LAX (Los Angeles Airport) & United Airline Review

For my recent west coast America tour, covering major cities in California State and a little of Nevada and Arizona, I fly with United Airline. The good thing about UA is the flight is direct without any stopping from Singapore . Total hours is more than 17 hours. I bought the ticket about half a year before my departure during promotion sales, so I gotten a very good deal.

Lets look at the Lax Airport review then followed by United Airlines – Flight Review.

LAX Airport (Terminal 7) – Review

There are in total 9 terminals in a general U-shape in LAX Airport. Terminal 7 is for United Airlines only. Lower level is the arrivals and the upper level is for Departure.

If you are  using the rental car shuttle bus for departure home, do inform the rental car shuttle bus driver which terminals you would like him to drop you at.  Be prepared to stuck at traffic as LAX airport route is notorious for it traffic jam. My suggestion is to get to the airport at least an hour before the recommended minimum check in time. For international flights, usually the minimum check in time is 2-3 hours, you can check with the airline.

Self Check In

First do the self check in at the machines in front of the UA counter, then tag all your bags and queue for your turn for luggage check in at the counter.  With the auto check in machines, there is no queue at all when I do the check in.

Checking in with boarding pass

Once you have check in your luggage at the counter and gotten your boarding pass,  I would suggest you immediately go for the second check – security checks.  The security check in US is very strict, usual protocol include taking off boots, shoes, jackets, belts, watches.  Put the keys and mobile phone on the tray provided.  Computer and tablets also needed to take out from your hand carry bag and put them into the tray provided at the security checks.  The queue is quite long, I have a good wait of 40 minutes.  On very full flights and very busy days this alone could take more than an hour or more.  If your flight are leaving soon, do tell the airport staff and they may let you go first.

Facilities in LAX – Terminal 7

There are many eateries for you to choose from but they are not operating 24 hours.

Eatery

• Food Collection

• Wolfgang Puck Express

• The Counter – Custom Build Burgers

• Loteria – Mexican Grill

• Rolling Stone – Bar & Grill

Shopping 

• Hudson News -Mix of nationally recognized brands and quality local products sold here.

• Book Soup Book Store

• DFS – Duty Free

• Harley Davidson

• Hugo Boss & other Branded shop

• Electronics Devices Charging Staion

There are many spots to charge your portable electronic devices at the same time you can enjoy free Wi-Fi and stay connected while waiting for your flights.

At the wall

At the standing table

At the waiting chairs

• Fountain Water

If you have an empty bottles, you can refill water here.

United Club

• Currency Exchange

• Best Buy Express Kiosks 

Vending machines for travel products such as headphones or smartphone battery packs.

UA Flight – Review

This is a direct flight from LAX (Los Angeles) – SIN ( Singapore).  The nonstop flight at a distance of 14,000 km is the longest scheduled nonstop flight to or from US. The flight is Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. We departed from Singapore 11 am and arriving at Lax airport at 10.15 am the same day. The return flgiht is UA37 which depart Los Angeles (LAX) at 8.55 pm and arriving in Singapore at 6.50 am two days later.

Seats are comfortable, each seat come with a tv screen and blanket and small pillow. The seats arrangement is 3x3x3 in a row.

At some point, the air in the aircraft is very cold even if you turn off your air conditional above you.  So be prepared to bring along a warm jacket, socks and long comfy pants for this 17 hr 55 mins flight.

Final thoughts :

1.Traffic at LAX Airport Route

The traffic in LAX airport route is busy most of the time, so be prepared for the traffic and have ample time to reach the aiport.

2. Eateries in Airport

If you are checking in the LAX airport during usual hours, then you can dine at LAX airport after you have done your check in.  There are many eateries “inside the airport ” – ( after the second check in; the security checks) for you to choose from and the price is reasonable, similar to the price outside.  Do not eateries inside the airport do not operate 24 hours, if outside the working hours, please bring along some snacks.

3. Go an hour earlier of the minimum check in time

My tips to you is go an hour earlier before the recommended minimum check in time, lets say check in time is 2 hours ahead, then arrive at the airport at least 3 hours ahead.  The security checks can be very long and the wait is usually an hour for usual traffic.

4. United Airline Review – LAX <-> SIN

What I like about United Airline is nonstop flight which took about 18 hours.  Meals & snacks served several times,  enough to make you full but I won’t say is delicious, you know flight meal.  Bring along a warm jacket as it get really cold after the flight flying for more than 10 hours, you will feel it.

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