Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX is not a smoke-friendly airport by any stretch, but it does have a handful of designated outdoor spots for smokers. The single most important thing to know is that the only confirmed post-security smoking option is the outdoor patio in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), near Gate 130, every other terminal requires you to exit the building entirely and clear security again.

Before Security

Landside smoking is permitted in designated outdoor zones outside each terminal building. These spots are:

• Located on both the arrivals and departures levels, curbside, outside each terminal entrance

• Marked with signage and equipped with ashtrays

• Positioned at least 20-25 feet from terminal entrances to limit second-hand smoke exposure near doorways

• One reported spot near Terminal 7 is just outside the United Baggage Claim, between the United and United Express signs

• Terminal 4 has a reported spot outside by the parking lot directly across the main entrance

If you have already checked in and gone through security, stepping outside to smoke means re-clearing security on your way back in. During peak hours at LAX, that can easily eat 30-45 minutes, so plan accordingly.

After Security

Airside smoking is genuinely limited at LAX. The only well-documented, confirmed post-security smoking area is:

• TBIT (Tom Bradley International Terminal) outdoor smoking patio, near Gate 130. Multiple traveler reports confirm it was still open as of late 2024 and into 2025. It is described as a proper outdoor patio with seating, pole-tray ashtrays, and even small speakers announcing flight departures so you do not miss your boarding call. The patio offers views of the airfield.

Terminal 2 and Terminal 7 are also cited by several sources as having post-security outdoor smoking patios, though these are less consistently documented than the TBIT patio. Treat those as possible options worth checking on arrival, but do not rely on them.

There are no paid airline lounges at LAX known to offer a dedicated smoking room or smoking terrace based on available sources. Smoking airside is purely a matter of finding these outdoor patios.

Getting to the TBIT Patio from Other Terminals

Terminals 4 through 8 are connected to TBIT via internal airside walkways, so if you are already past security in any of those terminals, you can walk to the TBIT patio without re-clearing security. Budget your time:

• From Terminal 3: roughly 7-8 minutes on foot

• From Terminal 5: roughly 15 minutes

• From Terminal 7: described as a long walk, allow 20+ minutes

To find the patio once inside TBIT, head toward Gate 130. Walk through the food court area past Panda Express, KFC, and Umami Burger, then follow the clearly posted "Smoking Area" sign directing you to turn left.

Vaping Rules

Vaping and e-cigarettes are banned inside all LAX terminals and lounges without exception. The outdoor designated smoking zones are technically the only place where vaping is permitted, though some sources conflict on this. To be safe, treat vaping the same as cigarette smoking: outdoors only, in the designated zones.

Transit and Layovers

If you are connecting through LAX on an international itinerary and your layover is in TBIT, you are in luck, the post-security patio is accessible without exiting the secure zone. If your connection involves a different terminal, you will almost certainly need to exit security and re-enter, which is a significant time commitment at a busy airport like LAX.

Bottom Line

Smoke before security at any terminal's curbside zone, or head to the TBIT outdoor patio near Gate 130 if you are already airside. Every other terminal requires exiting the building and re-clearing security, so build in at least 30-45 minutes if you plan to do that.