Nine terminals sit in a U-shaped horseshoe around World Way. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 run along the north side, the Tom Bradley International Terminal anchors the west end, and Terminals 4 through 8 run back along the south side. The terminals face outward; parking sits inside the loop. If you are heading to another Los Angeles airport, note that LAX handles nearly all of the region’s long-haul international traffic.

Inside security, the walkway linking Terminals 4 through 8 is the fastest route between them, roughly fifteen minutes end to end. Tom Bradley connects airside to Terminal 4 and, through the Delta Sky Way, to Terminal 3.

What changed in 2026

If you have flown through LAX before, three things are different. Terminal 5 is closed for a rebuild that runs until roughly 2028, and the airlines that used it have moved. The Delta Sky Way project linked Terminal 3 through to Tom Bradley, so the airside chain now runs the length of the horseshoe. And the Automated People Mover, the elevated train that will eventually connect terminals to parking and the rail network, is still in testing rather than open.

The terminals, one by one

Terminal 1 — Southwest and JetBlue

Southwest’s home at LAX, redesigned around its open-seating boarding process, with JetBlue alongside since its move out of Terminal 5. Terminal 1 sits at the eastern end of the north arm, closest to the LAX-it rideshare lot. It is not connected airside to the rest of the airport, so allow extra time if you are transferring to another terminal.

Terminal 2 — Delta and Spirit

Delta operates here alongside Spirit, which relocated from Terminal 5. Terminal 2 connects to Terminal 3 and, through the Delta Sky Way, onward to Tom Bradley — useful for Delta passengers connecting to international partners without re-clearing security.

Terminal 3 — Delta, Aeroméxico and WestJet

Delta’s larger LAX operation, shared with Aeroméxico and WestJet. Terminal 3 is the northern anchor of the Sky Way connector to Tom Bradley, which makes it the natural transfer point between Delta domestic flights and long-haul departures.

Terminal 4 — American Airlines

American’s domestic base at LAX. Terminal 4 connects airside to Tom Bradley through the Bradley West connector, which matters for anyone transferring between an American domestic flight and an international departure — including American’s own long-haul services that operate from TBIT.

Terminal 5 — closed

Nothing operates here. Terminal 5 is being rebuilt as part of a $1.6 billion modernisation of Terminals 4 and 5, expected to finish around 2028. If an older map or a stale booking shows Terminal 5, it is out of date: JetBlue moved to Terminal 1, Spirit to Terminal 2, and American consolidated into Terminal 4 and Tom Bradley. Check your airline’s app for the current assignment.

Terminal 6 — Alaska, Air Canada and Hawaiian

Alaska’s LAX base, shared with Air Canada and Hawaiian. Terminal 6 sits in the middle of the south arm and connects airside to Terminals 4, 7 and 8. Lounge-wise it is well served, with an Alaska Lounge and Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge.

Terminal 7 — United

United’s primary domestic terminal at LAX, directly connected to Terminal 8 and linked airside to Terminals 4 through 6. United Club access is available in the terminal.

Terminal 8 — United regional

United’s smaller adjoining terminal at the far eastern end of the south arm, handling regional and additional United services. It shares security and airside space with Terminal 7.

Terminal B — Tom Bradley International

LAX’s international gateway, used by more than forty foreign carriers. TBIT sits at the western end of the horseshoe and connects airside to Terminal 4 on the south side and Terminal 3 on the north. It holds the airport’s largest cluster of shops, restaurants and lounges.

Amenities worth knowing about

Smoking: LAX is smoke-free inside. Designated outdoor smoking areas sit outside the terminals on the arrivals level — look for the marked zones after exiting; there are no smoking rooms past security.

Pet relief: every terminal has an indoor animal relief station post-security, and there are outdoor relief areas on the arrivals level.

Nursing rooms: available in each terminal; ask at any information desk for the nearest one.

Luggage storage: there is no storage inside the terminals; third-party services operate near the airport.

Getting to and from the airport

Standard Uber and Lyft pickups happen at the LAX-it lot east of Terminal 1, not at the terminal curb, which adds 15 to 25 minutes. Premium tiers can collect from the outer curb. The FlyAway bus reaches Union Station in about 35 minutes, and the LAX/Metro Transit Center connects to the rail network in around 45 minutes to downtown.

Heading to a cruise? The San Pedro and Long Beach cruise terminals are roughly 20 miles south of LAX — allow 40 to 60 minutes by car depending on traffic, and more on embarkation mornings.

Parking

Structures P1 to P7 sit inside the horseshoe loop, opposite their matching terminals, with covered walkways across. Economy Parking is off-site with a free shuttle, and there is a free Cell Phone Waiting Lot on West 96th Street.