<p>D is traveling to China through LAX and has about a six-hour lay-over. I am wondering whether I should purchase a one-day pass for her for the Delta Sky Club.</p>
<p>Any thoughts?</p>
<p>If the money is not a big deal, the Club would be a whole lot more comfortable. She would also be able to easily access electrical outlets if she wanted to ‘plug in’.</p>
<p>If your layover is mid-morning to late-afternoon, you might consider renting a car and driving up to Venice Beach for a couple hours.</p>
<p>I just did a little more reading on the Delta website, and the Sky Miles Club has an open bar so only people 21 and over are allowed–which rules 20-year-old D out.</p>
<p>Her layover is in the evening, until almost midnight. Getting to China from our midwest airport is really a challenge. She has only one connection, but the long lay-over.</p>
<p>I might look into United’s club. She is not actually flying United this trip but from looking at Delta’s site, it seems that if you pay the fee for the one-day pass, it doesn’t matter what airline you are flying. Or am I missing something?</p>
<p>When we recently flew internationally, younhad to actually be flying ON the airline for the lounge you were using. They actually ask you to show your boarding pass as part of gaining access to the lounge. But it’s worth asking.</p>
<p>LAX has several terminals. If you want your D to use another airline’s Club, make sure she has access to that Club.</p>
<p>I agree with NewHope.</p>
<p><a href=“http://discoverlosangeles.com/getting-around/air/things-to-do-near-lax-los-angeles-airport.html[/url]”>http://discoverlosangeles.com/getting-around/air/things-to-do-near-lax-los-angeles-airport.html</a></p>
<p>Having a 20 year old rent a car will cost a fortune. There is a huge surcharge for those under 24.</p>
<p>Take a taxi. A whole lot cheaper and more relaxing. Time to take out, find parking space, and return the car could take a long time.</p>
<p>Sorry for the piecemeal approach here–I am grading papers and as a reward for every twenty minutes of grading, I think about this travel question . . . </p>
<p>Looking at the LAX website, it seems that D’s flight out will leave from the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) (her flight into LAX is on Delta, and on China Southern from LAX to China). It also looks like there are several different clubs/lounges . . . SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and something called reLAX lounge . . .</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.lawa.org/uploadedFiles/LAX/pdf/T1.pdf[/url]”>http://www.lawa.org/uploadedFiles/LAX/pdf/T1.pdf</a></p>
<p>Delta is in terminal 5. She can walk to TBIT but it’s a little bit long walk.</p>
<p>My husband is a gold star alliance frequent flyer. On a recent trip, one leg of our flight was NOT with star alliance partners. We could NOT use the star alliance lounge…not even by paying. It was reserved for folks flying on star alliance airlines. </p>
<p>You need to check the policy of the lounges with regard to using them if you are NOT flying with that airline.</p>
<p>You can have her use the Alaska Airlines boardroom, in a different terminal, but it closes at 10pm, I believe. The only thing, is at LAX, the Alaska Airlines Boardroom always looks closed to me, but it’s not! Just walk up to the door and follow the directions written, I think you push a button and they ring you in. It’s not a bad deal, free internet, comfortable, food and drink. LAX is one of the five boardrooms you can buy a daypass for. Her age and who she’s flying with isn’t a problem for this pass. Here are the rules for a daypass:</p>
<p>"Here are policies and house rules for Alaska Airlines Board Rooms.</p>
<p>Day Pass Policy</p>
<p>For only $45 per person you can visit any one of our five Board Room locations. Purchase a One-Day pass online today</p>
<pre><code>Individuals must be at least 18 years of age (unless accompanied by an adult) to purchase a One Day Pass.
No guests are permitted with a Day Pass.
A One-Day Pass is valid for use at any one of the five Alaska Airlines Club locations.
A One-Day Pass is valid for one year from the date of purchase.
A One-Day Pass must be used in conjunction with same-day ticketed air travel, but such travel may be on any airline.
The use of a One Day Pass may be inhibited during unspecified periods due to irregular operating conditions."
</code></pre>
<p>Considering your Ds time in and out of LAX would you consider renting her a hotel room nearby where she could get a nap, shower, change and eat before that super long flight to China?</p>
<p>The Alaska Airlines Boardroom is also brand new as Alaska switched terminals a couple of months ago. It has a Pacific Northwest motif and a staffed bar, so it is 18+. Along with assorted snacks, there will also be salad, possibly soup, and if she was there in the morning, a very cool pancake machine. Alaska now operates in Terminal 6, while Delta operates in Terminals 5 and 6, both of which are connected via a tunnel.</p>
<p>I’m surprised others did not suggest this, but many people schedule long connections at LAX specifically to eat at In-N-Out Burger, which is easily accessed by taking a certain Parking Spot (off-airport parking lot) shuttle. Remember to tip the driver and when you arrive at the parking garage, walk through the doorway marked In-N-Out. Upon leaving, one can take the Parking Sport Shuttle, walk back all the way, or walk about half a mile to one of LAX’s remote lots, Lot C IIRC, and take the LAX airport parking shuttle from there.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the suggestions. I think Alaska Airlines’ club is a good possibility.</p>
<p>All of the out-of-the-terminal suggestions scare me a little because they involve relying on transportation and also coming back through security . . . D is an experienced traveler but I could see her misjudging how long it would take to get back to the airport or how long it would take to get back through security . . . But I could be convinced, especially about the hotel room. The flight to China is 15+ hours!</p>
<p>Unless she arrives really early, there is not enough time to go off campus; unless one knows the area, it just ain’t practical. The Bradley Terminal can be really congested-- literally, a mass of humanity. Since she is changing airlines, she’ll want to mosey over at least 90 minutes prior to flight time. </p>
<p>But she is also changing terminals from #5 (Delta) to Bradley, which means a nice, long walk, or the free LAX shuttle bus which runs continuous loops (if she has a lot of carry-ons).</p>
<p>Best suggestion is to check the Partner Clubs in the Bradley Terminal to see if she can purchase a day pass and hang out there – on the other side of security.</p>
<p>She’s young. She’ll survive. </p>
<p>My daughter’s group traveled continuously from Buenos Aires to Miami to Chicago O’Hare to Beijing (where my daughter had to deal with a lost bag). They survived.</p>
<p>The airline clubs are nice, but they don’t really change the dynamic of a layover. You read, you eat, you walk around, watch a movie, you listen to music.</p>
<p>For heavens’ sake. For six hours, she can wander around LAX and read a book in the terminal. Boredom and uncomfortable seats are not the end of the world.</p>
<p>“Boredom and uncomfortable seats are not the end of the world.”</p>
<p>True, but why be bored and uncomfortable for the six hours before you even get on the flight? It’s painful enough to fly that distance from LAX to China, you may as well make the rest of the experience as painless as possible. At least you can store your bags, have a comfortable place to hang out, with free food and internet.</p>
<p>I spend my life traveling on business, and I have been able to turn the flight legs from boring and unpleasant, to rather pleasant and something I (almost) look forward to.</p>