Where to Sleep in LAX
by surprisetalk on 1/23/2026, 5:17:40 PM
https://cadence.moe/blog/2025-12-30-where-to-sleep-in-lax
Comments
by: macNchz
Historically I've found sleepinginairports.net useful for this kind of intel—I was pleased to discover just now that it's still around! Nearly 20 years ago now it saved me from a night of awful sleep. My backpacking buddy and I had just arrived in Liverpool with an early Ryanair flight out the following morning, and no hostel reservations. We'd been traveling successfully without reservations for a bit, but it turned out there was some kind of event that weekend in Liverpool and there was absolutely nowhere to stay (or at least, nothing that cost less than, like, the budget for our entire trip).<p>We decided we'd just stay out late, then go to the airport and wait it out for our flight. After some effort trying to sleep on hard plastic benches in the airport Burger King (where Michael Jackson's <i>Thriller</i> was playing loudly on repeat, I do not know why), I pulled out my 12" PowerBook and found out via that site that the airport had a meditation room with dim lighting, soft carpet, and no Michael Jackson. Ahh.
1/29/2026, 11:10:50 PM
by: decimalenough
> <i>My 11:30 pm connecting flight out of Los Angeles International Airport was delayed by 24 hours, forcing me to rest in the airport.</i><p>If you ever find yourself in this position, just leave the airport and get a motel room. The US doesn't even have exit immigration, so it's not like they were stuck on the wrong side with a used visa.<p>The OP's About page notes that they're currently unemployed and living off savings, so I'll cut them some slack, although I'm not entirely sure how that's compatible with international travel from New Zealand to the US.<p>I also find it incredible that the airline can just delay a flight by 24 hours and offer no compensation or accommodation whatsoever, since in most of the world this would absolutely not, ahem, fly.
1/30/2026, 12:11:29 AM
by: etothepii
The sleepwear in First Class is by far the most bizarre thing about the whole experience.<p>I've never understood why First and Business Class that are so clearly mainly used by people travelling for work don't focus more on the business aspect. British Airways call it "Club" which I'm sure can only make it harder to be approved by finance. American call it "First".<p>In the main lounges provided by American Airlines there is often a person whose job it is to provide unlimited champagne but not a comfortable place to respond to emails.
1/30/2026, 12:44:28 AM
by: _carbyau_
Why isn't there "capsule hotel" businesses in airports? Is it security concerns or something about dealing with mostly non-japanese culture people?
1/29/2026, 11:57:21 PM
by: zamalek
If you have trip insurance and your sleeping over is "an act of god", you have a high chance of qualifying for one of the in-airport bed businesses. It's been a few years so I forget the name, but an actual bed is really amazing. I can't remember what it would have cost us, but I do recall was on the very edge of what I would have considered paying myself - so worth looking at even if your layover was planned.
1/30/2026, 12:38:31 AM
by: marifjeren
So funny to be seeing this article. Just last week I spent about 9 hours in that airport and I asked several people who worked there what some good places were to get some respite while waiting for a delayed flight. None of these spots were recommended (wish I had this article then) but they did refer me to a quiet-ish "lounge" area.<p>You can get there if you take the stairs in the 20's gates (Terminal 2) where I ended up sleeping for a while.
1/30/2026, 12:30:05 AM
by: comrade1234
I guess not an international flight? Normally a 24-hour delay gets you a hotel room.
1/29/2026, 11:07:36 PM
by: burner420042
There's a small airbnb outfit near the Houston airport that rents for 12 hours at a time with free ride to and from the airport. They cater to the layover crowd. It's very economical. I've not seen it elsewhere.
1/30/2026, 12:32:27 AM
by: tern
I had a flight delayed (or cancelled, can't remember) once in LAX. They lead us to a lounge area nearby that had cabinets filled with cots. I was given a cot and a blanket and slept OK. Had no idea this was a thing.
1/29/2026, 11:29:38 PM
by: suriya-ganesh
I ended up at LAX 5 am for an 8 am flight. nobody in the whole airport, no TSA nothing until 6 am.<p>i took a very uncomfortable nap on the floor that day.
1/29/2026, 11:24:01 PM
by: hbarka
Your website takes me back to the days of Geocities hosting, Dreamweaver, and FrontPage 98. Nostalgia level went up.
1/30/2026, 12:14:30 AM
by: amelius
Freaking airports are not designed for humans.
1/29/2026, 11:16:30 PM
by: pstuart
It would be cool if they installed sleep pods like they have in Japan -- design it to be low maintenance and require a credit card to book with a refundable hold of a big enough deposit in case you defile it.
1/30/2026, 12:13:50 AM
by: evanjrowley
A guide like this for South Korea's Incheon airport (ICN) be pretty valuable.
1/29/2026, 11:05:53 PM
by: trhway
In USSR (and early 90-s Russia) airports, train stations, theaters had that you'd call VIP lounges - those intended VIPs were the high Party and government bureaucrats and the likes. While general population halls were crowded those lounges would usually be empty or almost so and they would have comfortable (soft) furniture, well stocked cafe/bar, much cleaner restrooms, etc. And in many cases nobody would even guard entry and check you for whether you're a such VIP. So, i'd just go in and was never kicked out :) And while Party bozos were of no interest to me, it was interesting to mingle with top Soviet theater/movie actors at one such new theater show opening that bunch of them attended to.
1/29/2026, 11:34:38 PM
by: jimbob45
You sort of have to plan ahead for this now. If you’re not careful, your belongings will get pinched. If you wear an inner jacket with pockets, though, you can safely stash your goods and conk out. Even better if it’s just a reversible jacket. Luggage is harder but as long as it’s locked, you can usually just tie it to yourself and be safe enough.
1/30/2026, 12:12:12 AM
by: nephihaha
The reason I don't fly anymore is because I can't stand airports. So called hostile architecture and sometimes hostile staff. This article confirms my bias. Nowhere appropriate to rest without noise, terrible lighting and hard surfaces.<p>My main memory of LAX was being accosted by Hare Krishnas.
1/29/2026, 11:15:20 PM