Airport Survival Guide: LAX

Air travel can be stressful regardless of if you’re flying for one hour or will be taking a 12 hour flight with two transfers. Flying can be the worst, and that’s especially true if you’re traveling out of a major international hub. There are dozens of other flights, thousands of people are in and out of the airport every day, and you somehow have to navigate through a maze of escalators and security checkpoints while making your flight on time. Those Los Angeles International Airport is one of the biggest airports in the United States, and traveling through there can be an absolute nightmare if you aren’t prepared. If you need to travel out of LAX and want to stay sane, remember to keep these tips in mind.

Accept that you’re going to be there for awhile

There’s no such thing as simple trip to LAX. You’re going to have to wait a long time to get through security because there are hundreds of people trying to board at the same time you are. There is going to be a long wait to park your car, and if you’re lucky enough to park it yourself you’re going to have a long walk to the terminal. There will be a line at baggage claim or where you go to check bags. Once you accept that you’re going to be in for a long wait, you’ll be less impatient and will manage your time better. Account for these long waits, and you won’t have stress about missing your flight.

Don’t eat at airport restaurants

We know that you’re borderline starving before you fly. Maybe you’re catching a redeye and didn’t manage to get dinner, or maybe you’ve just been too stressed about the trip to eat. If you’re concerned about money, don’t eat at the airport. We aren’t talking about the fancy sit-down places you see all around the terminals; it’s well known that those eaters are overpriced. Many people are shocked to learn that fast food restaurants, kiosks, and even vending machines are pricy at airports. Bring a snack or a meal you can eat while you wait to board your flight (trust me; you will have time to eat). If you do, your wallet will thank you.

Get a car service

Remember how we mentioned that you’re going to have a long wait at the airport? If you try to drive there, it’s going to be even longer. The traffic in Los Angeles is ridiculous, and it gets even worse the closer you get to the airport. When you get there you’re going to have to spend time searching for parking, and you’ll end up paying a lot of money for the pleasure of keeping your car there. Save yourself some time and money and use a car service to get to LAX. You won’t have to deal with the stress of traffic, or have to pay a lot of money.