It’s not Changi, but this notorious US airport has improved immensely

The airport

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Terminal 3

LAX’s revamped Terminal 3 is clean, modern and efficient.

The flight

Delta Air Lines flight DL562 to New York (JFK).

The arrival

As the crow flies, LAX is located 19 kilometres south-west of downtown LA. As the car crawls, it can take anywhere from 25 minutes to three days thanks to the city’s often-constipated traffic. Other options include the FlyAway bus service that runs every 30 minutes from Union Station ($US9.75/$14.61) or, if you’re feeling intrepid, a multi-change journey on LA’s metro rail system followed by a free shuttle bus ($US1.75).

The look

In 2023, Delta unveiled the final instalment of its $US2.3 billion ($3.3 billion) Delta Sky Way project, a gargantuan, years-long undertaking that saw the airline move its operations to Terminals 2 and 3. Terminal 3 underwent a major refresh and both terminals are now accessed via a swish new consolidated check-in and security area. You won’t find Changi-style gardens or waterfalls, but it’s clean, modern and efficient.

Check-in

Kiosks aplenty – but you may still find a queue.

The check-in hub has an impressive array of self-service kiosks, check-in desks and bag drop machines. However, when I arrive, there’s still a long, snaking queue of people. Helpfully, a staff member directs me upstairs to a smaller check-in area where there’s no line. If you’re lucky enough to be flying Delta One’s all-suite business class, you can use a dedicated check-in area with a private Transport Security Administration (TSA) screening lane, direct lounge access and assistance from Delta’s Elite Service agents (the SAS of check-in staff).

Security

A total of 14 TSA lanes means that the process is comparatively rapid by US standards, although you’ll still need to perform the usual laptop, liquids and shoe-shedding shenanigans. The final stage of the Sky Way project unveiled an airside connection tunnel between Terminal 3 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). This works brilliantly if you’re flying into Terminal 3 and out of TBIT (which Qantas flies from). Unfortunately, you can’t access it when flying into TBIT and out of Terminal 3, so you’ll still need to change terminals and clear security.

Lounge

Delta’s Sky Club, in LAX Terminal 3.

The Delta Sky Club lounge has been renovated and is now one of LAX’s finest – a sprawling space with copious seating, life-changing showers, a wide range of food and a fancy indoor/outdoor bar and terrace.

Food + Drink

For a relatively compact terminal, there’s a surprisingly good selection of eateries, including upscale sushi restaurant Yakumi, sandwich specialist Fat Sal’s and Southern soul food joint Chicken and Beer. For liquid sustenance, there’s a bar inside Native, a restaurant by LA television chef Nyesha Arrington, decent flat whites at Alfred Coffee and smoothies from Jamba. Amazingly, there’s no Starbucks, but one is imminent.

Retail therapy

In addition to the usual airport suspects (an InMotion electronics outlet and several outposts of the ubiquitous Hudson newsagent), there are some pleasant surprises such as A/K Boulevard, which has a good range of LA-branded gear, and Evolve by Hudson, a travel accessory store that showcases products made by local artisans.

Passing time

If you’re flying business, or otherwise have access, you won’t want to leave the Delta Sky Club. If you’re an avid gamer, check out Gameway, a premium video game lounge that has a retro console bar and several immersive 4K gaming stations offering 270 games. For the rest of us, there’s fast, free Wi-Fi and plenty of seating with plug points.

The verdict

A significant upgrade that’s addressed many of the pain points that so often makes flying domestically in the US such a gruelling experience.

Our rating out of five

★★★★

The writer travelled as a guest of Delta Air Lines (delta.com) and Los Angeles Tourism (discoverlosangeles.com).