On my current review trip, I had the chance to finally check out a couple of terminals that have been on my radar. In addition to experiencing Panama Airport’s new Terminal 2, I also had the chance to check out LAX’s new Midfield Satellite Concourse. I was really impressed, and wanted to report back.
Continue reading: Gorgeous: LAX Midfield Satellite Concourse
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
LAX TBIT favorite terminal? My favorite terminal in the U.S. is possibly:
San Francisco International Airport - International Terminal
San Francisco International Airport - Terminal 2
Washington National (though I don't care too much for the yellow color scheme)
Nome (Alaska Terminal) - walkable from the city, very practical
That tunnel has nothing on O'hare's T1 tunnel. Harumph!
Signed,
A Chicago homer 🙂
Hawaiian Airlines, which uses the MSC, actually uses TBIT for baggage claim - there's at least one carousel that can be used for domestic flights.
Funny how landside and airside LAX can be so different.
Public transportation and private transportation is a cluster ef. But rather than fix road traffic which everyone agree is a problem, let's fix air traffic at TBIT.
“Premier Lounges.” doesn't have to be "premium lounges"
Having an empty space with some chairs can be as much a lounge as a room with windows can become an observation deck.
I would also bet on Virgin Atlantic rebuilding their Clubhouse in the new TBIT satellite terminal. With the expansion, it would be easier for VS and AeroMexico to move out of Terminal 2 and into TBIT. I hope they do so that way they can remove the sterile corridor in Terminal 2 and use that for additional seating space. Aer Lingus flights arrive from Dublin with pre-clearance so that doesn't matter as much. Once Terminal 0/Terminal 1 extension is built, I'm sure airlines like Allegiant and Sun Country (who check in at T1 and bus passengers to TBIT) will move their gates there.
I wouldn't expect a new SkyTeam lounge to open there, though. With Delta's new SkyClub in their new T2/T3 headhouse, an eventual Delta One Lounge in T3, and also the airside connection between T3 and TBIT being built, it would be easier to split SkyTeam passengers between the Delta lounges and the Korean Air Lounge (which might eventually get better now that they no longer accept Priority Pass). But then again, if AF/KLM flight leave out of the satellite concourse, wouldn't be a bad idea to place a lounge there too.
For my money, the main terminal at Washington Dulles is the best looking building in US aviation.
It’s too bad the whole airport is an inefficient cf, and the “temporary” C/D midfield terminal is an abomination.
PR complained about it, saying Filipino elderlies don't take the distance well. And HA passengers also complain about the distance. They really should have a train underground to reduce the distance, like MIA's dual-compartment segregated train.
It's funny when you read an opinion that is so markedly different from your own experience. I fly Air France/KLM a lot into and out of LAX, and I absolutely hate the midfield concourse and have not been overawed - or even noticed - its alleged beauty. It certainly does not compensate for all its flaws. One, it's far from TBIT and there aren't nearly enough moving walkways. (This is also a problem when landing and getting to border control - it adds an additional 5-10 minutes depending on how fast you're walking.) Not to mention then facing the inexplicable series of escalators. Two, there is nothing to do other than sit and wait for your flight. And heaven help you if boarding is delayed - you can't just go back to the lounge. Even now in late 2022 less than half the restaurants and stores are open. Three, there was seemingly no thought put into making the queuing for different boarding groups more efficient and clear despite having all that space. Now, if Air France/KLM open a lounge that would go a long way to making it more tolerable.
Air France intends to have a 11,500sq/ft lounge on level-6 in the MSC. Was originally planned to open by late 2020, but Covid put a halt to their project. Per updated LAWA lease agreement, AFKL finally took control of the facility in July 2022, and will commence buildout.
Simply removing the carpet at the C/D terminal and replacing it with bright tile will go a long way to making that a more tolerable experience. Punching a few more windows into the wall wouldn't hurt either.
A new concourse at LAX won't help LAX much. It's without a doubt the worst cesspool of an airport in the U.S.
Not sure anything has changed since 2020 due to the pandemic, but I found this contract for Air France/KLM. Not immediately seeing others, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.
http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2020/20-0366_reso_03-27-2020.pdf
I arrived at one of LAX's 200-numbered gates early in the morning (6 am or so). It was an eerily empty and desolate place, and a VERY long walk, first to where you could get out of the midfield terminal and then to the exit and baggage claim. I did not really notice much beauty in the whole setup, but was rather wondering what the architects were thinking when they designed this place, a long ways from everywhere. In other locations they would have a train or so that got you between terminals efficiently.
They are fixing that - goal is to remove rental car shuttles and most other shuttles and give pax MULTIPLE locations to be dropped and picked outside of the center core - accessed via the APM which is a few mean from the terminals to any of these spots
Train!? in LA? no chance! They will allow you do drive to MSC before building a train.
1000 ft tunnel sounds pretty similar to the tunnel at Heathrow T2. I haven't arrived into the MSC yet, but I can't imagine the walk to be much worse than at LHR T2.
I agree with user LAX. I've used AF out of the MSC and am not thrilled with it. The walking and escalator switchbacks never seem to end. TBIT could do with an underground train similar to ATL or DEN - the MSC and main part of TBIT seem the the same distance apart as the distances between terminals in those airports. The MSC in itself is fine, I suppose. It's airy and roomy. But the amount of waking or cumbersome bus-taking to get there makes me dread going to the place. Maybe an above-average lounge would help, but only maybe.
Are you serious? This is the worst terminal at LAX. Wasn’t anyone smart enough to put an electric tram through the tunnel? Way way too much walking involved to get there.
And the current terminal was extended in length with the same design. But the check in areas are a little tight. And the train solved the mobile lounge issue.
Compared to the designs that were initially proposed, the final product is actually value-engineered to hell. Not to mention the fact that the south portion was originally supposed to be temporary but will not be permanent (as opposed to a full buildout of the existing concourse.) In any case, AF/KL is supposed to open a lounge there at some point in the future.
So Funny, LAX is my favorite US airport. In particular all the foreign carriers on display is pretty exciting. Also, some really good lounges are available now. Does it have some warts, sure but it really is a fun place to originate out of.
And get stuck in traffic to MSC, I-5 style?
That's why LA(X) is always going to be trash because of traffic.
This is the worst terminal at LAX. The kind of terminal they send allegiant airlines to. Imagine getting off a cramped flight only to walk half a mile, then get on a bus to take you to terminal one, and then walk through that terminal to finally get to ground transportation. Whoever wrote this piece clearly doesn’t travel much.
What LAX needs to remove is private vehicles not shuttles. Hardly any locals (aka people with cars) will ever take the Metro. Having APM doesn't fix this.
It's a poorly designed airport that has exceeded it's capacity. They need to remove the loop and make as many terminal traffic independent from another. No matter what terminal you're going to, you will get stuck at every terminal.
ConRAC will do nothing but making rentals more expensive.
LAX needs to move terminals with separate roads then connect internally with APM.
As bad as LHR is, imagine LHR forces every terminal in a tiny loop. Total cluster ef.
National got so much better when they merged the airside piers, which significantly expands the lounge and dining options for passengers regardless of which airline you're flying. And it'll get better once they open that Centurion lounge.
Worst terminal at LAX due to the far, far distance. The endless tunnel, and escalator after escalator made getting to the gate take way too long. On the return on Hawaiian, the baggage claim was in TBIT, but one had to navigate additional escalators and tunnels to get there. I would avoid flying Hawaiian simply because of this terminal.
Ben - I hate to be such an annoying Karen, but the plural of bus is spelled ‘buses’, rather than ‘busses’.
I drive one for a living, so that’s my source of knowledge!
I read this article because I saw the headline and thought this must be a pun post. I mean ... to anyone who's ever had to fly out of this terminal or arrive there- are there any pros to this marathon maze?? What the heck were architects thinking! The article mentions carts for people with mobility issues. The author completely dismissed the fact that these carts a) are very limited in numbers and availability, and b) literally only take you through the allegedly 1,000 feet of tunnel. But what about the other three quarters of a mile?! There are signs posted that "warn" of a 20 minute hike. Under normal circumstances we'd probably not second guess this and just do it. But with luggage? After a 6+ hr flight? And some folks have layovers etc they might be on their feet for 24 hrs already. Not to mention that the gates are in operation, but the surrounding accommodations (besides restrooms), are not! No restaurant to sit down and have a refreshment. No sandwich shop to grab a quick meal in the event of delay.
This is a farce. An absolute inconvenience and our family has decided to deliberately exclude airlines from our future travels plans if they require us to board in this terminal. Just terrible all around. Unless you're training for the annual indoor luggage hauling championships, that is.
For sure Air France/KLM is opening a lounge. AF staff at LAX has confirmed this as the plan but there wasn't a when that they knew of/could say.
I don't see that Virgin would have a clubhouse as the new Delta One lounge I figure would have ben designed for the VS flights, but it would be awesome to have a clubhouse again, because though small, I love the the VS LAX Clubhouse before it closed during the lockdown.
That is a train between terminals. The complaints here are within the two parts of the TBIT,
They should have built a tram like there is in Munich T2.
It blew me away that AF uses the OneWorld Sapphire lounge for its own business class passengers. When the check-in agent told me that I thought I had seriously misheard her.
However, I was thrilled. Having flown Korean First Class out of LAX in the past, I was embarrassed for the airline by the lounge (even if the onboard product was awesome). I find it impressive that AF sends its own passengers across alliance lines to the OW/QF lounges.
Sorry Ben, but I agree with the majority in the comments about not liking the MCT. That connector was really poorly designed, as it's such a long slog with only maybe half the portion having moving walkways, and there were only a few of those carts operating in the 2 times I've departed from it - since my last MCT departure in May on KLM I've unfortunately developed mobility issues and dread the idea of having to make that trek again, and I'll be waiting as long as needed to hop on one of those carts. It's also aesthetically unattractive to the point of ugly. In fact, the whole MCT is architecturally dull, though I do like the large windows. I was wondering if they are still outfitting the facility as it seemed there was a serious lack of retailers, and lots of walled off space.
At the end of the day, except for the ludicrous connector the MCT is actually on par with most international terminals across the country, it's just that it's a serious let down given how superbly they designed the main TBIT, which I agree is the most beautiful in the country (aside from the interior facing lounges).
I flew out the new concourse a few months ago. It wasn’t such a great experience. I was particularly disappointed with the dismal choice of places to eat. I was hungry because it was close to lunch time, especially after walking such a long distance through the tunnel connecting from the older concourse. To my amazement, all I could get were pre-packaged cold sandwiches and snacks. This, in contrast with the large choice of restaurants in the older concourse. I felt like I was being penalized for flying from a brand-new terminal.
"Unless you're training for the annual indoor luggage hauling championships, that is."
Hilarious and well said!
On my last departure from the midfield concourse, and somewhat older gent and I we're going up the escalators and stared at each other like we were the winners of "Survivor", and him out of breath but saying he was shocked by the long trek.....it is so seriously awful!!!!!
Is there still talk of American picking up more TBIT gates when the eagles nest gets demolished to build T9? If so I’d expect them to put a lounge somewhere (maybe not MSC though)
On my Apple Watch it shows over a mile from curb to the 200 gates. It’s a real cluster to get your bags if you fly Hawaiian. And yes there are really no place to eat there.
The MSC is not a terminal of its own. It’s a concourse add-on for Bradley. Is it managed well, no. But there have been steps made to make it more tolerable. Complaining of walking is a first world problem, not preparing for your flight before you arrive to the airport is a personal problem. I have seen countless people approach LAX as they would any other airport. Sadly, this is a poor approach. LAX is located deep into some of the most expensive land in America; it’s very small compared to other airfields. Should there be more food and lounge options, yes, but COVID did it’s number on everything here. Is the building modern, yes, but it’s not revolutionary. SFO opened a new Terminal 1 and surpassed MSC in all categories. The city is to blame just as much as the architect. However, there are financial reason for the way it’s designed and it’s here to stay. Just wait for the south MSC add on in 2025 with prefabricated hold rooms…cheap, cheap, cheap!
What airlines use the MSC?
Is it luck if the draw to get TBIT proper and avoid the MSC? Or do all airlines have a turn in the barrel at LAX?
Any updates on the lounges? I wouldn't be surprised if we saw either a contract lounge or alliance lounge here. Frankly, an Admiral's club wouldn't be out of the question either if AA were to increase their presence in the south concourse with the coming Eagles Nest demo (I believe they got TBIT gates as part of the deal?)
Oh My Freaking Garwsh!! Are you for real?! Not the response but the person writing this article.
It’s over a gosh darn mile! I have mobility issues but no carts available. It took over 45’ to go through that Cluster Freak!!!!
What a freaking nightmare.
What the heck happened to walking 1/16th of a mile straight out to the curb?!!
No thanks. This author could not possibly be an aviation geek bc aviation personnel only like to go DIRECT!!!
Phhhhfffft!! Ughhh
i realize this post is very old but I had a few comments: Those little carts to haul people along the walkway are so cramped you gotta wonder who will fit in them... many people with mobility issues are also on the large side and have trouble contorting themselves. The carts look close to useless for anyone in those categories.
On a positive note, some of the tilework seems to evoke those classic underground walkways between some of the domestic terminals... Jackie Brown!