Los Angeles Airport
Worst Airport Winner
Lasting Impressions....
Memorable comments left by travellers:
"It's a shame that many visitors from the pacific flying into LAX get their first impression of America and Americans at this dump." (DonP)
"forget about Guantanamo Bay - just send the prisoners here for some torture tactics" (?)
"Those floor cleaners sound like "jet engines"!!!(?)
"I passed through LAX this month and never had seen security force travelers get up off the floor before. " (Disgruntled)
"I couldn't relieve myself in the terminal bathroom because the stench was so horrible" (Disgruntled)
"1 AM a security guard woke me and told me I had to leave because the 'airport was closed'!" (Savvy)
"Africa, Asia, South America... I've not been through a single airport in any of these developing countries with an airport as putrid as LAX. " (Kirby)
"There are tonnes of food options at LAX, from deep fried lard, to sugar coated deep fried lard, to congealed microwaved fat dipped in oil... and of course some liquid sugar if you're thirsty. " (Kirby)
"It wasn't too bad, except I was the ONLY person there. An American Airlines employee offered me a pillow and blanket" (Robbie)
"LAX is a revolting airport. The amenities are rubbish and thanks to the warnings from your site I organised to visit the Qantas Club which is a haven in an otherwise horrible experience." (Ron)
"About 6am we were woke up by a security guard that told us we should gather our things together so someone didn't make off with them and that the airport was open for business" (AFtrek)
"Everywhere you go you are besieged by panhandlers and hustlers of all sorts, but mostly from fringe religious groups posing as charities or "youth programs". - wetbaloney
"The staff at LAX unfortunately are most accurately described as the stereotypical American: rude, arrogant, clueless about the world outside the USA and loud-mouthed." - nebulouseye
"LAX is California's greatest embarrassment and probably the worst airport in the USA, and that says a lot because the competition for crappiest airport is pretty fierce. " (?)
"there are constant announcements in languages that I think someone just makes up to annoy everyone." (?)
"The Intl Terminal is ALWAYS overcrowded and security and crowd control is second only in severity to the train platforms at Auschwitz." (Jerry)
"we were treated as imbeciles by the USA staff who even yelled at all you "stupid idiots" because the queue at the immigration counter wasn't straight enough." (?)
"No alarm clocks necessary, the kind staff are far too noisy to let anyone dare to try sleeping here." (?)
"I stood up and found that the chair was covered in doo-doo and feces." (?)
"Sleeping at LAX can be an adventure not to be undertaken by the faint at heart, but it can be done." (The Andersons)
"I recommend taking a hit of acid, or your preferred hallucinogen of choice, and go back and forth on the non-escalating escalators." (?)
"You couldn't pay me money to sleep on the floor in the UA terminal ....there is a Cinnabon there and with it, Cinnabon trash: sticky boxes, wrappers stuck to the floor, and moldy buns. " (?)
FEATURED REVIEWS
timmo, 6/15/2009
Had a strange time at LAX. I persuaded my friend that the airport was a more favorable destination than the city. What a horrible place. The staff were happy for me to snooze overnight and even gave us cushions. They couldn't do much to soften the immovable arm rests though!
Before dropping off we had a competition to see who could drink the most free refills of soft drink from McDonalds. In four hours I managed about 9 litres. I also had a jolly good chat with a lovely transexual lady who gave me a 'love everybody' badge. And lo-and-behold, who woke me up with a smile the following day but the same transexual woman. She'd really taken a shine to me and gave me some stickers and a book. So sweet.
The next day I got chatting to an armed guard, though he may have actually been a soldier. He was carrying some kind of big automatic weapon. We talked for a good hour just outside the terminal in a small garden, basking in the sun. When we discussed the army and his gun, I asked if it was heavy and he went to hand it to me before thinking twice and pulling it away.
All in all it was a pretty dull and painful 30 hours, but some nice people with big personalities broke the monotony.
by Carrie, 9/1/2009
I have been through LAX in transit to and from the South Pacific many times over the years, and it's the worst airport in the USA. Now I fly through San Francisco instead, if possible. There is NO signage anywhere. On my first visit many years ago, I charitably assumed maybe this was due to construction. Nope. It's been the same every time. Find a map of the airport before you arrive, and figure out where you need to be and how to get there, because you'll never find it any other way.
The airport in general is so filthy that I believe they must employ special dirtying teams for the purpose. I've seen dirty airports but LAX reaches levels of filth that simply can't happen by chance or lack of cleaning.
It's tragic that this shithole is one of the first sights of America that incoming visitors encounter. There's no fixing this place. Level it and start over.
Airport Guide
Here is some information that we've picked out of from your reviews. Be sure to read the review pages for the most up-to-date experiences:
- look for the reLAX lounge ($25 for 3 hours, soft chairs, snacks, wifi, business services)
- try the lawn for some rest
- filthy
- dirty bathrooms
- metal benches
- loud cleaning crew
- bucket seats with armrests
- frequent and loud announcements
- WiFi
- long metal benches upstairs
- 24 hour cafe
- cold at night
Travel Sites
- Hostels and Budget Accommodation - I've booked my own accommodation on this site. If you are too old for hostels and too cheap for hotels, like me, you'll find some good properties. They offer dorms, private rooms, B&Bs, Apartments.
