Los Angeles Airport Information
There are four airports serving the Los Angeles area: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX); Ontario Airport, east of L.A. by 35 miles (ONT); Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, northeast of LAX and closer to Hollywood and Downtown (BUR); and Long Beach Airport (LGB).
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Los Angeles International Airport, commonly called “LAX,” is the main airport serving the Los Angeles area. It is the fifth-busiest airport for passenger traffic in the world and third-busiest in the United States. It operates as a main hub for United Airlines, a secondary hub for Delta, and is a main city for Southwest, Alaska and American Airlines. LAX serves 69 international and 87 domestic destinations. All international arrivals and departures are serviced through the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
To get from the airport to a given destination, there are a number of options which include taxis, rental cars, door-to-door shuttle vans, long-distance vans, public buses, direct-to-airport buses and the Metro Rail Green Line (light rail). Taxis are a $42 flat fare from LAX to downtown L.A., about $35 to Hollywood, about $20 to Santa Monica, $25 to Beverly Hills, and from $45 to $60 to Pasadena and the Valley; all include a service charge of $2.50 and a $15 minimum fare for service starting at the airport. The FlyAway Bus Service provides frequent, nonstop transportation between LAX, Downtown, the Westside and the San Fernando Valley. Tickets can be purchased from the FlyAway kiosk at Union Station's Patsaouras terminal, in Westwood near the UCLA campus or at the Van Nuys FlyAway. Remote baggage check-in and boarding passes are available.
Two ride-share van companies serve the airport: Supershuttle and PrimeTime Shuttle, and fares are typically $20-$55 per person depending on the destination. Many area hotels will provide complimentary shuttle service from the airport, so check this option before booking another service. There are 10 rental car companies with airport curbside drop-off and pick-up shuttles, and 30 other rental car companies that are accessible by placing a phone request for a pickup shuttle at the airport.
The Metro Rail Green Line accesses the Metrolink and Amtrak system by a free shuttle and can take you as far north as Santa Barbara, as far east as San Bernardino and as far south as San Diego
San Diego Skyline, San Diego, and to many points in between. Public buses with service to the airport include the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, the Torrance City Transit and the Culver City Bus Lines.
In addition, LAX provides many services to assist passengers or visitors with disability. Along with special parking spaces, ramps and elevators, a free shuttle equipped with a lift for disabled persons in wheelchairs operates between Lot C and airline terminals. Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) or speech-impaired are available in all terminals.
Because LAX is a very busy and very large airport, it may take more time to get in and out than at one of the other, smaller regional airports. Please see below to find out if your planned trip would be better served by one of L.A.’s other airports.
LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Serving San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, this airport had 7 million passengers in 2006 and has 12 different airlines passing through its terminals. It had a renovation in 1998 which expanded the size of its terminals by eight times. The airport’s Ground Transportation Center is on-site but a shuttle is required to reach it from the passenger terminals. The Ground Transportation Center provides seven on-site car rental company options, and one off-site option (Advantage), accessible by Advantage’s shuttle.
Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
Located in Burbank, this airport is closer to Hollywood and Griffith Park than LAX. Flights mostly serve the western U.S. plus the key cities of New York City, Columbus, and Dallas/Fort Worth. Four rental car companies provide rentals at the airport while six provide service off-site and are accessible by shuttle.
Long Beach Airport (LGB)
If the coastal area of southern California is your destination of choice, this is the right airport to fly into, though service is restricted due to noise ordinances from the neighborhood which closely surrounds the airport. Four airlines serve the airport with JetBlue providing the most flights. Origination cities include Seattle
Seattle Skyline, Seattle, Phoenix and Salt Lake City, and JetBlue-specific origination cities include Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, New York City, Oakland, Washington, D.C., Sacramento and Salt Lake City. The Rental Car Center with six different rental car companies is located a few miles outside the airport and is accessible by shuttle.
Airline carriers serving Los Angeles International Airport
- Air Canada
- Air Canada Jazz
- Air China
- Air France
- Air New Zealand
- Aer Lingus
- Aeroflot
- Air India
- Air Tahiti Nui
- AirTran Airways
- Alaska Airlines
- All Nippon Airways (ANA)
- American Trans Air (ATA)
- American Airlines
- American Eagle
- America West
- Aerolitoral
- Asiana Airlines
- Aviacsa Airline
- Avianca Airlines
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- China Airlines
- China Southern
- Copa Airlines (Panama)
- El Al Israel Airlines
- EVA Air
- Frontier Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Horizon Air
- Japan Airlines
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
- Korean Airlines
- LACSA Airlines
- LAN (Chile)
- LAN (Peru)
- LTU International Airways
- Lufthansa
- Malaysia Airline
- Mexicana Airlines
- Midwest Airlines
- Northwest Airlines
- Philippine Airlines
- QANTAS
- Singapore Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Sun Country
- Swiss International Air Lines Ltd.
- TACA International Airlines
- TED Airlines
- Thai Airways
- United Airlines
- US Airways
- Varig Brazilian Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- West Jet
Los Angeles Train Information
Metrolink and Amtrak have teamed up to provide light rail and rail service to L.A. and outlying areas. All Metrolink lines are open Monday through Friday, with only select lines open Saturday and Sunday. Ticket rates are based on the cost of driving that same distance, and are comparable to other bus and rail fares in the area. Example fares: from Union Station to Cal State L.A. one-way would cost $4.75 on a weekday and $3.50 on a weekend; Bob Hope Airport to Norwalk would cost $6.50 on a weekday and is not available on the weekend.
Amtrak has five lines that provide cross-country service to L.A. The Pacific Surfliner shares 15 joint stations with L.A.’s Metrolink and extends Metrolink service by traveling to San Diego, Santa Barbara, Obispo, San Luis and Paso Robles. The other four lines are the Coast Starlight (Portland and Seattle); the Southwest Chief (Chicago and Albuquerque); the Sunset Limited (Orlando, New Orleans and Houston); and the Texas Eagle (San Antonio, Dallas, St. Louis and Chicago).
Los Angeles Public Transportation
Rental Cars
Since L.A. is so spread out, renting a car is highly recommended. Make sure you also buy a map and spend some time studying it before you head out as the highway system is complex. Car rental companies that are at LAX and all regional airports listed above include Alamo, Avis, National, and Hertz. Another option is to contact the concierge at your hotel to find the closest rental car location. Some rental companies can arrange for your car to be brought to your hotel.
Taxis
Choose taxis in L.A. only when you are going a short distance, or you will be paying through the nose. If you aren’t at an airport or a hotel, you will most likely need to call for a cab. Good options are L.A. Taxi (213-627-7000) and Yellow Cab (562-435-6111). Make sure any taxi you choose has the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation Seal. This means the taxi is legally authorized to operate in L.A.
City rates are: $2.65 for the first 1/7 of a mile, $2.45 per mile after that for driving or waiting time. Service from LAX to the L.A. Convention Center
Los Angeles Convention Center
should be about $42 (the downtown flat rate), or $48 with a 15% tip. Union Station to the Getty Center is about $7 with a 15% tip. Universal City to Hollywood and Vine is about $15 with a 15% tip.
Subway/Metro/Bus
The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) is L.A.’s metro. MTA has five lines identified by color. Major stops include LAX (by shuttle), Union Station, Chinatown, Redondo Beach, 7th Street/Metro Center, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, the Sunset Strip, Hollywood, Universal City, Balboa, Tampa and the Transit Mall. Fares are $1.25 one-way, $5 for a Day Pass and $17 for a weekly pass. Passes are available at stations, online and by mail.
Metro Rail System
Six fast, easy-to-use and environmentally friendly color-coded subway, light-rail and rapid bus transit lines offer visitors an affordable way of getting from one destination to the next.
- The Metro Blue Line (light rail) runs north and south between Long Beach and L.A.
- The Metro Green Line (light rail) runs east and west between Norwalk and Redondo Beach.
- The Metro Red Line (subway) meets the Blue Line in L.A. and provides service through Downtown, the Mid-Wilshire area, Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley, where it meets the Metro Orange Line (rapid bus transit), which runs from North Hollywood to the Warner Center in Woodland Hills.
- The Metro Purple Line (subway) runs between Union Station, Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue.
- The Metro Gold Line (light rail) connects with the Red Line at Union Station and runs to Pasadena.
Metro Bus System
Three types of bus service are available throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. With 200 different lines, buses travel all over the city to every major destination including state parks, area attractions and shopping districts.
- Metro Local (painted orange) makes frequent stops along major streets throughout the city.
- Metro Rapid (painted red) offers fewer stops and expedited travel times on the city’s major streets, with the use of special transponders that cause traffic signals to favor the bus.
- Metro Express (painted blue) offers reduced stop service along the city’s freeway systems.
DASH
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) currently operates the second largest fleet in Los Angeles County. LADOT’s transit fleet serves approximately 30 million passenger boardings per year.
DASH Downtown
Six quick bus routes through Downtown depart every five to 10 minutes between 6:30 am and 6:00 pm on weekdays, and every 15 minutes between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Big Blue Bus
Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus is a great way to get around the Santa Monica area, and also provides service to Venice Beach. Its routes crisscross downtown Los Angeles with a connection to LAX, Sunset Boulevard, Venice Beach, and other areas. A token is $.75 local and $1.25 express; it is $2.50 for a day pass.
Biking or Walking
With L.A.’s beautiful climate and flat terrain, traveling over short distances on foot or by bike are great options. For a nice walk, head out to the neighborhoods of Silver Lake, Redondo, Manhattan, Hermosa, Venice Beach, or Santa Monica. Biking between Santa Monica and Venice or Manhattan and Hermosa are both pleasant rides.
In Santa Monica try Spokes ‘N Stuff Bike Rental or Blazing Saddles Bike Rental, with prices ranging from $16-20 per day, or on Hermosa Beach, try Hermosa Cyclery, $21 to $45 for a day. For cruising Hollywood, try Hollywood Pro Bicycles, priced at $24 the first day and $15 each additional day.
Distance to...
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