(Los Angeles, CA) With spring around the corner, and some COVID-19 restrictions beginning to relax in different parts of the country, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is expecting additional air travelers this month and reminds passengers there still are requirements and changes in place to help them Travel Safely.

"As we near the spring travel season, even with vaccinations being distributed and hope on the horizon, it remains vital that we as airports, as well as our guests, continue to all do our part to create a safe travel environment," said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, LAWA. "Our commitment is to continue providing a clean, healthy, safe and touchless experience for our guests."

 

Currently, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health continue to recommend that Californians should remain local and avoid non-essential travel. The county requires visitors arriving from and residents returning from out of state to self-quarantine for 10 days. Guidance locally or within other destinations may change suddenly, so travelers are strongly encouraged to research the latest rules and advisories before booking.

Many travelers may be coming to LAX for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. Click here to view a video showcasing the latest LAX travel experience, or click here to visit the LAX Travel Safely website for additional information and resources. Additional tips and other information is below to help ensure a successful journey this spring.

Key Tips for Success

 

Create a Touchless Journey

• Check in online with your airline before you leave for the airport. This prevents the need to interact with a check-in kiosk. People traveling without checked luggage can skip the ticket counters entirely this way.

• Order food and beverages online using LAXOrderNow.com. This service offers touchless order, payment and pickup in any of the LAX terminals.

• Forget something? Use one of our vending machines offering a wide assortment of personal protective equipment including gloves and masks.

• Eligible international travelers should consider using the free Mobile Passport app to speed through the customs process on arrival at LAX. Travelers are also encouraged to enroll in the Transportation Security Administration's Pre√® or other trusted-traveler programs, such as U.S. Customs & Border Protection's Global Entry, which improve security and reduce wait times.

Federal Mask Regulations Remain

• Federal law requires the wearing of a proper face mask at all times within LAX. Face masks should cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides without gaps. Masks can be either manufactured or homemade and should be a solid piece of material without slits, exhalation valves or punctures. Bandanas,  balaclavas and similar face coverings do not meet the federal standard. Masks can be removed briefly to eat or drink but must be replaced in between bites and sips. LAX has Travel Safely Ambassadors working to remind guests to wear a face mask and answer questions. Click here to watch a video of the LAX Travel Safely Ambassadors in action.

Be Respectful to Fellow Travelers

• LAX reminds all guests to be respectful of others by remaining physically distanced and wearing a face mask at all times. While LAX has installed signage at security screening, along jet bridges, at baggage claims and other locations to help guests remain physically separated, it is everyone's individual responsibility to maintain a distance of six feet from one another at all times. Signage on elevators will indicate whether two or three people are allowed in the elevator at a time, depending on the size of the elevator (family groups are exempt from this limit). LAX requests that those who are able to take an escalator or stairs do so, so the elevators can be reserved for those who need them.

Get a COVID-19 Test at LAX

• LAX offers COVID-19 rapid PCR and antigen tests that are processed in a state-of-the-art, on-site laboratory, providing guests with a convenient and safe option for testing before or after travel. The PCR tests cost $125 each and are available by making an appointment online. Rapid antigen tests are available inside Terminal 6 at the information counter on the Lower/Arrivals Level and cost $80, with results in about one hour. Click here to learn more.

Continue to Follow Public Health Guidance

• Passengers should continue to follow public health guidance and wash their hands frequently, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Additionally, LAX has provided 350 hand sanitizing stations for use throughout the airport. Passengers should review and follow all current public health guidance while traveling.

Have a Plan

• Check parking options ahead of time. Real-time parking availability within the LAX Central Terminal Area (CTA) parking structures is available here. Parking structures could fill up at any time, so be aware of off-airport private lots as alternatives. Economy Lot E remains closed.

• Parking and traffic updates are available 24/7 via the automated @FlyLAXstats Twitter feed.

• Picking someone up? Curbside pickup and drop-off is permitted on the Upper/Departures and Lower/Arrivals levels. All parking structures are free for the first 15 minutes, and Terminal B (Tom Bradley International Terminal) pickup area is also free to use. To access the Terminal B pickup, use the second entrance to Parking Structure 3 from World Way North on the Lower/Arrivals Level. This area is for passenger loading only with no parking allowed.

Know Your Destination's Rules

• Despite an increase in travel, and the relaxation of some regulations in some locations, many destinations, both international and domestic, still have travel restrictions or rules for visitors. Knowing the current rules for your destination is essential.

• For international travel, consult the U.S. Department of State website or those of your individual connecting or destination's country embassies and consulates for current restrictions and guidance.

• For domestic travel, resources on current restrictions may include state health department or individual city government websites.

• Guests arriving at LAX from other countries or states, as well as California residents returning from out-of-state travel, are required to complete a mandatory form acknowledging that they have read and understood the state and county travel guidelines, which include a 10-day self-quarantine. Travelers over the age of 16 must submit this form online prior to or upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport, Van Nuys Airport, or Union Station. Failure to submit the form may be punishable by a fine of up to $500. The form can be found here, or for more information click here.

• Visitors should also call ahead to their intended destinations to learn about local restrictions. A comprehensive list of California travel sites is available via Visit California. Information about travel to Los Angeles is available via Discover Los Angeles.

How LAWA is Helping You Travel Safely

• Simplified Arrival: This new enhanced, touchless international arrival process uses facial biometrics to automate the manual document checks that are already required for admission into the U.S. The process further secures and streamlines international arrivals while fulfilling a longstanding congressional mandate to biometrically record the entry and exit of non-U.S. citizens. This new technology is in use for arriving international travelers.

• ID Scanners: LAX is the first U.S. airport to fully adopt new Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) in which passengers insert their photo ID into a reader without needing to exchange documents or show a boarding pass at security screening checkpoints.

• Air quality: LAX has a rigorous air quality program in place that predates the COVID-19 pandemic. The air quality program includes MERV 8 pre-filter, charcoal filters where appropriate to remove odors and a MERV13 final filter. Most existing and all newer air handling units have UV light protection and ionization to protect against pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. HVAC systems provide an average of 10 air changes per hour. Public restrooms receive an estimated 15 air changes per hour, and pet relief areas located indoors receive 30 air changes per hour.

• Cleaning: Cleaning crews are on site 24/7 and use hospital-grade cleaning products that kill bacteria and viruses. High-touch surfaces are routinely cleaned, and crews also are using advanced electrostatic sprayers to clean surfaces even more deeply.

• Barriers: To help reduce physical contact throughout the airport, LAX and its partners have installed hundreds of new Plexiglas and acrylic barriers at airline ticket counters and other locations around the airport.

• TSA dividers: As part of its national "Stay Healthy, Stay Secure" campaign, the TSA has installed new acrylic barriers and associated equipment at TSA's security checkpoints at LAX. These installations provide additional physical barriers between TSA officers and the traveling public at document checking podiums and along conveyor belts.

• Announcements and signs: Guests will see signs and hear updated overhead announcements throughout the airport. Reminders include that face masks are required, the importance of physical distancing and other tips for navigating LAX.

• Touchless faucets: Hundreds of restroom faucets and a handful of drinking fountains and water stations have been converted to touchless activation. They can be turned on by waving a hand.

Getting Help

LAX guests can find help at a number of places throughout their journey, including without having to interact in-person with a guest experience member.

• By phone: Guests may call (855) 463-5252 for assistance during business hours, or email infoline@lawa.org to receive a response within one business day.

• Restroom feedback: By pointing their smartphone camera at one of the QR codes on new signs installed at all restrooms, airport guests can provide fast feedback about the restroom via a drop-down menu or open comment option. Guests can also include a photo of the issue. All of this information is delivered to a maintenance dispatch center in real time. The new service is available in all 213 restrooms at LAX, including all-gender and nursing rooms. QR codes can be read by most cameras on modern smartphones. Users of older smartphones may need to download a dedicated QR reader app.

• Vision-impaired services: Passengers with impaired vision may use the Aira real-time navigation service, which is free to use at LAX. Guests can download Aira for free from the App Store on their Apple device or from Google Play on their Android device.

• Online: An online, automated chatbot is available 24/7 to help answer common questions about LAX.