Is 45 minutes enough at LAX? 20% of inbound flights landed too late for it, allowing 30 minutes to reach the next gate. Book 70 minutes to keep the risk under 1 in 10, or 90 in July.
Separately, 1.2% of flights into LAX were cancelled or diverted (1.8% in July). That isn't a missed connection in the same sense: on one booking the airline rebooks you, though it can still cost you the day.
Check your exact itinerary through LAX →
Missed-connection risk by layover and month
Share of flights that landed at LAX too late for the connection (cancellations not included), pooled over 2023–2026. Read across your travel month.
| Layover | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 min | 22% | 24% | 22% | 23% | 26% | 28% | 30% | 25% | 21% | 21% | 20% | 23% | 25% |
| 50 min | 15% | 16% | 15% | 15% | 17% | 20% | 22% | 18% | 13% | 13% | 13% | 16% | 17% |
| 60 min | 11% | 11% | 11% | 10% | 13% | 15% | 16% | 13% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 11% | 12% |
| 75 min | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 12% | 9% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 8% | 9% |
| 90 min | 6% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 6% |
| 120 min | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 4% |
Counts flights that landed; cancelled and diverted inbound flights are reported separately above. Assumes 30 minutes to get off the plane and reach the next gate, and that the onward flight leaves on time. A terminal change or re-checking bags needs more.
Late in the day is riskier
Share of flights that would miss a 60-minute connection, by scheduled arrival time at LAX (past 12 months). Delays pile up through the day.
Riskiest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| EWR Newark | 4,750 | 20% |
| ASE Aspen | 1,228 | 20% |
| SFO San Francisco | 12,104 | 19% |
| DAL Dallas | 1,485 | 19% |
| ORD Chicago | 7,121 | 18% |
| MDW Chicago | 1,296 | 18% |
| DFW Dallas | 6,184 | 17% |
| BOS Boston | 4,794 | 17% |
| JFK New York | 10,285 | 16% |
| MIA Miami | 3,251 | 16% |
| BWI Baltimore | 1,670 | 15% |
| DCA Washington | 1,454 | 15% |
Safest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| BOI Boise | 1,689 | 5% |
| SAN San Diego | 2,452 | 7% |
| KOA Kona | 1,601 | 7% |
| PDX Portland | 4,294 | 8% |
| GEG Spokane | 1,226 | 8% |
| ABQ Albuquerque | 2,242 | 8% |
| SLC Salt Lake City | 4,196 | 8% |
| RNO Reno | 2,690 | 8% |
| SMF Sacramento | 5,717 | 8% |
| LIH Lihue | 1,605 | 9% |
| IAD Washington | 2,460 | 9% |
| SAT San Antonio | 1,814 | 9% |
Last flights of the day from LAX
If your inbound runs late and you miss one of these, the next flight is usually the next morning. Typical last scheduled departure over the past three months:
| To | Last departure | Flights / day |
|---|---|---|
| AUS Austin | 7:20 p.m. | 11.1 |
| IAH Houston | 7:21 p.m. | 12.8 |
| TUS Tucson | 7:25 p.m. | 7.4 |
| SLC Salt Lake City | 8:19 p.m. | 10.5 |
| HNL Honolulu | 8:47 p.m. | 17.8 |
| DEN Denver | 8:49 p.m. | 21.4 |
| ABQ Albuquerque | 8:49 p.m. | 6.4 |
| SJC San Jose | 8:59 p.m. | 12.8 |
| SEA Seattle | 9:11 p.m. | 22.1 |
| PDX Portland | 9:35 p.m. | 11.5 |
| SMF Sacramento | 9:44 p.m. | 17.1 |
| RNO Reno | 9:59 p.m. | 7.4 |
| DTW Detroit | 10:20 p.m. | 5.5 |
| SFO San Francisco | 10:33 p.m. | 36.1 |
| PHX Phoenix | 10:35 p.m. | 20 |
| CLT Charlotte | 10:35 p.m. | 6.8 |
| SAN San Diego | 10:56 p.m. | 7 |
| LAS Las Vegas | 10:59 p.m. | 21.5 |
| MCO Orlando | 11:04 p.m. | 9.5 |
| EWR Newark | 11:15 p.m. | 12.4 |
| MIA Miami | 11:17 p.m. | 8.7 |
| IAD Washington | 11:30 p.m. | 7.4 |
| FLL Fort Lauderdale | 11:35 p.m. | 6 |
| DFW Dallas | 11:48 p.m. | 17 |
| PHL Philadelphia | 11:50 p.m. | 7.5 |
| JFK New York | 11:59 p.m. | 27.5 |
| ORD Chicago | 11:59 p.m. | 23.2 |
| ATL Atlanta | 11:59 p.m. | 13.4 |
| BOS Boston | 11:59 p.m. | 15 |
| BNA Nashville | 11:59 p.m. | 6.8 |
Questions
Is 45 minutes enough for a connection at LAX?
Often, not always. Over the past year 20% of flights into Los Angeles landed too late to leave 30 minutes to reach the next gate on a 45-minute layover. With 60 minutes it was 12%; with 90, 6%. Separately, 1.2% of inbound flights were cancelled or diverted; on one booking the airline rebooks you.
How long a layover do I need at LAX?
To keep the risk of a late inbound below 1 in 10, about 70 minutes on an average month and 90 minutes in July, the worst month. Add time if you change terminals or need to re-check bags.
An estimate from past arrival delays, not a guarantee. On one ticket, the airline will rebook you if you misconnect. On separate tickets you're on your own, so leave far more time. Method.