For decades, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) was one of the most dreaded entry points in the USA. No one I’ve spoken to likes flying into L.A., and at its best, the furiously busy airport is a functional failure. At its worst, it’s a nightmare.
But things have finally changed in 2024, the first full year of operation for the $2.3 billion Delta Sky Way at LAX, which was first announced in 2018 and revealed in 2023. This effectively consolidates Terminals 2 and 3 into one large terminal, modernising every inch of the design and giving LAX something Angelenos can be proud of.
When it was announced that Delta Air Lines would be relocating to Terminals 2 and 3 out of its original home of Terminals 5 and 6, frequent flyers the world over started paying close attention. The unprecedented investment promised to completely transform the airport experience for locals and visitors to L.A., coming off the back of one of the largest terminal moves in the history of commercial aviation.
Evidently, it was necessary.
Delta Air Lines promised to make LAX a world-class airport with seamless connections, a consolidated check-in process and a simple design that’s a breeze from security to gate. Having flown through LAX several times over the past year, including stints in all three tiers – Delta One (ie, Business), Delta Premium Selection, Economy – I can confidently say they’ve succeeded. Possibly even excelled.
LAX has gone from being one of the worst ports to fly into, to one of the best. Never thought you’d see the day, right?
You’d have hoped so as well. Aside from the massive investment, the world’s busiest airports are thinking of ways that they can modernise and transform the travel experience, addressing the smaller frustrations and holding the entire process taut. It confers numerous benefits – not just functional ones.
For starters, airports are known as the most stressful part of travel. And stressing before a flight is never a good thing, especially for health.
But it also effects the service you get. The more relaxed people are, the better the service is. This is especially valuable in the security line, where you’d usually encounter the rudest and most confrontational staff in the country.
The rarified air of an LAX like this means better service, less stress, and more relaxing. Well, as long as you’ve arrived at a reasonable time.
Why was this change necessary?
There are around 69 airlines that fly in and out of LAX every day, and Delta Air Lines operates around 140 daily services. That’s the most out of any airline at LAX so far, so having an entire terminal for themselves makes sense. It also frees up space in the other terminals, sharing the benefit and making the airport work better overall.
That said, I did fly in and out of the other terminals in the past year as well. And while it’s nowhere near as bad as it used to be, I’d much rather the relative peace and quiet of Delta Sky Way. Any day.
Features of Terminal 2 and 3
T3 is now the Changi of LAX. While it might not have Singapore’s over-the-top futurist design, the simplicity and modern facilities make this one of the most beautiful airports in North America.
Yes, beautiful and LAX can now go in the same sentence.
None of these spaces are as a frenetic and overcrowded as you’d expect. There are 32 self-serve check-in kiosks, 46 check-in desks, 6 baggage claim carousels, and 14 security lanes. This includes lines for pre-clearance, so there’s a healthy spread of people in each queue. The lines move fast. Something I’m not used to in the USA at all.
It’s also made connection between terminals much smoother, so anyone with a connection can shave significant time of their transfer by using the Delta Sky Way’s airside walkways between the new terminal and Tom Bradley International Terminal.
It’s even better for Delta One passengers
I flew Delta One to the US last year, which was my first time experiencing the new terminal as well as Delta’s top-tier offering at the airport. This includes a completely separate Delta One check-in area and a private TSA screening lane, accessible via street level on the lower arrivals level of Delta Sky Way.
You pass door staff, grab a glass of Champagne and maybe a few bites, head on through your own security lane, and enter directly into the massive Delta Sky Club.
And as one of the most impressive airport lounges I’ve seen to date, the offering really packs in the value – it makes a world of difference.
The reimagined Delta Sky Club is now a whopping 2,787 square metres with a great range of lounges, booths, working pods, nooks, crannies, stools, and just about every type of seating you can think of. The best: the lounges out on the open-air Sky Deck, which has a retractable roof and offers complete views of the tarmac, backed by an extensive and well-stocked bar.
My favourite feature is the eight oversized shower suites, tied together by a neat virtual queuing system. Each suite has two large spaces, so you aren’t feeling cramped when you want to refresh. You also get a slick amenity kit.
The one thing I don’t like
There’s only one thing I’m not sure I like about Delta Sky Way. And that’s the oddly places stairs that lead down from the exit to the baggage carousels. They also lead up; so after you collect your bag, the fastest way to the exit is to drag your luggage up the stairs. There’s a ramp, but the entrance is a bit far from a lot of the carousel.
A nit-picking issue, of course, but when you’re in a rush like I was, quick access to a ramp would shave precious seconds. And those do count, seeing as when you arrive at LAX you need to take a Shuttle to the ride-share pickup area.
I actually look forward to flying into LAX now. Well, with Delta anyway. The easy, intelligent design is simple and easy to navigate, which is at complete odds with the LAX I’ve known for years.
The author flew from L.A. to New York as a guest of Delta Air Lines.
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