LAX Security Checkpoints: PreCheck, CLEAR and ID Rules

There is no official LAX page with live security waits that we could find. The airport's guide on flylax.com about when to arrive links out to a federal wait-time page rather than showing its own numbers.

The tool TSA itself offers is MyTSA, a free app for iOS and Google Play. It shows how busy an airport is likely to be at a given day and time, based on past data. It is not a live measurement, so treat it as a planning aid.

We don't print wait times on this page on purpose. They change all day. TSA also tells you to check with your airline for when to arrive.

Older articles still mention LAX Fast Lane, a free reservation program for security lanes. It officially ended on January 6, 2026, and flylax.com/fastlane now only shows the end notice. You can't book it anymore.

Want a faster lane? Look at TSA PreCheck or CLEAR below.

LAX does not publish a checkpoint-by-checkpoint list, so here is only what we could confirm:

• Terminal 3: Delta says check-in, bag drop and security are at T3, and that T3 has additional security lanes including TSA PreCheck and CLEAR. LAX also lists Aeromexico and WestJet security at T3.
• Terminal 1: Southwest lists a TSA PreCheck Touchless ID checkpoint at LAX.
• Terminals 7 and 8: United is the only airline listed at each.

For any other terminal, ask your airline about its checkpoint and opening hours. Once you are through security, you can walk between the open terminals. The route from T1 to T8 is about 2 miles.

Terminal 5 is closed for construction, with reopening expected in 2028. Contact your airline for check-in and gate details.

LAX recommends arriving 2 hours before a domestic flight, which gives you time to check bags, clear security and reach the gate. For international travel, it recommends 3 hours.

Southwest suggests 90 minutes for domestic flights Tuesday to Thursday, 120 minutes Friday to Monday, and 120 minutes for international flights.

Add a buffer for the roads. LAWA says there is active work in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, Terminal 4 and the future Terminal 5, with roadway closures in and around the terminal area.

With PreCheck, belts and light jackets stay on, and electronics and 3-1-1 liquids stay in your bag. Your airline has to take part in the program.

Lane hours change. TSA's PreCheck schedule page lists hours by checkpoint, says they can change with operations, and doesn't guarantee expedited screening on any trip. We couldn't confirm LAX PreCheck hours by terminal, so check TSA's page or your airline. If no PreCheck lane is open, show your PreCheck boarding pass in the standard lane for expedited screening.

Family rules:

• Kids 12 and under can use the PreCheck lane with a parent or guardian who has PreCheck on their boarding pass.
• Teens 13 to 17 need the PreCheck indicator on their own boarding pass.

Membership costs $85 or less for five years, according to TSA. Fees can change, so confirm on tsa.gov before you apply.

The only terminal we could confirm CLEAR in is Terminal 3, where Delta says CLEAR lanes are available. We found no current official list for the other terminals, so check CLEAR's own LAX page before you count on it.

Adults 18 and older must show a valid photo ID with their boarding pass.

REAL ID is in force: since May 7, 2025, state licenses and IDs that are not REAL ID compliant are no longer accepted at airport checkpoints. Other accepted IDs include a U.S. passport or passport card, a Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST card, a foreign passport and a permanent resident card.

Forgot your ID? Since February 1, 2026, you can pay a $45 fee to verify your identity through TSA ConfirmID. Check tsa.gov for the current fee.

Liquids follow the 3-1-1 rule: containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, in one quart-size bag. Two exceptions:

• Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby food can go above 3.4 ounces and don't need to fit in the bag. Tell the officer at the start of screening.
• Duty-free liquids bought abroad can continue on a U.S. connection if they stay in the sealed tamper-evident bag, with the receipt, bought within the last 48 hours.

Arriving from abroad? CBP's Enhanced Passenger Processing is available at the Tom Bradley International Terminal and Terminal 7. CBP says it has cut wait times for U.S. citizens by about 25 percent.

Mobile Passport Control is a free CBP app for eligible travelers, including U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian B1/B2 visitors and returning Visa Waiver travelers with an approved ESTA. Check CBP's page to confirm it is offered at LAX.

Global Entry costs $120 for five years and includes TSA PreCheck.

Need help getting through screening? Call TSA Cares at (855) 787-2227 at least 72 hours before your flight. You can ask for a Passenger Support Specialist to meet you at the checkpoint.

Wheelchair or mobility help is arranged through your airline, before your flight. Children who appear to be 12 or younger get modified screening procedures.