This is a tough 5 star for me. My tattoo equipment cost $500 to ship through fed ex $460 from UPS. and $230 from the airline. However they destroyed the tool box and it's contents. Soo maybe pay the $460 next time.
We flew from Sydney Australia to Cleveland, Ohio with connecting flights in Los Angeles and Dallas. In Australia, they were only able to check-in our luggage to LA, despite our final destination being Cleveland. Upon landing in LA, we were told that the check-in machine was not working and that we had to walk to terminal 4 (we were in terminal 1). We had to carry our already checked baggages from one terminal to another. After that, we had to walk back to terminal 1 to get to our flight to Dallas, as well as go through TSA again. We would have missed our connection if we had a shorter layover. Most of all, we found it unacceptable that we had to walk with our heavy suitcases outside to the next terminal, only to have to go back to the terminal we came from for our next flight. Lastly, we traveled in a family of four, and for 2 of the 3 flights our seats were scattered across the plane which is also in my opinion a malicious practice.
FLY ANY OTHER AIRLINE BESIDE AMERICAN! Horrible staff wanted to check in our bags at the gate cause there were to large, even when they fit perfectly in the size checker. Didn’t listen to me at all and gave me such a hard time. They were yelling at me the entire time! They need to hire better workers, ones that are willing to listen to the customers. THANK YOU AMERICAN AIR AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.
A cozy terminal in LAX. A variety of little shops abutt the 50 something gates in this centrally located area. The floors are relatively clean and the bathrooms well stocked.
Biggest issue with terminal 5 is gate 52. Gate 52 is comprised of gates "a" thru "i", and only gates a and b are actually in terminal 5. The other letters will require you to board a bus (the exit to this bus is next to 52a) to be transported to another building.
If you read my review of terminal 2, then just know that this is a somewhat larger main hall with more side areas where you can escape the crowds. I still wouldn't recommend flying thru LAX unless you have no other choice as it is overcrowded and overpriced. Nothing a strong cologne and a bologna sandwich can't cure though
Note that they do not accept cash to pay for checked in luggage. You have to find a cash to card machine and make sure you have small bills as it does not dispense change. Unfortunately for me, the machine near my check in counter was broken so I had to find another one. I had to drag my luggage across the terminal only to realize that I don’t have a smaller bill to give. Had to go back down to find a shop to buy from so I could get change as I only needed 30 dollars for luggage check in and an extra 6 dollars to pay for the readycard. Smoking area also outside the baggage claim in the ground floor!