Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Daniel Globe
United Airlines passengers at Los Angeles International Airport normally check in at Terminal 7, while departure gates may be in Terminal 7 or Terminal 8. Because international arrivals and baggage claim can use a different terminal, travelers should always confirm the current terminal and gate in the United app or on their flight documents.
Quick Answer
United Airlines check-in at LAX is in Terminal 7. United and United Express departures may use gates in Terminal 7 or Terminal 8. Some international arrivals use Terminal 6 or Terminal B, so arriving passengers should confirm their baggage-claim terminal through United before meeting a driver or family member.
Key Takeaways
- United check-in and ticketing are in LAX Terminal 7.
- Your departure gate may be in Terminal 7 or the connected Terminal 8 concourse.
- Some international United arrivals are processed through Terminal 6 or Terminal B, so check the flight details before arranging pickup.
- Terminal 7 has a United Club, a United Polaris Lounge, dining, shops, free Wi-Fi, charging areas, a nursing room, and a service-animal relief area.
- Standard Uber, Lyft, Opoli, and most taxi pickups use LAX-it, while ride-app and taxi drop-offs for departing passengers can go directly to Terminal 7.
Terminal at a Glance
| United Check-in | Terminal 7 |
| Departure Gates | Terminals 7 and 8; confirm the gate on your boarding pass |
| International Arrivals | May use Terminal 6 or Terminal B; confirm with United |
| United Lounges | United Club and United Polaris Lounge in Terminal 7 |
| Closest Terminal Parking | Parking Structure 7, connected to the terminal area by a pedestrian bridge |
| Standard Ride-App Pickup | LAX-it near Terminal 1; use the free shuttle or follow the marked walking route |
Warning: Do not assume that a United flight will depart from Terminal 7 simply because check-in is there. Terminal 8 is connected to Terminal 7 and is also used for United flights. Check the gate shown in the United app, on your boarding pass, or on an airport flight-information screen.
Which Terminal Does United Airlines Use at LAX?
LAX lists United Airlines check-in at Terminal 7 and identifies United and United Express operations with Terminals 7 and 8. Terminal 7 contains the main ticketing lobby, security checkpoint, baggage services, and gates in Concourse 7. Terminal 8 is a connected satellite concourse used for additional United gates.
Passengers should go to Terminal 7 to check bags or obtain in-person assistance unless United gives different instructions for a specific itinerary. After security, follow the signs to the gate printed on the boarding pass. Walking from the Terminal 7 checkpoint to a Terminal 8 gate does not normally require leaving the secure area.
International arrival procedures can be different. The current LAX airline-location map advises that United international passengers may arrive through Terminal 6 or Terminal B. The operating terminal, immigration route, and baggage-claim location depend on the flight, so anyone meeting an arriving passenger should verify the terminal shortly before landing.
History of United Airlines at LAX
LAX began as Mines Field in 1928. Commercial airline service at the airport began in December 1946, when United was among the major airlines that moved passenger operations from Burbank to the Los Angeles airport.
Terminals 7 and 8 have changed substantially since those early operations. A major modernization valued at about $546 million was completed in early 2019. The work included an expanded ticketing lobby, improved passenger screening, updated seating, more charging locations, renovated concession areas, and a new United Club.
The modern terminal complex is designed to support both United mainline flights and United Express service while giving passengers direct access between the Terminal 7 and Terminal 8 concourses.
Facilities and Amenities in Terminals 7 and 8
Terminal 7 has United ticket counters, self-service kiosks, baggage-drop facilities, a central Transportation Security Administration checkpoint, customer-service desks, and flight-information screens. Travelers who have already checked in and are not checking a bag can proceed to security with an accepted boarding pass and identification.
After security, passengers can find seating areas, electrical charging points, restrooms, water fountains, automated retail machines, and complimentary airport Wi-Fi. The official Terminal 7 directory also identifies a nursing room and a service-animal or pet-relief area.
Free LAX Wi-Fi is available in public areas of the airport terminals. Connect to the network named _LAX Free WiFi and follow the sign-in instructions shown on the device.
Warning: LAX reports intermittent construction in Terminal 7 gate areas and ongoing improvements in baggage claim. A gate, walkway, or baggage carousel may be temporarily changed, so follow airport signs and check the flight-information screens after arrival.
Dining and Shopping in the United Terminals
Terminals 7 and 8 offer coffee, quick-service meals, sit-down dining, bars, newsstands, travel essentials, books, gifts, and duty-free shopping. The exact hours can vary with passenger demand and flight schedules, especially early in the morning or late at night.
| Category | Current Examples |
| Coffee and Breakfast | Klatch Coffee, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Randy’s Donuts and Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen |
| Quick Meals | Loteria!, The Counter, Wolfgang Puck Express, Panda Express, Carl’s Jr., BLD |
| Sit-down Dining and Bars | B Grill by BOA Steakhouse, Rolling Stone LAX, Engine Co. No. 28, Stella Bar, Ashland Hill |
| Shopping | DFS Duty Free, Book Soup, Hudson News, Pier 7, E! News, People News |
The official terminal directory is the best source for the current concession lineup. A restaurant may close temporarily, change its hours, or stop serving before the final flight of the evening.
Pro Tip: Check your gate before buying a full meal. Terminal 8 is connected to Terminal 7, but walking to a gate at the far end of the concourse can take longer than expected when the terminal is busy.
United Club and Polaris Lounge Options at LAX
United shows both a United Club and a United Polaris Lounge in its LAX terminal map. Both are located in the Terminal 7 complex, but they have different entry rules.
United Club
The United Club provides seating, complimentary snacks, selected beverages, Wi-Fi, and charging outlets. Access may be available through an eligible United Club membership, a qualifying premium ticket, eligible frequent-flyer status, an accepted one-time pass, or another benefit listed in United’s current rules. Capacity restrictions can apply.
United Polaris Lounge
The Polaris Lounge is intended for eligible long-haul international premium-cabin travelers. It offers a quieter setting with dining and shower facilities. A domestic first-class ticket, a standard United Club membership, or a United Club one-time pass does not automatically provide access.
Eligibility depends on the operating airline, cabin, itinerary, and same-day travel details. Review United’s current lounge-access rules before relying on lounge entry.
Transportation and Accessibility to Terminal 7
Public Transportation and FlyAway
The LAX FlyAway bus currently provides nonstop service between the airport and LA Union Station or Van Nuys. FlyAway buses drop departing passengers on the Upper/Departures Level. Passengers leaving LAX board on the Lower/Arrivals Level at the blue FlyAway signs outside the terminals.
Schedules and fares can change, so check the official FlyAway page before traveling.
Personal Vehicles, Taxis, and Ride-App Services
Drivers dropping off a departing passenger may use the Upper/Departures Level outside Terminal 7. Private vehicles picking up an arriving passenger may use the outer curb on the Lower/Arrivals Level where permitted.
Standard Uber, Lyft, Opoli, and most taxi pickups use LAX-it, the pickup lot next to Terminal 1. From Terminal 7, passengers can follow the marked walking route or take a free LAX-it shuttle from the Lower/Arrivals Level.
LAX also identifies a limited taxi pickup location at the far end of Terminal 7 outside baggage claim. Premium ride services, including qualifying black-car categories, may have different curbside pickup rules. Follow the instructions in the provider’s app because approved locations can change.
Parking Near Terminal 7
Parking Structure 7 is the closest central-terminal parking facility and is connected to the Terminal 7 area by a pedestrian bridge. LAX also offers economy, budget, valet, and other official parking choices for longer trips.
Drivers can review availability, current rates, and reservations through the official LAX parking website.
Accessibility Services
Passengers who need wheelchair assistance should request it from United before travel or speak with a United representative at check-in. Terminal 7 has elevators, accessible restrooms, curb ramps, a nursing room, and a service-animal relief area.
The LAX-it shuttles are designed to accommodate wheelchairs, and passengers who require assistance may receive priority boarding. Travelers with specific mobility, vision, hearing, or service-animal needs should allow extra time and review the airport’s current accessibility information before departure.
How to Transfer Between Terminal 7 and Other LAX Terminals
Terminal 7 has direct walkways to Terminal 8 and Terminal 6. Passengers connecting between these terminals can normally follow signs without returning to the public curb area.
For a connection to another part of LAX, check whether the route can be completed inside security before leaving the secure area. Construction and terminal closures can change the best path.
The free landside Terminal Connector also travels between terminals. Board under the pink LAX Shuttles sign on the Lower/Arrivals Level. LAX advises allowing about 10 to 15 minutes to walk between each adjacent terminal, not including security screening or construction delays.
- Check the next flight’s terminal and gate in the airline app.
- Follow signs for Terminal 6, Terminal 8, or connecting flights when an airside walkway is available.
- Use the pink-signed Terminal Connector on the Lower/Arrivals Level when a landside transfer is more practical.
- Allow additional time if the transfer requires another security screening.
Note: Leaving the secure area can require you to pass through TSA screening again. Ask an airline employee before exiting security when you have a short connection.
Tips for Navigating the United Terminal at LAX
- Arrive early: LAX recommends arriving about two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. Add more time during holidays, major construction, or heavy traffic.
- Check in before reaching the airport: United generally opens online and mobile check-in 24 hours before scheduled departure.
- Do not confuse check-in with the gate: Check-in is in Terminal 7, but the aircraft may depart from Terminal 8.
- Check baggage deadlines: Bag-drop cutoffs vary by airport, destination, and itinerary. Arriving at the terminal before the cutoff is the passenger’s responsibility.
- Use the United app: The app can display a boarding pass, current gate, boarding status, delays, and terminal-navigation information.
- Watch airport screens: A gate can change after the original boarding pass was issued.
- Plan the pickup before landing: Decide whether the arriving passenger will use LAX-it, a private vehicle, a premium ride service, or the limited Terminal 7 taxi area.
Pro Tip: When driving into LAX for Terminal 7, stay alert for the signed shortcut toward United and United Express. LAX advises drivers to use the far-left lane and turn across from Terminal 1 where the Terminal 7 signs appear.
Bring the charging cable needed for your phone and consider carrying an airline-approved portable battery in your carry-on bag. A charged phone is useful for retrieving a boarding pass, receiving gate changes, contacting a driver, and following airport directions.
Current Construction and Future Terminal Upgrades
Terminal 7 has already received a major modernization, but work around the terminal and the wider airport continues. LAX currently warns that some gate areas may be affected by intermittent construction and that baggage-claim improvements can affect individual carousels.
Work is also underway to connect the terminal area with LAX’s future Automated People Mover system. Because construction schedules and passenger routes can change, travelers should check the official Terminal 7 page and current LAX advisories shortly before travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What terminal is United Airlines at LAX?
United Airlines check-in and ticketing are in Terminal 7. United and United Express departure gates may be in Terminal 7 or Terminal 8, so confirm the gate on the boarding pass or in the United app.
Does United Airlines use Terminal 8 at LAX?
Yes. Terminal 8 is a connected concourse used for some United and United Express gates. Passengers normally check in and pass through security at Terminal 7 before following signs to a Terminal 8 gate.
Where do United international flights arrive at LAX?
Some United international arrivals are processed through Terminal 6 or Terminal B. The correct immigration and baggage-claim terminal depends on the flight, so check United’s flight status before arranging a meeting point or pickup.
How do I drive to Terminal 7 at LAX?
Follow signs for United, United Express, and Terminal 7. LAX advises Terminal 7 drivers to stay in the far-left lane when entering the airport and use the signed turn across from Terminal 1. Departing passengers are dropped on the Upper/Departures Level.
Can I check in online for a United flight from LAX?
Yes. United generally allows online and mobile check-in beginning 24 hours before scheduled departure. Passengers checking bags must still reach the Terminal 7 bag-drop area before the applicable cutoff.
What amenities are available in Terminal 7?
Terminal 7 offers restaurants, coffee shops, bars, newsstands, duty-free shopping, free Wi-Fi, charging locations, a nursing room, a service-animal relief area, accessible facilities, a United Club, and a United Polaris Lounge.
How do I transfer from Terminal 7 to another LAX terminal?
Terminal 7 has direct connections to Terminals 6 and 8. For other terminals, follow the current connection signs or board the free Terminal Connector under the pink LAX Shuttles sign on the Lower/Arrivals Level. Allow additional time if another TSA screening is required.
Where do Uber and Lyft pick up United passengers at LAX?
Standard Uber and Lyft pickups generally use LAX-it next to Terminal 1. Passengers arriving at Terminal 7 can walk along the marked route or take the free LAX-it shuttle from the Lower/Arrivals Level. Direct terminal drop-off remains available for departing passengers.
Sources
- LAX Terminal 7 Information — terminal airlines, facilities, construction notices, and driving guidance.
- LAX Airline Location Map — current United terminal assignments, international-arrival note, walking times, and Terminal Connector information.
- LAX Terminal 7 Directory — gates, restaurants, shops, services, lounges, and terminal walkways.
- LAX Ground Transportation — FlyAway service, private-vehicle pickup, shuttles, taxis, and terminal transportation.
- LAX-it Passenger Information — ride-app and taxi pickup procedures and accessibility information.
- United Club and Polaris Lounge Access — current eligibility rules for United lounges.
