Lounge access rules change often — confirm in the lounge's app or the card's benefits page before you fly.
LAX has no single dominant airline. Delta, American, United, Alaska and Southwest all fly big schedules from separate terminals in the horseshoe, and long-haul flights leave from the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). For card-based LAX lounge access, the only option open today is the Centurion Lounge LAX in TBIT. Chase's Sapphire Lounge is still listed as "coming soon," and Capital One has no lounge here, so the best credit card for Los Angeles flyers usually depends on which airline you fly.
Advertiser disclosure: we may be compensated when you're approved through our links. It doesn't affect our editorial take.
Quick answer
- Best overall for LAX lounge access: Amex Platinum — includes the Centurion Lounge LAX (TBIT), 10 Delta Sky Club visits a year and Priority Pass
- Best value for Priority Pass: Capital One Venture X — but Priority Pass LAX is thin (one real lounge, with a surcharge), and there's no Capital One Lounge or open Sapphire Lounge here yet
- Best for frequent Delta flyers: Delta SkyMiles Reserve with Delta Sky Club access (15 visits a year, plus the Centurion on Delta flights)
- Best for frequent American, United or Alaska flyers: Citi AAdvantage Executive with Admirals Club access, the United Club Card with United Club access, or Atmos Rewards Summit with Alaska Lounge passes
Airport snapshot
Each airline has its own terminal: Southwest in Terminal 1, Delta in Terminals 2 and 3, American in Terminal 4, Alaska (and Air Canada) in Terminal 6, and United in Terminal 7. Terminal 5 is closed for rebuilding. TBIT sits at the top of the horseshoe and holds the Centurion Lounge and most of the foreign-airline lounges. Chase lists an LAX Sapphire Lounge as "coming soon" but hasn't published its location. All terminals are now linked inside security, but walks between them are long, so allow time before heading to a lounge in another terminal. Southwest flyers in Terminal 1 have no lounge of their own.
Where to go by terminal
| Terminal | Airlines | Lounges there |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Southwest | Be Relax spa only |
| Terminals 2 and 3 | Delta | Sky Club (T3), Delta One (T2 and T3), Gameway (T3) |
| Terminal 4 + regional terminal | American | Admirals Clubs, Flagship Lounge |
| Terminal 6 | Alaska, Air Canada | Alaska Lounge, Maple Leaf, Gameway |
| Terminals 7 and 8 | United | United Club, Polaris (T7) |
| Tom Bradley (TBIT) | Long-haul foreign airlines | Centurion, Virgin Clubhouse, temporary Admirals Club |
Since Delta's Sky Way bridge between Terminal 3 and TBIT opened, every terminal connects after security; the American Eagle regional terminal is reached by airside bus.
Lounges at LAX
Centurion Lounge LAX (Amex)
- Location: Tom Bradley International Terminal, after security.
- Access: Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders with a same-day boarding pass, within 3 hours of departure. Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders get in only on a same-day Delta flight booked with an Amex card. Since July 8, 2026, layover entry is limited to within 5 hours of your connecting flight.
- Guest policy: Up to two guests at $50 per adult and $30 per child (ages 2–17). Platinum guests become free after $75,000 in calendar-year spend. Delta Reserve guests are always paid. Since July 8, 2026, guests must be on your flight.
- Best for: International departures, and domestic flyers with time to spare who can reach TBIT.
- Crowds: When it hits capacity, Amex runs a digital waitlist in the Amex app, which also shows how busy the lounge is; check before you walk over.
Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club (coming soon)
- Location: Not yet published by Chase (reports have placed it in TBIT).
- Access: Once open, it will admit Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders through Chase's Sapphire Lounge network. Chase lists LAX as "coming soon" with no date.
- Guest policy: At other Sapphire Lounges, Reserve cardholders bring two guests free and pay $27 for each additional guest.
- Best for: Not usable yet. Don't plan a trip around it.
Delta Sky Club and Delta One Lounges
- Location: The Sky Club is in Terminal 3 near gate 34. There are Delta One Lounges in Terminal 3 and Terminal 2. The Terminal 2 lounge is a smaller temporary space that opened June 30, 2026. The Terminal 2 Sky Club is closed for rebuilding, and Delta says it will reopen in 2027.
- Access: The Sky Club admits Delta flyers with an eligible card. Amex Platinum gives 10 visits per year. Delta Reserve gives 15 visits plus four one-time guest passes. Either card unlocks unlimited visits after $75,000 in annual spend. Basic Economy tickets don't qualify. The Delta One Lounges are for Delta One passengers and a few premium and partner tickets. No card gets you in.
- Guest policy: $50 per guest, up to two.
- Best for: Delta flyers in Terminals 2 and 3.
American Admirals Clubs and Flagship Lounge
- Location: Terminal 4 near gate 41, a temporary club in TBIT between gates 151 and 153, and the regional terminal across from gates 52D and 52E. The Flagship Lounge is in Terminal 4.
- Access: Citi AAdvantage Executive cardholders get Admirals Club membership. Citi Strata Elite gives four Admirals Club passes a year. Flagship requires a premium international ticket or top oneworld status.
- Guest policy: AAdvantage Executive: up to two guests or immediate family.
- Best for: American flyers.
United Club and United Polaris Lounge
- Location: Terminal 7. The United Club is near gate 71A and Polaris is near gate 73.
- Access: The United Club Card includes United Club membership. Partner lounges and the higher "All Access" tier need $50,000 in calendar-year spend or Premier Gold status. Polaris requires a long-haul business or first ticket.
- Guest policy: The base benefit admits you plus one guest. All Access raises that to two adults, or one adult plus your children.
- Best for: United flyers.
Alaska Lounge
- Location: Terminal 6 mezzanine, near gate 64.
- Access: Alaska Lounge members, eligible premium and oneworld elite flyers, or a day pass. Atmos Rewards Summit cardholders get eight Alaska Lounge day passes a year, issued two per quarter.
- Guest policy: Each Summit pass covers one adult plus up to two children under 21.
- Best for: Alaska and Hawaiian flyers.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
- Location: Terminal 6, near gate 65A.
- Access: Air Canada and Star Alliance premium and elite flyers. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders flying a Star Alliance airline can use select Maple Leaf Lounges with one free guest (extra guests $59). LAX is on Chase's list of participating lounges.
- Best for: Sapphire Reserve holders flying Air Canada or another Star Alliance airline from Terminal 6.
Priority Pass at LAX
- Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse: TBIT. This is the only real Priority Pass LAX lounge, and Priority Pass members pay a surcharge (reported at $35) for up to 3 hours.
- Gameway (Terminals 3 and 6): A video-game lounge, not a traditional lounge.
- Be Relax Spa (TBIT and Terminal 1): Spa services, not a lounge.
- Restaurants: Priority Pass lists none at LAX.
- Access: Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum memberships include two free guests. Venture X charges $35 per guest. At LAX, Priority Pass is a backup, not a reason to choose a card.
Best credit cards for LAX
| Card | Annual fee | Lounges you get at LAX | Guests | Best if you… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Platinum | $895 | Centurion (TBIT), Sky Club (10 visits/yr), Priority Pass | Centurion $50 each; 2 free at Priority Pass | Fly international or have time for TBIT |
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve | $650 | Sky Club (15 visits/yr), Centurion on Delta | $50 each; 4 passes/yr | Fly Delta |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $795 | Priority Pass, select Maple Leaf lounges, future Sapphire Lounge | 2 free at Priority Pass | Are betting on the LAX Sapphire Lounge opening |
| Capital One Venture X | $395 | Priority Pass only | $35 each | Mostly fly from other airports |
| Citi AAdvantage Executive | $695 (new accounts) | Admirals Clubs (T4, TBIT, regional) | 2 guests or immediate family | Fly American |
| United Club Card | $695 | United Club (T7) | 1 adult + kids (2 with All Access) | Fly United |
| Atmos Rewards Summit | $395 | 8 Alaska Lounge passes/yr (T6) | Each pass: 1 adult + 2 kids | Fly Alaska now and then |
Recommended strategy
- If you fly Delta often from LAX: The Delta Reserve covers the Terminal 3 Sky Club and gets you into the Centurion when you fly Delta. Spending $75,000 a year unlocks unlimited Sky Club visits.
- If you fly American, United or Alaska: Get that airline's card. A lounge in your own terminal is worth more here than a bank lounge at the end of a long airside walk.
- If you want one card that covers the best lounges: Amex Platinum, but only if you regularly have time to reach TBIT. Elsewhere at LAX it's mainly Delta visits.
- If you want strong lounges at a lower cost: Venture X is a weak fit for LAX alone. It's worth considering if you also connect through Las Vegas, Denver or Dallas, where Capital One has lounges.
- If you fly Southwest from Terminal 1: No card fixes that. Plan to arrive closer to departure.
No card? Day passes & other options
The Alaska Lounge in Terminal 6 and the United Club in Terminal 7 sell day passes when they have space. Upgraded Points lists $65 and $59. American sells Admirals Club day passes, and the Flagship Lounge sells a single-visit pass to eligible flyers. You can't buy your way into the Centurion Lounge. Active-duty military can use the USO lounge in the Theme Building.
FAQ
Is there a Chase Sapphire Lounge at LAX? Not yet. Chase lists Los Angeles as "coming soon" and gives no date. Chase lists it as "coming soon" and hasn't published where it will be; reports have placed it in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Until it opens, Sapphire Reserve holders at LAX are mostly limited to Priority Pass and, when flying Star Alliance, select Air Canada lounges.
Where is the Centurion Lounge at LAX? It's in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, after security. That makes it convenient for international flights but a trek for domestic flights out of other terminals. All LAX terminals now connect inside security, so you won't need to rescreen, but allow plenty of time for the walk.
Amex Platinum vs Sapphire Reserve vs Venture X: which is best at LAX? Amex Platinum, for now. It's the only one of the three that gets you into a real bank lounge at LAX (the Centurion in TBIT), and it adds 10 Delta Sky Club visits a year when you fly Delta. Sapphire Reserve gets better once the LAX Sapphire Lounge opens, but today it gives you Priority Pass and select Air Canada lounges on Star Alliance flights. Venture X has no Capital One lounge at LAX, so it's only worth it here if you also fly through airports where Capital One has one.
Is Priority Pass worth it at LAX? Not much. The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in TBIT is the only true lounge, and it charges Priority Pass members a surcharge. The other listings are Gameway gaming lounges and Be Relax spas.
Which LAX lounge is best for Delta flyers? With an eligible card, use the Delta Sky Club in Terminal 3. The two Delta One Lounges (Terminals 2 and 3) are for Delta One and select premium tickets only, so a card alone won't get you in.
Related guides
- Best credit cards for airport lounge access
- Centurion Lounge locations
- Chase Sapphire Lounge locations
- Delta Sky Club access
- SFO airport lounges
- Las Vegas airport lounges
Lounge access rules, guest policies and locations change. Always confirm current details with the airline, lounge operator or card issuer before you travel.
