if you are flying on peak travel days (Friday-Monday) or on holidays
- If you are driving yourself to the airport, take advantage of pre-booking services and reserve your airport parking ahead of time.
- Check LAX’s Twitter account for updates on parking, airport construction, and delays
- If you have any early morning flight, skip the LA traffic and consider checking at an airport hotel that provides shuttle service to LAX.
If you are flying out of LAX soon and need airport parking options, make sure to read our LAX Parking Information guide.