While I usually like to travel ”one mile at a time,” the other day I measured a little differently.
Continue reading: LAX Plane Spotting, 21,000+ Steps At A Time
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Wow Aeromexico flies their 787 to LAX, there must be a big market. I miss the A380
I know it's not always possible but I'm not a fan of pics without the plane's nose - reminds me of pictures of people from the neck down!
And favorite - 747-8 of course (Lufthansa).
It’s a rare visit to TBIT that doesn’t include sighting a flight crew covered head to toe in ridiculous plastic.
Glad you had fun there. LAX TBIT is a global aviation haven...having one primary international terminal for an airport that serves a metro as large as Los Angeles will do that.
The A350 is certainly the sharpest looking widebody and a pretty frequent visitor to LAX based on your photos.
I enjoy the experience of flying inside the A380, but I think it's the ugliest, clunkiest looking plane in the sky. I suppose that's one of the nice things about flying on the A380 -- if you are inside of it then you can't see what it looks like on the outside.
From a looks perspective, it's 747-8, then 350-1000, then 340-600, then 777-300.
The people in the hazamat suits are indeed Chinese flight crew. Standard attire for Chinese crew for a bit. Here's a related news article from December that has a picture of an Air China team at LAX that looks identical. I don't know what they do during/before/after flights though.
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-12-01/omicron-covid-christmas-holidays
Two questions. How are you tracking your steps, maybe the new Apple Watch? Second, when are you going to fly that beautiful ITA A359 nonstop LAX to FCO and give us a review? I’m hoping to book that ITA flight next spring, would love a review. Enjoy the remainder of your trip.
The A350 is a sleek and sexy plane, and the ITA blue paint make is even more gorgeous. The 747-8 would be next for me. Though hideous looking, the A380 is truly remarkable from an engineering standpoint and pax comfort.
Still the Lufthansa 747-8 for me!
If you were here that long, I would've brought you a hoodie!!!
I flew ITA twice domestically in July and got the new livery and an old Al italia plane. Delicious.
Been spotting quite a few planes I haven’t seen before or in a while in Europe - edelweiss, transavia, frenchbee etc. I too love walking around and snapping pics. I also love the big boards with the destinations (especially in Frankfurt); seeing the different airline names on the cargo bins; and the destinations at the gates (some empty with a flight in a few hours).
maps.lawa.org says the walk between Gate 210B and Gate 86B is 2.9 km, that's 1.8 miles.
I really enjoy the MSC gates...I go out there when I Haan hour to kill and it's good for getting in my daily ♂️ I've spent several late nights hanging out in South end of TBIT awaiting a midnight departure.
Back in my airline career days, I was assigned temporary duty at LAX as a ground service employee. I had a great time driving a tug from the cargo facility on the south side of the field, all the way around the terminal complex, past the old Continental Airlines offices and the various hangers and around to the north side to our gates at T2. Gorgeous weather, beautiful airplanes from around the world, it was pure joy for this airplane geek. I wasn't happy when I had to return to the office to resume my usual job.
1 - that's cabin crew in those amazing sealed outfits. I've seen groups of a dozen of them at TBIT.
2 - spending hours at TBIT plane-spotting is exactly as amazing as you describe it. I've got a few years on you, and I guarantee you will still love it a decade from now.
Regarding your questions: they are most likely Xiamen Airlines' flight crews. Due to the quarantine requirements in mainland China, I believe almost all Chinese airlines flight crews are wearing full-protection PPEs, not just on MF, but also CZ, CA and MU. Not sure about pilots in the cockpit, but at least for flight attendants, they wear those for the entire flight, not just in the terminal.
It isn't an international only terminal now, lots of domestic airlines fly out of it as well. The international only terminal is quickly becoming a thing if the past, many airports are getting rid of them in the US.
I understand from pre pandemic that AA had access to up to 5 gates at TBIT, but that was back when they had a bigger long-haul network from LAX. Now they use them because of the construction at T4 and T5. I've flown AA mostly domestic from TBIT, even narrow bodies to Austin, and international from T4.
No doubt the A350 is gorgeous, but all the 747 variants will always be the most beautiful to me. The 787 is easy on the eye as well.
If you're not flying from TBIT and are time restricted, if connecting at T4/T5 (or technically all the way from T8, but that would be a killer walk), you can at least just walk half-way down the TBIT connector from T4 to get some great views of the wide bodies at TBIT...the connector has big windows, super quiet and peaceful area to relax.
When I saw steps and plane spotting, I thought you did what I do and take a walk down to In and Out with stops on Sky Way to see take offs from 24L, but I do agree TBIT does have some nice spotting from inside!
The Chinese crews have become a world class joke. Ridiculously or pathetically that apparently they don't think this way.
Your comment about assuming they are passengers in the white suits shows a lot about you. Actually if you look most of the passengers going to China do not wear such things. There have been news articles, photos, and reports of flight crew wearing such and going through airports before and even some airports banning wearing them. In the photo you posted the luggage they have certainly looks like that of crew and not of passengers. It is quite obvious based on some of your observations that you merely go to places for the reviews and blog posts rather than more deeply knowing about somewhere or knowing about what's really going on around you.
Wow what an amazing experience spending a full day at TBIT. I had the privilege of visiting recently and as an aviation lover its pure heaven. The beauty of this facility is in a class of its own. Spotting at TBIT is amazing!!! and yes ITA airways is my favorite! ITA airways new livery had many critics at first but seeing this bird in person will break you!! its stunning and varies in color depending on sun angle.
As someone who is a Planespotter and lives near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) I have watched many of these Airlines taking off and landing Over the years. Tom Bradley International Terminal is great for getting up close for those who are making connections to other Airlines. I agree that ITA Livery, the paint scheme of the Airline, is quite beautiful, and the same with Zip Air, but I do miss the Z on the Horizontal Stablizer. I do like the Livery of French Bee.
The nice thing about planespotting at LAX is the multiple places that you are able to spot planes taking off and landing at LAX. You have The Economy Parking Structure, a great place to watch planes taking off and landing on Runways 24 L & R. The Proud Bird is great to watch Airplanes landing on Runway 25 L. There is the Westchester Parkway Bridge where you can see planes taking off and landing on Runways 24 L & R. Dockweiler Beach you can see Airplanes pass over your head usually just after takeoff. Then there is The Park by In-N-Out Burger where Airplanes fly practically directly over your head. Then lastly there is Clutter Park where you overlook LAX on the South providing planes taking off and landing from Runways 25 L & R.
You can also watch some of the operations of LAX on the YouTube Channel Airlines Videos.
i would say i want to go on the 787
i have been on an LH a380 and LH 747-8 and LH a350
but i would love to fly the LH a380 again because it’s been like 4-5 years
i would love to go on the LH 747-8 and LH a350 again as well but i flew both of those this summer
honestly i love flying on anything anywhere
Mine are these planes
Fiji Airways Airbus A350
Qantas Airbus A380
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER
United B787-9