Los Angeles–U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in partnership with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) announced today the implementation of proactive measures in anticipation of an expected three-fold growth in international passenger volume for the 2021 summer season at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
CBP expects the passenger count to reach 18,000 a day, compared with 4,500 a day in the summer of 2020, an increase of over 300 percent.
The expected reemergence of international travel is the result of the current vaccination levels, and subsequent lifting of local COVID-19 restrictions bringing more international tourists as Southern California attractions gradually open.
Quick Guide to Planning Ahead for Travel at LAX:
- Wear a face mask. Face masks remain mandatory for employees and passengers, regardless of vaccination status.
- Take all the travel documents required for the countries you are visiting, as well as identification for your U.S. reentry. U.S. citizens need passports to reenter the country by air. Go to www.state.gov/travelers for destination information.
- Use your smartphone and skip the long lines. Available to download on Google Play Store or Apple App Store CBP Mobile Passport Control App streamlines a traveler’s entry into the U.S. Once your QR code is obtained, look for MPC dedicated processing lines.
- Declare everything you bring in from abroad, even if you bought it in a duty-free shop. Be cautious when buying something from street vendors. Items brought abroad for personal use or as gifts are eligible for duty exemptions. If you are bringing them back for resale, they are not eligible for duty exemption.
- Be aware of U.S. prohibited merchandise, such as ivory, tortoiseshell products, and counterfeit items.
- Many foreign-made medications are not approved for United States use and are not permitted in the country. When traveling abroad, bring only the medication you will need. Make sure the medication is in the original container.
- Travels to and from Cuba – Before departing on your trip, check the latest information for the full list of prohibited and restricted items on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Cuba Sanctions website, as well as other related government resources.
- Before bringing food to the United States, please check the list of prohibited items. All live animals, birds and bird products may be restricted, quarantined or require certification.
- CBP officers can inspect you and your belongings without a warrant to enforce U.S. laws.
- For transit passengers, give yourself enough time in between connection flights due to possible delays.
- Check parking options ahead of time: Real-time parking availability within the LAX Central Terminal Area (CTA) parking structures is available here.
- Parking and traffic updates are available 24/7 via the automated @FlyLAXstats Twitter feed.
- Consider alternative ground transportation, FlyAway® bus service is available to and from Union Station and Van Nuys, with parking available at both locations. www.LAXFlyAway.org. Municipal buses, LA Metro Green Line (light rail) at Imperial Highway and Aviation Boulevard. Read more on our website. Guests who are leaving LAX via taxi or ride app vehicles (Uber, Lyft, Opoli) can walk to the LAX-it lot located at 9610 Sky Way, across from Terminal 1, or take one of the LAX-it shuttles from stops located on the Lower/Arrivals Level.
- Check in online with your airline before you leave for the airport. This prevents the need to interact with a check-in kiosk. If you are traveling without checked luggage, you can skip the ticket counters entirely this way.
- Picking someone up? Curbside pickup and drop-off is permitted on the Upper/Departures and Lower/Arrivals levels. All parking structures are free for the first 15 minutes, and the Terminal B (Tom Bradley International Terminal) pickup area is also free to use.
- Know the rules. Many destinations, both international and domestic, have implemented travel restrictions or rules for visitors. Knowing the current rules for your destination is essential this year. Non-vaccinated guests arriving at LAX from other countries or states, as well as California residents returning from out-of-state travel, are required to complete a mandatory form acknowledging that they have read and understood the state’s travel advisory. The form can be found here, or for more information click here.
