5 hour Layover at LAX
 

I have a layover from 6:15-11:40pm

Is there anywhere to get a manicure/pedicure at night not very near the airport. I do not want to spend $20 each way on a cab to go too far.

Thank you

I actually found a great thread: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...urs-at-lax.cfm

Is there public transit from LAX to Manhattan Beach? Is it safe at night?

Are you sure you actually have time to leave the airport? Is you incoming flight usually on time? Will you have luggage to deal with? What time do you have to check in for your ongoing flight (some require 3 hour check-in)?

<i> (some require 3 hour check-in)?</i>

never heard of that requirement

AAfrequentFlyer:International flights often require a 3 hr check in. We needed 3 hrs from LAX to Germany last summer.

Require? - NO

I always check in about an hour/hour and a half before our international flights...

YOMD

AAFF: Perhaps, you are right, maybe it was not required, but recommended on the website. We just felt better not having to worry about delays in security or with traffic, so we left home in plenty of time and were there about 2 1/2 hrs to 3 hrs before our flight. It seemed to take us a while to check in, go through security and get to the boarding gate. I guess, we don't fly international enough to take a chance on the 1 1/2 hr window. We were late at Heathrow once, only an hr and a half to spare and they almost did not check us in or allow us to board. We're more cautious now.

AAFF: Perhaps, you are right, maybe it was not required, but recommended on the website. We just felt better not having to worry about delays in security or with traffic, so we left home in plenty of time and were there about 2 1/2 hrs to 3 hrs before our flight. It seemed to take us a while to check in, go through security and get to the boarding gate. I guess, we don't fly international enough to take a chance on the 1 1/2 hr window. We were late at Heathrow once, only an hr and a half to spare and they almost did not check us in or allow us to board. We're more cautious now.

It's a recommendation, not a requirement. It's fine if you fly once, twice a year and you want to be sure, but I used to fly over 100K miles a year and there was no way in hell I would get to the airport 3 hours ahead of time, unless of course it was Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific) or London (British Airways), where I had access to some of the best first class lounges in the world.... :-D

I don't see an answer to your question in this thread. See this link for nearby salons and check with them to find out their operating hours.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Manic...ient=firefox-a

If you are coming in from overseas you need to allow lots of time for customs/immigtation/ last month it tool me 3 hours just to get through passport control

Are either of your flights international? If so -- don't even consider leaving the airport.

A friend of ours was flying from LAX to Madrid recently and he got to the airport 3 minutes less than 2 hours before the flight and they told him he would have to take a flight the next day as he HAD to be there 2 hours or more before the flight. I would not risk being there less than 2 hours after hearing his story.

I'd have to agree with janisj. Maybe, I'm too cautious, but with LA traffic, security concerns, etc (AND if it's an international flight as well) I wouldn't leave the airport. Too much hassle and aggravation for me.

<b> Cali </b>

there is no such requirement..... 1 hour is sufficient, period.

I do agree with the five hour break analysis. It's not sufficient to go anywhere at LAX, except maybe the http://www.encounterlax.com. It's a nice place to chill out and have some pretty decent food. You can use the terminal transfer bus to get close enough to the place and then use it again to get to the international terminal. The best part is that's it's free.

The problem is your carry ons. If you have big ones, then you better be ready to sweat some as you carry it around.

Security? when connecting from domestic to international at LAX, you will need to go through security regardless, so that's not an issue.

There are spas listed at both the Westin and Radisson hotels, which claim to be the closest to LAX. I'm not sure 5 hours is enough time to leave the airport, but both of these hotels have free shuttles.

One hour at LAX for anything other than Southwest will just ensure that you miss your flight.

If you have an international flight chances are you cannot check in online and will have to go through 3 security checks. Two hours can be cutting it too close.

The OP is connecting in LAX, not originating in LAX, and I think that allows for more time. It's still a little tight in my opinion. I wonder if there's a spa in the airport itself? A lot of big airports have them now.

"<i>The OP is connecting in LAX, not originating in LAX, and I think that allows for more time.</i>"

Not really IMO -- it takes quite some time to get from one terminal to the others.

I will not have any bags and will already be checked in. I am connecting in LAX. But, it is international. I think I will sit tight at the airport. It would be too awful to miss my plane just for a manicure!

Thank you for all the responses.

Ii know some airports have spas but LAX does not.

If you're leaving the terminal for any reason you're still needing to go thru TSA screening again. The lines can be loooooong and traffic can be bad getting back to the airport.
Two hours minimum even with boarding pass no luggage and just coming back from Manhattan Beach.

There are lots of restaurants and bars in the terminals at LAX. You can check the "lawa.org" website and sort by terminal. If you are flying in or out of Tom Bradley, most of the restaurants are before security, Daniel's is a new one getting good reviews on the TBIT arrivals level.

http://lawa.org/tenantLAXResult.aspx...&sindicator=qs

"<i>If you're leaving the terminal for any reason you're still needing to go thru TSA screening again.</i>"

More than likely you'll have to change terminals so you'll go through security again anyway. Which terminals do you land/depart from?

Terminal 4. If I remember, there is not much in that terminal. Swatch store, book store and Chili's

On the Border Mexican Grill, Brioche Doree, Chilis, Burger King, two Starbucks. You are allowed to go into TBIT where there are more restaurants outside security.

AAFrequent Flyer. I don't know if there is such a requirement but I DO KNOW that our friend WAS NOT ALLOWED on the plane because he got to the check-in in less than 2 hours before the flight. He did try to persuade them to allow him on the flight but they did not. He was instead put on the flight the following day. So...I assume different airlines can do what they want. I was not saying there was a rule - just that it had happened.

I would love a Butter mani/pedi salon like they have at Sea-Tac but since LAX doesn't so enjoy, try the lounge restaurant Encounter AA Frequent Flier suggested. We also used to go to Ruby's diner and eat from a hand stretched pretzel place nearby but that was many years ago and not sure they are still there.
A couple of California restaurants have LAX satellites - El Cholo, la Brea bakery, Wolfgang Puck (good for salads) and Gladstone's.
I also remember reading somewhere about the ability to buy a pass to a VIP airport lounge but I've never done. Probably expensive.