Terminal 3

Delta’s LAX stronghold sits in Terminal 3, tied to T2 and TBIT

Terminal 3 is Delta’s main LAX base, handling Delta and Delta Connection flights and linking airside to Terminal 2 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). That walk between T3 and TBIT runs roughly 10–15 minutes, so tight domestic–international connections on Delta can work if your inbound isn’t late. All check-in for these flights sits landside at T3, with standard TSA plus PreCheck usually opening by around 4 a.m. for the first departures.

Gates in Terminal 3 are numbered in the 30s, and most Delta narrow-body and regional flights board here instead of T2. If your boarding pass shows a 2X gate, you can still clear security in T3 and walk across airside using the connecting corridors. Walking T3 to T2 takes about 5–8 minutes at a normal pace, so factor that in before you camp out at a coffee bar too far from your gate.

The headliner inside Terminal 3 is the large Delta Sky Club near the central concourse area, serving many LAX–JFK and LAX–ATL passengers. Entry follows standard Delta rules: Sky Club membership, eligible Amex cards, or same-day premium cabin / SkyTeam access on qualifying tickets. Crowding hits hardest in the 6–9 a.m. bank and again around 8–10 p.m., and it’s about a 5-minute walk from the farthest T3 gates if you cut it close before boarding.

On the food side, Angel City Brewery pours local Los Angeles beers on tap and anchors one of the main dining spots in T3. Expect airport pricing, with pints running in the low to mid-teens and bar-style small plates to match. It sits airside past security along the concourse, so you can grab a beer and still keep your gate in view if you’re on one of the busier Delta shuttle routes.

LA Ale Works gives T3 a second local beer option, usually with a rotating tap list tied to its Hawthorne brewery. You’ll find it airside as well, within a few minutes’ walk of most Delta gates, which makes it a decent pre-flight stop for an evening departure. Food here leans more toward shareable snacks and light bites, so don’t plan on a full steakhouse dinner at this spot.

B Grill by BOA Steakhouse brings the BOA brand into Terminal 3 with burgers, steaks, and salads priced in the mid to upper $20s. It sits near the center of the concourse, easy to reach from both the lower 30s and upper 30s gate clusters. Portions run large by airport standards, so splitting an entrée and adding a side can keep the bill in check if you’re traveling with someone else.

Terminal 3 currently has fewer branded retail shops than T4–T7, so plan your non-food purchases before heading into this Delta complex if you care about specific labels. You’ll still find basic travel needs like snacks, bottled water, and last-minute toiletries at generic newsstand-style outlets near the gate areas. For more serious shopping, walk airside to TBIT, where duty free and designer storefronts sit roughly 10–12 minutes away from the heart of T3.

One practical tip: if you land into Terminal 3 and have an international Delta or SkyTeam flight out of TBIT, skip the landside shuffle and use the airside corridor instead, keeping your bags with you and saving yourself a second pass through LAX security.