Transfers from/to Los Angeles

After getting off the plane and having experienced a long journey, you will probably want to get to your destination as soon as possible. For this, you will have several transfer options available : shared or private cars, the city subway, FlyAway bus, cab service and Uber.

All of them are options that will guarantee you a safe trip so you can start having fun discovering the best things to do in Los Angeles during your stay.

The shared shut tle is a service that allows you to go from the Los Angeles airport to the city center. It is a direct route without stops or transfers, which gives you comfort at a reasonable price.

The shared transfer option by bus or minibus is often used by tourists traveling in groups of more than four people, as it allows them to travel together. Likewise, there are many individuals traveling alone who also opt for this service.

With this type of transfer you can be sure that, after getting off the plane and picking up your bags, a driver will be waiting for you in the loading area located at the inner edge of the arrivals area.

You will be able to identify him quickly, as he will be holding a sign with your name on it. All you have to do is approach him and show him your ID and he will guide you to the bus or minibus.

It is important that you take into account all the benefits that you will have if you hire the shared shuttle system from the Los Angeles airport:

• Comfort: when you get on the shared buses or minibuses you will be able to relax in a cushioned and reclining seat. In addition, you will have air conditioning, WiFi and outlets for your cell phone during the transfer.
• Reasonable price: you will pay a little less in relation to the price established for the private service, which will allow you to save considerably on your budget.
• Availability: no matter what time you arrive at the airport (midnight or dawn), this service is available 24 hours a day.
• Reliability: the drivers are certified and responsible regarding pick-up times.

Interesting details

• Trip duration: 30 minutes (Approx.)
• Price: starting at $90 or 80 euros.
• Advantages of using this method: you will not have to worry about wasting time waiting for the driver after getting off the plane, as they will be in the loading area minutes before the flight lands.
• How to book this transportation: The booking process is usually simple. You just have to connect with one of the companies in charge of this service and register on their website the arrival time of your flight. In addition, you will have to provide some personal information.
• Recommended if... you do not mind sharing the transfer from Los Angeles airport with other people.

A good option to transfer from Los Angeles airport is private transportation. This is a service that gives you comfort and exclusivity at all times.

So, you can sit in the car seat alone or with your travel companions and rest while the driver goes to your destination, without having to share the route with strangers.

Another important aspect is that you will not deal with luggage or waste time while walking from an established point of arrival, in search of the address of the hotel.

This is possible thanks to the fact that the private transfer provides a door-to-door service, that is, it takes you to the place where you will be staying. This way, you can immediately start enjoying the activities planned in your itinerary: tours and excursions from Los Angeles, visit the best museums or take a tour of Hollywood, among others.

Remember that when you get off the plane at the arrival hall of the airport, a uniformed driver will be waiting for you with a sign in his hands with your name on it. Therefore, you must go to that place, contact the driver and show him your identification. He will then escort you to your assigned car.

Private transfer vs. shared transfer

Both the private transfer and the shared transfer are good options to go from Los Angeles Airport, since they provide a comfortable, safe and reliable service.

In addition, both alternatives offer a journey time of approximately 39 minutes, since they do not make stops. Of course, this time will depend on the traffic, which is usually longer if you visit the city in summer or high season.

However, there are some differences between private and shared transfers, which you should know and analyze beforehand:

• Exclusivity: when you opt for the private transfer you will enjoy the exclusivity of moving alone or together with your travel companions (groups of up to seven people). On the other hand, with the shared service you will have to board a bus or minibus with strangers (approximately 20 people).
• Arrival: the private service is door-to-door, i.e. the driver will drop you off directly at the hotel entrance. On the contrary, the shared shuttle will drop you and all the passengers at a pre-established arrival point during the booking, so you will have to deal with the luggage to go to your hotel.
• Pick-up: the pick-up of the private transfer is immediately after you contact the driver at the arrival hall. However, with the shared service, you will have to wait a few minutes while all the passengers arriving from the different flights gather.
• Price: the price of the private service is usually above the cost of the shared transfer. In fact, with the latter you will save more than 50%.

Interesting details

• Duration of the trip: 30 minutes (Approx.)
• Price: from 115 dollars or 125 euros per person.
• Advantages of using this method: you will enjoy an immediate pick up at the airport and you will be taken to the door of the hotel, without having to deal with luggage or transfers.
• How to book this transportation: you only have to select a transfer company that suits your needs and then enter their official website to check the availability of the service. You will have to fill in a form with the day of the flight, time of arrival at the airport and number of people, so that they confirm the reservation.
• Recommended if... You want to enjoy an exclusive transfer, without waiting and comfortable to the door of your hotel.

No matter when you consider it is the best time to travel to Los Angeles, the subway is another option to move from the Los Angeles airport.

It is a means of public transportation used very frequently by tourists. It will represent a considerable saving of money, although it will take you more than twice as long as hiring a shared or private service.

Once you have your bags in your possession, you must go to the shuttle G stop, which is located on the outskirts of the Los Angeles airport, just four minutes walking.

There you can wait for the shuttle bus to the green line subway station (Redondo Beach - Norwalk), which is located in the southern part of the city. This is a transport that runs frequently (every 15 minutes) and whose service is free.

When you get to the subway you will need to pay for the transfer with a TAP card, which you can purchase at the ticket booths identified. Its price is 2 dollars or 1.8 euros (approx.) and you can recharge it as many times as necessary, according to the routes with which you are going to link to reach your destination.

In addition, when using this public transport service you should know that each train passes with a maximum frequency of 20 minutes and that its operating hours are from Sunday to Thursday from 5:00 to 00:00 hours, while on Fridays and Saturdays is extended until 2:00 hours.

Similarly, during your trip you can download the Los Angeles subway app through Google Play or App Store. This way, you will know the routes and stops of each line, schedules, waiting time and transfer time.

Interesting details

• Travel time: more than 1 hour and a half (depending on the destination you are going to).
• Price: from 3.75 dollars or 3.65 euros per person.
• Advantages of using this method: you will save a significant amount of money compared to any other transfer service from Los Angeles airport.
• How to book this transportation: This service does not require a reservation. You will only need to purchase the TAP card at the subway ticket booth.
• Recommended if... you have time to wait for each bus, you want to save money and you have few suitcases with you.

FlyAway buses cover a fixed route from the Los Angeles airport to downtown (approximately 35 minutes), where you will make up to 5 mandatory stops in the main neighborhoods (Santa Monica, Hollywood, Westwood and Van Nuys).

It is certainly a convenient means of transportation if you plan to stay in a hotel in any of these areas. However, the transfer is a bit longer compared to the shared and private service.

In any case, this means of public transportation turns out to be a good option if you are traveling light and on a tight budget, since they only admit a couple of suitcases and the average cost of the ticket is $9.70 or 8.70 euros.

Also, if you are traveling to Los Angeles with children under 5 years old, they can get on the FlyAway for free.

If you decide to use this bus, after getting off the plane and receiving your bags, you will have to purchase the respective ticket for the FlyAway through the machines located in the airport lobby.

You can also buy it directly from the driver when boarding the bus, but you should know that only debit or credit cards (American Express, Visa or Mastercard) are accepted.

Afterwards, you should walk to the FlyAway stop, which is located on the first floor of the airport's arrivals terminal.

There, you will have to wait for the bus, which usually runs every 30 minutes (approx.), to take you to the city and start your adventure on the best haunted tours in Los Angeles, visiting Universal Studios Hollywood or taking a tour of Warner Bros. studios, among other activities.

Details of interest

• Duration of tour: 35 minutes (Approx.)
• Price: from 9.70 dollars or 8.70 euros per person.
• Advantages of using this method: this service is available 24 hours a day, all week long.
• How to book this transportation: you don't need to make a reservation, just buy the ticket at the airport or when boarding the bus.
• Recommended if... you want a cheap service that drops you off at the station closest to your hotel.

Cab or Uber services are transfer options from LAX considered to be the most expensive, but definitely the fastest.

These transports are perfect if you want to get to the city as soon as possible to attend a business appointment or simply enjoy the best celebrity house tours, join a boat ride or fly over the skies on a helicopter tour, among other things.

Once you're off the plane and ready to get on the road to the city using either of these services (cab or Uber), you'll need to head to the LAX-it platform. To do so, you'll need to walk to the LAX-it platform, which is located just outside the airport terminal.

You can also take a free shuttle bus from the lower level. It will take you less than 5 minutes.

At LAX-it you will find the respective cars parked with their drivers, ready to offer a private service to the door of your hotel with immediate departure. All you have to do is book the option that suits you best:

• Cab: this route to the city center will allow you to travel alone or with your travel companions (3 people maximum). You will have to pay an average fare of 46 dollars or 42 euros.
• Uber: despite being private, this service also offers the shared option. Everything will depend on your decision at the time of getting into the car. In any case, the price of the transfer is from 32 dollars or 28 euros.

Details of interest

• Duration of the trip: 30 minutes (Approx.)
• Price: from 46 dollars or 42 euros (cab) and 32 dollars or 28 euros (Uber).
• Advantages of using this method: you will enjoy an immediate departure, so you won't waste a single minute waiting.
• How to book this transportation: this pair of services does not require a reservation, since when you arrive at the LAX-it platform you will find a number of available cars (cab and Uber). However, you can contact online with a company that offers these services.
• Recommended if... you want a comfortable transfer without delays to the door of your hotel.