If you’re flying into the USA from Australia, there’s a good chance you’ll land at Los Angeles International Airport — LAX. And if you reckon Sydney or Melbourne Airports get hectic, LAX will feel like a whole new level of busy. Here’s a quick comparison to give you some perspective.
✈️ Flights, Flights, and More Flights
- On a typical day, LAX handles around 1,600 flights. That’s nearly double what you’ll see at Sydney (900) and well above Melbourne’s ~650–750.
- It’s one of the busiest airports in the world — with around 76 million passengers passing through in 2024.
👥 How Many People?
- LAX sees about 210,000 people a day.
- In comparison, Sydney clocks around 110,000, and Melbourne’s close to 96,000 on average.
- So yeah — it’s a full-on crowd. Lines can be long, especially at customs and security, so pack your patience.
🚗 How Far from the City?
- LAX is about 30 km from downtown LA. It’s a decent trek depending on traffic — anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour by car.
- You’ve got a few options: FlyAway Bus, rideshare, taxis, or public transport (with a couple of changes).
- By contrast, Sydney Airport is just 10 km from the CBD, and Melbourne Airport’s about 22 km from the city.
🌎 Why This Matters for Aussie Travellers
Flying into LAX isn’t like popping into Brisbane for the weekend. It’s big, busy, and at times a bit chaotic — especially if you’re jet-lagged and just off a 14-hour flight. But it’s also a major international hub, which means:
- Lots of connecting flights
- Decent airport facilities
- And plenty of people — from all over the world
If you’ve done Sydney or Melbourne at peak hour, think twice the volume, more terminals, and a bit more confusion. But don’t worry — with a little planning, it’s totally manageable.
🧳 Quick Recap: LAX vs Sydney vs Melbourne
| Airport | Daily Flights | Daily Passengers | Distance to City |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAX | ~1,600 | ~210,000 | ~30 km |
| Sydney | ~900 | ~110,000 | ~10 km |
| Melbourne | ~700 | ~96,000 | ~22 km |
🚙 Getting from LAX into Los Angeles: What You Need to Know
Touching down at LAX can be a bit of a whirlwind — it’s huge, busy, and not exactly the easiest airport to navigate. But once you’re through customs, there are a few solid options for getting into the city.
🚗 Car Hire (Rental Cars)
If you’re planning to drive yourself around LA (which, let’s face it, makes sense in such a sprawling city), it’s important to know that car rental counters are not located at the terminals. All the major rental companies — like Hertz, Avis, Budget, Alamo, and Enterprise — are based off-site, a short drive away.
To get there, just follow the signs after baggage claim for “Rental Car Shuttles”. Each rental company runs its own free shuttle bus that picks you up from designated areas outside each terminal on the arrivals level (lower level). Shuttles are clearly marked and run every few minutes, so you won’t be waiting long.
🚖 Uber, Lyft, and Rideshare Pickups
If you’re grabbing an Uber or Lyft, you can’t just walk out the front of the terminal and jump in one like you might in Sydney or Melbourne. Instead, you’ll need to head to a designated pickup area called LAX-it (pronounced “L.A. Exit”).
Here’s how it works:
- After you’ve collected your bags, follow the green signs for “LAX-it”.
- Depending on your terminal, you can either walk there (5–10 mins from Terminals 1–4 or 5) or hop on a free LAX-it shuttle, which loops between all terminals and drops you at the lot.
- Once at LAX-it, you can order your ride through your app like usual. Drivers will meet you in clearly numbered bays.
It’s well organised, but expect a bit of a wait during peak times. Bonus tip: rideshare fares can vary a lot based on time of day and demand, so check a few options before locking one in.
🚍 Other Options
- FlyAway Bus: A reliable option if you’re heading to Downtown LA, Hollywood, or Union Station. It’s cheap (around $10–12 USD), runs frequently, and avoids surge pricing. Buses leave from every terminal.
- Public transport: Possible, but a bit of a hassle with luggage. You’ll need to take a shuttle to the Metro Green Line, then connect via train or bus. Not ideal if you’re jetlagged.
- Taxis: Still available, and pickup is now also from the LAX-it lot. More expensive, but no app required.
✈️ Final Word
LAX is a beast compared to our Aussie airports — but it’s also your gateway to the USA. Just allow extra time, stay calm in the chaos, and maybe download a terminal map before you land.
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