LAX TBIT - wow...
 

I was flying back from LAX to IAH last night. My rental car shuttle brought me to the terminal at around 10:30p, and wow, the scene in front of TBIT is like a Chinese train station during a Golden Week. [Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little; but many of those standing in line are Chinese though. ;) ]

Lines spilling out from the terminal onto the curb on all directions, and our shuttle driver had a horrible time getting the bus to the curb side to drop off a couple of CX passengers. I would have a very hard time finding out how and where to line up to get my boarding pass for CX or BR, for example.

My goodness. I had tried to persuade my parents to try EVA's Evergreen Deluxe to HKG. But after seeing the scene at TBIT, a LAX connection is an absolutely <b>no no</b>. They can try SFO or SEA, but no LAX. Give me a CO connection at EWR any day! [Can't believe I say that.]

SEA is a dream compared. TBIT sucks.

The ONLY time I'm willing to connect to CX in LAX is when flying in F or J.

The late evening flights to Asia create a major clusterf___ in that terminal, but the CX F or J TAs will insure a speedy experience through this nightmare.

Last time I did a connection there I left the AA/QF Flagship Lounge in terminal 4, walked over to the CX F desk in TBIT, about a 5-10 minute walk, and after the agent re-issued the BP on CX stock, she personally walked me over to the airline crews TSA queue and I was through with the circus in about 20 minutes total.

I felt sorry for the folks that were stuck in the economy ticket desks queues and then the security queue. I would not be surprised if it did take them ~2 hours to complete the process.

Getting through security at T6 for CO probably took 5 minutes.

Wrong! It took about 7 minutes! ;) When I got there, only one baggage screening line was open, and there were a few Asian travelers who aren't too familiar with the TSA rules. [Soon, the 2nd line open and it helped.]

Also interesting that our 753 parked at a UA gate (67B). It was kind of funny to enter where all the signs say &quot;United&quot;. ;)

Hmm...I'm in the process of getting tickets on BR to BKK. I'm leaving from cvg and in order to get elite class on BR's new 77W I have to connect in LAX...do you think they might have this better organized when I plan to leave in late December? Any suggestions?

I wish BR flew new planes through SFO or SEA!

TBIT?

TBIT = Tom Bradley International Terminal./LAX

TBIT - Tom Bradley International Terminal.

I think it's a chronic problem. LAX has a master plan to build more runways, etc, but the terminal areas will be the same for years to come.

Well, thousands of passengers tolerate it each day at TBIT. But to me, if I have a choice, I won't send myself or my parents through it.

Yes, the TBIT is in need of help. I always thought they should tear down the AA hangar on the other side of the taxiway &amp; start building additional international terminal space there.

Thanks.

They finally started moving the southern most runway, after years of studies. And yesterday, there was news <b>again</b> that a new terminal course was approved for the TBIT.

But the problem is that everytime there's a governor change, an airport authority head change, a major change in LA or one of the small surrounding towns (El Segundo, Westchester, etc), then the whole thing get stopped again whenever the new guy wants his voice heard.

Can you believe that there hasn't been any major improvement in the LAX since before the LA Olympics! That's 1984! Mary Lou Retton will be 40 years old next January!