Last-Minute LAX Tips To Make Your Holiday Travel Less Stressful

If you’re passing through LAX this week, there are about 200,000 people a day making the same plans as you.

That means you and everyone else are all going through the same lines, collectively getting into mayhem, but it’s stressful. (See the LAX guide for details).

Is it possible to avoid the infinite queue?

The security line is the worst place in the airport because it’s long. If you’re lucky, you can use TSA PreCheck or Global Entry in advance. But the deadline for newbies passed a while ago. Still, all is not lost. He has two options to get to the gate early.

If you’re flying through Terminals 1, 7, or 8, you can use our new pilot program, LAX Fast Lane. You can book a specific time through TSA for free. Visit the following checkpoints for walk-ups and reservations.

• 4am to 12pm at the TSA checkpoint in Terminal 1
• At the TSA checkpoint in Terminal 7 from 5am to 1pm

Please remember that this is a pilot program. If you want to extend this to other terminals, use it.

There is also a paid option CLEAR Plus. With a price tag of $189 per year, Eyes and Fingerprints are your expensive priority pass to the front lines of security. Once your identity is verified, head straight to the scanner. CLEAR has kiosks at all terminals except Terminal 8. You can use it immediately after joining, and family members under the age of 18 can accompany you for free.

Another headache, what about luggage?

Baggage is like Schrödinger’s cat in air travel. Will your checked baggage make it to its destination, or will it get lost in the ether for weeks?

Unless you have an AirTag-like luggage tracker attached, it’s been an open question for some time. But according to airport spokesperson Heath Montgomery, LAX’s new baggage handling system now tracks every movement of bags with radio tags.

“When the airport picks up your bag, we know exactly where it is,” Montgomery said. I can.”

Wireless tags can solve one of the most annoying parts of travel. Especially if you have holiday gifts to protect.

Another cool new feature: early bag checks. According to Montgomery, the new system will allow airline baggage to be ready up to 24 hours in advance. He calls it a game changer. Because you can unload your luggage and go for matcha tea or see the beach one more time before take off.

Of course, it’s up to you whether two trips to LAX are worth it.