Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) TSA Security Wait Times Information
LAX WAIT TIMES IMPROVING!
According to a recent Los Angeles Times article, Los Angeles Airport wait times have decreased on average by a few minutes, due to better staffing and some of the larger airlines (Delta, American and United) installing more advanced automated screening lanes, making screenings up to 30% faster. That said, aggregate data doesn’t necessarily mean the Los Angeles airport security delay lines will be fast on the date and time of your departure - there are many factors involved. Be sure to check with your airline for their own rules and recommendations for your specific flight time in LAX airport. See below for more information and checkpoint hours of operation.
Get CLEAR at LAX. And use it at the airport, at Staples Center, and at Banc of California Stadium!
LAX features CLEAR expedited security screening. CLEAR counters are located at Terminals 2 & 3. At Banc of California Stadium use Northeast and Pepsi Plaza gates. At Stables Center, CLEAR lanes are located at the Figueroa Street Entrance.
In partnership with iFly, CLEAR is offering a 2 month free promotion. **NEW** You can add up to 3 other family members to the 2 month trial (siblings, parents, aunts/uncles, etc.). It only takes a minute to sign up! ***LIMITED TIME PROMOTION*** Learn more about CLEAR Airport Security and how it works.
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LAX FLIGHT DELAYS
Before you head to the airport, be sure to check LAX Arrival Delays, LAX Departure Delays, or use iFly’s LAX Flight Tracker.
NOTE: arrive at least 2 hours before your scheduled domestic departure, and 3 hours before your international departure. Remember to arrive early and, if necessary, allow yourself enough time to park your car at the airport.
LAX Airport Security Checkpoints - Location and Hours
There are a total of 9 security checkpoints at LAX. CLEAR is now available in Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 checkpoints. Unlike some airports where you can go through any checkpoint and get to your gate, the LAX layout dictates that you need to use the checkpoint corresponding to your departure gate. There are some exceptions to this, for example, you can clear security at Terminal 5 and walk to Terminal 4. The Terminals and departure gates are shown below.
LAX Terminal 1
Gates: 9-18B
Type: All passengers and TSA Pre
Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Airlines: Southwest Airlines
LAX Terminal 2
Gates: 21-28
Type: All passengers, TSA Pre, and CLEAR
Hours: Daily, 4:30 AM to 2:00 AM
Airlines: Aer Lingus, Southwest (Int.), Aeromexico, Delta, Virgin Atlantic, WestJet
LAX Terminal 3
Gates: 31-39
Type: CLEAR, Premium, and General Screening
Hours: Daily, 4:15 AM to 1:00 AM
Airlines: Delta Airlines. You can check in (only) for: Avianca, Copa, Interjet, Virgin Australia
LAX Terminal 4
Gates: 40-49
Type: Type: CLEAR and TSA Pre Only
Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM to 1:30 AM
Airlines: American Airlines
LAX Terminal 5
Gates: 50-59
Type: CLEAR, Premium, and General Screening
Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM to 1:30 AM
Airlines: Allegiant Air, American, Frontier, Hawaiian
LAX Terminal 6
Gates: 60-69
Type: All passengers, TSA Pre, and CLEAR
Hours: Daily, 4:30 AM to 1:30 AM
Airlines: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Boutique Air, Mokulele Airlines, Thomas Cook, Viva Aerobus t
LAX Terminal 7
Gates: 70-88
Type: All passengers, TSA Pre
Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight)
Airlines: United Airlines/United Express
LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) SOUTH
Gates: 130-159
Type: All passengers & TSA Pre
Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Airlines: Aeroflot, Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, Air Tahiti Nu, Air Italy
LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) NORTH
Gates: 130-159
Type: All passengers & TSA Pre
Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Airlines: Aeroflot, Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, Air Tahiti Nu, Air Italy
CLEAR Lanes
LAX features CLEAR expedited security screening. CLEAR counters are located at Terminals 2 & 3. See above for lane hours. RESERVE powered by CLEAR is also available at this airport and can be reserved up to 72 hours before departure.
TSA PreCheck at LAX
LAX TSA Pre Lanes can be found at all security checkpoints. As the TSA operates these special checkpoints, the hours may be different from the Terminal operating hours. See the TSA Pre schedule the specific hours for the date and time you are traveling.
LAX TSA wait times can be cut down considerably if you participate in the TSA Pre program. You can even sign up for TSA PreCheck before your next LAX flight - there’s an enrollment center in Terminal 5 and 6. According to the TSA, the enrollment center is open from 8- 5 M-F. The Terminal 6 center is in the lower level baggage claim area.
TSA PreCheck passengers can enjoy expedited screening at LAX, and in most cases you don’t have to remove your: shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets. For more information and to enroll/pre-enroll, visit the TSA website.
About LAX Security Wait Times
Security wait times at Los Angeles LAX Airport are approximate and can vary based on several factors including severe weather, TSA staffing, airport construction, etc.
LAX TSA wait time forecasts are made leveraging flight volume data and TSA staffing models. Using advanced data science, wait times for Los Angeles LAX Airport are projected, that barring extreme outliers, are within five minutes in accuracy, as validated by large US airlines. The TSA urges all travelers to arrive at the airport well in advance of scheduled flight departures and has provided security checkpoint wait time information as a guide to assist in travel planning. Please be sure to check with your airline for ticket counter wait times as well as possible changes to flight schedules, as these and other factors influence your decision regarding how early to arrive at LAX. Please be aware that each airline has a recommended arrival time and even stricter required arrival times.
All airlines require that you arrive at the check-in counter, the flight's departure gate and even onboard and in your assigned seat a prescribed amount of time before the flight's scheduled departure time. The amount of the advance arrival time required varies depending on the airline you are using. Most airlines' conditions of carriage state that with many of their tickets, failure to arrive at the check-in counter, the flight's departure gate and your assigned seat a prescribed amount of time before the flight's scheduled departure time may cause you to be denied boarding and cause you to forfeit any refund or other compensation due for the unused ticket even if you have advance seat assignments and advance boarding passes.
TSA Pre Check at LAX
AVAILABLE
Checkpoint 82
Suites
CLOSED
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 Checkpoint
OPEN
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 Checkpoint
OPEN
Terminal 3
Terminal 3 Checkpoint
OPEN
Terminal 4
Terminal 4A Checkpoint
OPEN
Terminal 5
Terminal 5 Checkpoint
OPEN
Terminal 5A Checkpoint
OPEN
Terminal 6
Terminal 6 Checkpoint
OPEN
Terminal 7 8
Terminal 7 Checkpoint
OPEN
Terminal TBIT
Tom Bradley Int'l Terminal
OPEN