21/05/2021
Travel Advisory #178
ALERT: Transfer of PAL Los Angeles flights to new LAX midfield gates from June 1
Effective June 1, 2021, PAL will be forced, over our protest, to move our flights departing and arriving at Los Angeles to the new Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The MSC gates are in a separate concourse that is connected to the main TBIT area by an underground tunnel.
Accordingly, we wish to alert our passengers:
• Additional Walk Time to and from Aircraft Gates: Please allot 20 minutes additional time to walk to your departure gates at the MSC terminal. From the TBIT main concourse, after clearing security, passengers will need to access the tunnel walkway via escalators, elevators and moving walkways.
• Alternative transportation: There will be terminal transfer vehicles (similar to golf carts) available for passengers who are unable to walk the full distance; accessible via elevators from the TBIT main concourse. Please allot extra time in case of limited availability of these transfer vehicles. Passengers using wheelchairs will also need to take the elevators.
• Limited shops and services: Please note there are limited shops and food service facilities at the MSC terminal; please plan on completing your shopping and dining needs at the TBIT main concourse pre-departure area, before proceeding to the MSC for boarding.
• No Change in Check-in or Arrivals location: All departing PAL passengers will check in at the TBIT, and all arriving PAL passengers will claim baggage and clear immigrations and customs at the TBIT, in the same areas in use today.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that the Airport’s decision may cause you. PAL has appealed urgently to the airport authority to reconsider the decision to move PAL flights from the TBIT to the MSC; PAL also is seeking assistance from city officials. We have raised the important consideration that a large number of our Filipino-American and visiting Filipino travelers are senior citizens or persons with disability who would be better served if the boarding gates are located closer to the check-in and security areas. We will continue to pursue all available remedies in the hope that our flights will be retained at the original gates of the main terminal TBIT concourse for the well-being and convenience of our valued passengers.
We will update you if there are any new developments as our dialogue with the authorities continues.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
