Last checked: August 5, 2026
You can now walk between every LAX terminal without leaving the secure area, provided you are already through security and the connecting passage is open. LAX completed post-security pedestrian connections across the terminal complex in 2023.
Outside security, passengers can walk along the terminal loop or use the free Terminal Connector shuttle. The right choice depends on your terminals, luggage, mobility, and connection time.
Option 1: Walk between terminals after security
Post-security walkways connect Terminals 1 through 8 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B). This can save time because you normally do not need to clear TSA again simply to reach another connected terminal.
The full route from Terminal 1 to Terminal 8 is roughly two miles. Adjacent-terminal walks are much shorter, but gate location matters. Allow more time than a map suggests if you are carrying luggage, traveling with children, or moving between distant concourses.
Option 2: Use the Terminal Connector shuttle
LAX operates a free terminal-to-terminal connector on the lower/arrivals level. Look for the blue LAX Shuttle & Airline Connections signs and verify that the bus is marked for terminal connections. The service operates 24/7, but traffic in the central terminal area can make walking faster for nearby terminals.
Because the bus is outside security, you may need to clear TSA again at the destination terminal. Ask your airline before exiting the secure area during a tight connection.
Which route should you choose?
- Adjacent terminals and light luggage: walking is often straightforward.
- A post-security connection: stay airside when possible to avoid another checkpoint.
- Mobility concerns or heavy bags: ask your airline about assistance; do not assume the full walk will be comfortable.
- A long cross-airport transfer: compare the airside walking route with the terminal shuttle and ask airline staff if time is tight.
Do you have to go through security again?
Usually not when you remain inside the post-security terminal network and already have a valid boarding pass. You may need additional screening after an international arrival, when instructed by Customs and Border Protection or your airline, or when you exit to the public side of the terminal.
How much connection time should you allow?
There is no universal minimum. Domestic-to-domestic travel with checked bags transferred by the airline is different from an international arrival that requires immigration, baggage claim, customs, and re-checking luggage. Use the connection offered by your airline as a starting point, then consider:
- distance between gates, not just terminal numbers;
- whether your bags are checked through;
- passport control and customs;
- mobility or family needs;
- the risk of a late arriving flight.
What about the LAX People Mover?
SkyLink is designed to move passengers between terminal stations and facilities outside the terminal area. As of August 5, 2026, it is not open to passengers and LAWA has not posted a confirmed public opening date. Continue to use today’s walking routes and shuttles until LAX announces otherwise.
See the official LAX inter-terminal guide and our SkyLink status guide before a trip.
Starting at off-airport parking?
Tell your shuttle driver the airline and terminal shown in your current reservation. Once inside LAX, recheck the gate in the airline app before heading to security.