Airliners.net

Hi all - I had the pleasure of spending last weekend all around greater Los Angeles area, Malibu, and Ventura County with good friends. A lovely break from the cold and rain of Oregon!

I flew in and out of LAX International on AA Eagle 6081 / 6083, and this was my first time there since the "big swap" of moving DL to Terminals 2 and 3, and also my first time on local O&D flights for about as long as I could recall. I had the pleasure of arriving early enough for my flight home that I got to hang out in a just a few of the terminals (4, 5, and the AA Eagle remote stand) to see some of the things that had changed. This gets fairly long and detailed, so please bear with me...

FIS Facilities
Located in Terminals 2, 4, 5, the combined facility between 6/7, and TBIT last I recall. Are the FIS facilities in Terminals 4 and 5 still open?

Parking of International Arrivals
Back when DL was in Terminal 5/6, I remember arriving on an evening flight from PVR, parking at Terminal 5, disembarking into the terminal, then being directed downstairs to waiting buses to take us to TBIT for international processing. The experience a TBIT was lovely (quite the facility!), but the bus ride there in fact was not. Going off further research, this practice appears to be more common than I thought for non-TBIT airlines - park at your "home" terminal, then bus to TBIT. Are the smaller FIS facilities in other terminals only open limited hours? (Say, only for morning arrivals?) Do said facilities see much traffic?

International Departures
What about these - I had assumed these all depart from the airline's prospective "home" terminals, but there's a note on the LAX airline location map that says something to the effect of passengers checking in for certain airlines at their usual locations, before being bused to TBIT for departure. (?)

Terminal 1
Home of Southwest...all appears normal.

Terminal 2
Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic, WestJet, and Delta. I assume Delta has taken over many of the Terminal 2 gates since the move? (Since I seem to recall more airlines used to be in here...) Is there any real reason why Delta moved, other than wanting more gates?

Terminal 3
Anyone else besides Delta? Do they have more gates in Terminal 2 or 3?

Terminal 4
Home of American...all appears normal.

Terminal 5
Allegiant, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Spirit, Sun Country, and American. It would seem as though most AA flights use Terminal 4 with only some spillover into Terminal 5?

Terminal 6
Air Canada, Alaska, Virgin America, plus some other small nondescript carriers I don't recognize. Does UA still use Terminal 6 for anything (or the old CO gates), or are they only in 7/8 now?

Terminals 7/8
Home of United...all appears normal.

Tom Bradley
International carriers with the exception of Aer Lingus/Aeromexico/Virgin Atlantic. Would sure be a hoot if I got to fly out of there someday!

Airline Check-In & Baggage Claim Locations
This is where I'm a bit more confused...

Where do Delta passengers check-in?
Do ALL American passengers check-in at Terminal 4? (That was my experience last weekend...)
Are bags claimed within the same terminal as where your flight arrives? (For example, what if you were on an AA flight that arrived in Terminal 5?) Or in my case, which terminal do you take the bus back to if you arrive at the AA Eagle gates? I didn't have checked bags on my inbound flight, hence my inquiry...

Where exactly is the AA Eagle remote stand located? Nearby Terminal 8? I personally find it to be small and underwhelming (with limited facilities), albeit well-suited for such an operation.

Random aside...many years ago, I made the ignorant and critical mistake of booking a 90 minute connection from AS to DL. (Back when AS was in Terminal 3.) AS flight from Portland was delayed over an hour due to aircraft mechanical problems, so I was blasted through the terminal by airport staff to a Terminal 5 shuttle, in which I was then rushed to Terminal 6 where my flight ACTUALLY was, only to have missed it upon arrival. In the heat of that moment, I'm not sure whether I was more angry at myself, the ground support folks back in Portland, or the LAX employees who sent me on this whole marathon for nothing.

Anyways, I think that just about covers everything - so thank you for your attention and any guidance you might have to offer. Way back when I more active on these forums, there was a guy known only as LAXIntl...say, is he still around?

United is in Terminals 7 and 8 only at this time

AlnessW wrote:

Do ALL American passengers check-in at Terminal 4? (That was my experience last weekend...)
Are bags claimed within the same terminal as where your flight arrives? (For example, what if you were on an AA flight that arrived in Terminal 5?) Or in my case, which terminal do you take the bus back to if you arrive at the AA Eagle gates? I didn't have checked bags on my inbound flight, hence my inquiry...

Where exactly is the AA Eagle remote stand located? Nearby Terminal 8? I personally find it to be small and underwhelming (with limited facilities), albeit well-suited for such an operation.

For American, I guess you check in where American tells you to check in.

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformati ... irport.jsp

American does have a baggage claim in Terminal 5.
Sometimes American will also go into Terminal 6 during irregular ops.

The Eagle remote terminal is east of Sepulveda and north of Runway 25R - Although the gates are numbered 44A-J, you can take a shuttle bus from either Terminal 4 or Terminal 5 to the remote Eagle gates. Though coming back I don't know how that works - if there is a specific shuttle that runs to terminal 4 and another one for terminal 5.
Although the facilities appear to be sparse, at least now it appears to be much better than 5 years ago when it was just a few double-wide trailers.

I remember it being a pain in the butt to operate out of terminal 3 - because there was no ramp control for terminal 3, you had to fight to get a word in on North Ground to push from Terminal 3. and most invariably you always step on each other, and in the end, nobody gets to do want they want because ground's instructions and everyone's requests just end up as a loud squeal on the radio.
So unless Delta has installed a ramp control for Terminal 3 - I'm glad they have to deal with trying to get push and start clearance from Ground.

So now instead of charging the delay on LAX ground, now I just charge delays to Alaska or American Ramp control.

Good to know on the lack of UA in Terminal 6 - anyone know why?

Woodreau wrote:

For American, I guess you check in where American tells you to check in.

American does have a baggage claim in Terminal 5.
Sometimes American will also go into Terminal 6 during irregular ops.

Huh, I'll have to double-check my itinerary and see if there was any mention as to which terminal to check in. (I don't recall such a thing...) I had assumed that everyone checks in at Terminal 4, clears security, then just walks airside or rides the AA Eagle shuttle to wherever your flight is. If they have a baggage claim in Terminal 5, then one might assume that's where your bags arrive should your flight park there.

Woodreau wrote:

The Eagle remote terminal is east of Sepulveda and north of Runway 25R - Although the gates are numbered 44A-J, you can take a shuttle bus from either Terminal 4 or Terminal 5 to the remote Eagle gates. Though coming back I don't know how that works - if there is a specific shuttle that runs to terminal 4 and another one for terminal 5.
Although the facilities appear to be sparse, at least now it appears to be much better than 5 years ago when it was just a few double-wide trailers.

I see it on the satellite map now - thanks for the clarification. Also, the gates are actually marked 52A-52J inside, unless you're referring to something different from an operations perspective?
You are correct about the shuttle - there are 2 x separate queues inside the satellite building you can wait in, one marked "To Terminal 4," the other "To Terminal 5." The agents there will double-check with you to make sure you're getting on the correct bus, as well.

And yes, though sparse it does appear to have been updated semi-recently. I think there might be 1 x grab-and-go style cafe there in addition to spacious gate lounges.

Woodreau wrote:

I remember it being a pain in the butt to operate out of terminal 3 - because there was no ramp control for terminal 3, you had to fight to get a word in on North Ground to push from Terminal 3. and most invariably you always step on each other, and in the end, nobody gets to do want they want because ground's instructions and everyone's requests just end up as a loud squeal on the radio.
So unless Delta has installed a ramp control for Terminal 3 - I'm glad they have to deal with trying to get push and start clearance from Ground.

So now instead of charging the delay on LAX ground, now I just charge delays to Alaska or American Ramp control.

Wow - yes, that's good!


And...the rest?

44A-J were renamed 52A-J. Same place. Pilots and ATC refer to it as The Box or The Nest.

Delta has a ramp controller for the alleyway between T2 & T3. Gates 22, 24, 24A, 37A, 37B, 38, 38B, and 39 are controlled by the ramp controller. North ground has the rest.

Greetings. I'll answer as best I can:

Are the FIS facilities in Terminals 4 and 5 still open?

The T-5 FIS closed shortly after Delta's move. The T-4 FIS is open, but has limited hours of operation. Passenger processing through the T-4 FIS has been limited to Global Entry participants.

Are the smaller FIS facilities in other terminals only open limited hours? (Say, only for morning arrivals?) Do said facilities see much traffic?

Yes, the smaller FIS facilities operate limited hours. IIRC, the T-6/T-7 operates 10:00 - 20:00. The T-2 FIS operates 08:00 - 21:00. Don't recall the hours at T-4, but I do recall that FIS closes the earliest.

International Departures
....something to the effect of passengers checking in for certain airlines at their usual locations, before being bused to TBIT for departure(?)

Geared primarily at Southwest and Virgin Australia. WN's international flights depart from TBIT. Passenger checkin for said flights is at T-1. VA pax checkin is at T-2.

Is there any real reason why Delta moved, other than wanting more gates?

DL desiring additional gates allowed LAWA (LAX operator Los Angeles World Airports) to craft a comprehensive plan to alleviate landside and airside congestion resulting from the three largest LAX carriers (AA, DL, UA) occupying adjacent terminals on the south side of the Central Terminal Area (CTA). For instance, during peak periods, congestion from vehicular traffic often resulted in gridlock conditions, particularly on the arrivals level 'inner' ring road.

There were other considerations in crafting this complex agreement. But, in the end, a win-win deal for DL & LAWA.

Terminal 3
Anyone else besides Delta? Do they have more gates in Terminal 2 or 3?

No other airline uses gates at T-3. Avianca, COPA, Interjet, and Volaris all use the old west ticket lobby of T-3 (former Virgin America location) for passenger checkin.

As of now, T-3 is configured with more gates than T-2.

Terminal 5
It would seem as though most AA flights use Terminal 4 with only some spillover into Terminal 5?

No, AA has preferential use of four (soon to be five) T-5 gates.

Terminal 6
Does UA still use Terminal 6 for anything (or the old CO gates), or are they only in 7/8 now?

UA is confined to T-7/T-8.

Airline Check-In & Baggage Claim Locations
Where do Delta passengers check-in?

DL has counter space in both T-2 and T-3/East lobby.

Do ALL American passengers check-in at Terminal 4? (That was my experience last weekend...)

AA has counter space in the T-5/East lobby.

Are bags claimed within the same terminal as where your flight arrives? (For example, what if you were on an AA flight that arrived in Terminal 5?)

Carriers typically plan for that, but irregular operations my dictate the use of a claim belt/carousel in a different terminal. From a passenger perspective, a bit inconvenient when it occurs. Fortunately, the terminals are in close proximity to each other. Minimal additional walking is necessary.

The most inconvenient aspect of this scenario is for the passenger that has his/her vehicle parked at a parking structure that differs from the terminal of claim.

Or in my case, which terminal do you take the bus back to if you arrive at the AA Eagle gates? I didn't have checked bags on my inbound flight, hence my inquiry...

AA Eagle LAX origin/destination passengers are processed through T-5.

Where exactly is the AA Eagle remote stand located? Nearby Terminal 8?

http://www.google.com/maps/@33.9413641,-118.4003278,625m/data=!3m1!1e3 AE terminal is at far right, T-8 is to the left - opposite side of highway. For reference, T-4 is at far left.

Hope I've answered your questions to your satisfaction.

[quote="AlnessW"]Good to know on the lack of UA in Terminal 6 - anyone know why?


We gave up those gates when Delta expanded a few years back.