navigating LAX - terminals and lounges
 

I will be arriving at 6 am on a United flight from Hawaii, which I believe should be in Terminal 7. I will only have carry on bag.

I will be departing at 11 am on a Southwest flight, which I believe should be in Terminal 1.

I have a pass that will get me into lounge in either Terminal 2, 3 or 6. I would like to spend the time between flight at one of the lounges, doesn't matter which one.

I haven't been in LAX in a long, long time.

Can I walk between terminals or is there a mean of transit? I would prefer to stay airside so I don't have to go through security, but since I have a lot of time; that would be ok if I had to [I have TSA precheck].

Which lounge do you think would be easiest to get to? The 3 being considered are:
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
Terminal 2

The Virgin America Loft
Terminal 3

Alaska Lounge
Terminal 6

Thanks~

Staying airside definitely depends upon which terminals you want to go between and I'm not certain it is possible to do so at all.

There is a shuttle bus that goes around the horseshoe that is LAX. But you would have exited T7 (United) and I cannot think how you would be able to access the airside departure lounges that you have a pass to without being ticketed.

Southwest is T1.

Socaltraveler, this person is holding a ticket so that's not the issue.

Now, I agree, the person could be holding a ticket on an airline that doesn't fly out of the terminal they are trying to access so they can get into some lounge and yeah, THAT would be, or should be a big "problem."

I have a "Priority Pass" which gives me lounge access to the above lounges with a same day flight, which I have. I have never used it before but I was under the impression that as long as I have a same day flight, I can get into one of the lounges.

That said, I do see that if I don't have a flight in any of those terminals THAT might be an issue.

I will have to do some more research on how the pass works.

So, to my original question, I have to use the shuttle to get from one terminal to another; regardless if I use the lounge or not. Thanks for that info.

The United terminals (T7 and T8) are connected "airside" to Terminals 4-6 plus the Tom Bradley international terminal. As your pass allows you access to the Alaska Lounge in T6, I think that's your only option, since you'd have to go "landside" (i.e. outside security) to get to T2 or T3, but then couldn't get through security without a boarding pass for a flight departing from one of those terminals.

From T6 to T1 involves going outside and walking across the parking island in the middle of the LAX horseshoe; I'd probably allow 20 min. door to door, or you could take the shuttle bus (which I find to be a serious pain, BTW.) But note that every time I've gone by T1 in recent years the lines have been outside the door, so give yourself plenty of time for the Southwest scrum.

I guess this answers the question -
"If I'm flying from one Terminal and the lounge is in another, can I still access it?
It depends on the location of the lounge. Unfortunately the Priority Pass membership card won't allow you to pass through any security restrictions to access other parts of the airport."

So much for this wonder pass....

Gardyloo - posting at same time. Thanks for the info on T6 being connected on airside to T7 and T8.

And thanks for the heads up on the scrum :)

A pass membership TO A LOUNGE has nothing to do with getting through Security...you KNOW that already.

Yes, I do know that; just was thinking if terminals were connected airside, I could use one of them. I have never had a "generic" lounge pass before, always one that was airline specific so never an issue. As in all things; you get what you pay for - this Priority Pass was a "perk' of my new Chase Preferred Reserve card. It works if the lounge is in the same terminal where your flight departs, or if you can get there airside. Otherwise, it's useless.

These maps should help:

http://www.laxishappening.com/assets...Tunnel-Map.pdf

http://www.laxishappening.com/assets...raffic-Map.pdf

Like Gardyloo stated, the terminals from United up to the Bradley are connected, the ones on the other side of LAX (1-3) are not, so Alaska is your best choice. As far as I know, the lounges are past Security and you would need a boarding pass for an airline flying out of Terminal 2 for example, to get past Security to the lounge there.

Did you get the priority pass with a credit card? That thing has been basically worthless to me. Out of about 9 times that I wanted to use it, there was a convenient lounge ONCE. Once my Sapphire reserve anniversary arrives, I'm switching back to the United Lounge card!

Yes, Lucy, got it with the Chase Reserve. Like I said, you get what you pay for and since this was "free" if it works once or twice, that will be ok.

I actually have a UA lounge pass but since I won't have a ticket for a flight THAT day, I am pretty sure they won't let me use the lounge. So I wouldn't have TSA issues but no boarding pass. If it isn't one thing, it's another.

Can I walk between terminals or is there a mean of transit? I would prefer to stay airside so I don't have to go through security, but since I have a lot of time; that would be ok if I had to [I have TSA precheck].

Unfortunately LAX is not wholly contained airside. There will be an LAX bus that comes outside of baggage claim at all terminals. You would board and go outside the horseshoe and back in and get off on the other side.

Which lounge do you think would be easiest to get to?
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge >>>>>>> Terminal 2 <<<<<<<<<

UGH, I just realized you would have to go through TSA twice and that is IF terminal 2 even lets you through with a SW boarding pass.

You may actually not be able to enjoy a lounge if that happens, just be prepared for that possibility.

I have only visited the lounge in the Bradley terminal, but I had an international flight out of that terminal.

Here is a link
https://www.google.com/search?q=Is+i...utf-8&oe=utf-8