(Los Angeles, CA) The Labor Day holiday weekend marks the unofficial end of the busy summer travel season at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and is expected to be about twice as busy as last year with more people returning to the skies. Because of the potentially busier weekend, it's important for travelers to plan ahead.

 

During the Labor Day weekend, Friday, Sept. 3, through Tuesday, Sept. 7, the airlines have scheduled 3,289 flights from LAX, about double the number of flights compared to last year and 78% compared to the holiday weekend in 2019. Throughout the month of September, the airlines are planning to operate about 19,600 flights from LAX, which is about 77% of the number of flights compared to the same time in 2019. 

 

“Even though we are not back to pre-pandemic numbers, we are expecting twice as many guests at LAX this Labor Day weekend than we saw last year, which means that travelers should plan ahead for traffic and a busy airport,” said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles World Airports. "We are ready to welcome our guests to safe and clean facilities, and in turn we ask that they make sure to wear their masks and practice kindness and patience with one another.”

 

Plan Ahead 

 

LAX is encouraging travelers to plan their trip ahead of time based on current parking availability, traffic and their scheduled flight time. The airport provides real-time updates on current parking availability on its website, as well as updates on parking and traffic around the airport every 30 minutes on the automated Twitter account @FlyLAXstats. Parking options can be found here. Passengers are urged to consider alternative ground transportation options including the LAX FlyAway bus service, municipal buses, taxis, ride app services or rides from family and friends.

 

LAX remains under heavy construction as part of its $14.5 billion modernization, which includes an Automated People Mover train, a Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility and modernizing every terminal. When coming to LAX, passengers should look for and follow wayfinding signage near all construction sites to ensure their safety and to enhance mobility. LAX is also under much heavier construction within the Central Terminal Area compared to the same time last year, which means there will be additional road work and detours around certain areas. Drive slowly and with caution around work zones.

The airport recommends arriving at the terminals at least two hours prior to scheduled departure for a domestic flight and three hours prior to an international flight. This will allow extra time to navigate the terminals, including any alternate pathways in place due to construction, and time for any congestion at the security screening areas during peak travel hours.

 

Introducing NomNom

 

LAX this week is launching a robotic ambassador for its popular online food and beverage ordering service, www.LAXOrderNow.com. 

 

In partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), the LAX Order Now delivery service will begin using help, in a pilot program, from a two-wheeled, semi-autonomous robot helper the airport has affectionately named NomNom.

 

NomNom is a cargo robot that will carry up to 40 pounds of food at a time as it follows behind delivery staff from AtYourGate, which delivers food ordered via LAX Order Now. The robot can move at speeds up to 6 mph and uses a series of cameras and sensors to recognize and follow its handler throughout the airport.

 

The robot is another way LAX is tapping into new technology and innovations to support the overall passenger experience.

 

LAX Order Now offers contactless order pickup from LAX restaurants, with optional delivery available directly to the gate areas in select terminals. Guests can scan QR codes throughout the terminals or visit LAXOrderNow.com to browse menus, place an order and pay.

 

When checking out, guests in eligible terminals who want delivery will select that option at checkout for an additional small delivery fee. Guests will be notified on their mobile device when orders are on their way and when they arrive in the designated gate area, and each participating restaurant will provide an estimated delivery time to help ensure food arrives prior to departing.

 

At Your Gate delivery team members, and NomNom, wear branding to be identified easily and connect quickly with guests who place orders. 

 

To celebrate the Labor Day weekend, LAX guests may use the coupon code LAXNomNom for 25% off their online food orders through Sept. 12.

 

Click here for a video of NomNom in action at LAX. 

 

COVID-19 Vaccines and Testing

 

In partnership with the Los Angeles Fire Department and LA County Department of Public Health, LAX is offering free, one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations for those 18 and older. The vaccine clinic is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays). There are three vaccination locations:

• Across from LAX's Terminal 6 next to Parking Structure 6 and adjacent to the existing COVID-19 rapid test laboratory on the Lower/Arrivals level.
• Post-security inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal, departures level, in the Great Hall near the clock tower. This location is for ticketed passengers only.
• Pre-security inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal, arrivals Level 1, near information booth.

Those interested in receiving the vaccine can walk from any of the terminals or parking structures, which cost $5 for one hour. No appointment is needed and no insurance is required. Learn more here. 

 

Additionally, LAX offers multiple types of tests for COVID-19, including rapid PCR tests. Appointments are recommended and can be booked online here. Tests will be available on a walk-up basis, depending on demand.

Quick Guide to Planning Ahead for Travel at LAX

• Check parking options ahead of time. Real-time parking availability within the LAX Central Terminal Area (CTA) parking structures is available here. Parking structures can fill up at any time, so be aware of off-airport private lots as alternatives. A list of private parking options near LAX is available here, including many that provide courtesy transportation from LAX terminals. Stops for off-airport parking lot shuttles are located on the Upper/Departures Level identified, and are identified by red curbside pillars.
  
  
• Parking and traffic updates are available 24/7 via the automated @FlyLAXstats Twitter feed.
  
  
• Consider alternative ground transportation
  
  • FlyAway® bus service is available to and from Union Station and Van Nuys, with parking available at both locations. As of Monday, May 24, there are six more trips in each direction on the Van Nuys route. Fares are $9.75 one way. For pick-up at LAX, the FlyAway buses make use of dedicated inner lanes on the Lower/Arrivals Level. For more information on FlyAway, including a real-time bus tracker, visit www.LAXFlyAway.org.
    
    
  • Municipal buses are available from LA Metro, Beach Cities Transit, Culver City, Santa Monica (Big Blue Bus) and Torrance.
    
    
  • LAX also offers the free LAX "G" Shuttle to and from the Aviation/LAX Metro Station, which serves the LA Metro Green Line (light rail) at Imperial Highway and Aviation Boulevard. Read more on our website. 
    
    
  • Guests who are leaving LAX via taxi or ride app vehicles (Uber, Lyft, Opoli) can walk to the LAX-it lot located at 9610 Sky Way, across from Terminal 1, or take one of the LAX-it shuttles from stops located on the Lower/Arrivals Level. Shuttles arrive every 3-5 minutes. At the LAX-it lot, guests will find taxis as well as ride app vehicles. Taxis and ride app vehicles drop off departing guests at the terminals.

• Check in online with your airline before you leave for the airport. This prevents the need to interact with a check-in kiosk. If you are traveling without checked luggage, you can skip the ticket counters entirely this way.
  
  
• 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 the Terminal B (Tom Bradley International Terminal) pickup area is also free to use. To access the Terminal B pickup area, 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.
  
  
• To help speed their journeys, travelers are 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 and Mobile Passport, which improves security and reduce wait times.
  
  
• Know the rules. Many destinations, both international and domestic, have implemented travel restrictions or rules for visitors. Knowing the current rules for your destination is essential this year. Non-vaccinated 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's travel advisory. The form can be found here, or for more information click here.

Travel Safely Reminders

• Wear a face mask at all times at LAX. Face masks remain required under federal law for everyone at LAX, even those who are completely vaccinated. This requirement extends to buses, taxis and shared rides.
  
  
• Remain physically distanced. 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 to the greatest extent possible. 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.