LAX, Coffee and Cigarettes

[Tris]

I do stopovers in LAX often.
I am a avid coffee drinker.
I am a smoker.

Just a word of warning, this is a VERY BAD combination when you are stuck at LAX.

The coffee shops are all airside.
There are no longer smoking pods/areas airside.

Options: Buy a gigantic coffee before you get out of immigration/customs and chill out around the Horseshoe with your relaxing nicotine trumpets,
Delay your connecting flight so you have time to taxi out of the airport and get a LA coffee,
Or finally give in to peer pressure, give up smoking and check-in early to get a sweet sweet cup of caffeinated deliciousness.

After a 15 hour flight, choose VERY wisely.

Side notes:
I know coffee is bad. Please don't judge me.
I know smoking is bad. Please don't judge me.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I do stopovers in LAX often.
I am a avid coffee drinker.
I am a smoker.

Just a word of warning, this is a VERY BAD combination when you are stuck at LAX.

The coffee shops are all airside.
There are no longer smoking pods/areas airside.

Options: Buy a gigantic coffee before you get out of immigration/customs and chill out around the Horseshoe with your relaxing nicotine trumpets,
Delay your connecting flight so you have time to taxi out of the airport and get a LA coffee,
Or finally give in to peer pressure, give up smoking and check-in early to get a sweet sweet cup of caffeinated deliciousness.

After a 15 hour flight, choose VERY wisely.

Side notes:
I know coffee is bad. Please don't judge me.
I know smoking is bad. Please don't judge me.

yeah - smoking at just about any US airport is a problem these days with heightened security. Not so long ago (even post 9-11) it wasn't such a major issue to hop out of the terminal during connecting flights (domestic)... these days it can mean waiting in line another 30 minutes for security.

There are some notable exceptions such as one of the AAdmirals Club Lounges at Dallas. Smoking room inside and only a hop away from the bar!

I can't remember the last time LAX had a smoking room inside? And I'm thinking back to about 2004 here...

 

[hazel]

I am also an avid smoker, I like coffee but I'm Ok with bad coffee.
Last time I was at LAX (TBIT - 2014) as long as I took my passport & boarding pass I had no issue going outside for several nicotine hits & going back in through security.

 

[kevrosmith]

Not judging. Just providing some information: quitnow - Welcome to the Quitnow Website

 

[Tris]

Thankyou Kev xoxo quitting is a very long process but I will get there!!

LAX used to have little smoking pods airside up until around 2011 (when they started on their renovations)

In the TB terminal they still even have the signage for it up! But after excitedly following it a year ago it lead to to some vet/puppy play area for travellers with pets o.0

And I completely forgot about these minor facts when I checked out of the terminal 2 months ago, bolted outside to have that first rush of nicotine after a long flight, before remembering "great.. No coffee this side".

Don't fall into that trap!

At least the renovations progress is fun to look at at 7am when you're sleep & coffee deprived.

 

[harvyk]

There is a cafe downstairs outside security at tbit arrivals. You could go there and get a coffee to go and take it outside. Don't know if you can smoke just outside (non-smoker so don't pay attention to such things). This might be an option, plus it means you'd be able to get more caffeine as required.

 

[Tris]

Oh?!? I searched every damn terminal in that stupid horseshoe! Is it in the same area as the international checkin? I know I had a chance to get some airside but stupid me forgot >< LAX now have smoking "sections" between every terminal but everyone just continues to do it the whole way around.
I will keep an eye out for this mystery coffee shop

 

[harvyk]

Downstairs from international check in

 

[Tris]

Downstairs from international check in

You are my new best friend! I was seriously starting to consider Dallas as a new layover, my need for caffeine and nicotine is so great. Thanks will beeline for there next month!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

There's also a Starbucks landside at T4 at LAX which I noticed on the way to the baggage claim after arriving from MIA.

 

[Mark3000]

Seriously, just give up the smoking. Everyone knows about lung cancer and heart disease. But there is so much more. Do you really want to dramatically increase your chances of going blind? Then you won't be worrying about airports.

 

[Mark3000]

Forgot to add that there is nothing wrong with coffee in moderation

 

[Himeno]

Forgot to add that there is nothing wrong with coffee in moderation

Coffee is vulgar.
Chocolate on the other hand...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Seriously, just give up the smoking. Everyone knows about lung cancer and heart disease. But there is so much more. Do you really want to dramatically increase your chances of going blind? Then you won't be worrying about airports.

Unfortunately it's a legal substance, and a big income earner for governments. Governments make a huge profit out of smokers after the associated costs of health care. I don't know of a smoker who doesn't want to quit, but it's not that easy. (The Australian government won't even allow the sale of e-nicotine liquid in Australia, which is an effective quitting method.)

tax revenue (2011/12) $5.45 billion: No Cookies | Herald Sun

cost to health system $1.84 billion (2013): Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian

That money goes to fund infrastructure and a whole range of other stuff.