LAX Arrival Guide: How to Get from the Airport to the City
Welcome to Los Angeles! You’ve landed at LAX — now what? Here’s your cheat sheet to every smart way to get out of the airport and into the city.
🚖 1. Ride-Share Services (Uber, Lyft, Alto)
✅ Best For: Most travelers
💵 Cost: $30–$60 depending on traffic and destination
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Where to catch it:
Take the free LAX-it shuttle from your terminal to the designated ride-share pickup area (about 5–10 min ride). -
Apps needed: Uber / Lyft / Alto (Alto is more premium & requires pre-booking)
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Tips:
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Prices surge during rush hour (especially 3–7pm).
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You can select “Uber Pool” or “Lyft Shared” for cheaper rides, though less common post-COVID.
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🚕 2. Official Taxis (Yellow Cab, etc.)
✅ Best For: Travelers who don’t want to deal with apps
💵 Cost: Flat rate ~$50–$70 to downtown LA
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Where to catch it: Same as ride-share – take the LAX-it shuttle, then follow signs to the taxi stand.
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Pros: No phone needed, regulated pricing.
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Cons: Slightly more expensive than Uber/Lyft. May wait longer in line.
🚗 3. Rental Cars (if you’re brave)
✅ Best For: Explorers & road-trippers
💵 Cost: $40–$120/day (plus insurance and gas)
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Where: Major rental companies (Enterprise, Hertz, Alamo, etc.) operate off-site.
Take a dedicated rental car shuttle from the terminal. -
Driving in LA:
Fun fact — traffic is technically classified as a sport here. Only rent if you’re planning to visit places outside the city.
🚐 4. Shared Vans / Shuttles
✅ Best For: Budget-conscious solo travelers
💵 Cost: $20–$35 per person
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Companies:
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SuperShuttle Express (shared)
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Prime Time Shuttle (shared or private)
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Where: You’ll get pickup instructions upon booking; some operate from LAX-it, some directly from terminal curbs.
🚉 5. Public Transportation (Metro + Bus)
✅ Best For: Budget travelers with light luggage
💵 Cost: $1.75–$9
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Step 1: Take the “LAX FlyAway Bus” to Union Station (Downtown LA) – $9.75
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Direct, fast, and comfy.
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Departs every ~30 min.
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Step 2 (optional): From Union Station, take the Metro Red/Purple Line to other neighborhoods.
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Alternative:
You can also take a free shuttle to the Aviation/LAX Metro Station and hop on the Metro C Line (Green Line).
(Warning: not great if you’re jetlagged or carrying three suitcases and a surfboard.)
👨✈️ 6. Private Drivers (Pre-Booked Car Services)
✅ Best For: VIP vibe, families, business trips
💵 Cost: $70–$150 depending on service
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Recommended apps/services:
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Blacklane, Welcome Pickups, ExecuCar
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Pros: Meet-and-greet service, help with luggage, child seat options.
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Book in advance – they track your flight and wait if it’s delayed.
🧠 Pro Tips:
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Download apps before landing – cell service inside LAX can be unreliable.
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Avoid peak hours if possible (3–7pm weekdays is traffic hell).
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Going far? Consider taking the FlyAway Bus to Union Station and continuing from there — it avoids freeway madness.
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Tipping: Standard tip is 15–20% for drivers in the US.
💼 Best Overall Option?
| Traveler Type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Solo, budget-conscious | FlyAway Bus + Metro |
| Couple or friends | Uber or Lyft from LAX-it |
| Family with kids | Pre-booked private car with car seat |
| First time in LA | Taxi (easy, regulated) |
| Planning to drive a lot | Rent a car |
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The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), though never dominant in New York, offered a radically different syndicalist form: the One Big Union. Rejecting both electoral politics and the vanguard party, its structure was decentralized and its theory posited that workers themselves, organized at the point of production, could through direct action (strikes, sabotage) paralyze capitalism and eventually administer the economy. Its form was horizontal, prioritizing the sovereignty of the rank-and-file worker. While it inspired tremendous militancy, particularly among the most marginalized, unskilled workers, its aversion to building lasting institutions and engaging with political power left it vulnerable to state repression and unable to contest for long-term governance of the city. http://mamdanipost.com
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