Connecting at LAX: which terminals connect inside security, customs and how much time you need

One hour at LAX can work if both flights are on one ticket and you stay inside security, but it depends on the terminals. Since 2023 you can walk airside from Terminal 1 through Terminals 2 and 3 to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B) and on to Terminal 4. Terminals 6, 7 and 8 are linked to each other, but while Terminal 5 is closed for rebuilding, the airport's own map shows no airside path between Terminal 4 and Terminal 6. Crossing that gap, or arriving from another country, means going through security again, and an hour is tight. The airport doesn't publish a minimum connection time.

Is 1 hour enough at LAX?

LAX doesn't set a minimum. Its FAQ says the time between terminals depends on which terminals you use and the time of day, and points you to your airline. A rough guide from what the airport does publish:

• Same terminal, or a neighbor on the same airside path: one hour is usually workable if the first flight lands on time.
• End to end: the airside path from Terminal 1 to Terminal 8 is about 2 miles. That's a long walk with a carry-on.
• Leaving security: add the shuttle wait (the airport gives a bus every 10 to 15 minutes), the ride, and a TSA line. One hour is risky.
• Arriving from abroad: customs, bag recheck and TSA screening come first. One hour is rarely enough.

If both flights are on one ticket, the airline sold you a connection that meets its own minimum for LAX and has to rebook you if you miss it. On separate tickets, nobody checks the timing. Read is a 1-hour layover enough?

Are the LAX terminals connected? Can you walk between them?

Mostly, yes. In the airport's words, most terminals are connected post-security, and a boarding pass for the day lets you use any checkpoint. Here is how the pairs work today, based on the airport's pedestrian map revised in December 2025:

Terminal 5 (gates 50 to 59) is closed, so no flights use it until it reopens.

Changing terminals outside security

• The free "A" shuttle (Airline Connections) stops at the islands on the Lower/Arrivals Level in front of each terminal. The airport's FAQ pages give a bus every 10 to 15 minutes, and during construction it warns of detours and longer shuttle times.
• Walking outside around the Central Terminal Area is possible, but check the terminal map first so you know how far you're going.
• TSA screening again: liquids follow the 3-1-1 rule. Pack anything you bought at your first airport in a checked bag if you can.
• Ask your airline about an airside bus before you leave security on a connection between Terminal 4 and Terminals 6 to 8.

Arriving from another country (international to domestic)

Most international airlines use the Tom Bradley International Terminal, and American's international arrivals land there too. CBP's touchless arrival process runs at Terminal B and at Terminal 7. Wherever you land, the steps are the same:

1. Passport control with US Customs and Border Protection.
2. Collect your checked bags, even if they're tagged to your final destination. CBP says a bag you don't pick up won't reach it.
3. Customs, then recheck your bags with your airline.
4. TSA security again before your next flight. Duty-free liquids over 3.4 oz can go through in a sealed, tamper-evident bag with the receipt.

From Terminal B you can then walk airside to Terminals 1 to 4. For Terminals 6 to 8, see the table above. Two exceptions: on American's daily flight from Sydney, a CBP pilot that started April 9, 2025 lets connecting passengers skip the bag recheck unless CBP picks the bag for inspection, and flights precleared abroad arrive as domestic flights. Read international to domestic connections.

Domestic to international

International flights mostly leave from Terminal B and the West Gates. Arriving at Terminals 1 to 4 on a domestic flight, you can walk there inside security. Arriving at Terminals 6, 7 or 8, the current map shows no airside path to Terminal B, so plan for the shuttle or a walk outside and a second TSA check, unless your airline tells you otherwise.

What's changing in 2026 to 2028

• Terminal 5 is closed for rebuilding and the airport expects it to reopen in 2028. The project includes a new post-security connection between Terminals 4 and 5.
• Terminal 4 is being rebuilt with a new south concourse and a bus gate for domestic and international flights. The final steel beam went up in May 2026. The airport ties this work to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• The airport train (Automated People Mover) hasn't opened to passengers yet. It runs outside security, linking the terminals to Metro and the rental car center, so it won't help an airside connection.

Gates and walking routes change during construction, so check your gate and the airport's map on the day.

Customs wait times

From October 2025 to September 2026, passengers arriving from abroad at LAX waited 21 minutes on average to clear passport control, according to CBP: 13 minutes for US citizens and 30 minutes for visitors. 4.6% waited more than an hour. The slowest arrival hour was 9 a.m.–10 a.m., averaging 26 minutes. These times don't include collecting bags or walking to your next gate. See US customs wait times by airport.

On-time record

From September 2025 to August 2026, 78.6% of scheduled arrivals at Los Angeles (LAX) reached the gate on time, rank 6 of the 30 busiest US airports. 78.6% of departures left on time and 1.0% of departures were canceled. The largest share of delay minutes came from airline issues such as crew, maintenance or baggage. See the full US airport on-time ranking.

Follow the first flight

Add both flights to FlyingOver before you travel. You'll follow the first flight offline and see its estimated arrival, and with Premium, connection guidance shows whether your layover looks comfortable, whether you need to keep moving or whether you should go directly to the gate.