Before departure and after arrival, certain security procedures are managed at Los Angeles International Airport or LAX. They consist of general, TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, customs & immigration, and Fast Lane procedures. The LAX security wait time required for every procedure can vary. Generally, the wait time for any procedure is less than 1 hour. However, in the case of connecting flights, the wait time may increase up to 2 to 3 hours. Based on a few factors, such as domestic/international travel, the time of the day, etc., the waiting time can increase or decrease.
LAX Security Wait Time
To clear security at Los Angeles International Airport Terminals, travelers need to wait for around 10 to 15 minutes. This time fluctuates according to the number of fliers leaving during every hour of the day.
LAX Security Wait Times (General)
| Timing (A.M.) | Duration (In Minutes) | Timing (P.M.) | Duration (In Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 A.M. – 1 A.M. | 0 | 11 A.M. – 12 P.M. | 20 |
| 1 A.M. – 2 A.M. | 2 | 12 P.M.– 1 P.M. | 10 |
| 2 A.M. – 3 A.M. | 1 | 1 P.M. – 2 P.M. | 13 |
| 3 A.M. – 4 A.M. | 0 | 2 P.M. – 3 P.M. | 7 |
| 4 A.M. – 5 A.M. | 14 | 3 P.M. – 4 P.M. | 17 |
| 5 A.M.– 6 A.M. | 15 | 4 P.M. – 5 P.M. | 5 |
| 6 A.M.– 7 A.M. | 20 | 5 P.M. – 6 P.M. | 6 |
| 7 A.M.– 8 A.M. | 17 | 6 P.M. – 7 P.M. | 20 |
| 8 A.M.– 9 A.M. | 19 | 7 P.M. – 8 P.M. | 13 |
| 9 A.M.– 10 A.M. | 23 | 8 P.M. – 9 P.M. | 12 |
| 10 A.M. – 11 A.M. | 9 | 9 P.M. – 10 P.M. | 15 |
| 11 P.M.– 12 A.M. | 10 | 10 P.M. – 11 P.M. | 15 |
Los Angeles Airport or LAX TSA Wait Times
The Los Angeles International Airport/LAX TSA wait time is less than 5 minutes. However, depending on the airport terminals, this time for the Transportation Security Administration security check program may rise or decrease.
| Timing (A.M.) | Duration (In Minutes) | Timing (P.M.) | Duration (In Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 A.M. – 1 A.M. | 8 | 11 A.M. – 12 P.M. | 11 |
| 1A.M. – 2 A.M. | 20 | 12 P.M.– 1 P.M. | 12 |
| 2 A.M. – 3 A.M. | 17 | 1 P.M. – 2 P.M. | 10 |
| 3 A.M. – 4 A.M. | 14 | 2 P.M. – 3 P.M. | 16 |
| 4 A.M. – 5 A.M. | 25 | 3 P.M. – 4 P.M. | 5 |
| 5 A.M.– 6 A.M. | 20 | 4 P.M. – 5 P.M . | 8 |
| 6 A.M.– 7 A.M. | 11 | 5 P.M. – 6 P.M. | 15 |
| 7 A.M.– 8 A.M. | 14 | 6 P.M. – 7 P.M. | 9 |
| 8 A.M.– 9 A.M. | 12 | 7 P.M. – 8 P.M. | 1 |
| 9 A.M.– 10 A.M. | 14 | 8 P.M. – 9 P.M. | 13 |
| 10 A.M. – 11 A.M. | 7 | 9 P.M. – 10 P.M. | 12 |
| 11 P.M.– 12 A.M. | 10 | 10 P.M. – 11 P.M. | 17 |
LAX TSA PreCheck Checkpoint & Wait Times
| Terminal | Wait Time (in minutes) |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | 16 |
| Terminal 2 | 17 |
| Terminal 3 | 16 |
| Terminal 4 | 15 |
| Terminal 5 | 15 |
| Terminal 6 | 16 |
| Terminal 7 | 16 |
| Terminal TBIT | 16 |
CLEAR Security Wait Times at LAX Airport
For quick security checks at LAX Airport, dedicated CLEAR lanes are available across the terminals. The wait times for CLEAR members are less than usual.
| Terminals at LAX Airport | Timing |
|---|---|
| 1 | 04:00 A.M. to 07:30 P.M. |
| 3 | 04:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. |
| 4 | 04:00 A.M. to 06:00 P.M. |
| 5 | 04:00 A.M. to 08:00 P.M. |
| 6 | 04:00 A.M. to 08:00 P.M. |
| 7 | 04:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. |
| TBIT or Terminal B | 06:00 A.M. to 08:00 P.M. |
| Regional Terminal | – |
Note: Fliers can pass CLEAR at LAX Airport terminals within 10 minutes.
LAX Fast Lane Wait Times
Travelers can register with the LAX Fast Lane program to expedite the security check process.
| Fast Lane Wait Time | Location |
|---|---|
| less than 5 minutes | Terminal 7 |
The security wait times at LAX or Los Angeles International Airport are determined by the kind of procedures related to arrivals/departures and the time of day. Therefore, there is no determined time limit for the same. However, the minimum wait time can be 5 minutes while the maximum can be 1 hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum TSA wait time at LAX Airport is around 0.9 minutes between 07:00 P.M. to 08:00 P.M.
At LAX Airport, the baggage deposit process can take approximately 5 to 10 minutes.
About 24.9 minutes is the maximum TSA wait time at Los Angeles International Airport between 04:00 A.M. to 05:00 A.M.
APC kiosk and MPC app can be used to reduce immigration wait times at Los Angeles International Airport.
Around 10 to 15 minutes is the security wait time at LAX Airport Terminal 5.
Currently, the LAX Fast Lane program is unavailable at Terminal 3. However, those who are traveling to or from Terminal 7 can avail of this program.
The wait time at LAX Airport for ground transportation is about 5 minutes for Uber, 15 minutes for Lyft, and 1 minute for a taxi.
As a busy airfield, the wait times at LAX are usually longer. When it comes to the hours when security lines are the longest, they are between 4 am-5 am, where wait times are around 25 minutes.
Depending on the flight types and the number of passengers managed, every terminal at Los Angeles Airport has different wait times.
Arriving at least 2-3 hours before the departure from LAX Airport is the most suitable time, as the security checks may take more time than usual during peak travel hours.
One can register for the LAX Fast Lane, TSA PreCheck, or CLEAR program to skip or speed up the security checks at the Los Angeles International Airport.