Reaching LAX via private & public transport
A reader recently remarked on the challenges of finding transportation to and from L.A. airports.
Getting a ride by bus, shuttle or even shuttle and train to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) may not save time. But it can certainly save money (long-term parking lots charge from $5 to $20/day) and hassle (dare I admit, I once spent hours looking for my car among LAX’s endless lots after a long trip away).
Below are options for getting yourself and your baggage to LAX without driving yourself.
Shuttles and Cabs
The FlyAway shuttle [(866) 435-9529 (I-FLY-LAX)] costs $4 one way and you can catch it from Union Station, Van Nuys and Westwood.
Numerous private shuttles offer door-to-door services, including SuperShuttle and Prime Time Shuttle; prices in shared vans range from around $18 one way (including tax) from a nearby departure point such as Venice, up to about $33 or more for a further-away point such as Sherman Oaks. These shuttle services are cheaper than cabs, but because you’ll likely be tagging along on the shuttle’s cruise about town to pick up other passengers, it will take a lot more time.
Taxis are the quickest option, and the cost between downtown L.A. and LAX one way is $42 (including tax) through Los Angeles Yellow Cab Co. or Los Angeles Taxi.
Public Buses
A handful of Metro buses can drop you at LAX’s Parking Lot C; see No. 3 in Daniel Gaines’ article “Pre-boarding, transit and pickup tips at SoCal airports.”
To find the bus for you, use the Metro Trip Planner or call (800) COMMUTE (266-6883). Also, the following city bus services have LAX-bound routes:
Culver CityBus line
Santa Monica Big Blue Bus
Torrance Transit
Trains
You can take the train in to Aviation Metro Rail Station, and then hop onto a free shuttle bus from there to LAX.
— Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times
[Photo: Metro bus, Metro.net]
14 Comments on “Reaching LAX via private & public transport”
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March 31st, 2008 at 1:57 pm
As a form of life imitating art, my friend is flying into LAX on Wednesday and needs to know how to get to Union Station. Now I can just send him your blog post.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:17 pm
The Flyaway is your friend’s best bet - and it runs every 30 minutes. Going from LAX you pay at the booth at Union Station btw.
Parking in union station is $6/day which bets LAX lots on short notice trips.
With a few weeks notice I would suggest prakrideflyusa.com to get cheap lot rates
March 31st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
See our Travel Message Boards for a thread I started back in April 2007, re delays in Flyaway service from LAX back to Union Station
—Andrew, Sr. Producer, travel.latimes.com
March 31st, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Flyaway is quite reliable on its Van Nuys route. Can get backed up when there is a lot of traffic or tons of people using it, but easy to use.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:30 am
Flyaway is great getting to the airport–reliable and cheap. Coming home, not so much. I spent an hour waiting on Sunday for the Westwood bus, gave up and took a taxi. It cost about $45, including tip. I come from NYC, and this does not seem so bad compared to JFK into Manhattan. A lesson learned for me: Flyaway on the way there, taxi home.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:49 am
Last time I took SuperShuttle from Long Beach to LAX we stopped in Compton. I almost got robbed when the driver left me alone in the van while he walked up and down the street looking for a fare!
NEVER again, I prefer to cough up the $45 for a cab, the put my safety at risk.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:32 am
Don’t forget that the Taxi is all passengers ride for the price of one. So if you have two or more people, it is less $$ and faster than a Shuttle :)
April 1st, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I have actually found that its become cheaper to drive to the airport that take a shuttle/cab or even the flyaway. If you are traveling with a little bit of notice (generally a couple of weeks but I have even had luck when traveling the same week)try http://airportparkingreservations.com.
Parking at LAX winds up at around 3.95 a day so even if your trip is for a week you still come out way cheaper than 1 round trip shuttle ride…plus you dont have to wait for anything!
April 1st, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I live near Ontario Airport and the shuttle costs me about $60.00 to go to LAX. It is about half the price to rent a car at ONT and drop off at LAX and vice versa. Saves time and money.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Thanks for the great comments, everyone. I have something to add regarding the shuttle from Aviation Station, as a reader emailed us to ask, “I understand the whole part about the train to Aviation, but can you please tell me what free shuttle buses there are to LAX from there. And also, are they close to where the train lets you off or do you have to walk a bit? This would be very handy to know.”
The G Shuttle, operated by LAX, picks up passengers at the street level of Aviation Station (just walk down the stairs from the train to reach it) and goes directly to LAX terminals, free of charge. The shuttle bus is clearly marked.
From LAX, you can catch the G Shuttle at the ‘LAX Shuttle & Airline Connections’ stop in front of each terminal on the lower (arrivals) level.
If any of you have taken this shuttle, I’d love to hear about your experience with it.
- Susan Derby
January 26th, 2009 at 6:18 am
I highly recommend that with any shuttle ride you book in advance. If there are flight delays due to weather then passengers start to build up at the airport and it becomes harder to get a ride. When it comes to share rides many people are not aware that the farther away your destination is from the airport then it may take time to get to your destination. If you have an appointment then a private or sedan can be just as cost effective if you do your research in advance.
January 29th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
The SuperShuttle offers a discount to you if you book online @ http://www.supershuttle.com. It usually saves you a few bucks each way plus you get double airline miles depending on your carrier and ff program. Use discount code PMGEZ when booking. It’s good at all their locations in the US and has unlimited useage until 2010. These days every dollar counts.
April 13th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Just an update.
The price for FlyAway is now $6 from Van Nuys and Union Station. $5 from westwood.
$4 for seniors 65+.
Still worth it IMO.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Aside from saving you money, getting a taxi as opposed to a bus will save you energy and provides more comfort in your journey to the airport.