LAX lounge facilities for family of 5...?

[JoKe]

Hi AFF wisdomers...traveling late October to LA with the g'kids 11 & 9 for nearly 3 weeks of theme parks and other such nonsense. Renting a house in Anaheim but was not able to get late late checkout. So Last day will be super long with virgin flight not departing LAX till about 11pm. Thinking movies and very long lunch at this stage to fil up the day as we will have exhausted pretty much all the hot spots by then. We will have the hire car till 8pm. Is there a lounge area at LAX that i can pay for us to access for a few hours so we can all have a bit of comfort prior to the long flight home and maybe showrs etc instead of trawlling the streets of the city so to speak? My husband and i have paid in the past for lounge access in HK and Singapore and Frankfurt when we have had long airport waits when its been just us. Any tips most welcome. Thanks and happy travels. Jo

 

[opusman]

There used to be a paid lounge at TBIT (reLax) but it now seems to have closed.

Priority Pass would allow you access to the KAL lounge at TBIT; if you don't already have it you'd be looking at $US99 to join, and then $27 per person for the visit. Expensive for just a few hours.

Have you considered extending your house rental for one additional night? Failing that, finding a cheap motel near LAX would probably be the most cost effective solution.

 

[JoKe]

Thanks opusman. Cant extend rental as they have new people booking in later that day... I think finding a cheap hotel will probably be the way to go...i will continue my exploration. Want to avoid having 2 really tired and grumpy kiddies b4 boarding....cheers

 

[RooFlyer]

Can't think of any economical lounge options, sorry, but a couple of things for you to consider. Be aware that LAX TBIT is no longer the toilet it used to be. There is now a large, bright concourse with plenty of shops, restaurants, snackeries and comfortable chairs on the concourse where a group of people can sit in relative ease. I posted some pics here.

Some 'time wasting' options close (driving) to LAX: here.

LAX FAQs here.

I reckon a hotel room might be the go; although possibly more expensive than a paid lounge, gives a lot more flexibility than a lounge.

Some of the rental car lots are close (within a walkable block) of some of the airport hotels, so check out google maps to see if you can optimise car return (first) and then hotel, then get a airport shuttle from the hotel to the terminal.

 

[newmarket]

Have a look at the Travelodge LAX. They have day rates until 8pm for $89. It's old fashioned, but clean and has a nice pool for the kids.

The other option is the 24 hour rolling checkin at the Four Points LAX. Oh and the Hilton generally has an ok rate for a day room but only until 6pm.

They all have shuttles to the airport.

 

[robd]

Last time, Jnr & I took the day rate at the Hilton (extended to 7pm). The room had a view of the planes coming and going. Jnr had a swim in the pool, we had some food at Dennys, a couple of drinks in the Exec. Lounge, shower, then got the shuttle to the airport.

I didn't know Four Points had a rolling checkout. I'd probably go there instead so that you could stay as close to possible to departure time rather than having another 4 or so hours hanging around at the airport.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Have a look at the Travelodge LAX. They have day rates until 8pm for $89. It's old fashioned, but clean and has a nice pool for the kids.

The other option is the 24 hour rolling checkin at the Four Points LAX. Oh and the Hilton generally has an ok rate for a day room but only until 6pm.

They all have shuttles to the airport.

Last time, Jnr & I took the day rate at the Hilton (extended to 7pm). The room had a view of the planes coming and going. Jnr had a swim in the pool, we had some food at Dennys, a couple of drinks in the Exec. Lounge, shower, then got the shuttle to the airport.

I didn't know Four Points had a rolling checkout. I'd probably go there instead so that you could stay as close to possible to departure time rather than having another 4 or so hours hanging around at the airport.

With the Sheraton Four Poiints you need to book a rate of at least USD119.00 and request the 24/24 rate giving at least 48 notice prior to arrival. We stayed there overnight after an everning flight LAS/LAX so checked in about 2100 then checked out the same time the next night.

Not sure if VA has an eairly checkin window like QF does. If they do you could head over to the airport when checkin opens to drop off bags and get boarding passes then head back to the hotel for a snooze, swim or whatever then when you're ready to head off to the airport you can just arrive and head directly through security to your boarding gate.

Have you pre allocated seats together on the VA flights to/from LAX?

 

[newmarket]

With the Sheraton Four Poiints you need to book a rate of at least USD119.00

Unfortunately it is a lot more expensive than it used to be. The minimum rate is now about US$190.

Right now for a family the best value is probably the Travelodge. For a day rate anyway.

The four points is too expensive (although my personal perference, and may be worth it if you check in late the night before), the Hilton is fine but they nickel and dime on everything and it is so big that there isn't always room on the shuttle; which I have seen to be a real problem in the early morning.

For kids the pools in the four points and travelodge are better than the hilton too.

Actually, I find business travel costs in the US rapidly increasing. The cost of a strengthing economy vs a weakening one.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I saw a rate at Four Points LAX for 07 Nov (Sat night) when I did a search a couple of weeks ago for USD119.00. Wonder if mud-week is more expensive?

Did you mean USD190.00 was the 'cheapest' rate full stop or cheapest for a 24 hour stay?

 

[newmarket]

They have cheaper rates, but you have to pay a minimum of US$189 to get the 24 rolling checkin.

The 24 rolling checkin means that you can book an arrival at say 8 am and leave the following 8am. Which is great for arriving from Australia.

I usually aim to organise some work in LA the day before my return so I will check in around 7 or 8 and I will have the room until 8pm.

 

[JoKe]

Thanks so much everyone for some fab ideas and advice re the last long day in LA. And LAX does look much better than i recall from the various trips transiting a few years ago RooFlyer...thanks for the link to the pics....Husband and i have been back to Europe the last few years and this is the first trip to the states since 2011 when we drove the midwest. And the first lousy USD exchange rates too. Glad all the major things are paid for and it is just spending money.... thanks again everyone. Cheers jo