Does a private car service use LAX-it?
No. LAX-it is the lot next to Terminal 1 where taxis and standard ride-app trips such as UberX and Lyft pick up. Since 2019, those riders walk or take a free green shuttle there from the arrivals level.
Licensed limousine and black car services work under different airport rules. Your chauffeur stages in an authorized commercial holding area and comes to the terminal when you are ready, so you do not need to walk to LAX-it or ride its shuttle. LAX has said the SkyLink people mover, which may change how some ground transportation connects, is now expected to open around January 2027, so check flylax.com for the latest.
Where exactly is the private car pickup zone at LAX?
Curbside private car pickups happen on the lower level, also called the arrivals level, outside baggage claim. Commercial vehicles use the outer island, the strip of curb across the inner lane from the terminal doors. LAX has marked these zones with overhead signs for limousines and pre-arranged cars.
- Inner curb (next to the terminal): mostly LAX-it shuttles, LAX shuttles, and some buses.
- Outer island: commercial vehicles, including pre-arranged car services. Uber Black also picks up here, according to Uber’s LAX page.
- Outer curb on the lower level: where friends and family in private cars pick up.
Construction has shifted LAX ground transportation zones several times since 2023, and LAX relocated its limousine holding lot in September 2025. Treat any column or door number as current only for that week.
What is meet-and-greet, and when should I book it?
Meet-and-greet means your chauffeur parks, walks into the terminal, and waits for you with a sign showing your name. You walk out of the secure area or customs and find a person, not a phone screen. Most LA car services charge $25–$50 for it.
It is worth it when you have never flown into LAX, when you are traveling with kids or a lot of luggage, when an older parent is flying alone, or when you are hosting a client. For a solo traveler with a carry-on who knows the airport, curbside pickup is usually fine.
What should I do after my flight lands at LAX?
For a curbside pickup, the timing is simple: do not head to the curb until you have your bags. Chauffeurs generally cannot sit at the commercial curb, and the inner loop can take 10–20 minutes to get around when it is busy.
Turn your phone on at the gate
Check for a message from dispatch or your chauffeur with the vehicle, plate, and phone number.
Text when you are at baggage claim
Send your terminal and carousel number. This is the moment the chauffeur starts moving to you.
Text again when you have your bags
On a busy evening, the last bag can take 30 minutes. Do not go outside early and wait in the wind.
Go to the lower-level outer island
Cross the inner lane at a crosswalk and look for the commercial vehicle signs, or the exact spot your chauffeur names.
Confirm the plate before you load
Check the plate or the chauffeur’s name against your confirmation before the bags go in the trunk.
How does pickup work for international arrivals at Tom Bradley?
International flights mostly arrive at Tom Bradley International, also called Terminal B. After landing, you go through passport control, collect bags, and clear customs before you reach the public arrivals hall. That can take 30–90 minutes, and longer when several widebody flights land together.
This is where meet-and-greet makes the most sense. Your chauffeur waits in the arrivals hall outside the customs exit, so you are not trying to coordinate a curb pickup while you are still in line. Check that your car service builds in enough free waiting time for an international arrival, because a 30-minute grace period is often not enough.
LAX layout: what Valley travelers should know
LAX’s Central Terminal Area is a one-way horseshoe on World Way, running counterclockwise past Terminals 1 through 8 and Tom Bradley. Every car makes the same loop on the lower level, so a chauffeur who misses you outside Terminal 7 has to go around again. At 6–9 p.m., when Pacific and East Coast arrivals overlap, one lap can take 15 minutes.
The trip home to the Valley usually starts on Sepulveda Blvd to the 105 east and the 405 north, or straight up Sepulveda to the 405. The northbound 405 through the Sepulveda Pass is heaviest from roughly 3–7 p.m. on weekdays, which is why a late-afternoon arrival can mean a 75–100 minute ride to Sun Valley or Northridge. Late-night arrivals after 9 p.m. are often 35–50 minutes to most Valley neighborhoods.
How 1st Choice handles LAX pickups
We track every flight and adjust the pickup time when it lands early or late. International arrivals at LAX get a 1.5-hour grace period from landing, which covers most customs lines. Our LAX car service page has the details.
- Curbside pickup at the lower-level commercial zone, coordinated by text when you have your bags.
- Meet-and-greet as an optional $30 add-on, with your chauffeur inside with a sign. More on how it works on our airport car service page.
- Vehicles sized to your bags: a Mercedes E 350 sedan for 3 passengers and 3 bags, a Chevy Suburban for 7 passengers and 5 bags, or a Mercedes Sprinter for 14 passengers and 6–8 bags. See our fleet.
- Licensed: we are a charter-party carrier licensed with the California PUC.
Meet the 1st Choice fleet
Mercedes E 350 sedan for up to 3, Cadillac Escalade for 6, Chevy Suburban for 7, and Mercedes Sprinter for up to 14. Every booking gets a reserved vehicle and a professional chauffeur, dispatched from Sun Valley.
Land at LAX and walk straight to your car.
We dispatch from Sun Valley 24 hours a day, serving the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, and Orange County.
Get an instant quoteCall 747-201-2610LAX Private Car Pickup FAQs
Where do limos and black cars pick up at LAX?
Pre-arranged limousines and black cars pick up on the lower, arrivals level at the commercial vehicle zone on the outer island across from baggage claim. Zones shift with construction, so follow the instructions your car service sends.
Do I have to go to LAX-it for a private car service?
No. LAX-it is for taxis and standard ride-app trips. A licensed, pre-arranged car service picks you up at the terminal.
Can my chauffeur meet me inside the terminal at LAX?
Yes, if you book meet-and-greet. Your chauffeur waits inside, usually at baggage claim or outside the customs exit, with a sign showing your name. At 1st Choice it is an optional $30 add-on.
When should I contact my driver after landing at LAX?
Text once you reach baggage claim and again when you have all your bags. Do not go to the curb before you have your luggage, because commercial vehicles cannot wait at the curb.
What happens if my flight to LAX is delayed?
A professional car service tracks your flight and moves the pickup to match. At 1st Choice, international arrivals get a 1.5-hour grace period from landing.
Which terminal do international flights arrive at LAX?
Most international flights arrive at Tom Bradley International, also called Terminal B, though some airlines use other terminals. Check your airline’s arrival terminal before you share pickup details.
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