Holiday getaway season officially arrived at LAX on Friday morning, with crowds already clogging terminals and curbside lanes ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. Travelers reported snaking lines at check-in counters and ride-share pickup spots, and some said they had rebooked their return flights to dodge the worst of the post-holiday rush. Airport and transportation officials are telling flyers to build in extra time for security, check-in and traffic before they even think about boarding.
About 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles over the Memorial Day period, including roughly 39.1 million drivers and about 3.66 million air travelers, according to AAA. The group’s forecast, which draws on INRIX congestion modeling, flags Thursday and Friday afternoons, along with Monday afternoon, as prime gridlock hours on freeways in and around Los Angeles.
What To Expect At LAX
As KTLA reported, terminals at LAX were already packed by early Friday, and some travelers said they rolled into the airport as early as 3:30 a.m. in a bid to outsmart the crowds. That coverage highlighted flyers heading to nearby hotspots like Catalina Island and Six Flags, many of whom said they planned to push their return trips later into the week to steer clear of the heavy Monday traffic crush.
Security And Screening
The Transportation Security Administration is preparing for a wall of humanity at checkpoints, with an estimated 18.3 million passenger screenings expected nationwide over the Memorial Day stretch, according to a summary of TSA guidance from TravelPulse. TSA is urging travelers to show up with a REAL ID or passport in hand and to allow more time than usual at security to cut down on the risk of missing flights.
Getting Around The Airport
Traffic in the Central Terminal Area may get a modest break from some recent infrastructure tweaks. Los Angeles World Airports shifted most rental operations into a new consolidated rental car center in March, a move local reporting says should eliminate thousands of shuttle trips from the terminal loop. The March opening and curbside benefits of the new giant rental car hub are expected to ease some of the pressure on the horseshoe, even as overall passenger volume climbs.
Tips For Travelers
Flyers are being urged to arrive at LAX earlier than usual, monitor flight status before leaving home and consider options like the FlyAway bus or other transit to bypass curbside logjams, according to AAA. TSA also recommends carrying a REAL ID or passport and, when possible, enrolling in TSA PreCheck to shave time off the screening process, per TravelPulse's summary of agency guidance. Travelers are further advised to confirm their rental car pickup point and give themselves extra time to return vehicles while airport connections like the people mover are still being finalized.
