How early should I get to LAX?

Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, CA · Checked Oct 14, 2026

The short answer

Allow at least 2 hours before domestic departures to check bags, clear security and reach the gate

Arrive 3 hours before international flights

Those are blanket rules. Your real number depends on your terminal, the time of day, traffic from your door, and whether you have PreCheck or a bag. Leave By works out your exact leave time.

Source: lawa.org

Security lines at LAX

Nationally, TSA checkpoints are busiest from 5 to 7 AM local time. See TSA's hourly numbers and the busiest days to fly.

TSA PreCheck: A third-party September 2026 guide reports a PreCheck lane at each terminal's checkpoint, with hours that vary by terminal. Checkpoints generally open around 4-5am and close between 11:30pm and 2:30am depending on terminal; check with your airline.

CLEAR: Available at this airport (see terminals below for which checkpoints).

Touchless ID: TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is listed at LAX for Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest and United (opt in through your airline profile)

Terminals and checkpoints

Terminal 1

Southwest, JetBlue

Terminal 1 checkpointPreCheckCLEAR

JetBlue moved here from Terminal 5 in October 2025
LAX-it rideshare and taxi pickup lot is just east of Terminal 1
Terminal 1.5 links Terminals 1 and 2 and has a bus gate to Tom Bradley

Terminal 2

Delta, Spirit

Terminal 2 checkpointPreCheckCLEAR

Spirit moved here from Terminal 5 in October 2025
Delta uses Terminals 2 and 3, connected airside

Terminal 3

Delta

Terminal 3 checkpointPreCheckCLEAR

Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT)

Most international airlines, American (some long-haul)

Tom Bradley checkpointPreCheckCLEAR is reported in Terminals 1-7; TBIT not confirmed

West Gates / Midfield Satellite Concourse South added 8 gates (2025), absorbing flights displaced by the Terminal 5 closure
Active construction continued at TBIT into fall 2026

Terminal 4

American

Terminal 4 checkpointPreCheckCLEAR

American moved check-in and ticketing here from Terminal 5 on Oct 28, 2025
Active construction continued here into fall 2026

Terminal 5

Closed since October 2025 and being demolished and rebuilt; reopening expected in 2028

Terminal 6

Alaska

Terminal 6 checkpointPreCheckCLEAR

Terminal 7

United

Terminal 7 checkpointPreCheckCLEARAlso serves Terminal 8, which has no checkpoint of its own

Terminal 8

United

Screening is at the Terminal 7 checkpoint

Between terminals: LAWA says most terminals are connected after security by walkways; long walks are possible (Terminal 4 to Terminals 6-8 is via an underground walkway). The SkyLink people mover is not yet open to passengers.

Terminals are connected after security, so you can walk between them without re-screening.

Getting to LAX

Rideshare and taxi: Uber and Lyft drop off at the terminal curbs on the upper Departures level. Pickup is only at the LAX-it lot east of Terminal 1: walk there or take the free LAX-it shuttle from the lower Arrivals level.

Transit: LAX/Metro Transit Center has Metro C and K line rail connections; a free LAX shuttle runs from pink 'LAX Shuttles' signs on the lower Arrivals level. FlyAway buses serve Union Station and Van Nuys.

Driving and parking: The Central Terminal Area loop is congested and under construction, with roadway closures and detours. Westbound Century Boulevard between Jetway Boulevard and Vicksburg Avenue has nightly full closures Sept 21-Nov 13, 2026. Reserve parking at parking.flylax.com, since lots can fill on peak days.

Construction and changes in 2026

SkyLink automated people mover still in testing and not open to travelers as of Aug 2026; it missed the World Cup target, and the contractor is in litigation with the city (project longstop Dec 8, 2026)
Terminal 5 closed (since Oct 2025) for demolition and rebuild, expected to reopen in 2028; American moved to Terminal 4, JetBlue to Terminal 1 and Spirit to Terminal 2
Airfield and Terminal Modernization Program roadway work (4.4 miles of roads) has periodic closures through 2030, including Sepulveda/Century pedestrian bridge work
Nightly directional full closures of westbound Century Boulevard (Jetway Blvd to Vicksburg Ave) Sept 21-Nov 13, 2026
Active work at Tom Bradley International Terminal, Terminal 4 and the future Terminal 5 continued into fall 2026

Checking a bag

Delta: bags 45 minutes before domestic departure (30 minutes without bags); be at the gate 15 minutes before. United and American: 45 minutes for domestic, 60 minutes for international. Alaska: 50 minutes with or without bags (60 international). Southwest: checked bags 45 minutes before domestic departure.

LAX tips first-timers miss

Terminal 5 is closed: American now checks in at Terminal 4, JetBlue at Terminal 1 and Spirit at Terminal 2
Rideshare and taxi pickups are not at the terminal curb; they're at the LAX-it lot east of Terminal 1
The SkyLink train is not running yet, so allow time for shuttle buses if you're coming from the Metro Transit Center or remote lots
United's Terminal 8 has no checkpoint of its own; screen at Terminal 7
Reserve parking ahead at parking.flylax.com; LAX says pre-booking is the only way to guarantee a space

Leaving for LAX?

Pick your flight and where you're starting. Leave By checks live traffic, security lines and your terminal, and tells you the minute to walk out the door.