There’s architectural beauty at the Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX. The pillars as you exit the 105 at night, the tunnels you drive through to reach the terminals while planes drive above you, and of course the beautiful — if partially forgotten — Theme Building. But LAX is also a nightmare no Angeleno wants to suffer through.
Traffic and parking is a mess
Traffic in Los Angeles is bad and we take getting around it as a personal challenge, but LAX traffic is on another level. LAX is designed in a “U” shape with the terminals on the outside of the “U,” the parking lot on the inside, and the road for cars and buses in between.
Problem number one with that design is that the parking lot has a defined footprint. And in a city where there are more cars than people, not having the ability to add parking spaces seems shortsighted. It also means if you’re using the lot to get to your terminal, you’ll need to walk across several lanes of cars and shuttle buses fighting for space.
Okay, so maybe driving in and out of LAX sucks but at least we live in the age of ridesharing. You can certainly ease the stress of driving by using Uber or Lyft, right?
Rideshare is painful
Say you’re landing at LAX as a first-time visitor. You’re looking forward to trying In-N-Out and taking in a few sights. You follow the signs to the rideshare area expecting that — like at most airports — you’ll be guided to a covered area of the parking lot. Nope, not at LAX.
I guess LAX personnel must’ve figured you don’t have to worry about “the elements” in Los Angeles so an open-air rideshare section far away from the airport would be just fine. It’s not like Los Angeles is known for having sunshine almost year-round. Maybe bring a hat.
LAX public transportation is improving, slowly
LAX has been renovating for as long as I can remember but this latest project promised an MTA train that finally reached the airport after the Gold line on the 105 failed to hit that goal. The project also included a people mover tram to connect terminals, parking lots, and outside transportation.
The first part of that renovation is here and feels like it will one day ease the problem. The new LAX/Metro Transit Center opened in June 2025. It’s a convenient way to reach the airport if you pack light. While convenient, I think its benefit won’t be fully noticeable until the next part happens.
The people mover officially known as SkyLink will one day connect LAX to the parking lots, rideshare area, outside lots, and the new MTA station. For now, we’re stuck in traffic watching it move through the tracks above, completely empty. The original opening was supposed to occur in 2023 but it’s currently scheduled for late 2026.
We have options in Los Angeles
I’ve picked up plenty of people at LAX over the years but when I’m the one flying, I do everything possible to avoid it. Both Burbank and Long Beach have smaller airports that will still get you to any part of the United States.
Deplaning at either airport takes you right down to the tarmac. It feels like you’re a character in a Los Angeles film noir or a golden-era movie star. You exit the plane onto sunny Los Angeles skies and walk down the staircase and for a moment, you want to wave at an imaginary crowd of fans who’ve been waiting for you to arrive.
Both airports give you excellent views as your plane lands, a classic Los Angeles feel when deplaning, and a pain-free airport experience. Avoid LAX and you’ll be eating a Double-Double in no time!